Pangs of Love

(înapoi la pagina ZOHAR CUPRINS / TAZRIA – click)

70) As they were walking, they came across a man whose face was full of sores, who rose from under a tree. They looked at him and saw that his face had turned red from all the sores. Rabbi Hiya told him, “Who are you?” And he replied, “I am a Jew.” Rabbi Yosi said, “He is a sinner, or these bad sores would not be seen in his face. These are not called ‘Pangs of love.’” Rabbi Hiya said, “It must be so, since pangs of love are covered from people.”

71) It is written, “When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot.” There are three kinds, and they are all called “The plague of leprosy,” as it is written, “And it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy.” The plague of leprosy is with a closed syllable [in Hebrew], for it is closed in everything, meaning that the affliction is covered and hidden from the eye. It is written about that, “He shall be brought unto Aaron the priest.” But the sores that are seen on the outside, it is written about that, “And the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean,” since what is seen to people on the outside comes from the side of impurity and are not pangs of love.

72) How do we know that? It is written, “Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden,” which means that open rebuke is better. And if the rebuke is out of love, it is hidden from people. Similarly, one who rebukes one’s friend with love must hide his words from people so his friend will not be shamed by them. And if his words are open before people, they are not with love.

73) So is the Creator. When He rebukes a person, He rebukes him with love in everything. First, He strikes him in his body, from within. If he repents, good. If not, He strikes him under his clothes. And these are called “Pangs of love.” If he repents, good. If not, He strikes him openly in his face, in front of everyone, so people will look at him and know that he is a sinner and is not loved by his Master.

74) That man told them, “You must have contrived to come over me to despise me. You must be from among those who sit at the house of Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai, who fear nothing. If my sons, who come after me, should come, they will persecute you. Why do you speak openly? After all, you should fear my sons.” They told him, “Such is the Torah, for it is written, ‘She calls at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings.’ If we fear you with words of Torah, we are in contempt of the Creator. Moreover, the Torah needs purity, meaning to speak openly.” The man started and said, “Who is a God like You, that pardons iniquity?” He raised his hands and cried. At that time, his sons came and his junior son said, “Here is heaven’s help to my father.”

(înapoi la pagina ZOHAR CUPRINS / TAZRIA – click)

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