בשר בחלב א

For the Tzaddik is called by the name "fish" — as stated in Rabainu's words and his holy books — for fish grow in water, which is the aspect of da'as and Torah that are likened to water: "ho, everyone who is thirsty, go to the waters" (הוֹי כָּל צָמֵא לְכוּ לַמַּיִם), and it is written: "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Hashem as waters cover the sea" (כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ דֵּעָה אֶת ה' כַּמַּיִם לַיָּם מְכַסִּים). Therefore Tzaddikim are called "fish," and so all of Israel are called Tzaddikim and are likened to fish that grow in water. Therefore fish require no slaughter, only their being gathered purifies them — for the essential slaughter is to purify the soul within the living creature from the contamination of the serpent. The essential contamination of the serpent grips the living creature that walks on the earth — the aspect of "and dust is the serpent's food." But fish that grow in water have no such strong grip — therefore water purifies them. For water purifies from all impurities — one cannot enter any holiness except through immersion in water. Water is the aspect of holy da'as, drawing down the holy brain-lights. Therefore the grip of non-kosher fish is drawn from excess of da'as, excess of light that causes breakage and ruin. Therefore the signs of kosher fish are fin and scale, the essential sign being scale — as the Mishnah says: "any that has a scale has a fin." For scales are drawn through the Tzaddikim who are the shields of the earth, through whom the essential rectification of the covenant is drawn — they elevate from the seal of the flesh to the engravings of a seal — holy to Hashem — the aspect of tefillin-brain-lights. For they subdue the pride and domination of the false leaders and through this rectify the constriction of the brain-lights, the Name Shaddai of the tefillin. And this is the aspect of scales of fish — as the verse "pride, channels of shields" is stated regarding the scales of the Leviathan. And this is the aspect of fins. The essential rectification of tefillin which is the rectification of da'as — this is drawn through the deep counsels that a person delves and draws up — "the wise man draws up understanding" (חוֹתֵר וְדוֹלֶה הָאִישׁ תְּבוּנוֹת) — as explained in the beginning of that teaching. And this is the aspect of fins that glide in the water from place to place. This is the aspect of counsels (eitzos), which are called "feet" (raglayim) — for the essential movement depends on them, as it is said: "and all the people who are at your feet, those who walk by your counsel" (וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר בְּרַגְלֶיךָ הַהוֹלְכִים אַחַר עֲצָתְךָ). And so the movement of fish — their gliding in the water — is the aspect of counsels. For the essential movement and motion from place to place of all creatures flows from the aspect of counsels — for through counsels one reaches one's destination. Therefore they are called senapirim — in the aspect of the Tablets of sappirinon. And the Tablets are the totality of the Torah, from which all counsel flows — the 613 counsels of the Torah (taryag atin d'oraisa). Therefore the essential sign is the scale — for every fish with scales has fins. And some have fins but no scales — for when there is the sign of scale, drawn from the rectification of the brain-lights, certainly they already have fins drawn from the rectification of the deep counsel. For if one lacked rectification of counsel, one would not have been able to come to the rectification of the brain-lights. But some have fins drawn from the rectification of counsel, and lack scales from the rectification of the brain-lights — for they have not yet merited the second rectification. Therefore the essential sign is the scale, drawn from the rectification of the brain-lights — this is the sign that certainly there are fins as well, for without the rectification of counsel it is impossible to come to the rectification of the brain-lights. And therefore Moshe Rabainu — who is the totality of receiving the Torah and the essential aspect of tefillin-brain-lights, the aspect of "and Moshe was a shepherd" (וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה רוֹעֶה) as stated in that teaching — was therefore cast into the Nile, to indicate that he could glide in the waters of wisdom and not drown there, for he merited to rectify the constriction of da'as properly, which is the essential rectification of da'as. And therefore all of Israel who received the Torah were all cast into the Nile and came out through the merit of Moshe — as brought in the Midrash Rabbah on that verse: "and let them multiply as fish in the midst of the land." Just as in the midst of the land there are 600,000 — so too in the midst of the water 600,000. See there. For this is the essential receiving of the Torah — holy knowledge: to draw down the rectification of the brain-lights together with the rectification of the constriction, not to drown in the waters of knowledge. And all through the power of Moshe. And this is what is said in the Midrash there: "also their first leader — his name was fish" — for this is Yehoshua bin Nun. This is the aspect of what is explained in that teaching: that through the rectification of tefillin-brain-lights — which is the aspect of Moshe — one merits to dream through an angel. For even when the da'as that is the aspect of Moshe passes on, the impression (reshimu) remains in the aspect of dream through an angel. This is the aspect of what the angel said to Yehoshua: "now I have come" (עַתָּה בָּאתִי). Therefore also Yehoshua is called by the name of fish that grows in water — for he too merited the rectification of da'as through the impression of his teacher Moshe. For he grew up in the water: which is why Moshe is called Moshe — "for from the water I drew him" (כִּי מִן הַמַּיִם מְשִׁיתִיהוּ). This is the awesome power of the true Tzaddik who is the aspect of Moshe — that through his intense power he draws the rectification of the brain-lights in such a wondrous rectification that even after he passes on, the impression remains in his students forever. Even the student who is the aspect of Yehoshua merits dreaming through an angel: in the aspect of "and the commander of Hashem's host said: now I have come." Therefore even Yehoshua is called bin Nun — son of the fish that grows in water — for he too merited the rectification of da'as through the impression of his teacher Moshe. Na Nach Nachma Nachman MayUman נ נח נחמ נחמן מאומן