Pisqa’ 101
1
“Until here you are today, numerous as the stars of heaven” (Dt.1:10).
Look! You are as abiding (qayyamim) as the day (kayom)!2
On this basis they taught:
There are seven classes of the Righteous in the Garden of Eden,
each above the other.
First [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Only the Righteous . . . will sit in Your Presence” (Ps.140:14).
Second [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Fortunate is the one You chose . . . to dwell in Your courtyards.” (Ps.65:5)
Third [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Fortunate are those who sit in Your house” (Ps.84:5).
Fourth [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Oh HASHEM, who will dwell in Your tents?” (Ps.15:1).
Fifth [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Who will settle on Your holy mountain?” (Ps.15:1)
Sixth [are those to whom this verse apples]:
“Who will ascend the mountain of HASHEM ?” (Ps.24:3)
Seventh [are those to whom this verse applies]:
“Who will stand in His holy place?” (Ps.24:3)
2
R. Shimon b. Yohai says:
In the coming future,
the faces of the Righteous
will simulate seven [sources] of [this-worldly] joy:3
the sun, the moon, the sky, the stars,
the lightening, the lilies, and the lamp of the Holy Abode.
Like the sun—how do we know?
For it is said:
“And may His beloved be like the rising sun in splendor” (Jud.5:31).
Like the moon—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the moon in beauty” (Song 6:10).
Like the sky—how do we know?
For it is said:
“And the Enlightened will shine with the sky’s splendor” (Dan.12:3).
Like the stars—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the stars shall be those
teaching righteousness to the masses” (Dan.12:3).
Like the lightening—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like lightening shall they flash” (Nah.2:5).
Like the lilies—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like the lilies in duration” (Ps.45:1)
Like the lamp of the Holy Abode—how do we know?
For it is said:
“Like a lamp of gold” (Zech.4:2).4