Know! the tzaddikim of the generation sit in a circle. That is, the order in which they sit—for they sit in the world each one in his place—is in the shape of a circle.
Although there are other people between them, who disrupt and destroy the shape of the circle—but know! these people are in the aspect of “outside the community” (Kiddushin 40b), and are not considered at all. Thus, the tzaddikim remain sitting in the shape of a circle.
And the Holy One is as at <their head>. He corresponds to the head of the court. For these tzaddikim who sit in a circle are the aspect of a court. From them is issued justice to every person, be it for merit or liability. Livelihood also comes from them; they distribute livelihood to every person as he deserves.
The main thing is that there be love between them. The love should be such a strong love that they always see one another. Because of the love’s intensity, they [should be] totally unable to bear not seeing one another continually.
There is also a love in which they can bear not seeing each other, yet it is nevertheless love, for they love one another from a distance. This, too, is an aspect of seeing one another. As people are wont to say about something despised: He just cannot bear to look at it. But when they love each other, it is an aspect of seeing each other—this being an aspect of love.
2. This corresponds to: The Sanhedrin was arranged like a circular granary (Sanhedrin 36b). “Sanhedrin” corresponds to the tzaddikim from whom come all rulings and livelihood, as above. And this is the aspect of “granary,” <corresponding to> sustenance and livelihood. As mentioned, they sat in a circle; <this is “circular”>. As the Talmud records, all this was so that they would see one another—the aspect of love, which is the aspect of seeing, as above.
דַּע שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁבַּדּוֹר הֵם יוֹשְׁבִין בְּעִגּוּל, דְּהַיְנוּ סֵדֶר יְשִׁיבָתָם, שֶׁהֵם יוֹשְׁבִים בָּעוֹלָם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּמְקוֹמוֹ, הוּא עַל סֵדֶר הָעִגּוּל,
Know! the tzaddikim of the generation sit in a circle. That is, the order in which they sit—for they sit in the world each one in his place—is in the shape of a circle.
וְאַף שֶׁיֵּשׁ שְׁאָר בְּנֵי אָדָם בֵּינֵיהֶם שֶׁמַּפְסִיקִין וּמְקַלְקְלִין סֵדֶר הָעִגּוּל, אַךְ דַּע שֶׁאֵלּוּ בְּנֵי אָדָם הֵם בִּבְחִינַת אֵינוֹ מִן הַיִּשּׁוּב, וְאֵינָם נֶחֱשָׁבִים כְּלָל, וַאֲזַי נִשְׁאָרִים הַצַּדִּיקִים יוֹשְׁבִים בְּסֵדֶר עִגּוּל,
Although there are other people between them, who disrupt and destroy the shape of the circle—but know! these people are in the aspect of “outside the community” (Kiddushin 40b), and are not considered at all. Thus, the tzaddikim remain sitting in the shape of a circle.
וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ־בָּרוּךְ־הוּא עַל כֻּלָּם, וְהוּא בְּחִינַת רֹאשׁ בֵּית־דִּין, כִּי אֵלּוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁיּוֹשְׁבִים בְּעִגּוּל הֵם בְּחִינַת בֵּית־דִּין, שֶׁמֵּהֶם יוֹצֵא הַמִּשְׁפָּט לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, הֵן לִזְכוּת הֵן לְחוֹבָה, וְכֵן פַּרְנָסָה יוֹצֵאת מֵהֶם, שֶׁהֵם מְחַלְּקִין הַפַּרְנָסָה לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כָּרָאוּי לוֹ.
And the Holy One is as at <their head>. He corresponds to the head of the court. For these tzaddikim who sit in a circle are the aspect of a court. From them is issued justice to every person, be it for merit or liability. Livelihood also comes from them; they distribute livelihood to every person as he deserves.
וְהָעִקָּר הוּא שֶׁיִּהְיֶה אַהֲבָה בֵּינֵיהֶם, וְאַהֲבָה הַיְנוּ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הָאַהֲבָה חֲזָקָה כָּל כָּךְ, עַד שֶׁיִּהְיוּ רוֹאִים זֶה אֶת זֶה תָּמִיד, כִּי מֵחֲמַת גֹּדֶל הָאַהֲבָה אֵינָם יְכוֹלִים לִסְבֹּל כְּלָל שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ אֶחָד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ תָּמִיד,
The main thing is that there be love between them. The love should be such a strong love that they always see one another. Because of the love’s intensity, they [should be] totally unable to bear not seeing one another continually.
גַּם יֵשׁ אַהֲבָה, שֶׁיְּכוֹלִים לִסְבֹּל שֶׁלֹּא יִרְאוּ זֶה אֶת זֶה, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הוּא אַהֲבָה שֶׁאוֹהֲבִין אֶת עַצְמָן מֵרָחוֹק, וְגַם זֶה הוּא בְּחִינַת רוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמְרִין הָעוֹלָם עַל דָּבָר הַשָּׂנאוּי, שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לִרְאוֹתוֹ, אֲבָל כְּשֶׁהֵם אוֹהֲבִים זֶה אֶת זֶה, הוּא בְּחִינַת רוֹאִים זֶה אֶת זֶה, שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת אַהֲבָה כַּנַּ"ל:
There is also a love in which they can bear not seeing each other, yet it is nevertheless love, for they love one another from a distance. This, too, is an aspect of seeing one another. As people are wont to say about something despised: He just cannot bear to look at it. But when they love each other, it is an aspect of seeing each other—this being an aspect of love.
וְזֶה בְּחִינַת (סנהדרין ל): סַנְהֶדְּרִין הָיְתָה יוֹשֶׁבֶת כְּגֹרֶן עֲגֻלָּה. סַנְהֶדְּרִין זֶה בְּחִינַת הַצַּדִּיקִים, שֶׁמֵּהֶם יוֹצְאִין כָּל הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וְכָל הַפַּרְנָסָה כַּנַּ"ל, וְזֶה בְּחִינַת כְּגֹרֶן, שֶׁמִּשָּׁם יוֹצֵא מְזוֹנוֹת וּפַרְנָסָה, וִישִׁיבָתָם בְּעִגּוּל כַּנַּ"ל, וְכָל זֶה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ רוֹאִין זֶה אֶת זֶה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב שָׁם בַּגְּמָרָא, הַיְנוּ בְּחִינַת אַהֲבָה, שֶׁהִיא בְּחִינַת רְאִיָּה כַּנַּ"ל:
2. This corresponds to: The Sanhedrin was arranged like a circular granary (Sanhedrin 36b). “Sanhedrin” corresponds to the tzaddikim from whom come all rulings and livelihood, as above. And this is the aspect of “granary,” <corresponding to> sustenance and livelihood. As mentioned, they sat in a circle; <this is “circular”>. As the Talmud records, all this was so that they would see one another—the aspect of love, which is the aspect of seeing, as above.