The holy Idra Zuta (the smaller assembly) The day when Rabbi Shimon wanted to depart from the world

Synopsis

This section begins to tell about the events surrounding Rabbi Shimon's voluntary departure from the world. Many of the friends are with him, although they come and go as Rabbi Shimon requests them to. A fire encircles the whole house as he prepares to reveal things that he has never before had permission to reveal, and Rabbi Aba is charged with writing down his revelations. Rabbi Shimon begins by saying that the living are the righteous, and anyone who is wicked is considered to be dead. He says that God delights in the honor of the righteous even more than His own honor. Next Rabbi Shimon tells the other rabbis that he can see two rabbis who died some time earlier together with seventy righteous people all shining with the radiance of the most hidden Atika Kadisha; at this statement the other rabbis tremble. Rabbi Shimon says that during his whole life he was attached to God, and now at the end God and all His holy followers have come joyfully to listen to hidden secrets and to the praise of Atika Kadisha.

Death of Rabbi Shimon Eyes Fire Garden of Eden Rabbi Shimon, Death of

23. We learned that on the day Rabbi Shimon wanted to depart from the world, and was putting his affairs in order, the friends gathered in the house of Rabbi Shimon. Before him were Rabbi Elazar, his son, and Rabbi Aba and other friends, and the house was full. Rabbi Shimon lifted up his eyes and saw that the house had become full. Rabbi Shimon wept and said, Another time when I was ill, Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair was before me, and they waited for me until I inquired about my place IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. When I returned, a fire circled me, which never stopped. No one entered MY HOUSE except by permission. Now I see THE FIRE stopped, and behold the house is full.

23. (האדרא זוטא קדישא) תָּאנָא בְּהַהוּא יוֹמָא דר"ש בָּעָא לְאִסְתַּלְּקָא מִן עָלְמָא, וַהֲוָה מְסַדֵּר מִלּוֹי, אִתְכְּנָשׁוּ חַבְרַיָיא לְבֵי ר"ש, וַהֲווֹ קַמֵּיהּ ר' אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, וְר' אַבָּא, וּשְׁאָר חַבְרַיָיא, וַהֲוָה מַלְיָא בֵּיתָא. זָקִיף עֵינוֹי ר"ש, וְחָמָא דְּאִתְמְלֵּי בֵּיתָא. בָּכָה ר"ש וְאָמַר, בְּזִמְנָא אַחֲרָא כַּד הֲוֵינָא בְּבֵי מַרְעֵי, הֲוָה רִבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר קַמָּאי, וְעַד דְּבָרִירְנָא דּוּכְתָאי אוֹרִיכוּ לִי עַד הַשְׁתָּא. וְכַד תַּבְנָא, אַסְחַר אֶשָּׁא מִקַּמָּאי, וּמֵעָלְמִין לָא אִתְפְּסָק, וְלָא הֲוָה עָאל בַּר נָשׁ, אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּתָא. וְהַשְּׁתָא חֲמֵינָא דְּאִתְפְּסַק, וְהָא אִתְמְלֵי בֵּיתָא.

Death of Rabbi Shimon Eyes Fire Rabbi Shimon, Death of

24. עַד דַּהֲווֹ יַתְבֵי, פָּתַח עֵינוֹי ר"ש, וְחָמָא מַה דְּחָמָא, וְאַסְחַר אֶשָּׁא בְּבֵיתָא, נַפְקוּ כּוּלְהוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאָרוּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, וְרִבִּי אַבָּא. וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא יָתְבוּ אַבְּרָאי. אר"ש לְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, פּוּק חֲזֵי, אִי הָכָא רִבִּי יִצְחָק, דַּאֲנָא מְעָרַבְנָא לֵיהּ, אֵימָא לֵיהּ דִּיסַדֵּר מִלּוֹי, וְיֵתִיב לְגַבָּאי, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ.

Death of Rabbi Shimon Hands Idra Raba Prayer Rabbi Shimon, Death of

25. Rabbi Shimon rose and sat down, laughed and rejoiced. He said, Where are the friends? Rabbi Elazar rose and let them in, and they sat before him. Rabbi Shimon raised his hands, recited a prayer and was glad. He said, Let the friends that were present at the assembly, NAMELY THE IDRA RABA, come here. They all left, and Rabbi Elazar his son, Rabbi Aba, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Chiya stayed. In the meanwhile Rabbi Yitzchak entered. Rabbi Shimon said to him, How deserved is your portion. How much joy should be added to you on this day. Rabbi Aba sat behind him and Rabbi Elazar before him.

25. קָם ר"ש, וְיָתִיב, וְחַיִיךְ, וְחַדֵּי. אָמַר, אָן אִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא. קָם רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר, וְאָעִיל לוֹן. יָתְבוּ קַמֵּיהּ. זָקִיף יְדוֹי ר"ש, וּמְצַלֵּי צְלוֹתָא, וַהֲוֵי חַדֵּי, וְאָמַר, אִינּוּן חַבְרַיָּיא דְּאִשְׁתְּכָחוּ בְּבֵי אִדָּרָא, יִזְדַּמְנוּן הָכָא. נַפְקוּ כֻּלְּהוּ, וְאִשְׁתָּאָרוּ רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, וְרִבִּי אַבָּא, וְרִבִּי יְהוּדָה, וְרִבִּי יוֹסֵי, וְרִבִּי חִיָּיא. אַדְּהָכִי, עָאל רִבִּי יִצְחָק, א"ל ר"ש, כַּמָּה יָאוּת חוּלָקָךְ, כַּמָּה חֵידוּ בָּעֵי לְאִתּוֹסְפָא לָךְ בְּהַאי יוֹמָא, יָתִיב רִבִּי אַבָּא בָּתַר כַּתְפוֹי, וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר קַמֵּיהּ.

Death of Rabbi Shimon Heart Rabbi Shimon, Death of Shechinah World to Come, The

26. אר"ש, הָא הַשְׁתָּא שַׁעֲתָא דִּרְעוּתָא הוּא, וַאֲנָא בָּעֵינָא לְמֵיעַל בְּלֺֹא כִּסּוּפָא לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי. וְהָא מִלִּין קַדִּישִׁין דְּלָא גָּלְיָאן עַד הַשְׁתָּא, בָּעֵינָא לְגַלָּאָה קַמֵּי שְׁכִינְתָּא, דְּלָא יֵימְרוּן דְּהָא בִּגְרִיעוּתָא אִסְתָּלַקְנָא מֵעָלְמָא. וְעַד כְּעַן טְמִירִן הֲווֹ בְּלִבָּאִי, לְמֵיעַל בְּהוּ לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי.

Death of Rabbi Shimon Heart Rabbi Shimon, Death of

27. וְכַךְ אַסְדַּרְנָא לְכוּ, רִבִּי אַבָּא יִכְתּוֹב, וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרִי יִלְעֵי, וּשְׁאַר חַבְרַיָּיא יְרַחֲשׁוּן בְּלִבַּיְיהוּ. קָם רִבִּי אַבָּא מִבָּתַר כַּתְפוֹי. וְיָתִיב רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ קַמֵּיהּ, א"ל קוּם בְּרִי, דְּהָא אַחֲרָא יְתִיב בְּהַהוּא אֲתָר, קָם רִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר.

Angels Death of Rabbi Shimon Dumah (Angel) Garments Gehenom (Hell) Hell (Gehenom) Praise Rabbi Shimon, Death of Righteous Wicked Wickedness Wrapping

28. Rabbi Shimon wrapped himself IN HIS GARMENT, and sat down. He started by saying, "The dead cannot praise Yah, nor can any who go down into silence (Heb. dumah)" (Tehilim 115:17). Surely "The dead cannot praise Yah," those who are considered dead, because the Holy One, blessed be He, is called living and dwells among those who are called living, NAMELY THE RIGHTEOUS, and not with those that are considered dead, NAMELY THE WICKED. The end of the verse PROVES IT, as it is written, "nor can any who go down into Dumah," namely all those who go down to THE ANGEL Dumah, and remain in Gehenom. But it is not so with those who are called living, THE RIGHTEOUS, that the Holy One, blessed be He, delights to honor.

28. אִתְעֲטָּף ר"ש, וְיָתִיב. פָּתַח וְאָמַר, לֺֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלְלוּ יָהּ וְלֺֹא כָּל יוֹרְדֵי דוּמָה. לֺֹא הַמֵּתִים יְהַלְלוּ יָהּ, הָכִי הוּא וַדַּאי, אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן מֵתִים, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא חַי אִקְרֵי, וְהוּא שָׁארִי בֵּין אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן חַיִּים, וְלָא עִם אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן מֵתִים. וְסוֹפֵיהּ דִּקְרָא כְּתִיב, וְלֺֹא כָּל יוֹרְדֵי דוּמָה, וְכָל אִינּוּן דְּנַחְתִּין לְדוּמָה, בַּגֵיהִנָּם יִשְׁתַּאֲרוּן. שָׁאנֵי אִינּוּן דְּאִקְרוּן חַיִּים, דְּהָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי בִּיקָרֵיהוֹן.

Chariot Death of Rabbi Shimon Eden Garden of Eden Hands Idolatry Idra Raba Jeroboam Prophets Punishment Rabbi Shimon, Death of Righteous

29. Rabbi Shimon said, How different is this time from the Idra RABA IN THE PORTION OF NASO, since in the Idra the Holy One, blessed be He, came with His Chariots. Now the Holy One, blessed be He, is here, coming with the righteous that are in the Garden of Eden, which has not happened at the Idra. And the Holy One, blessed be He, delights in the honor of the righteous more than His own honor, as it is written about Jeroboam that he used to make offerings and worship idols, yet the Holy One, blessed be He, waited for him AND DID NOT PUNISH HIM. But once he stretched his hands against Ido the prophet, his hand dried up, as it is written, "And his hand...dried up" (I Melachim 13:4). It is not mentioned because he worshipped idols, but because he put out his hand against Ido the prophet. Now the Holy One, blessed be He, delights in our honor as all THE RIGHTEOUS IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN came with Him.

29. אר"ש, כַּמָה שַׁנְיָא שַׁעֲתָא דָּא מֵאִדָּרָא. דִּבְאִדָּרָא אִזְדְּמַן קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּרְתִיכוֹי. וְהַשְׁתָּא, הָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא הָכָא, וְאָתֵי עִם אִינּוּן צַדִּיקַיָּיא דִּבְגִּנְתָּא דְּעֵדֶן, מַה דְּלָא אִעְרָעוּ בְּאִדָּרָא. וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי בִּיקָרֵיהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָּיא יַתִּיר מִיקָרָא דִּילֵיהּ, כְּמָה דִּכְתִּיב בִּירָבְעָם, דַּהֲוָה מְקַטֵר וּמַפְלַח לע"ז, וְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא אוֹרִיךְ לֵיהּ. וְכֵיוָן דְּאוֹשִׁיט יְדֵיהּ לָקֳבְלֵי דְּעִדּוֹ נְבִיאָה, אִתְיְיבַּשׁ יְדֵיהּ, דִּכְתִּיב וַתִּיבַשׁ יָדוֹ וְגוֹ.' וְעַל דְּפָלַח לע"ז לָא כְּתִיב, אֶלָּא עַל דְּאוֹשִׁיט יְדֵיהּ לְעִדּוֹ נְבִיאָה. וְהַשְׁתָּא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא בָּעֵי בִּיקָרָא דִּילָן, וְכֻלְּהוּ אָתָאן עִמֵּיהּ.

Atika Kadisha Corners Crowns Death of Rabbi Shimon Idra Raba Rabbi Shimon, Death of Righteous Seventy

30. RABBI SHIMON said, Here is Rav Hamnuna Saba, and around him seventy righteous people engraved with crowns, and shining each from the splendor of the radiance of the most concealed Atika Kadisha. He comes gladly to listen to the things I am saying. As he was sitting he said, since Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair is here, prepare his seat. The friends that were there trembled, rose and sat at the corners of the house, and Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Aba remained before Rabbi Shimon. Rabbi Shimon said, In the Idra RABA, the situation was that all the friends were talking and I among them. Now I shall alone speak and everyone will listen to my words, higher and lower beings. Happy is my portion on this day.

30. אָמַר, הָא רַב הַמְנוּנָא סָבָא הָכָא, וְסַחֲרָנֵיהּ ע' צַדִּיקֵי גְּלִיפָן בְּעִיטְרִין, מְנַהֲרִין כָּל חַד וְחַד מִזִּיהֲרָא דְּזִיוָא דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין. וְהוּא אָתֵי לְמִשְׁמַע בְּחֶדְוָותָא, אִלֵּין מִלִּין דַּאֲנָא אֵימָא. עַד דַּהֲוָה יָתִיב, אָמַר, הָא רִבִּי פִּנְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר הָכָא, אַתְקִינוּ דּוּכְתֵּיהּ, אִזְדַּעֲזָעוּ חַבְרַיָיא דַּהֲווֹ תַּמָּן, וְקָמוּ וְיָתְבוּ בְּשִׁיפּוּלֵי בֵּיתָא. וְרִבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרִבִּי אַבָּא, אִשְׁתָּאֲרוּ קַמֵּיהּ דר"ש. אר"ש, בְּאִדָּרָא אִשְׁתֵּכַחְנָא דְּכָל חַבְרַיָיא הֲווֹ אַמְרֵי, וַאֲנָא עִמְּהוֹן. הַשְׁתָּא אֵימָא אֲנָא בִּלְחוֹדָאי, וְכֻלְּהוּ צַיְיתִין לְמִלּוּלִי עִלָּאִין וְתַתָּאִין. זַכָּאָה חוּלָקִי יוֹמָא דֵּין.

Atika Kadisha Camp Praise

31. He opened with, "I am my beloved's, and his desire is towards me" (Shir Hashirim 7:11). All the days I was connected to this world, I was attached with one connection with the Holy One, blessed be He, and hence now, "His desire is towards me." For He and all His holy camp have come with joy to listen to hidden words and the praise of the most hidden Atika Kadisha, which is separated and divided, yet is not divided, since everything cleaves to Him and He cleaves to everything; He is everything.

31. פָּתַח ר"ש וְאָמַר, אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְעָלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ. כָּל יוֹמִין דְּאִתְקְטַּרְנָא בְּהַאי עָלְמָא, בְּחַד קְטִירָא אִתְקְטַּרְנָא בֵּיהּ בְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, ובג"כ הַשְׁתָּא וְעָלַי תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ. דְּהוּא וְכָל סִיעָתָא קַדִּישָׁא דִּילֵיהּ, אָתוּ לְמִשְׁמַע בְּחֶדְוָה, מִלִּין סְתִימִין, וּשְׁבָחָא דְּעַתִּיקָא קַדִּישָׁא, סְתִימָא דְּכָל סְתִימִין, פָּרִישׁ וְאִתְפְּרַשׁ מִכֺּלָּא, וְלָא פָּרִישׁ, דְּהָא כֺּלָּא בֵּיהּ מִתְדְּבַק, וְהוּא מִתְדְּבַק בְּכֺלָּא הוּא כֺּלָּא.