Prologue: Chapter 10

The vision of Rabbi Chiya

Synopsis

Rabbi Chiya is worthy of elevation to the highest spiritual worlds, and to meet with the holy Kabbalist, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, and his son Rabbi Elazar. Rabbi Chiya spends time studying with his great Master in the supernal Academy, where Rabbi Shimon teaches the greatest of souls. The Messiah himself comes to spend time with Rabbi Shimon. These spiritual words of wisdom instill in us the ability to connect ourselves to the supernal Worlds above.

Dust Earth Eyes Hands Light Merit Pillar

49. Rabbi Chiya prostrated himself on the earth, kissed the dust and cried out, Dust, dust, how stiff-necked (stubborn) you are; how shameless you are that all the delights of the eye perish within you! You consume all the beacons of light in the world and grind them. How impertinent you are! The Holy Light that illuminates the world -- the great leader who governs the entire world and whose merit sustains the world -- is consumed by you! Rabbi Shimon, the Light of the Illumination, the Light of the Worlds, you perish in the dust while you sustain and govern the world! He then fell into a reverie for a moment and said, Dust, dust, be not proud, because the pillars of the world will not be delivered into your hands and Rabbi Shimon shall not be consumed by you!

49. אִשְׁתַּטַּח רַבִּי חִיָּיא בְּאַרְעָא וּנְשַׂק לְעַפְרָא, וּבְכָה וַאֲמַר, עַפְרָא עַפְרָא, כַּמָּה אַתְּ קְשֵׂי קְדַל, כַּמָּה אַתְּ בַּחֲצִיפוּ, דְּכָל מַחֲמַדֵּי עֵינָא יִתְבְּלוֹן בָּךְ, כָּל עַמּוּדֵי נְהוֹרִין דְּעָלְמָא תֵּיכוֹל וְתֵידוֹק. כַּמָּה אַתְּ חֲצִיפָא, בּוֹצִינָא קַדִּישָׁא דַּהֲוָה נָהֵיר עָלְמָא שַׂלִּיטָא רַבְרְבָא מְמַנָּא דִּזְכוּתֵיהּ מְקַיֵּים עָלְמָא, אִתְבְּלֵי בָּךְ. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן נְהִירוּ דְּבוֹצִינָא, נְהִירוּ דְּעָלְמִין, אַנְתְּ בָּלֵי בְּעַפְרָא וְאַנְתְּ קַיַּים וּנְהַג עָלְמָא. אִשְׁתּוֹמֵם רִגְעָא חָדָא, וַאֲמַר עַפְרָא עַפְרָא לָא תִתְגָּאֵי, דְּלָא יִתְמַסְּרוּן בָּךְ עַמּוּדִין דְּעָלְמָא, דְּהָא רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לָא אִתְבְּלֵי בָּךְ.

Vision

50. Rabbi Chiya stood up and walked along weeping, accompanied by Rabbi Yosi. He fasted from that day on for forty days so that he might meet with Rabbi Shimon. They told him, you are not fit to see him. He then wept and fasted for another forty days. They showed him Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Elazar his son, in a vision. They were discussing the interpretation of that word, which Rabbi Yosi mentioned IN THE NAME OF RABBI SHIMON. And many thousands were listening to his words.

50. קָם רַבִּי חִיָּיא וַהֲוָה בָּכֵי. אֲזַל, וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי עִמֵּיהּ. מֵהַהוּא יוֹמָא אִתְעַנֵּי אַרְבְּעִין יוֹמִין לְמֶחֱמֵי לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. אֲמָרוּ לֵיהּ לֵית אַנְתְּ רַשַּׁאי לְמֶחֱמֵי לֵיהּ. בְּכָה וְאִתְעַנֵּי אַרְבְּעִין יוֹמִין אַחֲרִינִין, אַחֲזִיאוּ לֵיהּ בְּחֶזְוָוא לְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ, דַּהֲווֹ לָעָאן בְּמִלָּה דָא דַּאֲמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, וַהֲווֹ כַּמָּה אַלְפִין צַיְיתִין לְמִלּוּלֵיהּ.

Sun

51. Meanwhile, he saw many great celestial wings. Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar mounted on them and were borne aloft to the heavenly Yeshivah. And all those wings were waiting for them. He then saw THAT RABBI SHIMON AND RABBI ELAZAR were renewed constantly by their own splendor and shone more than the sun.

51. אַדְהָכֵי, חֲמָא כַּמָּה גַדְפִין רַבְרְבִין עִלָּאִין, וּסְלִיקוּ עֲלַייהוּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ וסְלִיקוּ לִמְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא, וְכָל אִלֵּין גַּדְפִין הֲווֹ מְחַכָּאן לְהוֹ. חֲמָא דְמִתְהַדְּרָן וּמִתְחַדְּשָׁן בְּזִיווֹן וּנְהִירוּ יַתִּיר מִנְהוֹרָא דְזִיוָא דְשִׁמְשָׁא.

Face Pillar Righteous World to Come, The

52. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion by saying, Let Rabbi Chiya enter and see how much the Holy One, blessed be He, shall restore the faces of the righteous in the World to Come. How happy is he who comes here without shame, and how happy is he who stands erect in that world as a strong pillar that bears all! RABBI CHIYA saw HIMSELF entering, and Rabbi Elazar stood up. So did all of the other pillars OF THE WORLD, which had previously been sitting there. THEY ALL STOOD UP BEFORE RABBI CHIYA. And he, RABBI CHIYA was embarrassed. As he entered, he detached himself and sat at the feet of Rabbi Shimon.

52. פְּתַח רָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וַאֲמַר, יֵיעוֹל רַבִּי חִיָּיא וְלֶיחֱמֵי, בִּכְמָה דְּזַמִּין קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְחַדְתָּא אַנְפֵּי צַדִּיקַיָּיא לְזִמְנָא דַּאֲתֵי. זַכָּאָה אִיהוּ מַאן דְּעָאל הָכָא בְּלָא כִסּוּפָא וְזַכָּאָה מַאן דְּקָאֵים בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, כְּעַמּוּדָא תַּקִּיף בְּכֹלָא, וַחֲמָא דַּהֲוָה עָאל וַהֲוָה קָם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וּשְׁאָר עַמּוּדִין דְּיָתְבִין תַּמָּן. וְהוּא הֲוָה כְּסִיף, וְאַשְׁמִיט גַרְמֵיהּ, וְעָאל וְיָתֵיב לְרַגְלוֹי דְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן.

Darkness Eyes Head Light Voice

53. A voice came forth, saying: Lower your eyes, do not raise your head up, and do not look! He lowered his eyes and saw a light that shone from afar. The voice returned and said: You hidden and unseen celestials on high, you who are clever and wander throughout the world, behold and see! Earthly beings that are in slumber, WITH THE LIGHT OF YOUR EYES concealed in Your EYE sockets, wake up!

53. קָלָא נְפַק וַאֲמַר, מָאִיךְ עֵינָךְ לָא תִזְקוֹף רֵישָׁךְ, וְלָא תִסְתַּכַּל. מָאִיךְ עֵינוֹי, וַחֲמָא נְהוֹרָא דַּהֲוָה נָהִיר לְמֵרָחוֹק. קָלָא אַהֲדַר כְּמִלְקַדְּמִין, וַאֲמַר עִלָּאִין טְמִירִין סְתִימִין, פְּקִיחֵי עֵינָא, אִינוּן דִּמְשָׁטְטִין בְּכָל עָלְמָא, אִסְתְּכָּלוּ וַחֲמוּ. תַּתָּאִין דְּמִיכִין סְתִימִין בְּחוֹרֵיכוֹן, אִתְעָרוּ.

Darkness Gazelle Light

54. Who among you has, DURING HIS LIFETIME IN THIS WORLD, transformed darkness into light and the taste of bitter into sweet before he came here? Who among you has awaited eagerly every day the light that shines when the King calls upon the Gazelle? For then - the glory OF THE KING INCREASES, and He is called the King of all the other kings of the world. Because he who does not await eagerly for this every day, AS HE LIVES in that world - MEANING THIS WORLD WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE?- has no part here.

54. מָאן מִנְכוֹן, דִּי חֲשׁוֹכָא מְהַפְּכָן לִנְהוֹרָא, וְטָעֲמִין מְרִירָא לְמִתְקָא, עַד לָא יֵיתוֹן הָכָא. מָאן מִנְּכוֹן, דִּמְחַכָּאן בְּכָל יוֹמָא לִנְהוֹרָא דְנָהֵיר בְּשַׁעֲתָא דְמַלְכָּא פָּקֵיד לְאַיַּלְתָּא, וְאִתְיַיקַר, וְאִתְקְרֵי מַלְכָּא מִכָּל מַלְכִין דְּעָלְמָא. מָאן דְּלָא מְצַפֶּה דָא בְּכָל יוֹמָא בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, לֵית לֵיהּ חוּלָקָא הָכָא.

Metatron Pillar

55. Meanwhile, he saw many of his friends gathering around the standing Pillars, and he saw how they elevated them to the heavenly Yeshivah. Some were ascending while others were descending. And high above them all, he saw the owner of the wings, WHO IS METATRON, approach.

55. אַדְּהָכֵי חֲמָא כַּמָּה מִן חַבְרַיָיא, סַחֲרָנֵיהּ כָּל אִינוּן עַמּוּדִין דְּקַיָּימִין. וַחֲמָא דִסְלִיקוּ לוֹן לִמְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא, אִלֵּין סַלְקִין, וְאִלֵּין נָחֲתִין, וְעֵילָא דְּכָלְהוֹ חֲמָא מָארֵי דְגַדְפֵי דַּהֲוָה אָתֵי.

Angels Creation Curtain Earth Fear Fire Gazelle Heavens Metatron Rahav Seas Shechinah Soil Waters

56. THE ANGEL METATRON swears that he heard from behind the curtain how the King attends the Gazelle every day and remembers how She lies in the dust. At that time, He kicks 390 heavens, which all quake and tremble with fear because of Him. And He, THE KING, sheds tears because of this, THAT THE SHECHINAH LIES IN THE DUST. And the tears, that are hot as fire, fall down into the great sea. By the power of these tears, the governor who rules the sea, AND IS CALLED RAHAV, is sustained and stays alive. And he sanctifies the name of the Holy King by taking it upon himself to swallow all the waters of the days of Creation. He gathers them all within himself so that on that day when all the nations assemble against the holy nation, the waters may dry up while they cross over on dry land.

56. וְהוּא אוֹמֵי אוֹמָאָה, דְּשָׁמַע מֵאֲחוֹרֵי פַּרְגּוֹדָא, דְּמַלְכָּא מַפְקַד בְּכָל יוֹמָא וּדְכִיר לְאַיַּלְתָּא דִי שְׁכִיבַת לְעַפְרָא, וּבְעַט בְּעִיטִין בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא בִּתְלַת מְאָה וְתִשְׁעִין רְקִיעִין, וְכָלְהוֹ מְרַתְּתִין וְזָעִין קַמֵּיהּ. וְאוֹרִיד דִּמְעִין עַל דָּא, וְנָפְלֵי אִינוּן דִּמְעִין רְתִיחִין כְּאֶשָׁא לְגוֹ יַמָּא רַבָּא, וּמְאִינוּן דִּמְעִין קָאֵים הַהוּא מְמַנָּא דְיַמָּא, וְאִתְקַיַּים, וְקָדִישׁ שְׁמֵיהּ דְּמַלְכָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וְקָבֵיל עֲלֵיהּ לְמִבְלַע כָּל מֵימוֹי דִּבְרֵאשִׁית, וְיִכְנוֹשׁ לְהוֹ לְגַוֵּיהּ, בְּשַׁעְתָּא דְיִתְכַּנְשׁוּן כָּל עַמְמַיָּא עַל עַמָּא קַדִּישָׁא, וִינַגְבוֹן מַיָּא, וְיַעַבְרוּן בִּנְגִיבוּ.

Crowns Head Messiah, The Righteous Seal Torah Voice

57. Meanwhile, he heard a voice call out: Move aside, make room. King Messiah is coming to the Academy of Rabbi Shimon, because all the righteous people there are the heads of the Academies, which are known on high. And all the disciples of each Academy ascend from this Academy here to the heavenly Academy. And Messiah visits all these Academies and signs the Torah with the seal of the teachings that come from the mouths of the learned Rabbis. At that time, King Messiah came TO THE ACADEMY OF RABBI SHIMON crowned by heavenly diadems that He had received from the heads of the Academies.

57. אַדְהָכֵי, שְׁמַע קָלָא דַּאֲמַר, פַּנּוֹן אֲתַר פַּנּוֹן אֲתַר, דְּהָא מַלְכָּא מְשִׁיחָא אָתֵי לִמְתִיבְתָּא דְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, בְּגִין דְּכָל צַדִּיקַיָּיא דְּתַמָּן רֵישֵׁי מְתִיבְתָּא. וְאִינוּן מְתִיבְתֵּי דְתַמָּן רְשִׁימִין אִינוּן. וְכָל אִינוּן חַבְרִין דִּי בְּכָל מְתִיבְתָּא, סַלְקֵי מִמְּתִיבְתָּא דְּהָכָא לִמְתִיבְתָּא דִרְקִיעָא. וּמָשִׁיחַ אָתֵי בְּכָל אִינוּן מְתִיבְתֵּי, וְחָתִים אוֹרַיְיתָא מִפּוּמַיְיהוּ דְרַבָּנָן. וּבְהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא אָתֵי מָשִׁיחַ מִתְעַטֵּר מִן רֵישֵׁי מְתִיבְתֵּי בְּעִטְרִין עִילָּאִין.

Hezekiah Light Messiah, The Persimmon Rivers Torah

58. At the same time, all the friends and Rabbi Shimon, as well, stood up. Rabbi Shimon's light reached up to the empyrean. MESSIAH said to him: Rabbi, how blessed you are, that your Torah (teachings) has been elevated by the Illumination of 370 Lights. And every single Light has been explained in 613 ways. Then they rise up and bathe themselves in the rivers of pure Persimmon (balm). And the Holy One, blessed be He, approves the Torah study of your Academy, of the Academy of Hezekiah, the King of the Judean Kingdom and of the Academy of Achiya Ha-Shiloni.

58. בְּהַהוּא שַׁעֲתָא, קָמוּ כָּל אִינוּן חַבְרַיָיא, וְקָם ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, וַהֲוָה סָלֵיק נְהוֹרֵיהּ עַד רוּם רָקִיעַ, אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַבִּי זַכָּאָה אַנְתְּ, דְּאוֹרַיְיתָךְ סָלְקָא בִּתְלַת מְאָה וְשַׂבְעִין נְהוֹרִין וְכָל נְהוֹרָא וּנְהוֹרָא אִתְפַּרְשַׁת לְשִׁית מְאָה וּתְלֵיסַר טַעֲמִין סָלְקִין וְאִסְתַחְיָין בְּנַהֲרֵי אֲפַרְסְמוֹנָא דַכְיָא. וְקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אִיהוּ חָתִים אוֹרַיְיתָא מִמְּתִיבְתָּךְ, וּמִמְתִיבְתָּא דְּחִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה, וּמִגּוֹ מְתִיבְתָּא דַּאֲחִיָּה הַשִׁילוֹנִי.

Body Heavens Light Messiah, The Metatron Oath Seas Torah Voice Whale Yeshivah

59. I have come to approve the Torah of your Academy only because the winged one is on his way here, and I know that he shall not enter any other Academy (Yeshivah) - only yours. Meanwhile, he told Rabbi Shimon about the oath taken by the winged one. Then Messiah trembled and raised up his voice. The heavens also trembled, as did the great sea and the Whale. The world was about to collapse. Also, at this time, he noticed Rabbi Chiya sitting at the feet of Rabbi Shimon. He said: Who allowed a human being, wearing the cloaks of that world, THAT IS, THE PHYSICAL BODY OF THIS WORLD, here? Rabbi Shimon answered: This is Rabbi Chiya the shining light of the Torah. He said: Let he and his sons be gathered, MEANING, LET THEM PASS AWAY FROM THIS WORLD, and join your Academy! Rabbi Shimon said, Let him be given time! And time was given to him.

59. וַאֲנָא לָא אָתֵינָא לְמִחְתַּם מִמְתִיבְתָּךְ, אֶלָא מָארֵי דְגַדְפִין אָתֵי הָכָא, דְּהָא יְדַעְנָא דְלָא יֵיעוֹל גּוֹ מְתִיבְתֵּי אַחְרִיתֵּי, אֶלָּא בִּמְתִיבְתָּךְ. בְּהַהִיא שַׁעֲתָא סָח לֵיהּ ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, הַהוּא אוֹמָאָה דְּאוֹמֵי מָארֵי דְגַדְּפִין. כְּדֵי אִזְדַּעְזַע מָשִׁיחַ וְאָרֵים קָלֵיהּ, וְאִזְדַּעְזְעוּ רְקִיעִין, וְאִזְדַּעְזַע יַמָּא רַבָּא, וְאִזְדַּעְזַא לִוְיָתָן, וְחָשִׁיב עָלְמָא לְאִתְהַפְּכָא, אַדְהָכֵי חָמָא לְר' חִיָּיא לְרַגְלוֹי דְרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן. אֲמַר, מָאן יָהֵיב הָכָא בַּר נָשׁ לָבִישׁ מַדָּא דְהַהוּא עָלְמָא. אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן דָּא אִיהוּ רַבִּי חִיָּיא, נְהִירוּ דְבוֹצִינָא דְאוֹרַיְיתָא. אֲמַר לֵיהּ, יִתְכַּנֵּשׁ הוּא וּבְנוֹי, וְלֶיהֱווֹן מִמְתִיבְתָּא דִילָךְ. אֲמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן זִמְנָא יִתְיְיהֵב לֵיהּ. יָהֲבוּ לֵיהּ זִמְנָא.

Eyes Love Messiah, The Righteous World to Come, The

60. He, MESSIAH, left there trembling all over, his eyes brimming with tears. Rabbi Chiya was deeply shaken and wept. Then he said, how happy are the righteous with their portion in the World to Come, and how happy is the son of Yochai, who has this distinction. He is described by the verse, "I may cause those who love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures" (Mishlei 8:21).

60. וּנְפַק מִתַּמָּן מִזְדַּעְזַע, וְזָלְגָן עֵינוֹי דִמְעִין. אִזְדַּעְזַא רַבִּי חִיָּיא, וּבְכָה וַאֲמַר, זַכָּאָה חוּלְקֵהוֹן דְּצַדִּיקַיָיא בְּהַהוּא עָלְמָא, וְזַכָּאָה חוּלָקֵיהּ דְּבַר יוֹחָאי דִּזְכָה לְכָךְ. עֲלֵיהּ כְּתִיב לְהַנְחִיל אוֹהֲבַי יֵשׁ וְאוֹצְרוֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּא.

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