Prologue: Chapter 20

Rabbi Shimon's departure from the cave

Synopsis

The Zohar recounts the final day that Rabbi Shimon and his son Rabbi Elazar spent in the cave where Rabbi Shimon had buried himself neck deep in the ground for thirteen years, during the revelation (isn't that more accurate?) of the Zohar. Rabbi Shimon at last emerges from the cave, battered and decomposed. He credits his total disregard for the comforts and desires of his body as the secret behind the revelation of the wisdom of the Zohar. By relating this passage to our own lives, we too can arouse the will and self-control for overcoming destructive tendencies, which are rooted in the Desire to receive for the self alone.

Light Stone Sun Year

185. Rabbi Pinchas frequently visited Rabbi Rechumai, who lived at the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He was a great man who was full of years and had lost his eyesight. He said to Rabbi Pinchas, I have heard that our friend Yochai has a jewel, a precious stone, NAMELY A SON. And I have observed the light that shines from that jewel; and it shines like the radiance of the sun as it emerges out from its sheath and illuminates the whole world.

185. רַבִּי פִּינְחָס הֲוָה שְׁכִיחַ קַמֵּי דְּרַבִּי רְחוּמָאי בְּכֵיף יַמָּא דְּגִנוֹסָר. וּב"נ רַב וּקְשִׁישָׁא דְיוֹמִין הֲוָה, וְעֵינוֹי אִסְתַּלָּקוּ מִלְּמֶחֱמֵי. אֲמַר לְרַבִּי פִּינְחָס, וַדַּאי שְׁמַעְנָא דְּיוֹחָאי חַבְרָנָא אִית לֵיהּ מַרְגָּלִית אֶבֶן טָבָא, וְאִסְתַּכְּלִית בִּנְהוֹרָא דְּהַהִיא מַרְגָּלִית, נָפְקָא כִּנְהִירוּ דְּשִׁמְשָׁא מִנַּרְתְּקָהּ, וְנָהֲרָא כָּל עָלְמָא.

Ancient of Days (Atik Yomin) Atik Yomin (Ancient of Days) Chair Daughter Earth Heavens Keter Light Lights Throne

186. And that light extends from the heavens down to the earth, where it brightens the whole world until the Atik Yomin, WHO IS KETER, appears and is properly seated upon the throne, THIS REFERS TO THE END OF CORRECTION. And this radiance is contained entirely in your household, THAT IS IN YOUR DAUGHTER, BECAUSE THE DAUGHTER OF RABBI PINCHAS WAS THE WIFE OF RABBI SHIMON BAR YOCHAI. And from this effulgence that is contained in your household, a tiny ray of light, THAT IS THE SON OF HIS DAUGHTER, WHO IS RABBI ELAZAR, comes forth and brightens up the whole world. How happy is your lot. Go my son, go! Go after that jewel that shines and lights up all the world, as the hour is propitious for you.

186. וְהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא קָאֵים מִשְׁמַיָּא לְאַרְעָא, וְנָהֵיר כָּל עָלְמָא, עַד דְּיָתֵיב עַתִּיק יוֹמִין, וְיָתֵיב עַל כָּרְסַיָּיא כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת. וְהַהוּא נְהוֹרָא כָּלֵיל כֹּלָּא בְּבֵיתָךְ, וּמִנְּהוֹרָא דְּאִתְכְּלֵיל בְּבֵיתָךְ, נָפֵיק נְהִירוּ דַּקִּיק וּזְעֵיר, וְנָפֵיק לְבַר וְנָהֵיר כָּל עָלְמָא, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקָךְ. פּוֹק בְּרִי פּוֹק, זִיל אַבַּתְרֵיהּ דְּהַהִיא מַרְגָּלִית דְּנָהֵיר עָלְמָא, דְּהָא שַׁעֲתָא קָיְימָא לָךְ.

Birds Seas Voice Waters

187. He took his leave from him and was about to enter a boat, accompanied by two people. He saw two birds flying toward him over the lake. He raised up his voice and said, Birds, O birds - you who fly over the waters - have you seen the place, where the son of Yochai is? He waited awhile and then said, Birds, O birds - Go and bring me back an answer! They flew away, into the middle of the sea, and disappeared.

187. נָפַק מִקַּמֵּיהּ וְקָאֵים לְמֵיעַל בְּהַהִיא אַרְבָא, וּתְרֵין גּוּבְרִין בַּהֲדֵיהּ חָמָא תְּרֵין צִפֳּרִין דַּהֲווֹ אַתְיָין וְטָסִין עַל יַמָּא, רָמָּא לוֹן קָלָא וַאֲמַר, צִפֳּרִין צִפֳּרִין דְּאַתּוּן טָאסִין עַל יַמָּא חֲמֵיתוּן דּוּךְ דְּבַר יוֹחָאי תַּמָּן, אִשְׁתָּהֵי פּוּרְתָא אֲמַר צִפֳּרִין צִפֳּרִין זִילוּ וַאֲתִיבוּ לִי. פָּרְחוּ וַאֲזִילוּ, עָאלוּ בְּיַמָּא וְאָזְלֵי לְהוֹן.

Birds Body Caves Precepts Ships Torah

188. Before he went ON BOARD THE SHIP and departed, the two birds appeared again. In the mouth of one of them was a letter informing him that RABBI SHIMON, the son of Yochai, had left the cave together with his son, Rabbi Elazar. RABBI PINCHAS went to meet him. He saw that he had completely changed, and his body was full of scars and sores FROM STAYING SO LONG IN THE CAVE. He wept together WITH HIM and said, Woe, that I have seen you so! RABBI SHIMON REPLIED: O how happy is my lot, that you have seen me so. Because had you not seen me thus I would not have been so. Rabbi Shimon opened the discussion on the precepts of the Torah by saying, The precepts of the Torah that were given to Yisrael by the Holy One, blessed be He, are all written in the Torah in general.

188. עַד דְּנָפַק, הָא אִינוּן צִפֳּרִין אַתְיָין, וּבְפוּמָא דְּחָדָא מִנַיְיהוּ פִּתְקָא חָדָא, וּכְתִיב בְּגַוָּוהּ, דְּהָא בַּר יוֹחָאי נָפַק מִן מְעַרְתָּא, וְרַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרֵיהּ אֲזַל לְגַבֵּיהּ, וְאַשְׁכַּח לֵיהּ מְשַׁנְיָא, וְגוּפֵיהּ מַלְיָא חֲלוּדִין. בָּכָה בַּהֲדֵיהּ, וַאֲמַר, וַוי דַּחֲמִיתִיךְ בְּכָךְ. אֲמַר, זַכָּאָה חוּלָקִי דַּחֲמֵית לִי בְּכָךְ, דְּאִלְמָלֵא לָא חֲמֵיתָא לִי בְּכָךְ לָא הֲוֵינָא בְּכָךְ. פָּתַח רָבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בְּפִקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא וַאֲמַר, פִּקּוּדֵי אוֹרַיְיתָא דִּיהַב קָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כָּלְהוֹ בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא בְּאֹרַח כְּלַל כְּתִיבֵי.

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