120. We learned that Rabbi Yosi said, Since Rabbi Shimon left the cave, nothing was concealed from the friends. They would behold supernal mysteries, which were revealed to them, as if they were given on Mount Sinai at that hour. After RABBI SHIMON died, it is written, "The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped" (Beresheet 8:2). TO WIT, THE SPRINGS OF WISDOM WERE STOPPED. The friends contemplated these matters but did not understand their secrets.
121. For one day, Rabbi Yehuda sat at the gate of Tiberias. He saw two camels laden with BUNDLES OF expensive woolen clothes. The load fell, and birds came TO WHERE IT WOULD FALL. But the birds were torn before the clothes reached it.
122. After that, other birds came on THE TORN BIRDS. They sat upon the rock and were not torn. They shouted AT THE BIRDS, TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE TORN BIRDS, but they would not go. They heard a voice saying that the crown upon the crowns dwells in darkness, and its master is outside.
123. While RABBI YEHUDA was sitting, a man passed by and looked AT THE BIRDS. He said, This man did not fulfill the words of the verse, "And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away" (Beresheet 15:11). Rabbi Yehuda said, But I tried TO MAKE THE BIRDS GO AWAY FROM THEM BY SHOUTING AT THEM, but they would not go. The man turned his head TO RABBI YEHUDA and said, He did not yet pluck the hair of his master, nor did he shear the lady. RABBI YEHUDA DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT. He ran after him three miles AND BEGGED HIM TO EXPLAIN WHAT HE SAID, but he did not. Rabbi Yehuda was grieved.
124. One day RABBI YEHUDA slept under a tree. In his dream he saw four wings prepared and Rabbi Shimon mounting upon them with a book of the Torah. He left no book of sublime mysteries and Agadah, but took all with him to heaven. He saw them hidden from his eyes, never to be revealed again.
125. When he woke up he said, Assuredly, when Rabbi Shimon died, Wisdom departed from the earth. Woe to the generation, from which the precious stone was gone - the one they held onto, and which was the support of the upper and the lower..
126. He came before Rabbi Aba and told him. Rabbi Aba raised his hands to his head and wept. He said, A mill to grind good manna every day; NAMELY REVEALING THE SECRETS OF THE TORAH, CALLED MANNA. It is gathered, as it is written, "He that gathered least gathered a quantity of ten homers" (Bemidbar 11:32). Now the mill and the manna are gone, and nothing remained of it in the world, save as it is written, "Take a jar, and put an omer full of manna in it, and lay it up before Hashem, to be kept for your generations" (Shemot 16:33). It does not say 'in an open place' but "to be kept," which means to be put in a hidden place. Who could now reveal secrets? Who even knows them?
127. RABBI ABA whispered to Rabbi Yehuda, saying, Surely the man you saw was Elijah. He did not agree to reveal secrets to you, so that you may realize the worth of Rabbi Shimon, who lived in your days, and the generation will weep for him. RABBI ABA said to him: We should indeed mourn him.
128. Rabbi Yehuda wept for him every day, for he was with him, RABBI SHIMON, at the holy assembly of Rabbi Shimon with the other friends. He said TO RABBI ABA, Woe is me that I was not gone at the holy assembly that day with the three who were gone, RABBI YOSI THE SON OF RABBI YA'AKOV, RABBI CHIZKIYAH, AND RABBI YISA, instead of beholding this generation that is changed.