| Zohar means Radiance, and The Book of Zohar is the | | | | qualities that exist in the spiritual world. The ten sages |
| fundamental book in the wisdom of Kabbalah. It is the | | | | had attained these spiritual qualities through their souls |
| key enabling one to reveal the spiritual part of the | | | | and were able to record them in a book. |
| universe, hidden to our five senses, and the Upper | | | | The book was written in a special way. Rashbi knew |
| Force that governs everything and brings everything | | | | that the text had to conceal its spiritual content, |
| into being. | | | | because this information was intended for those who |
| It was written by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, or Rashbi, | | | | would live two millennia later—us. This is why he had |
| a great Kabbalist who lived in the 2nd century CE. | | | | one of his students, Rabbi Aba, write it. Rabbi Aba |
| Rashbi attained all the wisdom that was to be | | | | was able to put the spiritual information in a concealed |
| recorded in The Book of Zoharwhile hiding from the | | | | manner. He wrote The Book of Zohar by listening to |
| hostile Roman authorities in a cave in Northern Israel. | | | | Rashbi and recording what he said in a way that an |
| Together with his son Rabbi Elazar, Rashbi spent 13 | | | | uninformed reader could comprehend only the |
| years living in this cave, eating fruits of a carob tree | | | | shallowest, most external layer of the text. For |
| and drinking water from a nearby source. In that time, | | | | instance, here is how the book starts: Rabbi Chizkiyah |
| the father and son had attained all the degrees of the | | | | opened, “It is written, as the rose amongst the |
| spiritual world, and were able to feel the Upper Force | | | | thorns.” The text is beautiful and poetic, yet requires |
| or the Creator with utter clarity. | | | | a spiritual attainment in order to decipher its true |
| 13 years later, Rabbi Shimon and his son reemerged | | | | meaning. |
| from the cave, assembled a group of disciples, and | | | | Hence, when we read The Book of Zohar without the |
| wrote The Book of Zohar along with them. Kabbalah | | | | needed preparation, it appears as a series of |
| explains that ten men were necessary to write this | | | | fantastical tales and legends. And to learn how to read |
| unique book, because their souls corresponded to ten | | | | it properly, we should start with the writings of Rabbi |
| spiritual forces called “Sefirot.” Only together | | | | Yehuda Ashlag, also called Baal HaSulam, after his |
| were they able to create the common spiritual vessel | | | | Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Book of Zohar. |
| able to perceive the highest degrees of the spiritual | | | | Baal HaSulam composed a comprehensive, accurate, |
| world. | | | | and systematic interpretation of The Book of Zohar. |
| Therefore, when The Book of Zohar describes Rabbi | | | | His goal was to unveil the book to the public and make |
| Shimon and his students, it actually refers to the | | | | it suitable for the souls of our time. |