KNOWLEDGE IS POWER -- G-DLY KNOWLEDGE IS SUPER POWER.
Rabban Shimon bar Yochai, also known by his acronym Rashbi, was a
2nd-century tannaitic sage in ancient Israel, active after the
destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. He was one of the most
eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva, and is the author of the Zohar, the
chief work of Kabbalah/Mysticism.
The Parents of Rabbi Shimon, Yochai and Sarah were barren for many years. Yochai decided that he would be forced to exercise the option to divorce his wife, as is the law, in order to fulfill the mitzvah/commandment of having children, which was a matter of great distress especially to Sarah his wife.
Sarah fasted, prayed and cried a lot to G-d, like Hannah did many years earlier until her son Samuel the first prophet was born to the Jewish people. On the night of Rosh Hashanah, Yochai had a dream he was in a beautiful garden with many trees. Some were dry and barren and some, were producing beautiful foliage and fruit. Suddenly, an Angel appeared with a flask of water and started to water only some of the dried out trees.
When the Angel approached the dry tree Yochai was leaning on, the Angel pulled out a container from close to him, and watered his tree. Not long afterwards, it started to bloom and produced beautiful apple like fruit with a great scent and which was extremely tasty.
Yochai told his wife of the dream, and what he felt was its interpretation. They would be blessed with a child in the following year. “But why did the Angel water your tree differently than all the other dried out trees?” asked Sarah. Yochai said they would have to go to Rabbi Akiva, the leading Rabbi of the time for an interpretation.
Rabbi Akiva said. “The container you say the Angel pulled from his chest, was filled with the tears of Sarah’s prayer. Your dry tree was given life, from the tears of her prayers.”
It wasn’t long afterwards on the Holiday of Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, Shimon was born.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was one of three G-dly giants in the Talmud, who is described as “a regular with (living and experiencing) miracles.”
After the death of his teacher, Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon and his son Elazar, pursued by the Romans were forced to hide in a cave. G‑d caused a carob tree to spring up at the entrance to the cave, as well as a spring of fresh water. For thirteen years, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Elazar dwelt in the cave where they studied the hidden secrets of the Torah, sustaining themselves on carobs during the week, and figs on Shabbat, which again miraculously the tree offered, and water. During this time, they studied and prayed until they became the holiest sages of their day.
I would like to share with you a few of the powerful sayings and teachings of this great sage.
Here is a little Israeli Trivia.
The second most visited religious site in
Israel after the Western Wall, is the burial site of this great Rabbi,
(in North Israel)
Shimon Bar Yochai.
Shimon Bar Yochai.
The Parents of Rabbi Shimon, Yochai and Sarah were barren for many years. Yochai decided that he would be forced to exercise the option to divorce his wife, as is the law, in order to fulfill the mitzvah/commandment of having children, which was a matter of great distress especially to Sarah his wife.
Sarah fasted, prayed and cried a lot to G-d, like Hannah did many years earlier until her son Samuel the first prophet was born to the Jewish people. On the night of Rosh Hashanah, Yochai had a dream he was in a beautiful garden with many trees. Some were dry and barren and some, were producing beautiful foliage and fruit. Suddenly, an Angel appeared with a flask of water and started to water only some of the dried out trees.
When the Angel approached the dry tree Yochai was leaning on, the Angel pulled out a container from close to him, and watered his tree. Not long afterwards, it started to bloom and produced beautiful apple like fruit with a great scent and which was extremely tasty.
Yochai told his wife of the dream, and what he felt was its interpretation. They would be blessed with a child in the following year. “But why did the Angel water your tree differently than all the other dried out trees?” asked Sarah. Yochai said they would have to go to Rabbi Akiva, the leading Rabbi of the time for an interpretation.
Rabbi Akiva said. “The container you say the Angel pulled from his chest, was filled with the tears of Sarah’s prayer. Your dry tree was given life, from the tears of her prayers.”
It wasn’t long afterwards on the Holiday of Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, Shimon was born.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai was one of three G-dly giants in the Talmud, who is described as “a regular with (living and experiencing) miracles.”
After the death of his teacher, Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Shimon and his son Elazar, pursued by the Romans were forced to hide in a cave. G‑d caused a carob tree to spring up at the entrance to the cave, as well as a spring of fresh water. For thirteen years, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Elazar dwelt in the cave where they studied the hidden secrets of the Torah, sustaining themselves on carobs during the week, and figs on Shabbat, which again miraculously the tree offered, and water. During this time, they studied and prayed until they became the holiest sages of their day.
I would like to share with you a few of the powerful sayings and teachings of this great sage.
- There are three crowns (reasons for a person to wear honor and respect); 1) the crown of (those who study and know) Torah, 2) the crown of priesthood (those who are fortunate to be born descendants of Aron and are priests), 3) the crown of royalty, And the crown of a good name (an earned positive reputation) surpasses all of them.
- Whoever is arrogant and haughty, is in His eyes, as if he worshipped strange (and false) gods.
- Three worthy gifts G-d presented the Jewish people, (However) they were only given (by way of) great struggle and difficulties. Torah, the Land of Israel, and the world to come.
- Great is work, for it (brings) honor to its master.
- Greater (and worse) is someone who fools (and takes advantage of) another through words, than someone who fools (and takes advantage of) someone through money. Because, regarding (fooling someone with) words, the Torah says “and you shall fear G-d”, while regarding (fooling someone with) money, the Torah does not mention “and you shall fear G-d.”
- Even if someone is a complete righteous person his entire life and rebelled in the end, he has forfeited all that he earned in the beginning, and, even if one is a complete wicked person his entire life and repented in the end, his wickedness, is not mentioned.
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