Tikunei Zohar - Rectifications of Splendor - Tome 1 of 5

by Shimon bar Yochai, Fabrizio del Tin (Editor)

Tikunei Zohar, also known as the Tikunim, is a main text of Kabbalah and a separate appendix to the Zohar consisting of seventy commentaries on the opening word of the Torah, "In the beginning (Bereshit)." It contains deep secret mystical teachings, such as the account of Creation through the Hebrew letters, permutations, stirring dialogues, fervent prayers, and the explanation of the Hawayah (Tetragrammaton). The Tikunim, literally Rectifications, are meant to repair and support the Shekinah (Divine Presence), so that we can restore Man from the fallen to the perfect state again. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov was involved with the Tikunim more than with any other book, and he stated that it is of such different holiness and wisdom that it is beyond compare to the rest of the holy Zohar (Chayey Moharan). He also said that "Concerning the book Tikunei Zohar, one thousand books would not suffice to explain the secrets that are to be found there" (Sichot Haran)

260 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

About the author

Rabbi Shimon (Simeon) bar Yochai (רבן שמעון בר יוחאי), also known by his acronym Rashbi, was a 2nd-century tannaitic sage in ancient Israel, said to be active after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. He was one of the most eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva, and is pseudepigraphically attributed by many Orthodox Jews with the authorship of the Zohar, the chief work of Kabbalah.

In addition, important legal homilies called Sifre and Mekhilta are attributed to him (not to be confused with the Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael, of which much of the text is the same). In the Mishnah, in which he is the fourth-most mentioned sage, he is often referred to as simply "Rabbi Shimon".

According to popular legend, he and his son, Rabbi Eleazar b. Simeon, were noted Kabbalists. Both figures are held in unique reverence by kabbalistic tradition. They were buried in the same tomb in Meron, Israel, which is visited by thousands year round.

According to a legend in the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai criticized the Roman government and was forced to go into hiding with his son for thirteen years. They sheltered in a cave (which local tradition places in Peki'in). Next to the mouth of the cave a carob tree sprang up and a spring of fresh water gushed forth. Provided against hunger and thirst they cast off their clothing except during prayers to keep them from wearing out, embedded themselves in the sand up to their necks, and studied the Torah all day long. He and his son left the cave when they received a bat qol (divine revelation) saying that the Roman emperor had died and consequently all his decrees were abolished.