(recent lecture)

We’ll begin with the Idra Raba, the Great Assembly. I hope for all of us it’s clear, the beauty of all of us here together, studying this section of the Zohar. (Portion Naso, The Idra Raba, section 1, The foreword to the Idra Raba.) We are awakening this Light for ourselves and for the world.

How long will we remain, as Rav Ashlag explains, in the world of pain and suffering? It is now time to do the work of God. Therefore, many of the rules that had stopped us before no longer apply. Rabbi Shimon is telling his friends, and this is 2000 years ago, he is saying we don’t have a lot of time to do this work. Every day the call comes out from the heavens. And those who are willing to do the work are referred to as the workers of the field, those working in Malchut. There are very few. Rabbi Shimon is saying, gather to this Great Assembly.

As we read this, it is happening.

He says, come with your swords and your shields. It’s important to understand when one is ready to do this work, it is a battle. It will not be easy. Become ready to say the words of truth. Rabbi Shimon sat down and he cried. He said, woe if I reveal these secrets, and woe if I don’t. All of the friends sitting around Rabbi Shimon were quiet. Rabbi Aba, one of the closest students stood up, and said, don’t worry, you can reveal these secrets. All of those here, the nine of us, can keep the secrets. We are ready. We are vessels to receive this tremendous Light.

The friends were counted in front of Rabbi Shimon: Rabbi Elazar, his son, Rabbi Aba, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yosi bar Jacob, Rabbi Yitzhak, Rabbi Chizkiyah bar Rav, Rabbi Chiya, Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Yesa. These nine accompanied Rabbi Shimon. And they gave their hands to Rabbi Shimon and they raised their fingers toward the heaven. And they sat amongst the trees. Rabbi Shimon stood up and said his prayer. He sat with them and they took their hands and put them on their chests and then gave their hands again to Rabbi Shimon.

It is the time for this great revelation. Because the world has lost so much Light, it is time for this great revelation. Then Rabbi Shimon goes on to explain the Idra Raba.

Through this reading this Shabbat, the secrets, as the Zohar talks about them, are not intellectual. They are revelations of Light. Our consciousness needs to be that we are awakened. Not only for ourselves, but for the world.

We don’t study to learn more. We study to reveal more.