## Ohr Ne'erav, PART I

###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:1
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:1)

ועוד בזה בענין זה

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
**More on This Matter**


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:2
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:2)

בפרשת בהעלותך זה לשונו,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
In [the Zohar], section Be-ha’alotekha [III, 152a], it states:


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:3
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:3)

"רבי שמעון אמר

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Rabbi Simeon said;


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:4
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:4)

ווי ליה לההוא בר נש דאמר דהא אורייתא אתא לאחזאה ספורין בעלמא ומלין דהדיוטא דאי הכי אפילו בזמנא דא אנן יכלין למעבד אורייתא במלין דהדיוטן ובשבחא יתיר מכלהו.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Woe to that son of man who says that this Torah has come to present an ordinary story and ordinary words. For if this were so, even in this time we would be able to make a Torah of ordinary words; [one] better than any of them.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:5
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:5)

אי לאחזאה מלה דעלמא, אפילו אינון קפסירי דעלמא אית בינייהו מלין עלאין יתיר, אי הכי נזיל אבתרייהו ונעביד מינייהו אורייתא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
If [the Torah] comes merely to present ordinary words, then there are even greater words among the nobles of the world. If so, let us seek [those words] and make a Torah of them.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:6
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:6)

אלא כל מילין דאורייתא כהאי גוונא.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
However, all the words of the Torah are [sublime].


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:7
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:7)

תא חזי

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Come and see:


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:8
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:8)

עלמא עלאה ועלמא תתאה בחד מתקלא אתתקלו, ישראל לתתא מלאכי עילאי לעילא, מלאכי עילאי כתיב בהו עושה מלאכיו רוחות.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The upper world and the lower world are evenly balanced: Israel below and the high angels above. Of the lofty angels it is written, *He makes His angels as winds* (Ps. 104:4). This [refers to their state] in the high place.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:9
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:9)

בשעתא דנחתין לתתא מתלבשין בלבושא דהאי עלמא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
When they come down to earth [the angels] clothe themselves in the garments of this world.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:10
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:10)

ואי לאו מתלבשי בלבושי כגוונא דהאי עלמא, לא יכלין למיקם בהאי עלמא, ולא סביל לון עלמא. ‎

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Had they not clothed themselves in garments after the fashion of this world, they would not have been able to exist in this world, and the world would not suffer them [to exist].


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:11
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:11)

ואי במלאכי כך אורייתא די ברא להון וברא עלמין כלהו וכלהו קיימין בגינה, ‎

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
If this is so with regard to the angels, then [how much more so] with regard to the Torah, which created them and all the worlds, and everything exists for its sake.¹

footnotes:
¹ The Torah as the raison d’être for the creation of the universe is a common Midrashic theme. See, for example, Bereshit Rabbah 1:4.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:12
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:12)

כיון דנחתת להאי עלמא אי לאו דמתלבשא היא בלבושא דהאי עלמא, לא יכיל עלמא למסבל.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
When [the Torah] did come down into the world, were it not clothed in the garments of this world, the world would not have been able to suffer it.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:13
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:13)

וע״ד האי ספורא דאורייתא לבושא דאורייתא איהו,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Therefore the story of the Torah constitutes its garment.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:14
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:14)

מאן דחשיב דהוא לבושא דאורייתא איהו ממש ולא מלה אחרא תפח רוחיה, ולא יהא ליה חולקא בעלמא דאתי,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
He who thinks that the garment is actually the Torah and and not something else, let his spirit deflate and let him have no portion in the world-to-come.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:15
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:15)

בגינו כך אמר דוד, גל עיני ואביטה נפלאות מתורתך מה דתחות לבושא דא דאורייתא:

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
It was in this connection that David said, *Open my eye that I may behold wondrous things out of your Torah* (Ps. 119:18), [meaning] that which is under the garment is really Torah.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:16
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:16)

תא חזי,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Come and see:


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:17
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:17](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:17)

אית לבושא דאתחזי לכלא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
A garment is visible to all.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:18
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:18](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:18)

ואינון טפשין כד חזו לבר נש דאתחזי לון שפירא, לא מסתכלן יתיר,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Those fools, when they see a man in a garment that appears good to them, seek no farther.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:19
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:19](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:19)

חשיבו דההוא לבושא גופא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
They think that the garment is the actual thing.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:20
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:20](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:20)

חשיבותא דגוף נשמתא.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
[However,] the essence of the body is the soul.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:21
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:21](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:21)

כהאי גוונא אורייתא, אית לה גופא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Just so, the Torah has a body.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:22
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:22](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:22)

ומלין דאורייתא דא אקרון גופי תורה,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The commandments of the Torah are called the “body” of the Torah.²

footnotes:
² Cf. Mishnah, Ḥagigah 1:8.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:23
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:23](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:23)

האי גופא מתלבשא בלבושא דאינון ספורין דהאי עלמא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
This body is clothed in a garment made up of the stories of this world.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:24
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:24](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:24)

טפשי דעלמא לא מסתכלין אלא בההוא לבושא דאיהו ספור דאורייתא וכו׳‎. אינון דידעין יתיר, לא מסתכלי בלבושא אלא בגופא דאיהו תחות האי לבושא.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The fools of the world look on nothing save the garment, which is the story of the Torah [and nothing more. They do not look at that which is under the garment].³

footnotes:
³ The sentence in brackets was omitted by Cordovero, who indicated the omission with the word “etc.”


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:25
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:25](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:25)

חכימין דאינון עבדוי דמלכא עלאה, אנון דקיימו בטורא דסיני, לא מסתכלין אלא בנשמתא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The wise, who worship the Most High King, those who stood at Mount Sinai,⁴ Jews, whether alive at the time or not, participated in the revelation at Sinai. See Shemot Rabbah 28:6. The Zohar III, 179b, states: “One who strives to study Torah—it is as if he stood all the day on Mount Sinai and received the Torah.” The implication of the Zohar’s statement is that no one is truly worthy to be called a Jew unless he knows Kabbalah. look only at the soul,⁵ which is the most essential thing of all.

footnotes:
⁴ According to rabbinic tradition, all
⁵ This refers to Kabbalah.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:26
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:26](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:26)

דאיהו עקרא דכלא אורייתא ממש,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
It is the true Torah.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:27
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:27](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:27)

ולעלמא דאתי זמינין לאסתכלא בנשמתא דאורייתא:

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
In the world-to-come, they will look at the soul of the soul of the Torah.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:28
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:28](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:28)

תא חזי,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Come and see.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:29
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:29](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:29)

הכא נמי לעילא

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Thus it is above:


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:30
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:30](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:30)

אית לבושא וגופא ונשמתא ונשמתא לנשמתא.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
There is garment and body and soul and soul of souls.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:31
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:31](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:31)

שמיא וחיליהון אנון לבושא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The heavens and their host are the garment.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:32
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:32](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:32)

כנסת ישראל דא גופא דמקבלא לנשמתא דאיהו תפארת ישראל, ועל דא איהו גופא לנשמתא נשמתא דאמרן, דא ת״ת ישראל דאיהי אורייתא ממש,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The congregation of Israel⁶ is the body which receives the soul, which is the glory [Tiferet] of Israel, which is the very Torah.

footnotes:
⁶ An appellation of Malkhut.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:33
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:33](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:33)

ונשמתא לנשמתא דא איהו עתיקא קדישא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The soul of the soul is the ancient Holy One.⁸

footnotes:
⁸ A reference to the highest and most mysterious of the sefirot, Keter.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:34
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:34](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:34)

וכלא אחיד דא בדא.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
All are connected one to the other.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:35
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:35](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:35)

ויי לאינון חייבא דעלמא, דאמרין דהא אורייתא לא איהו אלא ספור בעלמא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Woe to those sinners of the world who say that this Torah is nothing but an ordinary story.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:36
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:36](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:36)

ואנון מסתכלין בלבושא דא ולא יתיר

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
They look at the garment and no farther.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:37
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:37](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:37)

זכאין אנון צדיקייא דאנון מסתכלין באורייתא כדקא יאות.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Happy are the righteous who regard the Torah properly.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:38
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:38](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:38)

חמרא לא יתיב אלא בקנקן,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Wine cannot stay except in a jar.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:39
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:39](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:39)

כך אורייתא לא יתיב אלא בלבושא דא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
So Torah cannot abide except in this garment.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:40
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:40](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:40)

בגיני כך אורייתא לא באעי לאסתכלא אלא במה דאית תחות לבושא,

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Because of this one must seek to look at [the Torah] only only through what exists under the garment.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:41
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:41](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:41)

ועל דא כל אלין מילין וכל אילין ספורין לבושא אנון", עכ״ל:

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Thus all those words and stories are garments.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:42
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:42](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:42)

והנה במאמר הזה הוסיף לנו לקח בבטול דעת הכת הזאת וכיוצא בהם, השוללים הנסתר מתורתנו הקדושה. ונפקא לן מיניה בעקר כי עוד על הסוד הזה הנסתר יש פנימי לפנימי, וזה נעלם עתה מעיני היודעים, ונזכה אליו בעולם הזה כל ישראל לעתיד.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
In this passage, [the Zohar] has instructed us concerning the refutation of the opinion of this group and those like them who denigrate the esoteric portion of our holy Torah. Essentially, we learn from [the passage] that over and above the secret inherent in the matter there is an even more hidden level of mystery which is presently unknown even to those who know [Kabbalah]. Nonetheless we and all Israel will be privileged [to behold] this [mystery] in the future world.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:43
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:43](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:43)

ועתה אחי הודיעני מי שלא הסתכל בנשמתא איך יסתכל לעתיד בנשמתא דנשמתא, וימצא גרוע לעתיד. ואל תשיבני ממי שלא זכה אליה, כי יש חלוק גדול בין מי שהכחישה למי שאינו מכחישה אלא שלא ראה מאור מימיו, ויש על שניהם תוספת מי שנתעסק בה.

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
Now, brethren, explain to me how a person who has never beheld the soul [of the Torah in this world] will, in the future, gaze upon the soul of the soul? Such a person will be found wanting in the future [world]. Do not reply that some are unworthy [to behold] her, for there is a great difference between one who denies her and one who does not deny her and yet has never beheld [her] light. Superior to both of them is the one who has pursued her.


###### Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:44
[Ohr Ne'erav, PART I 2:44](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Ohr%20Ne%27erav/s/PART%20I/r/2:44)

וה׳‎ הוא אלהים חיים ומלך עולם, דן את הדין ומזכה את הזכאי ומחייב את החייב, ונותן לאיש כדרכו, ואין לנו להכחיש דברי חז״ל במדרש משלי, ששואלים לאדם צפית במרכבה, צפית בשעור קומה שלו וכו׳‎, והעתק לשונו הנה יכבד עלינו הענין. ועוד באר הענין הזה הרשב״י ע״ה בזהר בפרשה הנ״ל דף קמ״ט ע״ש:

**Moses Cordovero's Introduction to Kabbalah, Annotated trans. of Or ne'erav, Ira Robinson, 1994.:**
The Lord, the living God and eternal King, sits in judgment to clear the innocent and declare the culprit guilty. *He apportions to man according to his ways* (Jer. 17:10). The words of our sages, their memory be a blessing, cannot be denied. [They stated] in Midrash Mishlei:⁹ (Jerusalem, 1968), p. 16. The relevant section of the midrash reads as follows: “One comes [to divine judgment] who has studied Talmud. The Holy One, blessed be He, says to him: My son, since you have occupied yourself in Talmud, have you gazed upon the *Merkavah?* Have you looked … upon My Throne of Glory?… What is the measurement of My palm? What is the measurement of the toes of My feet?” For Cordovero, the importance of this particular midrash is that it implies that Talmudic learning is not in itself sufficient. Cf. Burton Visotsky, *Midrash Mishle* (New York, 1990), p. 84. “They ask a man [on the Day of Judgment], ‘Have you gazed upon the *Merkavah*?¹⁰ Have you beheld my *Shi’ur Koma?*”¹¹) in the literature of early Jewish mysticism. See Scholem, *Kabbalah,* pp. 16-18; M. S. Cohen, *The Shiur Qomah* (Lanham, Md.: University Press of America, 1983); P. Schaefer, *Synopse zur Hekhalot Literatur* (Tuebingen, 1981); Yosef Dan, *Ha-Mistikah ha-’Ivrit ha-Kedumah* (Tel-Aviv: Misrad ha-Bittaḥon, 1989). Copying this [entire] passage would be too cumbersome. Rabbi Simeon bar Yoḥai, peace upon him, also dealt with this matter in the Zohar, same section, page 149.¹² Read it there.

footnotes:
⁹ Midrash Shoḥer Tov ‘al Mishlei
¹⁰ The divine vehicle described in Ezekiel 1. In rabbinic literature, the term came to refer to esoteric doctrine. See Mishnah, Ḥagigah 3:1.
¹¹ Literally “Measurement of the Body.” It refers to the fantastic measurements ascribed to the body of the divine “Glory” (kavod
¹² Zohar III, 149: “He who says that this story of the Torah comes to indicate [the significance] of that story alone, let his spirit deflate! For if this were so, it would not be the lofty Torah, the Torah of truth.”