Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, known by his initials as the Rashbi, was one of the greatest sages of the Mishnah, living in the Land of Israel in the 2nd century CE. A leading student of Rabbi Akiva, he is quoted throughout the Mishnah simply as “Rabbi Shimon.”
The Talmud (Shabbat 33b) tells that after he spoke against the Roman rulers he was sentenced to death, and fled with his son, Rabbi Elazar. They hid in a cave for twelve years, living on a carob tree and a spring of water and studying Torah day and night, and stayed a further year after leaving the first time.
Jewish tradition attributes the Zohar, the central book of Kabbalah, to Rabbi Shimon and his circle of students. The Zohar first appeared in Spain in the late 13th century, circulated by Rabbi Moshe de León; most academic scholars date its writing to that period, while traditional Kabbalists hold that it preserves the Rashbi’s teachings. He is buried in Meron, near Tzfat, beside his son.
Works
- Teachings in the Mishnah and Talmud: he is one of the most frequently cited sages of the Mishnah.
- Mechilta de-Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and parts of Sifrei: halachic midrashim associated with his school.
- The Zohar: attributed to him by Jewish tradition (see above).
Accomplishments & Achievements
- One of the five students of Rabbi Akiva through whom, according to the Talmud, Torah was renewed after the death of Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students.
- Known for his method of seeking the reasons behind the mitzvot.
- The central figure of the Zohar and of Kabbalah.
Influence on Jewish Tradition
The Rashbi stands at the heart of Jewish mysticism. Through the Zohar, his name is tied to everything that grew in Tzfat in the 16th century: the Ramak, the Arizal and their students saw themselves as continuing his work. His hilula on Lag BaOmer, with bonfires, song and the first haircut (upsherin) of three-year-old boys in Meron, is one of the largest annual gatherings in the Jewish world.
Family & Lineage
Son of Yochai. Father of Rabbi Elazar ben Shimon. According to the Talmud, his son-in-law was Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair.
Teachers & Students
Teacher: Rabbi Akiva. Students: among them his son Rabbi Elazar and, according to the Zohar, a circle known as the Chevraya, including Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Yehuda.
Places to Visit
His tomb in Meron, a few kilometres west of Tzfat, is visited all year round, and by hundreds of thousands of people on Lag BaOmer. The building over the tomb goes back to Rabbi Avraham Galante in the 16th century. On Lag BaOmer, roads are closed and access is by organised shuttle; check the official arrangements before travelling.
Sefarim & Manuscripts
- Sefaria Zohar · ספר הזהר – attributed by tradition
- Sefaria Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Ben Yochai · מכילתא דרבי שמעון בן יוחאי – full text
- Sefaria All texts by and about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai on Sefaria
Sources & Further Reading
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