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what is the name of the Sefer Zohar made by Rabban Shimon Bar Yochai that is translated into english & where can it be found to buy?
im not referring to hundreds of kabbala books that come from parts of the zohar, what im talking about is “the actual sefer of Zohar in English” just like an artscroll siddur word for word translated & whoever makes it what do they call it in English?
Thank you
The book is called the Zohar. Is there an English translation? I don’t know.
However, I would humbly suggest that if you need the English translation, then perhaps you would be better served learning more traditional subjects (Gemara, Halacha, etc.).
The Wolf
So far as I know the only English translation was put out by a known apikoros. Some say that the translation is correct but say that the page with the name of his organization should be removed. If you read Hebrew, there are reputable Hebrew translations as well as commentaries such as the “Sulam” and “Metok miDevash”.
Even if a person doesn’t understand a word of Zohar, it’s a great zechus for him to devote himself to its study. Even saying aloud one word of Zohar is metaher the neshama.
“Even saying aloud one word of Zohar is metaher the neshama.”
More so than one word of Chumash or Tehillim? Or any other Sefer of Tanach?
you barely know arithmatic and you want to study advanced calculus? zohar wasn’t made for just anybody, no matter what the so called kabalah experts tell you. have you studied all of shas gemora 15 times yet? do you know tanach by heart? don’t fool yourself. go back to basics and learn chumash, navi, gemorah, medrash, halachos.
The person who wrote the “translation” is a friend of my cousin, who sent me a copy. He is a completely secular, erudite scholar. In the world of goyish academia this is recognized as a scholarly, accurate translation. I asked a shaila as to whether I could throw it directly into the garbage.
The Chida, the Baal haTanya, and many others held that it was essential to learn Zohar even if you don’t understand it. We don’t know why. We just need to have emunah peshutah that this is what these great tzaddikim say.
Feivel: What was the teshuva to your shaila?
You shouldn’t be learning Zohar until you’re 40 years old.
“The Chida, the Baal haTanya, and many others held that it was essential to learn Zohar even if you don’t understand it. We don’t know why. We just need to have emunah peshutah that this is what these great tzaddikim say.”
I find it hard to believe that reading Zohar without understanding it is a better use of one’s time than saying Tehillim
It was perhaps 10 years ago. I don’t recall with certainty.
That’s why I left the tshuva unsaid.
I know it’s not in my house and I never opened it.
Joseph, name one successful Mekubal who wasted until 40.
It’s quite the opposite. You are supposed to wait until 40 before studying science. And only someone well versed in Shas, Poskim and Kabbalah can study it.
HaLeiVi, when I made the above post I considered adding “Paging HaLeiVi” to it, considering recalling your last comment on this topic to the same effect. (I was secretly hoping you’d see it.)
http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=9147&st=&pgnum=138
The Shach says age 40, YD 246 s.k. 6, as well as the Baer Heitev s.k. 3.
HaLeiVi, please cite your source. Science and Math are, in fact, necessary for learning Gemara. The sugya regarding the minimum shiur of a round sukka is a case in point.
As for studying Kabbala, Rav Ashlag differentiates between taamei mitzvot and practical Kabbala, which is only for those who have mastered Shas and poskim and reached a very high level of observance. However, in any case, that Zohar seems to say that one who is not ready will be prevented. When Rabbi Hiyya was a bachur he wanted to join Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Eliezer but a wall of fire surrounded their house. There are also stories about people falling asleep as soon as the shiur started and waking up as soon as it was over. Interestingly, the Maharshal was very upset when he heard that the Arizal, who was his grand-nephew, had begun to learn Kabbala. He wrote him a very harsh letter in which he threatened to put him in cherem. The Arizal wrote back very respectfully explaining why he had done so.
Avi, on that point I agree with HaLeiVi. The Chasam Sofer in Parshas Beshalach states clearly that certain secular knowledge is useful for learning certain Torah topics, such as cow anatomy being useful for shechitah, and arithmetic for Eruvin and Sukkah. But that before we embark on obtaining secular knowledge – and of course that means only to the extent that it is useful for our Torah studies – we must first fill ourselves with Torah-only knowledge. After we are strong in Torah, only then can we move to acquire the useful secular knowledge that we need for our Torah studies.
He quotes the Rambam, who he describes as “the father of philosophy” in our religion, in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah, stating that a person may not learn philosophy until after he has “filled his stomach” with Shas and Poskim, which are the things, and only the things, that bring us Olam Habah. Then he quotes the Rashba, saying that there is a cherem against learning any secular studies if you are under age 25! The he quotes the Gemora in Brachos “Keep your children away from science” (higayon, as some meforshim translate it), noting that the Gemora is directing its prohibition at “your children”, but not at the adults, for adults, who are already advanced in Torah knowledge, need some secular knowledge, such as cow biology. (I’m emphasizing that so that we do not make the error of thinking that the secular knowledge that we need is a college education). But it is dangerous for us to pursue it until we are armed and ready with a Torah foundation. This is because someone with a Torah perspective looks at the value and culture of of secular studies differently than does someone ignorant of Torah. And we do want to get the proper perspective.
Soncino press has the only english translation of the Zohar
Soncino isn’t so great. The one with Perush haSulam, even though published by people that aren’t so yosher, is probably your best bet.
They incorporated Zohar into the Chok l’Yisroel. Pele Yoetz and others who championed the learning of Chok l’Yisroel are by proxy, advocating limud haZohar for the rabim.
However, I would humbly suggest that if you need the English translation, then perhaps you would be better served learning more traditional subjects (Gemara, Halacha, etc.).
The Zohar (like the Gemara) was written in the vernacular. If language was intended to be a prerequisite, it would have been written in Hebrew.
“Soncino press has the only english translation of the Zohar”
Other than the 4 volume hardcover pritzker edition which Amazon lists as being published by Stanford university press. And the first volume of which used to be in my possession.
Is there really NOBODY that does it like artscroll with HEBREW ZOHAR ON ONE SIDE AND ENGLISH TRANSLATION ON THE OTHER SIDE?
Wow. This must be one of the great injustices of the world that you had to type out your complaint in ALL CAPS.
On a more serious note, why do you want to learn Zohar rather than more conventional (and not to mention practical) parts of Torah?
The Wolf
Artscroll’s purpose is to bring Torah to the masses, to those who otherwise would not be able to understand it on their own. I don’t think they or the gedolim that they rely on, would want kaballa to be brought to the masses.
dovrosenbaum – but girls ARENT allowed to learn kabbala!!
By the rabim, the masses, I was excluding women. Women have no chiyuv in learning.
Joseph,
You wrote: “He quotes the Rambam, who he describes as “the father of philosophy” in our religion, in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah, stating that a person may not learn philosophy until after he has “filled his stomach” with Shas and Poskim, which are the things, and only the things, that bring us Olam Habah.”
The Rambam says that about learning Kabalah (i.e. Maaseh Merkava), not philosophy.
???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???”? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ???”? ?????? ?? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???. (Yesodei Hatorah 4:13)
I have a translation edition of the Zohar bought long ago. May I ask someone to tell me the name of this “known apikoros” so I know if it is my copy?
Anyone?
I don’t know.
The Sulam was not an apikoros at all. The whole frum world used his perush until Rav Frisch authored his perush. I don’t think Berg from the Kabbalah Centre is an apikoros, either. He just likes money.
Levertov was involved in a translation. He was a meshumad.
Professor Matt made a translation. I am not knowledgable of hs work and cannot determine whether he is or isn’t an apikoros.
What about the Tishby edition?
Don’t know Tishby
MA
The second perek of chagiga discusses Kabbalah in the form of maaseh bereshis and maaseh mercova.
If you learn it you will note that some Tanayim are told by their Rebbe that they aren’t ready to learn Kabbalah yet
I find it interesting that so many people these days feel a desire to learn something that clearly only has meaning to a select few.
I have often wondered if this is the work of the yetzer hora. Perhaps the yetzer hora, when he sees someone with a desire to learn, attempts to channel that desire into something that has less meaning for the person.
On a personal note, whenever I have a desire to learn Kabbalah I remind myself that I don’t want to die an am ha’aretz and open a mishna brura.
I have not read my edition of the Zohar. It is beyond me. I know when to open a book, and when not to. There are other mystical books I can read.
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