Grave
Yosi de-Pekiin (the Tanna from the Holy Zohar) and his son Yanuka
The grave of Rabbi Yosi de-Pekiin is located in the Forest of the Baal Shem Tov, near Ein Zeitim in the north of Israel.
Rabbi Chaim Vital, in the name of the Arizal, describes its location within a natural circular rock formation.
This was the place of revelation where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai revealed the Sifra De-Tzniuta to his students.
The Holy Zohar and the mitzvah of Shiluach Ha-Kein
In the Holy Zohar there is an amazing story about what, at first glance, seems to be the most puzzling of the Torah's commandments.
"While the Chevraya (Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Aba) were walking, a dove flew up to Rabbi Elazar. It landed and cooed before him. Rabbi Elazar said:
'Worthy dove! You are always a faithful messenger. Go and tell my father-in-law, Rabbi Yosi, that the Chevraya are coming to him. Tell him that in three days a miracle will happen to him, and that he should not be afraid, for we are coming to him — with joy.'
Rabbi Elazar continued and said: 'My joy is not great, for in my eyes it is a great evil that one "pomegranate" will be given in his place — that is, a man named Yosi will die instead of him.' The dove flew off, and the Chevraya continued on their way.
Rabbi Aba turned to Rabbi Elazar with a question: 'What was that miracle I just saw?'
Rabbi Elazar answered him: 'My father-in-law, Rabbi Yosi, is ill. He sent me this dove, and from it I learned that he has already been saved: another man will die in his place, and he will recover.'
At that moment a raven appeared before them and cawed loudly, with a great voice. Rabbi Elazar said: 'Yes, you are destined to bring bad news; fly off about your business, for I already know this news.'
Rabbi Elazar said: 'Let us visit the "pomegranate" whose name is Rabbi Yosi de-Pekiin, and show him kindness, for he has already departed this world and there is no one to take care of him (to render him all the honors due to the deceased), and he is nearby.'
They left the road and headed there.
When the townspeople saw the Chevraya, they all went out to greet them. And there the Chevraya entered the house of Rabbi Yosi de-Pekiin.
His little son would not let anyone approach his dead father's bed. Only he stood beside him and wept over him, clinging to his father — mouth to mouth.
The boy opened his mouth and said:
'Master of the world! It is written in the Torah: "If a bird's nest happens to be before you... you shall surely send away the mother..." (Devarim 22:7)
The boy spoke, crying and weeping:
'Master of the world! Make these words of the Torah come true. There are two children of our father and mother: myself and my little sister. You should have taken us instead — and then what is written in the Torah would have been fulfilled: "send away the mother, and take the sons for yourself." And although it says "mother" and not "father," this is what happened to us: both our father and our mother died. Our mother died — You took her from her children, and now You have taken our father too, who protected us. Where is the judgment of the Torah?'
Rabbi Elazar and the Chevraya wept, and their weeping mingled with the cries and tears of the boy.
Rabbi Elazar opened his mouth and said: 'The heavens for height, and the earth for depth.' (Mishlei 25:3)
At the moment Rabbi Elazar uttered this verse, a pillar of fire separated them from the deceased. But the boy remained clinging to his father's mouth — inseparable.
Rabbi Elazar said: 'The pillar of fire that separates us from him is not by chance — either the Most High wishes to perform a miracle and revive the dead, or He does not want anyone other than the boy to be near him. But I cannot bear the boy's words and tears any longer.'
As they continued sitting, they heard a voice that said:
'Happy are you, Rabbi Yosi, for the words of this little kid and his tears have risen to the Throne of the Holy King. They stood before the Court, and it was decreed that the Holy One, Blessed be He, would send 13 people to meet the Angel of Accusation, to redeem you, and 22 years were added to your life, so that you may teach Torah to this perfect little kid, beloved by the Most High.'
Rabbi Elazar and the Chevraya stood up and would not allow anyone else to remain in the house. At once they saw that the pillar of fire had disappeared — and Rabbi Yosi opened his eyes. The boy remained clinging to his father — mouth to mouth. Rabbi Elazar said: 'Happy is our lot, that we have seen with our own eyes the revival of the dead.'
They approached the one who had been revived, while the boy slept, looking as if he himself were dying (so exhausted was he). They said: 'Happy is your lot, Rabbi Yosi, and blessed is the Merciful One who performed this miracle for you — thanks to the cries and tears of your son. His words knocked upon the Gates of Heaven; his words and tears added years to your life.' They took the boy, kissed him, and wept together with him from great joy. They carried him into another room and woke him, without telling him right away about his father's revival — they told him later. They rejoiced for three days, and together with
Rabbi Yosi they shared many new Torah insights (chidushim).
Rabbi Yosi said: 'Chevraya, I have received permission to reveal what I saw in that world only after 12 years. However, I can tell you that the 365 tears that my son shed rose before the Holy King, and when he opened his mouth and uttered the verse about the bird, and cried out about it, 300,000 benches of the Heavenly Yeshiva trembled, and all the souls stood before the Holy King and begged mercy for me and vouched for me that I would not sin — and then the Holy One, Blessed be He, was filled with mercy toward me.
My son's words and his self-sacrifice were beautiful in His eyes. And one of the angel-defenders stood before the Creator and said: 'Master of the World! For it is written: "Out of the mouths of babes and infants You have established strength, because of Your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger." (Tehillim 8:3)
May it be Your will that the merit of the Torah and the merit of this boy, ready to sacrifice his life for his father, awaken Your Mercy, and that he be saved.'
And the Most High sent 13 people in my place and handed them over to the Angel of Death — as a pledge, to redeem me and to bring me out of that harsh judgment. Then the Holy One, Blessed be He, summoned the Angel of Death and commanded him to return for me after 22 years, since the 13 people given as a pledge in my place could not serve as a pledge for eternal life. These people remain a pledge in his hands, since, in any case, they are destined to die; and so they remain in the hands of the Angel of Death, and their lives are shortened. However, this exchange did not free me from death entirely, but my life was extended by 22 years. And now, Chevraya, since the Holy One, Blessed be He, saw that you are true tzadikim, the miracle happened before your eyes.'
Rabbi Yosi de-Pekiin's son was 5 years old at the time his father was revived from the dead.
Twenty-two years later, when his son turned 27, Rabbi Yosi de-Pekiin ascended to the Heavenly Yeshiva.
May the merit of the great Tanna and his son, the Yanuka, protect our people and hasten the coming of Mashiach!
(From a trip to the Graves of the Tzadikim in Israel with Rabbi Israel Yakobov)
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