Tehillim 8 – the mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen in the Zohar HaKadosh

Tehillim 8 – the mitzvah of Shiluach HaKen in the Zohar HaKadosh

Tehillim 8:3 – “Mippi olelim veyonkim yisadta oz, lema’an tzorerêcha, lehashbit oyev umitnakem” – (From the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have established strength, because of Your adversaries, to silence foe and avenger). The Zohar HaKadosh tells a remarkable story about the most seemingly incomprehensible mitzvah in the Torah. “When the Chaveirim (Rabbi Elazar, Rabbi Abba) were traveling, a dove flew over to Rabbi Elazar. It landed and chirped before him. Rabbi Elazar said: ‘Worthy dove! You are always a faithful messenger. Go and tell my father-in-law, Rabbi Yosei, that the Chaveirim 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 joyfully.’ Rabbi Elazar continued and said: ‘My joy is not complete, for in my eyes it is a great evil that one “pomegranate” will be given in his place—that is, a man named Yosei will die in his place.’ The dove flew away, and the Chaveirim continued on their way. Rabbi Abba asked Rabbi Elazar: ‘What was the miracle that I witnessed?’ Rabbi Elazar replied: ‘My father-in-law, Rabbi Yosei, 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 cried out loudly. Rabbi Elazar said: ‘Yes, you are destined to announce bad tidings. Go about your business, for I already know this news.’ Rabbi Elazar said: ‘Let us visit the “pomegranate,” whose name is Rabbi Yosei de-Peki’in, and show him kindness, for he has already departed from this world and there is no one to care for him—to accord him all the honors due to the dead—and he is nearby.’ They left the road and went there. When the townspeople saw the Chaveirim, they all came out to greet them. The Chaveirim then entered the home of Rabbi Yosei de-Peki’in. His young son would not let anyone approach his deceased father’s bed. He alone stood beside him and wept over him, clinging to his father—mouth to mouth. The boy opened his mouth and said: ‘Master of the Universe! It is written in the Torah: “If you happen upon a bird’s nest… sending away, you shall send away the mother…” (Devarim 22:7) The boy spoke, crying out and weeping: ‘Master of the Universe! Make these words of the Torah come true. We are two children of one father and mother: myself and my younger sister. You should have taken us, and then what is written in the Torah would have been fulfilled: “Sending away, you shall send away the mother, but the sons you shall take for Yourself.” Although it says “mother,” and not “father,” all of this has happened to us: both our father and our mother have died. Our mother died—you took her away from her children—and now You have taken our father, who protected us. Where is the judgment according to the laws of the Torah?’ Rabbi Elazar and the Chaveirim began to weep, and their weeping mingled with the cries and tears of the boy. Rabbi Elazar opened his mouth and said: ‘The heavens above, and the earth below.’ (Mishlei 25:3) As Rabbi Elazar recited this pasuk, a pillar of fire separated them from the deceased man. But the boy remained clinging to his father’s mouth and could not be separated from him. Rabbi Elazar said: ‘The pillar of fire is separating us for a reason: either the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to perform a miracle and revive the dead man, or He does not want anyone else besides the boy to be near him. But I cannot bear this boy’s words and tears.’ As they continued sitting there, they heard a voice say: ‘Fortunate are you, Rabbi Yosei, for the words of this little kid and his tears have risen to the Throne of the Holy King. They appeared before the Heavenly Court, and it was decided that HaKadosh Baruch Hu would summon thirteen people to confront the accusing angel in order to redeem you, and that twenty-two years of life would be added to you so that you could teach Torah to this perfect child, beloved by the Holy One, blessed be He.’ Rabbi Elazar and the Chaveirim stood up and did not allow anyone else to remain in the house. Immediately, they saw that the pillar of fire had disappeared, and Rabbi Yosei opened his eyes. The boy was still clinging to his father—mouth to mouth. Rabbi Elazar said: ‘Fortunate is our lot that we have witnessed the resurrection of the dead with our own eyes.’ They approached the man who had been revived, while the boy slept and looked like someone dying, so exhausted was he. They said: ‘Fortunate is your lot, Rabbi Yosei, and blessed is the Merciful One who performed a miracle for you through 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 picked up the boy, kissed him, and wept with him out of immense joy. They carried him to another house and woke him, without immediately telling him that his father had been revived; they told him later. They celebrated for three days, and together with Rabbi Yosei they shared many new Torah insights (chidushim). Rabbi Yosei said: ‘Chaveirim, I was granted permission to reveal what I saw in that world only after twelve years. However, I can tell you that the 365 tears shed by my son appeared before the Holy King. When he opened his mouth, recited the pasuk about the bird, and cried out about it, 300,000 benches of the Heavenly Yeshivah trembled, and all the souls stood before the Holy King and pleaded for mercy on my behalf, vouching for me that I would not sin. Then HaKadosh Baruch Hu was filled with mercy toward me. My son’s words and his self-sacrifice were beautiful in His eyes. One of the angels who had vouched for me and defended me stood before the Creator and said: “Master of the Universe! Is it not written: ‘You have established strength through the mouths of babes, because of Your adversaries, to silence foe and avenger?’ (Tehillim 8:3) May it be Your will that the merit of Torah and the merit of this boy, who was ready to sacrifice his life for his father, awaken Your compassion, and that he be saved.’ And the Holy One, blessed be He, summoned thirteen people in my place and gave them over to the Angel of Death as a pledge, in order to redeem me and bring me out from this harsh judgment. Then HaKadosh Baruch Hu summoned the Angel of Death and commanded him to return to me after twenty-two years, because the thirteen people given in my place as a pledge could not serve as a pledge for eternal life. These people remained in his hands because, in any event, they were destined to die; therefore, they remained in the hands of the Angel of Death, and their lives were shortened. However, this exchange did not free me completely from death; my life was extended by twenty-two years. And now, Chaveirim, since HaKadosh Baruch Hu saw that you are true righteous men, the miracle occurred before your eyes.’ (Zohar on Balak, Sulam, translated by Rabbi Tzvi Nisan Zon)