Introduction to the Book of Zohar (PDF) - Kabbalah Media Archive

I N T RO D U C T I O N T O T H E B O O K O F Z O H A R
little ways. Had the Creator left me here, I would have never been able to
rise to the next level. Why?
Indeed, without knowledge they have spoken, for it is not possible to
comment on our nothingness and lowliness before we decide that we
have created ourselves with all our tarnished natures. But while we
decide that the Creator, who is perfect in every way, is the one who
created and designed our bodies (our properties), with all their admirable
and contemptible attributes, surely from under the hand of the
perfect worker there cannot emerge an imperfect act, since each act
testifies to its performer. What fault is it of a bad garment, if some
no-good tailor made it?
Of course, this is the tailor’s fault. If we have some bad properties,
it is clear to us that it is the Creator’s fault. Here Baal HaSulam offers us
a parable from the Talmud (Ta’anit 20).
This is a tale of Rabbi Elazar, the son of Rabbi Shimon, who came
before a most ugly man…
Rabbi Shimon wrote “The Book of Zohar”. His son was one level
higher than Rabbi Shimon was. Having reached the level of his father, he
found an even uglier, lower level in himself. It was so ugly that he could
not help saying (to himself): “You are so ugly!” The man replied, “Go and tell
the craftsman who made me – how ugly is this instrument you have made”.
If you have a grudge against some of your properties, turn to the
Creator. He is the One who created them and He is the One who would
correct them.
Hence, those who claim that because of our nothingness and lowliness,
it is not fitting for Him to watch over us, and therefore He has
left us, do nothing more than publicly display their ignorance. Try
to imagine, if you had met some man who would create creatures
precisely so that they would suffer and agonize their whole lives as
we do. Not only that, but he cast them behind his back, not wanting
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