That’s where we find Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in the Idra Zuta, the "Lesser Assembly," a mystical text within the Zohar, the central work of Kabbalah. He's on the verge of leaving this world, surrounded by his closest disciples. And he's grappling with Psalm 34:3: “My soul shall glory in Hashem; the humble shall hear of it and be glad.” verse for a moment. It's a beautiful sentiment. Praising God, knowing that even the most humble among us will find joy in that praise. But for Rabbi Shimon, it was more than just a nice saying. It was a key to understanding the universe, his life's work distilled into a single, powerful statement.
He declares, "I have been examining this verse my whole life. Now the entire verse has come to pass!" There's a sense of completion here, of a journey reaching its end. “Surely ‘My soul shall glory in Hashem,’ because my soul is attached to him, ablaze with him, devoted to him and strives for him." His soul isn't just acknowledging God; it's consumed by God, driven by an intense longing to be closer. He sees his soul's ascent as inevitable, fueled by this very devotion. "With these strivings it shall ascend to its place."
And what about the second part of the verse? "...the humble shall hear of it and be glad." Rabbi Shimon interprets this as referring to the righteous, to the students of the holy Yeshivah (religious academy), and to those souls who have just arrived in the presence of the Shechinah – the divine presence. All of them, he says, "hearken to my words and rejoice."
It's a moment of profound connection. Rabbi Shimon isn’t just speaking for himself; he's speaking for all those who yearn for God, for all those who find joy in divine connection. He's inviting them to join him in a chorus of praise: “Therefore, ‘O magnify Hashem with me, and let us exalt his name together.’”
It's an invitation that echoes across the centuries, doesn't it? Even now, we can hear Rabbi Shimon's voice, urging us to recognize the divine spark within ourselves and to join in the eternal song of praise. To magnify Hashem – the Name – together.
What does it mean to magnify God's name together? Perhaps it means recognizing that our individual journeys of faith are interwoven, that our joy is amplified when shared, and that even in our humblest moments, we can contribute to the grand tapestry of divine praise. A tapestry that Rabbi Shimon, in his final moments, so beautifully illuminated.