How do we know that Moses was reincarnated as Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai?

When Moses went to Mount Sinai to get the Torah, it is described as

 עָלִיתָ לַמָּרוֹם, שָׁבִיתָ שֶּׁבִי

You went up and captured a captive

שֶּׁבִי 

is Shimon Bar Yochai

Moses captured the soul of Shimon bat Yochai for his future incarnation.

Art: Moses with the Ten Commandments by Philippe de Champaigne

Kabbalah of Shemini

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Kabbalah of Tzav

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Explanation on TikTok

Exercises for Pekudei

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Exercises for Vayakhel

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Shakespeare Sonnet 29 and a Teaching of Rabbi Nachman

There is a teaching of Rabbi Nachman, called “The Good Point” or “Nekudah Tovah.” When a person is in despair about his material position, personal life, or spiritual progress, he should try to find at least one good point in himself. To start, Rabbi Nachman reminds him that he is a Jew. Since one cannot “un-jew” himself, this good point is always there and can be used as a starting point. From there, one will probably remember another point, then another, and so on. (For more on this teaching, search for “Rabbi Nachman Nekudah Tovah”).

Shakespeare expresses the same idea in his sonnet 29. Here it is.

When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,

I all alone beweep my outcast state,

And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,

And look upon myself and curse my fate,

Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,

Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,

Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,

With what I most enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

Haply I think on thee, and then my state,

(Like to the lark at break of day arising

From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;

       For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings

       That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

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Sonnet 29 as read by John Gilgoud

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Here is my paraphrase of the sonnet

When I think of myself as a total loser

Who is all alone in the world

And heaven is deaf to my prayers that bring no results.

I may be ready to kill myself.

I envy one man who has a better future.

Or another one with more friends.

I may envy people with more shart analytics skills or broader knowledge.

I am ready to exchange my place with almost anybody, and I despise myself.

Suddenly I think that I have a good point, and then another one, and then -

I am ready to sing, and my song goes to heaven.

Then my state is better (I realize) than that of the happiest people on earth.

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There are many more things to note in this sonnet. The word “brings” at the end itself sounds like a song and resonates; the word “kings” alliterates with “sing.” To get the most benefit of the sonnet, one has to read it a few times, better even study by heart. For more on the sonnet, you can read “The Art of Sonnets.”

Shakespeare, the genius poet, conveys the message with unequal power. Too often, this teaching of Rabbi Nachman, going through multiple translations and adaptations, has more and more of the personality of an explainer who thinks that he knows the truth. However, once a person feels that he knows the truth - he loses it precisely at this moment - teaches Rabbi Nachman. On the other hand, Shakespeare can always be fresh, as he says in another sonnet, “and in fresh numbers number all your graces.”

Chayei Sarah - Dew is 39

When the first man, Adam, made the mistake of eating a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, he caused there should be 39 curses. Ten were for himself, ten for Eve, ten for the snake, and nine for the earth.

The number 39 in Hebrew is represented by the word "Tal," which means dew. To correct the curses, light from the highest spiritual levels, called "Arich Anpin," which shines down like dew, is needed.

The forefathers tried to draw down this light. Abraham did not wholly succeed, as evidenced by his imperfect son, Ishmael. Isaac, too, had a son Esau. Jacob was the first pure one who could begin the rectification (Tikkun). The word "dew" is mentioned in Isaac's blessing, "God should give you from the dew of the heavens..." and that is why he needed this blessing so much.

However, even that blessing he got from Isaac through deception, by pretending to be Esau. Rebecca took the risk on herself by saying that if it is discovered, "the curses should be on me." Rebecca was the reincarnation of Eve. Her words can be understood as if Eve was talking: "It's because of me that there are curses. Now I am taking the risk and fixing what I did wrong." Previously, Adam was punished "because he listened to his wife's voice." Rebecca says, "Listen to my voice, but this time for good."

Also, note that the first time Adam's mistake came through food. Now Jacob, Adam's reincarnation, is fixing his mistake, again through food - by bringing Isaac a meal.

If one continues, one can find many more parallels between what Adam did then and what Jacob did this time.

With gratitude to Rabbi Menachem Sholom Krantz, who provided the initial content.

Art: Esau and Jacob by Michel I Corneille