Shimon bar Yochai

Shimon bar Yochai (Zoharic Aramaic: , ''Šimʿon bar Yoḥay'') or Shimon ben Yochai (Mishnaic Hebrew: ), also known by the acronym Rashbi, was a 2nd-century tanna or sage of the period of Roman Judaea and early Syria Palaestina. He was one of the most eminent disciples of Rabbi Akiva. The ''Zohar'', a 13th-century foundational work of Kabbalah, is ascribed to him by Kabbalistic tradition, but this claim is universally rejected by modern scholars.

In addition, the essential legal works called the ''Sifre'' and ''Mekhilta of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai'' are attributed to him (not to be confused with the ''Mekhilta of Rabbi Ishmael'', of which much of the text is the same). In the Mishnah, where he is the fourth-most mentioned sage, he is referred to as simply "Rabbi Shimon" except in Hagigah 1:7. In baraitas, midrash, and gemara, his name occurs either as Shimon or as Shimon ben Yochai. An 8th-century pseudonymous attribution of divine revelations to Shimon by the angel Metatron is also known, called ''The Secrets of Rabbi Simon ben Yohai''.

According to modern legend, he and his son, Eleazar ben Simeon, were noted Kabbalists. Baruch Kranz denies this claim. Both figures are held in unique reverence by Kabbalistic tradition. By tradition, they were buried in the same tomb in Meron, Israel, which is visited by thousands year-round. Provided by Wikipedia