Account of a Vision

Listen carefully to my words. When I was in the land of Safed, one night, when the sun had set, I was tired and weary, lying on my bed. I was asleep, but my heart was awake; my beloved was knocking (Song of Songs 5:2), rebuking me. A loud announcement sounded out just as the clock struck midnight: “You there, why have you fallen asleep (Jonah 1:6)? Gird your loins like a proper man [see Job 40:7]. Arise, go forth to beyond the plain [see Ezekiel 3:22], where the synagogue has been breached, and there you will hear my words.” How all my limbs shook when I heard this voice in my ears, and how my thoughts were greatly troubled. I deliberated over the most constructive course of action, whether to go or remain in my state of rest. Meanwhile, I lifted up my eyes and saw that the clouds had darkened in the sky and that it was about to rain, and the glorious moon had risen, so that one could no longer tell if it were midnight or midday. I thought that this meant that the hour of prayer had arrived, and I arose in order to give thanks to the Creator of below and above. I left my house, and there was light in every corner, and even as I walked there were no signs that it was still night.

I gradually approached the great synagogue, and I heard a howling voice coming from within. The door was open, and the candles were lit in the usual manner, as on every day of the week. I entered and I put my shoes in the shoe deposit, and I bowed down to the Creator and Keeper of my soul. I looked around me and I did not see any image [see Deuteronomy 4:15], neither within myself nor without, for the night is not illuminated until midnight. I arose in order to search the place, in case of thieves, and when I arrived at the ark I saw with my own eyes—not in my imagination—a beautiful woman, excellent in every virtue. She was the one who was wailing, and her appearance, dressed entirely in black, was incredibly fearsome and elegant.

When I saw this great vision, I was overcome with fear: I lost all power of speech, my heart broke within my chest, and a shock of awe burst through me, to the point that I almost fell to the ground. She opened her noble mouth and said to me calmly, reassuringly, “My son, be strong and do not be afraid of me, for I am not from the side of impurity. Just bestir yourself and contemplate wisdom, for you were brought here in order that I could show this to you. You shall hear my words and my speech, and then you shall go and relay them to those who are in exile, for I have seen that you are suitable for this task, and you shall can receive the blessing” [see Deuteronomy 27:12]. I replied, “Please speak, my lady, for I have been strengthened by your words. Nevertheless, I have a small question to ask you; please tell me your name, for I know how frail I am [see Psalms 39:5], and from where are you and from what people, as your appearance is most awesome and your words are pleasant.”

She responded, “I shall do as you have said [see Genesis 18:5], in order to let you know that you were created for this purpose. I¹ existed in the days of the ancient Patriarchs; and I was lofty and exalted to the highest dwelling places. I was even more raised up in the days of Moses and in his generation, for through me he attained his desire from his Rock. David and Solomon also ruled through me, and under my shade they reigned with strength. Next, I was handed over to the prophets and to the students of Elijah, for he is an angel of the Lord of Hosts. But then I went into exile in Babylon, and I was forgotten in the mourning. However, I returned and rose up thanks to the esteem of the Men of the Great Assembly, for they knew how to lead me, and they clothed me and my home in scarlet, with my other delights [see 2 Samuel 1:24]. Thus I was a fugitive and a wanderer (Genesis 4:12) from one generation to the next until the wicked breached every boundary. I was forgotten from time to time, on account of the destruction of the Second Temple and the accompanying fury. This continued until certain select good and righteous people arose and began to arrange my praises in proper measure and number, for I have great wealth [see Job 31:25]. They wrote everything down with clarifications; one should neither add nor subtract from these words. They thereby gladdened my heart, as I had thought that toil would add nothing to me [see Proverbs 22:10]. [ . . . ] And behold, before I can speak, in order to make the present and the past known to you, I shall make my name, memory, and my place of origin known to you, my friend, my son. I am the daughter of the great and mighty God, may the Torah make Him great and mighty. And my mother is the acclaimed Torah; I was called by the name Tefilah [Prayer] and behold, I knew that you would be familiar with my entire family.”