Editing Zohar (section)

=== Structure ===
According to Scholem, the ''Zohar'' can be divided into 21 types of content, of which the first 18 (a.–s.) are the work of the original author (probably de Leon) and the final 3 (t.–v.) are the work of a later imitator.

'''a. Untitled Torah commentary'''

A "bulky part" which is "wholly composed of discursive commentaries on various passages from the Torah".<ref name=":0" />

'''b. Book of Concealment (ספרא דצניעותא)'''

A short part of only six pages, containing a commentary to the first six chapters of [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]]. It is "highly oracular and obscure," citing no authorities and explaining nothing.

'''c. Greater Assembly (אדרא רבא)'''

This part contains an explanation of the oracular hints in the previous section. Ben Yochai's friends gather together to discuss secrets of Kabbalah. After the opening of the discussion by ben Yochai, the sages rise, one after the other, and lecture on the secret of Divinity, while ben Yochai adds to and responds to their words. The sages become steadily more ecstatic until three of them die. Scholem calls this part "architecturally perfect."

'''d. Lesser Assembly (אדרא זוטא)'''

Ben Yochai dies and a speech is quoted in which he explains the previous section.

'''e. Assembly of the Tabernacle (אדרא דמשכנא)'''

This part has the same structure as '''c.''' but discusses instead the mysticism of [[Jewish prayer|prayer]].

'''f. Palaces (היכלות)'''

Seven palaces of light are described, which are perceived by the devout in death. This description appears again in another passage, heavily embellished.

'''g. Secretum Secretorum (רזא דרזין)'''

An anonymous discourse on [[physiognomy]] and a discourse on [[chiromancy]] by ben Yochai.

'''h. Old Man (סבא)'''

An elaborate narrative about a speech by an old Kabbalist.

'''i. Child (ינוקא)'''

A story of a prodigy and his Kabbalistic speech.

'''k. Head of the Academy (רב מתיבתא)'''

A [[Pardes (legend)|Pardes]] narrative in which a head of the celestial academy reveals secrets about the destinies of the soul.

'''l. Secrets of Torah (סתרי תורה)'''

Allegorical and mystical interpretations of Torah passages.

'''m. [[Mishnah|Mishnas]] (מתניתין)'''

Imitations of the [[Mishnaic Hebrew|Mishnaic]] style, designed to introduce longer commentaries in the style of the Talmud.

'''n. Zohar to the Song of Songs'''

Kabbalistic commentary to the [[Song of Songs]].

'''o. Standard of Measure (קו המידה)'''

Profound interpretation of [[Shema Yisrael|Deut. 6:4]].

'''p. Secrets of Letters (סתרי אותיות)'''

A monologue by ben Yochai on the letters in the [[Names of God in Judaism|names of God]] and their use in creation.

'''q. Commentary to the [[Merkabah mysticism|Merkabah]]'''

'''r. Mystical Midrash (מדרש הנעלם)'''

A Kabbalistic commentary on the Torah, citing a wide variety of Talmudic sages. According to [[Moses ben Mordecai Zacuto|Ramaz]], it is fit to be called ''Midrash haNe'elam'' because "its topic is mostly the ''neshamah'' (an upper level of soul), the source of which is in ''[[Beri'ah]]'', which is the place of the upper [[Garden of Eden|Gan Eden]]; and it is written in the ''[[Pardes Rimonim|Pardes]]'' that [[midrash|drash]] is in ''Beri'ah''...&nbsp;and the revealed midrash is the secret of externality, and ''Midrash haNe'elam'' is the secret of internality, which is the neshamah. And this [[midrash|derush]] is founded on the neshamah; its name befits it—''Midrash haNe'elam''.<ref>the Ramaz, brought in ''Mikdash Melekh laZohar, parashat Vayeira'', Zalkova edition, p. 100</ref>

The language of ''Midrash haNe'elam'' is sometimes [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], sometimes Aramaic, and sometimes both mixed. Unlike the body of the ''Zohar'', its ''drashot'' are short and not long. Also, the topics it discusses—the work of Creation, the nature of the soul, the days of [[Messiah in Judaism|Mashiach]], and ''[[Olam Haba]]''—are not of the type found in the ''Zohar'', which are the nature of God, the [[Emanationism|emanation of worlds]], the "forces" of evil, and more.

'''s. Mystic Midrash on Ruth'''

A commentary on the [[Book of Ruth]] in the same style.

'''t. Faithful Shepherd (רעיא מהימנא)'''

By far the largest "book" included in the ''Zohar'', this is a Kabbalistic commentary on [[Moses]]' teachings revealed to ben Yochai and his friends.<ref name="ohrz" /> [[Moses ben Jacob Cordovero|Moshe Cordovero]] said, "Know that this book, which is called ''Ra'aya Meheimna'', which ben Yochai made with the [[tzadik]]im who are in Gan Eden, was a repair of the [[Shekhinah]], and an aid and support for it in the exile, for there is no aid or support for the Shekhinah besides the secrets of the Torah... And everything that he says here of the secrets and the concepts—it is all with the intention of unifying the Shekhinah and aiding it during the exile.<ref>''Ohr haChamah laZohar'', part 2, p. 115b, in the name of the Ramak</ref>

'''u. Rectifications of the Zohar (תקוני זוהר)'''
{{Main|Tikunei haZohar}}

''Tikunei haZohar'', which was printed as a separate book, includes seventy commentaries called ''Tikunim'' ({{lit|Repairs}}) and an additional eleven ''Tikunim''. In some editions, ''Tikunim'' are printed that were already printed in the ''Zohar Chadash'', which in their content and style also pertain to ''Tikunei haZohar''.<ref name="ohrz" />

Each of the seventy ''Tikunim'' of ''Tikunei haZohar'' begins by explaining the word ''Bereishit'' (בראשית), and continues by explaining other verses, mainly in ''[[Bereshit (parashah)|parashat Bereishit]]'', and also from the rest of [[Tanakh]]. And all this is in the way of ''[[Pardes (Jewish exegesis)|Sod]]'', in commentaries that reveal the hidden and mystical aspects of the Torah.

''Tikunei haZohar'' and ''Ra'aya Meheimna'' are similar in style, language, and concepts, and are different from the rest of the ''Zohar''. For example, the idea of the [[Four Worlds]] is found in ''Tikunei haZohar'' and ''Ra'aya Meheimna'' but not elsewhere, as is true of the very use of the term "Kabbalah". In terminology, what is called Kabbalah in ''Tikunei haZohar'' and ''Ra'aya Meheimna'' is simply called ''razin'' (clues or hints) in the rest of the ''Zohar''.<ref name="rys">According to Rabbi Yaakov Siegel, in an email dated February 29, 2012, to ~~Nissimnanach</ref> In ''Tikunei haZohar'' there are many references to ''chibura kadma'ah'' (meaning "the earlier book"). This refers to the main body of the ''Zohar''.<ref name="rys" />

'''v. Further Additions'''

These include later ''Tikkunim'' and other texts in the same style.