Betzalel ben Yehudah's post is exactly right on! 
The Sefer ha'Zohar  from "zohar" to brighten, enlighten, or shine but also a cognate - same word and sounds alike - 'zohar' to warn, caution {see R. Shimon's warning in the BbY's post}   (more about the Zohar: http://www.kabbalah.info/engkab/mystzohar.htm)
is the main source of knowledge for the deeper, soul-level meanings of the Torah.  The Torah or Hebrew Bible is traditionally identified with the Five Books of Moses, (Pentateuch: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deutoronomy) and also the writings and prophets (Psalms, Book of Ruth, Song of Songs, Amos, Jonah, etc.) Tradition teaches that the Torah has four voices or levels: the plain, the allegorical, the moral, and the esoteric.  The esoteric is the soul-level, unique for each individual according to their soul, and is also called "Kabbalah".  The Zohar is the main Kabbalah text.  Modern scholars have 'proved' that the Zohar was written by Moses de Leon in the 13th Century (more about Moses de Leon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_de_Leon); its authorship is traditonally given to R. Shimon ben Yohai, a disciple of Rabbi Akiba, the main rabbinical leader and authority at the time of the destruction of the Second Temple, the time of the Roman occupation, etc., etc.   The beginning of the Diaspora at that time, with the dispersion of the Israelites to the four-corners of the world, is thus a sort of synchronistic proof that the Zohar (Kabbalah)  is the essential Torah that is destined to be spread through the four-corners of the world.

--- In ancient_hebrew@yahoogroups.com, Betzalel BenYehudah <nichols8121@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
> � 
> If I may, I would like to post an excerpt from ther Zohar. Please comment:
> � 
> �" Said R. Simeon: ‘Alas for the man who regards the Torah as a book of mere tales and everyday matters! If that were so, we, even we could compose a torah dealing with everyday affairs, and of even greater excellence. Nay, even the princes of the world possess books of greater worth which we could use as a model for composing some such torah. The Torah, however, contains in all its words supernal truths and sublime mysteries. Observe the perfect balancing of the upper and the lower worlds. Israel here below is balanced by the angels on high, of whom it says: “who makest thy angels into winds” (Ps. CIV, 4). For the angels in descending on earth put on themselves earthly garments, as otherwise they could not stay in this world, nor could the world endure them. Now, if thus it is with the angels, how much more so must it be with the Torah-the Torah that created them, that created all the worlds and is the means by which these are sustained. Thus had
> the Torah not clothed herself in garments of this world the world could not endure it. The stories of the Torah are thus only her outer garments, and whoever looks upon that garment as being the Torah itself, woe to that man-such a one will have no portion in the next world.
> David thus said: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Ps. CXIX, 18), to wit, the things that are beneath the garment. Observe this. The garments worn by a man are the most visible part of him, and senseless people looking at the man do not seem to see more in him than the garments. But in truth the pride of the garments is the body of the man, and the pride of the body is the soul. Similarly the Torah has a body made up of the precepts of the Torah, called gufe torah (bodies, main principles of the Torah), and that body is enveloped in garments made up of worldly narrations. The senseless people only see the garment, the mere narrations; those who are somewhat wiser penetrate as far as the body. But the really wise, the servants of the most high King, those who stood on Mount Sinai, penetrate right through to the soul, the root principle of all, namely, to the real Torah......
> � Woe to the sinners who consider the Torah as mere worldly tales, who only see its outer garment; happy are the righteous who fix their gaze on the Torah proper Wine cannot be kept save in a jar; so the Torah needs an outer garment. These are the stories and narratives, but it behoves us to penetrate beneath them.
> � 
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> --- On Mon, 5/25/09, maranatha2009@... maranatha2009@... wrote:
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> From: maranatha2009@... maranatha2009@...
> Subject: [ancient_hebrew] Re: Erets,adamah,
> To: ancient_hebrew@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Monday, May 25, 2009, 11:41 PM
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> --- In ancient_hebrew@ yahoogroups. com, "ookamidori" <ookamidori@ ...> wrote:
> >
> > I think the story obviously implies a world-wide flood, whether this means the whole earth or just the area, *shrugs*, what does it matter? I find these type of stories to talk about not literal events to discuss but mythical, timeless ones. Almost every people/culture has a great flood story and some way they survived, etc. I think that tells us that something in these stories transcends such literal discussions.
> >
> > You can read some flood stories from almost every corner of the world here.. Maybe find one where you live.
> > http://www.talkorig ins.org/faqs/ flood-myths. html
> >
> > It only makes sense that people would ascribe such disastrous events that occur into their mythology, especially in the time before time, before 'linear history'.
> >
> >
> > --- In ancient_hebrew@ yahoogroups. com, "pointarena1" <pointarena1@ > wrote:
> > >
> > > After the flood, who was alive? The Torah is clear that Noah and his three sons and mates were in the ark and the flood killed everyone "creatures".
> > >
> > > If Noah and his family were the only people alive and they restarted the world, the flood had to be huge. Gen.7.23 states, "Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; men …Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark."
> > >
> > > The Torah repeats this message of every thing. Gen.8.21 "And never again will I destroy all living creatures" and Gen.7.1 states this too.
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> > >
> > > What about the Native Americans? They must have come after the flood. Some date Native American artifacts older than flood period. They must be wrong.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In ancient_hebrew@ yahoogroups. com, "platypous" <riveracharlene@ > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > I am just to new at this...
> > > > In a resent discussion,I have come across someone who understands
> > > > hebrew and has mentioned the Flood of Noah was not world wide.I am
> > > > having a little difficultly understanding. I have the Mechanical
> > > > Translation which Gen1:1 is translated land.
> > > > And Gen6 it is often translated land.
> > > > I think I understand it as,what was upon the earth,(land, ground) as
> > > > being destroyed but not the heavens or the earth itself.
> > > > "Hayan"as translated "became" in Gen 1:2,which would imply a World wide
> > > > flood was also brought up.
> > > > Any input?....
> > > > Thanks.
> > > >
> > >
> >
> Let's see..... The Garden of Eden was geographically found in the Persian Gulf. It is now underwater after the Flood. I was watching the History channel and it says that the Garden was most likely in a valley that was filled after rain. They went further to say that Genesis was symbolic and says the Forbidden fruit was Farming and agriculture, hence "You will be like Gods...." I do not believe that the fruit was farming but it is something worth looking into. According to Genesis, the Native Americans came after the Flood. During the Tower of Babel, spreading races and languages. There was one race beforehand and this explains how they're were many different genes and races from two gene types. Is it worldwide possibly, maybe that's why everybody talks about a great Flood because, it was universal.
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