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Adapted from a collection of quotes by Baruch Erdstein

Zohar

In the merit of the study of this book - the book of the Zohar - the Jewish People will leave the Exile in a merciful
manner. - Zohar, parashat Naso, 124b

At this time [the Messianic Era]...a spirit will go out and will not return - this is the spirit of Mashiach. Woe to
those who cause him to depart and leave the world, never to return! These are those who make the Torah as a
dry [barren] place and do not desire to involve themselves in the wisdom of the Kabbalah. Woe to those, who
bring about poverty and war and disgrace and murder and destruction in the world. - Tikunei Zohar, Tikun 30

The letters of the word "Bereishit" ("In the Beginning...", Gen. 1:1) can be rearranged to read "atar yavesh", which
means "a river [i.e., Torah] destroyed and dry". At that time when it is dry, the children below scream out in
unison and say "Shema Yisrael!" - yet there is no sound and no answer. This is regarding he who causes
Kabbalah and wisdom to depart from the Oral Torah and the Written Torah and causes others to not attempt [to
understand] them, saying that there is nothing but the simple meaning [peshat] in the Torah and Talmud.

Certainly [they are] as if they cause the [divine] flow to depart from this garden and river [above]. Woe to him - it
would have been better that he had not been created in the world and not learned any Oral Torah, for it is
considered as if he has returned the world to formlessness and chaos and causes poverty in the world and a
lengthening of the period of exile.
- Tikunei Zohar, Tikun 43

The words of the prophet Elijah to R. Simeon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar: "How many people will be
nurtured from your (R. Yochia's) work, when it becomes clear in the last generation at the End of Days; and by
virtue of it 'you shall proclaim liberty throughout the land' (Lev. 25:10)." In a nutshell, the Zohar will claim liberty
and bring about the Age of Moshiach/Messiah!
- Tikunei Zohar, end of sixth tikkun

The Arizal

A person does not completely fulfill his obligation [to study Torah] by involving himself with Tanach, Mishna,
Aggada, and the Babylonian Talmud. Rather, one is obligated to involve himself to the best of his ability in the
secrets of the Torah and the Work of the Chariot, for there is no greater pleasure for G-d in all the creation than
when His children below involve themselves in the secrets of Torah - to know His greatness, His beauty, and
His supremacy. - Introduction to Etz Chaim

My master, of blessed memory, used to say that regarding a person who is very sharp and quick-witted in
in-depth study [of Talmud], it is good for him to study one or two hours a day and not more - in order to smash
the husks [kelipot]. But regarding a person who has difficulty with in-depth [Talmud] learning, it is better to probe
the inner aspect of the thing, i.e. the fruit, rather than the husk. [This means] in-depth study and involvement in
Midrash, Aggada, and, in particular, the Zohar and [other] books of Kabbalah. - Pri Etz Chaim, Shaar Hanhagat
Halimud

Rabbi Avraham Azulai

Behold, without knowing the wisdom of the Kabbalah, one is like a beast...because he performs the mitzvot
without the reason/taste of the mitzvot, only performing the mitzvot like "scholarly" people. And they resemble
beasts who eat hay, which doesn't have the flavor of food meant for humans. And even if one is very involved in
business matters and very preoccupied, he shouldn't exempt himself from occupying himself in this wisdom
[Kabbalah]. You should try to carve out some time from your daily activities each day in order that time will
remain for immersing in this wisdom, because it is the foundations of the Torah. You are not exempt from the
Inner Torah [i.e. Kabbalah], because, without it, a person is an ox who eats straw.

I have found it written that all that has been decreed Above forbidding open involvement in the Wisdom of Truth
[Kabbalah] was [only meant for] the limited time period until the year 5,250 (1490 A.D.). From then on after is
called the "Last Generation", and what was forbidden is [now] allowed. And permission is granted to occupy
[ourselves] in the [study of] Zohar. And from the year 5,300 (1540 A.D.) it is most desirable that the masses,
both those great and small [in Torah], should occupy themselves [in the study of Kabbalah], as it says in the
Raya M'hemna [a section of the Zohar]. And because in this merit King Mashiach will come in the future - and
not in any other merit - it is not proper to be discouraged [in the study of Kabbalah].

Ramchal

Regarding he that cries out all day in prayers and in the Shema Prayer and yet doesn't know the secret of
unification - to unite Your Name properly, it is said: "Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they will
seek me early but will not find me, for they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord." (Proverbs
1:28-29) Therefore, "why do you cry to Me?" (Ex. 14:15)

But those masters [students] of Kabbalah ascend above and connect [to You] with a bond of faith in order to
draw forth divine good will from before You, and immediately the ocean [of blessing] splits open before
them...and all your mysteries are revealed before them....And this is the Wisdom of Truth [Kabbalah] which
reveals Your Truth in the world. - 516 Tefillot, #198

Vilna Gaon

He that is able to understand secrets of the Torah and does not try to understand them will be judged harshly,
may G-d have mercy. -Even Shlema 8:24

The Redemption will only come about through learning Torah, and the essence of the Redemption depends
upon learning Kabbalah. -Even Shlema 11:3

All those who don't understand the secret meaning [behind something], do not grasp even the simple meaning.
- commentary on Proverbs 5:18

The Evil Urge is unable to overcome all who occupy themselves in the hinting and secret [levels of Torah]. - Ibid.

Baal Shem Tov

In this generation, that of "the Heels of Mashiach", the Arizal and the Baal Shem Tov have said that it is a mitzva
to reveal hidden aspects of the Torah and supernal secrets in order to burn the "thorns from vineyard". - Notzar
Chesed 84:6

The redemption of Israel and all the worth of Israel is dependent on the learning of the Zohar...

The Baal Shem Tov, of blessed memory, used to encourage those serious about serving G-d to learn every day
from the Tikunei Zohar (a primary source text of Kabbalah). - Derech Emunah in the introduction to the
commentary on Psalms

Ben Ish Chai

Listen, those that can hear, and understand, those with intelligence, to that which the sages have told us and
that which they have cautioned and informed every Jew: to come close to the Holy by involvement in the secrets
of Torah and her hidden aspects. "[For] it is a Tree of Life to those that grasp it." - Introduction to Daat U'tvunah

Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira

There is no joy like that of rejoicing in the knowledge of the Torah's secret wisdom, for this is the main reason
that the soul comes into This World. - Shaarei Arucha, 47

As long as a man does not know the Torah's secret wisdom, he walks in darkness, like a blind man in a
chimney. When one knows this wisdom, he emerges from darkness into light. - Maaglei Tzedek, 121

A man's knowledge is not settled nor widened except through knowing the secrets of the Torah. - Ibid.

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Ashlag

The redemption of Israel and all the worth of Israel is dependent on the learning of the Zohar and the innermost
aspect of the Torah.

The opposite is true also. All the afflictions and degradations that have come upon the Children of Israel are on
account of their neglecting the most intimate part of Torah, and not having valued it but having related to it as
something superfluous, G-d forbid. - Introduction to the Zohar, paragraphs 65-70

The Leshem (Rabbi Shlomo Eliyashiv)

They say in the beginning of Mesechet Atzilut [Kabbalah text]: Eliyahu Yosef opened, "It is written, 'The secret of
G-d is for those who fear Him'. (Psalms 25:14) This verse refers to the idea that even if a Jew learns Mishna,
Gemara and yet has no awe [of G-d] - for naught does he splash in the great waters [of Kabbalah], all in which
he toils is for nothing. And every one who is G-d-fearing [should] actively pursue the hidden aspects [of Torah],
which are the essence of wisdom and knowledge, i.e. 'G-d's glory is a hidden thing'. (Proverbs 25:2) When will
you make glory for G-d? When you are occupied in the hidden aspects of Torah." See there.

I am very astounded regarding those [Torah] scholars of the generation that don't know anything [because they
don't involve themselves in Kabbalah]. How can they stand not being involved in the Wisdom of Truth [referring
to Kabbalah], which is the inner aspect of the Torah? It is foreign to them [to the extent that] they completely don't
know what it is.

And all of their excuses and reasons [for not studying Kabbalah] are totally inadequate, as it says, "[For the
Torah] is not in the Heavens [alone]" (Eruvin 55). For if it was in the Heavens, one must go up after her. And it is
simple that [the meaning of this phrase] refers to all parts [levels] of Torah, and the hidden aspect "is superior
to them all". (Proverbs 30:10)- From the introduction to "Leshem Shevo V'Achlama."

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