Now, what is this “Book of the Hidden Mystery”?’ Said R. Simeon: ‘It contains five sections which are to be found in the midst of a great Hall, and whose wisdom fills the whole earth.’ Said R. Judah: ‘If this book of wisdom is enclosed in that Hall, it is of more worth than any other tome.’ ‘Verily,’ returned R. Simeon, ‘it is so, for one who is used to passing in and out of the courts of wisdom, but not to one who rarely or never enters into that Hall.
Once there was a man who dwelt among the mountains and was a complete stranger to the ways of townsfolk. He sowed wheat, but knew no better than to consume it in its natural condition. One day he went down into a city, and there a loaf of good bread was placed before him. He asked what it was, and was informed that it was bread and was meant to eat. He ate it and liked it. “What is it made of?” he said. They told him “Wheat”. Later, he was given fine cake kneaded in oil. He tasted it, and again asked: “And this, of what is it made?” The same reply was made as before: “Of wheat”. Finally, he was treated to some royal confectionery, flavoured with oil and honey. Once more he asked his question, and obtained the same reply. Then he said: “In sooth, I have all these at my command, because I eat the essential constituent of all, namely wheat.” Thus, through his untutored taste he remained a stranger to all these delicious flavours, and their enjoyment was lost to him. Even so it is with those who stop short at the general principles of knowledge because they are ignorant of the delights which may be derived from the further investigation and application of those principles.’1pp. 177b-179a belong to the Sifra di-Zeniutha.
ספרא דצניעותא מַאן צְנִיעוּתָא דְּסִפְרָא. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, חֲמִשָׁה פִּרְקִין אִינּוּן דְּכְלִילָן בְּהֵיכָל רַב, וּמַלְיָין כָּל אַרְעָא. אָמַר רִבִּי יְהוּדָה, אִי כְּלִילָן הָנֵי, מִכֻּלְּהוּ עֲדִיפֵי. אָמַר רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, הָכִי הוּא, לְמַאן דְּעָאל וְנָפַק, וּלְמָאן דְּלָא עָאל ונָפַק לָאו הָכִי.
Now, what is this “Book of the Hidden Mystery”?’ Said R. Simeon: ‘It contains five sections which are to be found in the midst of a great Hall, and whose wisdom fills the whole earth.’ Said R. Judah: ‘If this book of wisdom is enclosed in that Hall, it is of more worth than any other tome.’ ‘Verily,’ returned R. Simeon, ‘it is so, for one who is used to passing in and out of the courts of wisdom, but not to one who rarely or never enters into that Hall.
מַתְלָא, לְבַר נָשׁ דְּהֲוָה דִּיוּרֵיהּ בֵּינֵי טוּרִין, וְלָא יָדַע בְּדִּיוּרֵי מָתָא. זָרַע חִטִּין. וְאָכִיל חִטֵּי בְּגוּפַיְיהוּ. יוֹמָא חַד עָאל לְמָתָא, אַקְרִיבוּ לֵיהּ נַהֲמָא טָבָא. אֲמַר הַהוּא בַּר נָשׁ, דְּנָא לָמָּה. אֲמַרוּ נַהֲמָא הוּא לְמֵיכַל. אָכַל וְטָעַם לְחָדָא לְחִכֵּיהּ. אֲמַר וּמִמָּה אִתְעָבִיד דָּא. אֲמַרוּ מֵחִטִין. לְבָתַר אַקְרִיבוּ לֵיהּ גְּרִיצִין דְּלִישִׁין בְּמִשְׁחָא. טָעַם מִנַּיְיהוּ, אֲמַר וְאִלֵּין מִמַּה אִתְעֲבִידוּ. אֲמַרוּ מֵחִטִין. לְבָתַר אַקְרִיבוּ לֵיהּ טְרִיקֵי מַלְכִין, דְּלִישִׁין בְּדּוּבְשָׁא וּמִשְׁחָא. אֲמַר וְאִלֵּין מִמַּה אִתְעָבִידוּ. אֲמַרוּ מֵחִטִין. אֲמַר וַדַּאי אֲנָא מָארֵי דְּכָל אִלֵּין, דַּאֲנָא אָכִיל עִקָּרָא דְּכָל אִלֵּין דְּאִיהוּ חִטָּה. בְּגִין הַהוּא דַּעְתָּא מֵעִדוּנֵי עָלְמָא לָא יָדַע וְאִתְאֲבִידוּ מִנֵּיהּ. כַּךְ, מַאן דְּנָקִיט כְּלָלָא, וְלָא יָדַע בְּכֻלְּהוּ עִדוּנִין דִּמְהַנְיָין, דְּנַפְקִין מֵהַהוּא כְּלָלָא.
Once there was a man who dwelt among the mountains and was a complete stranger to the ways of townsfolk. He sowed wheat, but knew no better than to consume it in its natural condition. One day he went down into a city, and there a loaf of good bread was placed before him. He asked what it was, and was informed that it was bread and was meant to eat. He ate it and liked it. “What is it made of?” he said. They told him “Wheat”. Later, he was given fine cake kneaded in oil. He tasted it, and again asked: “And this, of what is it made?” The same reply was made as before: “Of wheat”. Finally, he was treated to some royal confectionery, flavoured with oil and honey. Once more he asked his question, and obtained the same reply. Then he said: “In sooth, I have all these at my command, because I eat the essential constituent of all, namely wheat.” Thus, through his untutored taste he remained a stranger to all these delicious flavours, and their enjoyment was lost to him. Even so it is with those who stop short at the general principles of knowledge because they are ignorant of the delights which may be derived from the further investigation and application of those principles.’1pp. 177b-179a belong to the Sifra di-Zeniutha.