Peki’in: The Cave of Rashbi and an Ancient Jewish Presence

Peki’in is a Druze and Christian village in the upper Galilee that has been inhabited continuously for over 2,000 years, including an unbroken Jewish presence that is claimed to be the oldest continuous Jewish community in the Land of Israel. The village is famous as the traditional site of the cave where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) and his son hid from the Romans for 12 years, composing the Zohar, the foundational text of Jewish mysticism.

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai at Peki’in: The Cave of Rashbi and an Ancient Jewish Presence

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi) was one of the greatest sages of the 2nd century CE, a student of Rabbi Akiva and a fierce opponent of Roman rule. The Talmud (Shabbat 33b) tells the story that brought him to this cave. Three rabbis sat together and discussed the Romans. Rabbi Yehuda praised them: “How fine are the works of this nation, they built marketplaces, bridges, and bathhouses.” Rabbi Yosei was silent. Rabbi Shimon replied: “Everything they built, they built for themselves, the marketplaces for prostitutes, the bathhouses to pamper themselves, the bridges to collect tolls.”

A man named Yehuda ben Gerim overheard and reported the conversation. The Romans sentenced Rabbi Shimon to death. He fled with his son Elazar to a cave, this cave, according to tradition, where they hid for 12 years, sustained by a carob tree and a spring that miraculously appeared. They spent their years in study and prayer, buried in sand up to their necks to preserve their clothing. When the Roman emperor died and the decree was annulled, they emerged. But the intensity of their spiritual transformation was so great that when they saw farmers working their fields, their fiery gaze burned the crops. A heavenly voice commanded: “Did you come out to destroy My world? Go back to your cave.” They returned for another 12 months, until Rabbi Shimon could look at the world with compassion rather than judgment.

Rabbi Shimon is traditionally credited as the author of the Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, though most scholars attribute the Zohar to the 13th-century Spanish kabbalist Moses de Leon. His tomb at Meron is the site of the largest annual pilgrimage in Israel on Lag BaOmer.

The Cave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

According to the Talmud, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai criticized the Roman government and was sentenced to death. He and his son Elazar fled and hid in a cave, where a miracle occurred: a carob tree grew at the entrance and a spring of water appeared, sustaining them for 12 years. During those years, they immersed themselves in the study of Torah, reaching such spiritual heights that when they finally emerged, their gaze was so intense that everything they looked at caught fire. God told them: “Go back to your cave,” and they returned for another 12 months to temper their intensity (Talmud, Shabbat 33b).

The cave in Peki’in is identified by tradition as the cave of this story, and it has been a Jewish pilgrimage site for centuries. The Zohar, the central text of Kabbalah, is traditionally attributed to Rashbi’s years in the cave, though modern scholarship dates the text to the 13th century.

Ancient Jewish Presence

Peki’in’s claim to the oldest continuous Jewish presence in the Land of Israel rests on the Zinati family, a Jewish family that traces its residence in the village back over 2,000 years. Margalit Zinati, the last Jewish resident of Peki’in, lived in the village until recent years and was a beloved figure who welcomed visitors and told the story of her family’s unbroken connection to the land. An ancient synagogue in the village contains carved stones with menorot and other Jewish symbols, and the community’s longevity, if the tradition is accurate, means that Jews have lived in Peki’in continuously from the Second Temple period through the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman, and modern periods.

Peki’in is a beautiful village set in a valley surrounded by olive groves and fruit orchards. The population is predominantly Druze, with a small Christian community and the remnant of the Jewish community. The village produces olive oil, zaatar, and local products, and several families offer home hospitality to visitors.

Visit with Hoshen Tours

Peki’in connects the mystical tradition of Rashbi to the oldest Jewish community in the land. Hoshen Tours visits the cave, the ancient synagogue, and tells the story of the Zinati family and the unbroken thread of Jewish presence in the Galilee. Hoshen Tours often combines this site with Abuhav Synagogue, Talking Walls Shtula, and Nahal Amud for a memorable day exploring the region.