The Pillar of Fire at the Ramak's Funeral
A newcomer to Tzfas, almost unknown, was the one to see the sign of the Ramak's true successor: a pillar of fire going before his bier.
A story ofRav Yitzchak Luria (the Arizal)רבי יצחק לוריא אשכנזי (האר״י הקדוש)Profile ›
It is told that when the Arizal reached Tzfas in 5330 he hid his greatness completely. He joined the circle of the Ramak, Rav Moshe Cordovero, then the leading Kabbalist of the city, and sat among the students like anyone else, saying little.
Within a few months the Ramak passed away, on the 23rd of Tammuz. The whole city came out to accompany him, and his students walked behind the bier, grieving and unsure who would now guide them.
As the procession moved on, the Arizal saw what no one else noticed: a pillar of fire going ahead of the Ramak's bier. The Chida writes, in his entry on the Ramak, that Eliyahu HaNavi had revealed himself to him, that he was called up to the Heavenly Yeshiva in 5330, that a pillar of fire went before him, and that the Arizal recognized it. Tradition adds that this sign was visible only to the one destined to take his place.
From that day the quiet newcomer was no longer a stranger in the beis medrash. The scholars of Tzfas turned to him, and the circle of the Ramak became the circle of the Arizal and his disciples, led by Rav Chaim Vital.
Source: Shivchei HaAri (Toldos HaAri), the account of his arrival in Tzfas; the Chida, Shem HaGedolim, Ma'arechess Gedolim, entry on the Ramak (a pillar of fire went before him, and the Ari recognized him).
The Arizal's greatness stayed hidden in his first months in Tzfas, and it was recognized without any announcement. Choose one area where you are tempted to be noticed, such as a task at work, a kindness at home or your learning, and do it well this week without mentioning it to anyone. Notice how it feels. Quiet, steady work shapes who you become, and the people who need to see it usually do.