זוהר שמות — דף קצח ע”ב

Parasha Vayakhel — folio 198b. The Zohar comments on “his hope in the Eternal his God” — do not read sivro (his hope) but shivro (his breaking): it is sweet for the righteous to break themselves and be broken before God. Jacob and his sons bore the breaking of exile without ever departing from the secret of faith, and God’s name was constantly on their lips. “Take from among yourselves an offering” — the offering must come from one’s own possessions, not from theft, robbery, or fraud. Rabbi Hiyya, Rabbi Yitzhak, and Rabbi Yosi walk on the road and meet Rabbi Abba, who opens with a verse from Kings about God choosing David before Jerusalem.