Certain Sages were privileged to learn the deepest secrets of the Torah, which deal with God’s providence over the upper and lower worlds, the secrets of how God conducts the world, and the appearance of the Divine Presence. This mystical topic is known as the account of the Divine Chariot. When those Sages expounded upon these matters, the entire creation would participate.

There was an incident involving Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, who was riding on a donkey and traveling along the way, while his student Rabbi Elazar ben Arakh was leading a donkey behind him. Rabbi Elazar said to him: My teacher, teach me one chapter in the account of the Divine Chariot. Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai said to him: Haven’t I taught you: One may not teach the account of the Divine Chariot to an individual [and all the more so in public], unless he is a Sage who understands on his own?

Rabbi Elazar said to him: My teacher, allow me to say before you one matter that you taught me. Rabban Yohanan said to him: Speak. Immediately, Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai dismounted from the donkey, and wrapped his cloak on his head in a display of reverence, and sat on a stone beneath an olive tree. Rabbi Elazar said to him: My teacher, for what reason did you dismount from the donkey? He said: Is it possible that while you are expounding on the account of the Divine Chariot, and the Divine Presence is with us, and the ministering angels are accompanying us, that I should ride on a donkey?

Immediately, Rabbi Elazar ben Arakh began to discuss the account of the Divine Chariot and expounded, and fire descended from heaven and encircled all the trees in the field, which began reciting song. What song did they recite? “Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures and all depths….fruit trees and all the cedars…. Halleluya” (Psalms 148:7, 9, 14). An angel responded from the fire, saying: What you expounded is the essence of the account of the Divine Chariot.

Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai stood and kissed Rabbi Elazar ben Arakh on his head, and said: Blessed is God, Lord of Israel, who gave our father Abraham a son like you, who knows how to understand, analyze, and expound on the account of the Divine Chariot. There are some who expound on the Torah well but do not fulfill it well, and others who fulfill it well but do not expound on it well, but you expound on it well and fulfill it well. Happy are you, our forefather Abraham, that Elazar ben Arakh emerged from your loins.

And when these matters were recounted before Rabbi Yehoshua, he and Rabbi Yosei the priest were walking along the way. They said: Let us too, expound on the account of the Divine Chariot. Rabbi Yehoshua began expounding. That day was the cloudless day of the summer solstice, yet the heavens became filled with clouds, and a rainbow of sorts appeared in a cloud. The ministering angels assembled and came to listen, like people gathering and coming to see the rejoicing of a groom and bride.

Rabbi Yosei the priest went and related this matter before Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, who said to him: Happy are you, and happy are those who gave birth to you; happy are my eyes that saw students like these. In my dream, I saw you and me, seated at Mount Sinai, and a divine voice came to us from heaven: Ascend to here, ascend to here, large halls and fine bedding are arranged for you. You, your students, and the students of your students are invited to the third group of those privileged to receive the Divine Presence. (Ĥagiga 14b)