The Zohars explains and expounds in depth upon all the important aspects of the world
It explains why and how the universe was created (in portion Bereshit). It expounds upon the spiritual function of the body's major organs and how to heal them (in portion Pinchas). It goes in depth into the purpose of meditations, prayers and the use of letters. The laws regulating worldly affairs are explained such as astronomy, astrology and the relation to the 12 tribes of Israel and their function. The Zohar also deals with various other topics of great importance such as understanding a person's character through facial marks and palmistry (Portion Yitro).
Who is permitted to read in the Zohar?
Categorically, every person is allowed to read from the Zohar!! Rabbi Abraham Azulai, a renowned Moroccan Kabbalist how lived in the 16th century, made this declaration in the introduction to his book "Or Hachama". He explained that the decree not to read the Zohar in public or in groups had been annulled, and since then it is deemed profitable for every person to study the Zohar. It should be noted that all the prominent Kabbalists, throughout the ages, among whom is Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, had stressed the importance of reading the Zohar and especially in our days.
Is it permitted to keep the Zohar in our homes?
Rabbi Eliezer Papo, a renowned 17th century Kabbalist wrote in his book "Pele Yoetz" (Topic - Zohar) "It is appropriate for a person to own the Zohar".
Why is it advisable to keep the Zohar in one's home or his immediate proximity?
The volumes of the Zohar are channels for a protective energy. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai described the Zohar as Noah's Ark (portion Beha'alotcha section 88). It has the power to draw abundance and blessings to it's owner, his family and his surroundings. All this was explained by Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag who compiled the "Sullam" commentary on the Zohar.
What is the Zohar?
This is the most important and thorough textbook in Kabbalistic wisdom. It was written two thousand years ago by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his companions, who were nine of the most prominent sages of that time.
They wrote: "and since the children of Israel are destined to taste from the tree of life, which is the Zohar, they will emerge from their exile through mercy" (Zohar, portion Naso, section 90).
Rabbi Shimon draws a parallel between the Zohar and the tree of life. Whoever reads or studies the Zohar makes a connection to a life sustaining energy. Hence, there are many benefits from owning and reading the Zohar. Rabbi Shimon declares that the most important benefit is the end that it brings of our exile "through mercy". Apart from the overall exile that the nation of Israel is still in, there is also a personal exile. Any alienation from the light force of the Creator is an exile. This is evident in the innumerable problems and misfortunes that are all around us. Those can be left behind by merit of reading the Zohar.
Originally, the Zohar was written in Aramaic and it had been translated by various people. The most renowned of those translations is the "Sullam" commentary that was compiled by Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag in the beginning of the 20th century. The parallel drawn (see above) between the Zohar and Noah's ark insinuates that as the ark protected every living being within, so can the words of the Zohar protect those who read from it.
Rabbi Yehuda Ashlag wrote in the introduction to the Zohar:
The depth of the wisdom contained in the Zohar is securely locked by a thousand keys and our human language is too shallow to provide us with appropriate means to thoroughly clarify even one topic in this book. The interpretation that I had made is nothing more than a ladder to help the reader to elevate himself to a level that will make it possible to examine the issues dealt with in this book.
Rabbi Abraham Azulai proclaimed that the prohibition on reading from the Zohar had been cancelled in his era. Every person is allowed to read the Zohar henceforth, and especially in our days.
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai wrote that by virtue of the Zohar, the final redemption can be achieved through mercy and without the pains and pangs of the Mashiach.
The following are but a few references brought by Rabbi Moshe Haim Lutsato in his book "Adir Bamarom".
The Kabbalists had determined that reading the Zohar is effective even when the words read are not understood.
תניא אמר ר' שמעון לחבריא עד אימת נתיב בקיימא דחד סמכא"
One of the greatest tools that had been prepared was the Zohar and many praises on it's power can be found in the Zohar itself. This is because it had been designed to bring redemption and to plant the seed for salvation for the nation of Israel. This had been self-proclaimed in many places.
"And since the children of Israel are destined to taste from the tree of life, which is the Zohar, they will emerge from their exile through mercy" (Zohar, portion Naso, section 90). This issue rests on major principles of wisdom and is rooted in the management of the worlds. This explains how the one and only master prepared the way for his people so as to lead them to the totality of goodness that is engrained in the original conception of creation. You should be aware of how much Israel lost during their exile and what needs to be corrected in order to return them to their original state. Kind David, when contemplating upon those deficiencies would weep and say: "We see no signs for our salvation, there are no prophets. No one can tell us when it will end" (psalms 74,9). Truly, great and precious wisdom had been lost for the children of Israel. Our sages commented on that and said "and the wise had become as rare as sapphires"(Sota Tractate 49,1). King David goes on to pray: "How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to mock you?". In those verses are hidden great secrets.
It is evident that by fleeing and hiding, Rabbi Shimon re-enacted and revived the issue of Noah's Ark and through this action, the composition of the Zohar was made possible. In the Zohar are contained all the six hundred thousand souls of Israel as was explained in the Tickunim of the Zohar. This became the refuge for all of Israel and they will only need to leave it after the final correction. The prophet Isaiah said concerning this: "You shall not leave in haste and will not go in flight for the God of Israel will go before you and will embrace you" (Isaiah 52.12). Rabbi Shimon left the Zohar behind as a blessing so that whoever cleaves onto it will escape all evil till he decides to leave his place of refuge. Our sages of blessed memory commented on this and said: " God will place upon them a king whose decrees are as hard as Haman and will then bring them back to their correction" (Tractate Sanhedrin 97,2). As a rule, a person cannot correct himself properly when weighed upon by evil. This is why the evil inclination has to be under Israel's control. This can be achieved in two stages:
1. To make the effort to flee from evil. One cannot just get up and walk away from his evil inclinations.
2. Once evil comes under one's control, he can truly disconnect himself of it.
But since so much impurity clung onto them, the only way out was through suffering and pain. This caused them to repent and to flee to their place of refuge. This secret was mentioned in the Torah: "when in tribulation and all those things come upon you at the end of days and you shall return to God...etc' (Deut. 4,30).
Evil gains power and can decree evil judgments upon Israel as it goes up and gains control over the various levels of existence. And it escalates and cleaves onto Zeir Anpin, Israel are faced with ever increasing pressures. This goes on till it reaches Binah (which is called Imma or the mother entity) and there it stops since judgments cannot cleave onto it as is explained in the Zohar since Binah is called freedom. This is when Israel can escape evil and cleave onto Imma through what is called repentance. This is why Rabbi Shimon had to flee from the decrees against him and this event brought about the composition of the Zohar. This implanted in the Zohar the power of the Ark and is available to whoever touches upon it. This means that whoever embraces the Zohar can readily reach Binah and escape evil. This exempts him from the pangs of the Mashiah.
In spite of all that was explained, the Zohar was revealed a long time after it had been written. This is because everything comes at it's correct timing and Israel were destined to flee evil through the Zohar only in the days of the Mashiah, in the end of days.
Among the advantages of learning the Zohar:
Our holy teachers had explained that reading without understanding can also bring great benefit to one's life. This is similar to one who visits a doctor and is given a medicine. The medicine can benefit and heal him even though he had no knowledge in pharmacology. The Zohar can bring the final redemption of the nation of Israel mercifully and is like a great wall that stands against evil judgments. The Zohar can cleanse and purify one's soul till it radiates. It can protect one from evil events in this world and in the next. Reading from the Zohar for the sake of deceased person's soul can save him from residual judgments, protects his soul and can elevate it to it's worthy place in the upper worlds. It awakens the merit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who can be leaned upon and trusted in times of trouble for he is capable of assisting.
Rabbi Yehoshua Halevi Horowitz (The sacred Hashla) wrote that the Zohar was destined to be concealed till the last generation. It will then be revealed in the lower worlds and through the merit of those who learn from it will the Mashiah arrive. This is because at that time the world will be filled with wisdom.
And as in the exit from Egypt, Israel were not saved till God sanctified them with the blood of Pesach and the blood of circumcision, the same will be in the final redemption which will not arrive till Israel receive this added sanctification | 
