Rabbi Sar Shalom Sharabi, also known as the Rashash, was born in 5480 (1720) in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.
In Nahar HaShalom, on page 32a, in response to a question of how he had his great understanding and what written works did he rely upon, the Rashash replies that he relied only upon "Kitvei HaAri," the written accounts of Rabbi Chaim Vital of the teachings of the holy Ariza"l. He added that he would send them a short pamphlet called "Rehovot HaNahar," which would lay out the foundational principles that would enable them to
understand the Kitvei Ari as he had. Rav Yitzchak Kaduri said, "Until you have learned Rehovot HaNahar, you have not learned Kabbalah." For this reason, it has become the primer book in a number of Kabbalistic yeshivas today.
a short summary of his amazing life story, more interesting details in the video below;
After being miraculously saved from a difficult situation, he fulfilled his vow to go to the Holy Land of Israel in order to live in Jerusalem. After a journey that led him through India, Baghdad, and Damascus, he arrived in Yerushalayim.
He approached Rabbi Gedalia Chayon, the head of Beit El Yeshiva, (where I learned most of my Kabbalah studies) the major center for Kabbalah study in Yerushalayim, and applied for the job of shammash (caretaker). All he asked for in return was a roof over his head and some food. The headmaster took pity on the young orphan and gave him the job.
No one dreamed that this simple shammash was actually a great scholar. An extremely difficult question arose which no one could solve. The Rashash noticed Rabbi Gedalya's disappointment and that evening after all the students left, he wrote down what he knew to be the answer and inserted the note into one of the Rosh Yeshiva's books.
The next day Rabbi Gedalya was delighted, with all the right answers!!!. after this act was repeated a few times, Rabbi Gedalya wanted to know who was leaving the answers. He proclaimed, "I decree that the writer of these notes should reveal himself and that we will allow him the respect he deserves." no one came to take the honor. The Rosh Yeshivas daughter saw how distraught her father was, so she decided to hide and stay
up all night to see who the mysterious wise student was. She was amazed to find out that after sweeping the floors the Rashash inserted all the answers in her father's book. She immediately notified her father.
The Rashash was forced to admit to him his authorship. He pleaded to be allowed to remain hidden, but Rabbi Gedalia took his daughter’s discovery as a sign from Heaven that it was time for the Rashash to be revealed and gave him his daughter's hand in marriage. The Rashash became the next Rosh Yeshiva of the Kabbalistic Beit El Yeshiva that stands in the old city of Yerushalayim today. His teachings continued to be learned and
practiced in that Kabbalistic Yeshiva, and students that got qualified have been teaching and spreading the Torah of the Rashash through the whole world. It is true to say that the world of Kabbalah and as a whole has changed since the revelation of the light of the Siddur HaRashash.
