That’s the idea behind a powerful myth found in the Zohar (l:4b-5a), the central text of Kabbalah. It speaks of God constantly creating new heavens and a new earth. But where does the material for this cosmic renovation come from? From the new meanings we discover in the Torah.
The story goes that when Moses received the Torah on Mount Sinai, the angels were, shall we say, less than thrilled. Jealous of this human being receiving divine wisdom, tens of thousands of them wanted to burn him to a crisp with fiery words! Only God's protection saved him. It’s quite a scene to imagine.
But the story doesn't end there. According to the Zohar, every time a new interpretation of the Torah is spoken, it ascends to God. This new idea, this fresh insight, is then adorned with a crown and presented before the Divine. God safeguards this new understanding, sheltering the person who voiced it, shielding them from the envy of those same angels. This protection lasts until—and this is key—a new heaven and a new earth are created from that very interpretation.
Think about that for a moment. Every word, every insight gleaned from the Torah, has the potential to reshape our entire reality. It's a bold claim! As it says in Isaiah 51:16, "That I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth."
What does it mean to create "a new heaven and a new earth?" Rabbi Howard Schwartz, in Tree of Souls, suggests it means that these new interpretations so radically alter our perspective and understanding that the world feels new. Everything looks different. We see things we never noticed before. Our old assumptions crumble.
This myth, based on Isaiah 66:22, is a powerful testament to the importance of interpreting the Torah. It's not just about preserving tradition, it's about actively participating in creation. It reminds us that the Torah isn't a static text, set in stone for all time. It's a living, breathing source of wisdom that continues to evolve as we engage with it. To prevent the views of the Torah from becoming static, new interpretations must continue to be made (see "A New Torah," p. 522).
So, the next time you grapple with a passage of Torah, or hear a new interpretation, remember this story. You're not just learning something new. You're contributing to the ongoing creation of the universe, one insight at a time. And who knows what new heavens and new earths we might yet create?