The great Kabbalist Baal HaSulam, in his introduction to the Zohar, speaks directly to that feeling. He paints a vivid picture of a soul yearning for connection, a connection that's closer than we think, yet often just out of reach.
He begins with a startling wake-up call: "Wake and arise for the sake of the holy Shekhina, for you have an empty heart, devoid of understanding." The Shekhina? What’s that? The Shekhina is the Divine Presence, the immanent aspect of God that dwells within creation, within us. Baal HaSulam suggests we have this incredible potential for connection, it’s right there inside us, but our hearts are often "empty," preventing us from truly grasping it. We can't "acquire her," he says, even though she's already within.
So, what's the problem? Why this disconnect?
Baal HaSulam finds the answer in the prophet Isaiah: "A voice speaks: ‘Call out!’” (Is. 40:6). He interprets this as a constant call echoing within every Jew, urging us to pray, to strive for the elevation of the Shekhina. According to the Zohar, this “call” is prayer itself. Think about that – prayer not as a rote practice, but as a deep, internal calling.
But here’s the heartbreaking part. The Shekhina responds, "What shall I call?" She lacks the strength to rise, to fully manifest, because, as the verse continues, "Life is nothing more than grass." Ouch.
What does that mean? Baal HaSulam explains that people have become like animals, mindlessly consuming, performing mitzvot (commandments, good deeds) without real intention. We go through the motions, but where's the heart? Where's the genuine desire to connect with the Divine?
He goes on: "While its love [is like] green shoots upon the land." This means that people perform acts of kindness, but only for their own benefit. We might do good deeds, but if the motivation is purely selfish, if it's about personal gain rather than giving joy to the Creator, then we're missing the point. As we find in Midrash Rabbah and other classical sources, intention, kavanah, is everything.
It’s a powerful critique, isn’t it? A challenge to examine our motivations, to move beyond superficial actions and cultivate a deeper connection. The Zohar, as interpreted by Baal HaSulam, isn’t just some ancient text; it’s a mirror reflecting our own spiritual state.
So, what can we do? How do we answer the call? Perhaps it begins with simply acknowledging the emptiness, the disconnect. Then, consciously choosing to infuse our actions with intention, with a genuine desire to connect with something larger than ourselves. To do mitzvot not out of obligation, but out of love. To seek the Shekhina not for personal gain, but for the sake of bringing light and holiness into the world. It's a journey, a constant striving, but as Baal HaSulam reminds us, the potential for connection is already within us, waiting to be awakened.