It's more than just a nice turn of phrase. It's a window into the very structure of the cosmos, at least according to some deeply mystical Jewish texts.

We’re diving into the Idra Zuta today, a section of the Zohar, which itself is the central text of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. The Zohar is notoriously dense and symbolic, so bear with me as we unpack this. It's worth the effort, I promise.

The passage we’re looking at speaks of Zeir Anpin and Atika. These are complex terms in Kabbalah, names for aspects of God, or perhaps better said, ways God manifests in the world. Zeir Anpin is often described as the "Lesser Countenance," representing the emotional attributes of God, while Atika, the "Ancient One," embodies the divine will and compassion. Think of them as facets of a single, brilliant diamond.

The text tells us, "When the face of Zeir Anpin shines with the whiteness… of Atika, its whiteness, which is Chesed, covers over its redness, which is Chochmah of the left and everything is illuminated." Okay, deep breath. Let's break that down.

Chesed is loving-kindness, a pure, overflowing generosity. Chochmah is wisdom, but here, described as being "of the left," it carries a hint of judgment, a necessary counterbalance to unchecked mercy. When Chesed, the white light of Atika, shines upon Zeir Anpin, it tempers the potential harshness of Chochmah. The result? Illumination. Harmony. Balance. It's a cosmic "good vibes only" situation.

This is when, the text says, we can understand the verse "Hashem make his face shine upon you" (Numbers 6:25). It's not just a blessing; it's a description of a specific state of divine grace.

But what happens when things aren't so harmonious?

"When wicked people abound and judgments are hanging over the world, everything is closed… Redness, which is judgment, spreads over the face and covers the white, which is mercy." Yikes.

Here, the balance tips. The "redness," symbolizing judgment and severity, overwhelms the "whiteness" of mercy. The flow of divine light is constricted. As a result, we experience a world filled with hardship and suffering. This, the text suggests, is what's meant by the verse "The face of Hashem is against those who do evil" (Psalm 34:17). It's not that God is vengeful, but that our actions can disrupt the cosmic harmony, leading to consequences.

The passage concludes with a powerful statement: "Everything depends on it, which is the reason the face is always used for testimony." In other words, the state of God's "face"—the balance between mercy and judgment—is a reflection of our own actions. It's a testimony to the choices we make, both individually and collectively.

So, what does this all mean for us? It’s a reminder that we have a role to play in shaping the world around us. Our actions, whether kind or cruel, contribute to the overall balance of the cosmos. Do we want to live in a world illuminated by the "whiteness" of Chesed? Then we must strive to embody that loving-kindness in our own lives. It’s a tall order, no doubt. But even small acts of compassion can ripple outwards, helping to tip the scales towards a more harmonious and illuminated world. And maybe, just maybe, that’s how we get God to smile.