Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a towering figure in Jewish mysticism, offers a stunning vision. He takes a verse from Psalms (16:11) – "sated (sova) with joys in Your presence" – and gives it a radical twist. Instead of reading it as "sated," he suggests we read it as "sheva," the Hebrew word for "seven." So, instead of being simply filled with joy, the righteous will be filled with seven distinct joys in the World to Come.
But what are these seven joys? Rabbi Shimon doesn’t leave us hanging. He likens the faces of the righteous to seven celestial and earthly wonders: the sun, the moon, the firmament, the stars, lightning, lilies, and the menorah, the sacred candelabra of the Temple.
Let's unpack this a little.
The sun and the moon, he connects to the Song of Songs (6:10), that most passionate of biblical books: "beauteous as the moon, clear as the sun." Imagine reflecting the soft, gentle light of the moon and radiating the bright, unwavering light of the sun – both in perfect balance.
Then there's the firmament and the stars. Daniel (12:3) tells us, "The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament, and the turners of the many to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever." The vastness of the heavens, filled with countless points of light, reflecting the wisdom and righteousness that we strive for.
And what about lightning? Nachum (2:5) describes it as flashing with intensity. "And they flash like lightning." A sudden burst of insight? A moment of pure clarity? Perhaps.
Lilies, delicate and beautiful, are referenced in Psalms (45:1): "For the chief musician, on the lilies." They represent purity, grace, and perhaps the blossoming of our own inner beauty.
Finally, the menorah, the seven-branched candelabra that stood in the Temple. Zechariah (4:3) describes two olive trees flanking it: "There are two olive trees over it (the Temple menorah), one at the right of the bowl and one at the left." The menorah, a symbol of divine light and wisdom, drawing its energy from the very source of life. Hoshea (14:7) adds, "and his glory will be like the olive tree."
What's so striking is the range of imagery – from the cosmic grandeur of the sun, moon, and stars to the delicate beauty of lilies. From the sudden flash of lightning to the steady glow of the menorah. It suggests that the joy of being in God's presence is multifaceted, encompassing all aspects of existence.
It's not just about feeling good, but about reflecting the Divine in every possible way.
This vision from Sifrei Devarim isn't just a description of the afterlife; it's a call to action in this life. How can we cultivate these qualities within ourselves now? How can we strive to be a little more like the sun, the moon, the stars, the lightning, the lilies, and the menorah, reflecting the Divine light in our own unique way? Maybe, just maybe, a taste of that ultimate joy is available to us, even here, even now.