The Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, a profound exploration of the Zohar itself, offers a powerful answer.
It tells us that those who keep the covenant of circumcision – the brit milah, connected to Yesod, the Foundation – and the Torah, which represents the Middle Pillar, Tiferet or Beauty, are doubly defended. Each offers its own unique protection: one in this world, and one in the world that is coming. Think of it as having two guardians, each watching over you, each powerful in their own right.
But how do these connect?
The Tikkunei Zohar then takes us to the very beginning, to the word Be-REiYShYT, "In the beginning" (Genesis 1:1). And it immediately connects this to another verse: "The first of the first-fruits of your land, you shall bring to the house of Y”Y ELoQeYKha, you shall not cook a kid in its mother’s milk" (Exodus 23:19). Notice the word "first," reishyt, appearing in both. It's not a coincidence.
The text urges us to "come and see" – a classic phrase in Kabbalistic literature inviting us to a deeper understanding. It reveals that this "first," this reishyt, is closely linked to Ḥokhmah, divine Wisdom. Remember Ḥokhmah? It's one of the sefirot, the emanations of God, representing the first flash of intellectual understanding.
And it’s here that things get really interesting.
The Tikkunei Zohar says that all "first-fruits," or bikkurim, are called for the sake of Ḥokhmah. From there, the Shekhinah – the divine presence, often seen as the feminine aspect of God – is called the "first born," or be-khorah. It's Ḥokhmah, specifically, upon which it is stated: "...the ‘first’ of all, the first fruits of everything..." (Ezekiel 44:30).
So, what does it all mean? This passage connects the physical act of keeping the covenant and studying Torah to the highest realms of divine wisdom and presence. It suggests that by engaging with these practices, we are not just following commandments, but also tapping into a deeper source of protection and connection to the divine. The "first" of everything, that initial spark of wisdom, is what truly sustains us. It's a profound reminder that our actions in this world have cosmic significance, and that by embracing the "first," we are embracing the very source of life itself.