Jewish mysticism has a powerful image for that feeling: the exile of the Shekhinah.
The Shekhinah, often translated as the Divine Presence, is, in Kabbalistic thought, the immanent aspect of God – the part of the Divine that dwells within creation and accompanies us in our lives. When things are right in the cosmos, the Shekhinah is close, a source of blessing and connection. But when things are out of balance, when there's too much negativity or brokenness, the Shekhinah can feel distant, even exiled.
And that's where Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar comes in. This section of the Zohar, a foundational text of Kabbalah, delves into the mysteries of creation, exile, and redemption. And in Tikkunei Zohar 72, we find a particularly striking image: a "husk of the foreskin" (another husk) that separates the "Righteous One" (often understood as Yesod, one of the Sefirot, or divine attributes) from the Shekhinah.
What does this mean? Well, Kabbalah often uses symbolic language to describe spiritual realities. This "husk" represents a barrier, an obstacle that prevents the full union of the Divine. It's a metaphor for anything that separates us from God's presence, anything that creates distance and darkness. It can be seen as the collective sins and imperfections of humanity that cloud our connection to the Divine.
And then comes a seemingly strange connection to… sciatic nerves! The text goes on to say, “Therefore, they shall not—the Children of Israel shall not eat of the sciatic nerve… until this husk is removed from there.” (Gen. 32:33)
What’s going on here? This prohibition against eating the sciatic nerve actually stems from the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel in Genesis. Remember that? Jacob, in a moment of intense spiritual struggle, is touched in the sinew of his thigh and walks with a limp afterward. The sciatic nerve, in this context, becomes a symbol of that struggle, of the wound that reminds us of our vulnerability and our striving for connection.
The Tikkunei Zohar is saying that until this barrier – this "husk" – is removed, until we heal the wounds that separate us from the Divine, we must abstain, we must recognize the brokenness. By refraining from eating the sciatic nerve, we acknowledge the separation and express our longing for wholeness. It’s a physical act that reflects a deeper spiritual yearning.
It's a powerful reminder that redemption isn't just a passive hope. It requires active participation. It requires us to confront the "husks" that separate us from the Shekhinah, to wrestle with our own imperfections, and to strive for a world where the Divine Presence can dwell fully and freely.