According to the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, a central work of Kabbalah, that person is actually doing something incredibly damaging. The text says that preventing the understanding of the "mystery of the principle of two Torahs" is "as if he returns the world to ‘chaos and void’." Pretty strong words, right?
But what exactly are these "two Torahs"?
The Tikkunei Zohar equates them to "the two faces." Think of it as two sides of the same coin, two dimensions of the same divine wisdom. One face is the revealed Torah, the one we read in the scrolls. The other is the hidden Torah, the mystical, allegorical, and symbolic meanings woven into the text. To ignore the hidden dimension, the Kabbalists argue, is to miss the deeper truths the Torah is trying to convey.
These "two faces" are linked to what the Tikkunei Zohar calls the GaN, גן, "garden" of the weekly scriptural sections. This garden, it says, is "locked." The verse from Song of Songs (4:12) says, "A locked garden, my sister, my bride..." This "locked garden" is associated with the "closed letter Mem," ם, the final form of the Hebrew letter Mem.
So what’s with the locked garden and closed letter?
The Tikkunei Zohar connects this idea of being "locked" with the Hebrew letter Vav, ו. It explains that the Vav is "locked during the six days of the week." This is based on Ezekiel 46:1: "...it will be closed for the six days of the working week, and on the Sabbath day it will be opened..."
What does it all mean? The six days of the week, the time of work and earthly pursuits, are a time when the deeper mysteries are somewhat concealed. Then, on Shabbat, the gate opens, and we are given a chance to glimpse the hidden wisdom, to connect with the deeper meaning of the Torah.
It’s like this: imagine a beautiful, intricate tapestry. If you only look at it from a distance, you see the overall picture. But to truly appreciate its beauty and complexity, you need to get up close and examine the individual threads, the knots, and the patterns woven into the fabric. The literal Torah is the overall picture, while the mystical Torah is the close-up view. We need both to truly understand the masterpiece.
So, next time you encounter a story or a teaching, remember that there might be more to it than meets the eye. Dare to ask questions, to explore the deeper meanings, and to unlock the hidden garden of wisdom. Who knows what treasures you might find?