That’s the kind of struggle we find ourselves in, according to the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar. This passage from Tikkunei Zohar 85 throws us right into the middle of such a confrontation. It begins with recognition, a moment of joyous revelation. Rabbi El’azar, a sage steeped in Torah and mystical knowledge, suddenly realizes who he's speaking to: “Surely you are the son of Rabbi Hamnuna the Elder!”
Imagine the scene. Relief washes over those present. Respect, even awe, fills the air. “Certainly," they exclaim, "if you were in this world, we would be descending from our horses, and we ourselves would be donkeying after your cattle.” In other words, they would gladly humble themselves to honor him and his wisdom. It’s a powerful image of reverence for learning and spiritual attainment.
But the moment of celebration quickly gives way to the heart of the matter: the snake.
“That snake, against whom you are fighting a war, how did you escape from it? For it swallows and kills, and not only that, but, it killed the first human, and all generations that came after him.” The snake, of course, isn't just a literal serpent. It represents the yetzer hara, the evil inclination, that force within us and around us that tempts us away from righteousness and towards destruction. It's the same force that, according to tradition, led to the downfall of Adam and Eve. It's a primal, ever-present threat.
So how do we fight it? How do we escape its venomous bite?
The Tikkunei Zohar offers a fascinating, almost fairy-tale-like image: "And the daughter is upon the tower that hovers in the air, and they announce, every day, in the firmament, that whoever kills the snake, shall be given to him for a wife." This "daughter of the king," hidden in her tower, is a symbol. A symbol of what, exactly? Well, that’s open to interpretation, isn't it? Some scholars suggest she represents the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, or perhaps the soul itself, yearning for redemption.
The verse quoted, “...the daughter of the king, inside, her garment is of settings of gold" (Ps. 45:14), adds another layer. This isn't just any prize. This is something precious, something intrinsically valuable, waiting to be revealed.
So, what does it all mean? The Tikkunei Zohar isn't giving us a simple instruction manual. It's painting a picture, inviting us to contemplate the nature of good and evil, the challenges we face in our spiritual journeys, and the incredible rewards that await those who persevere. The battle against the snake, against our own negative impulses, is a lifelong struggle. But the promise of union with the "daughter of the king," of connecting with something truly divine within ourselves and the world, makes the fight worthwhile.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What tower are you striving to reach? What "snake" are you battling? And what "daughter of the king" awaits you at the summit?