That, my friends, might just be the sound of the te-ru’ah.
But what is the te-ru’ah? It’s more than just a sound. It's a mystery, a cry, a call…and the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, that mystical heart of the Zohar, opens up its secrets to us.
We find ourselves in Tikkunei Zohar 94, and the text presents a fascinating interpretation of a verse from Exodus (32:18): "It is not the sound of a cry of strength… nor the sound of a cry of weakness… rather, the sound of 'crying-out'…"
The passage distinguishes between three distinct sounds associated with the shofar: shevarim, te-qi’ah, and te-ru’ah. The shevarim is a broken, fragmented sound, likened here to a cry of strength. The te-qi’ah is a long, sustained blast, here representing a cry of weakness. But it's the te-ru’ah, that rising, trembling call, that gets our attention. The text tells us, "...this is te-ru’ah, which rises in answering, one after the other, like te-ru’ah."
Think of it: a series of short, rapid bursts, an echo of something profound. But what's it echoing?
The Tikkunei Zohar continues, connecting this sound to a verse from Psalms (89:16): "Happy is the nation, those who know the te-ru’ah."
What does it mean to "know" a sound? It's not just about hearing it. It's about understanding its significance, feeling its power, grasping its connection to something larger than ourselves. In this context, knowing the te-ru’ah implies an understanding of the deep spiritual realities it represents.
Here's where it gets really interesting. The text speaks of the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, being answered from right and from left. But it emphasizes that there's no response quite like the response to Her husband, which alludes to the relationship between the Shekhinah and the Kadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He).
The te-ru’ah, then, becomes a symbol of that longing, that yearning for connection, that ultimate union. It’s not just a sound; it’s a conversation, a response, a deeply intimate exchange. It's the sound of creation yearning for its Creator, the soul longing for its source.
So, the next time you hear the te-ru’ah – whether blown from a shofar on Rosh Hashanah or echoing in your heart at any moment – listen closely. It might just be the sound of something truly profound answering back.