Jewish mysticism actually has something profound to say about that feeling, especially in the context of the coming of Messiah. to a fascinating passage from the Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, specifically Tikkun 98. This is a section of the Zohar, the foundational text of Kabbalah, that offers "repairs" or deeper interpretations of biblical verses and concepts. Here, the focus is on what happens when King Messiah arrives.

The Tikkunei Zohar tells us that when the Messiah comes, he will “take vengeance upon the spleen – which is the maidservant.” Now, that sounds a bit odd. The "spleen," in Kabbalistic terms, represents the source of anger, negativity, and what we might call the "dark side" of our nature. The "maidservant" is often a symbolic representation of the lower, more base aspects of the soul. So, the Messiah's job isn't just political or military; it's about conquering the inner darkness that fuels injustice in the world.

And what happens when that darkness is vanquished? Well, that’s where the verse from Psalms (2:4) comes in: "He who sits in the heavens will laugh..." The Tikkunei Zohar emphasizes, “He will laugh… at their destruction.” It might sound harsh, but it's followed by a verse from Proverbs (11:10): "...and in the destruction of the wicked there is joy."

Joy? In destruction? Isn't that… problematic?

This is where it gets really interesting. The text delves into the Hebrew word for "joy," which is RiNaH (רינה). The Tikkunei Zohar points out that RiNaH is an anagram – a rearrangement of letters – of Ha-NeR (הנר), meaning "the candle." And, it's also an anagram of NaHaR (נהר), meaning "river" – specifically, the river that emerges from Eden, the source of all life and blessing. Joy is connected to both light (the candle) and the source of life (the river from Eden).

But the connection doesn’t stop there. The Tikkunei Zohar then breaks down the numerical value – the gematria – of the letters in NaHaR. In Hebrew, each letter also represents a number. When you add up the numerical values of Nun (נ=50), Hei (ה=5), and Reish (ר=200), you get… well, not 613 yet! The text refers to “the letters of NaHaR written” which is a Kabbalistic technique of spelling out the names of the letters themselves. So Nun (נון) = 106, Hei (הי) = 6, Reish (ריש) = 501. Add them all up and you get 613.

Why is 613 significant? Because it represents the 613 commandments – the mitzvot – in the Torah. The text says, "… the positive precepts and the negative precepts are of the numeric-value of: the letters of NaHaR… total is 613 – and it is the candle that illuminates a person."

So, according to this intricate Kabbalistic reading, the joy we feel at the destruction of wickedness is directly linked to the illumination that comes from following God's commandments. It’s the light of the Torah, the flow of divine energy from Eden, that allows us to truly understand and appreciate the triumph of good over evil.

In other words, it’s not about reveling in someone else's suffering. It’s about recognizing that the removal of negativity, the clearing away of obstacles, allows the light of goodness and the flow of divine blessing to shine through more brightly. It's about the potential for a world redeemed, a world where the "spleen" is subdued, and the river of Eden flows freely. And that, perhaps, is something worth feeling a little… RiNaH about.