The Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, a collection of commentaries on the Torah, unveils some of the deepest mystical secrets of Judaism. And in the hundredth Tikkun, we find a powerful, almost poetic, vision of redemption. It speaks of a moment when the Holy One, blessed be He, will arrive and address Her. Who is this "Her"? Many understand this to be the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, often seen as the feminine aspect of God. She is in exile, separated from the divine source, yearning for reunification.
The verse quoted is from the Book of Ruth (3:13): "Stay the night, and it shall be in the morning..." But here, it's not just about Ruth and Boaz. The Tikkunei Zohar reads into these words a deeper cosmic significance. "Stay the night" symbolizes the left-hand side, the side of judgment and restriction. Think of it as the darkness, the challenges, the difficult times. But, "it shall be in the morning..." Ah, that's the promise of mercy, the right-hand side, where light shines forth. It’s the breaking dawn after a long, dark night. It's the hope that even in the deepest darkness, light is always waiting to emerge. And that light, as Genesis 44:3 tells us, makes the "morning became light..."
But here's the real kicker: this redemption isn't just a top-down decree from on high. We have a role to play. The text continues, referencing the verse, "...if he shall redeem you, ‘good’, he shall redeem..." The Tikkunei Zohar interprets this as: If Israel performs good deeds, if we strive to elevate the Shekhinah, to raise Her "from between the legs" – a powerful metaphor for the state of exile – then "good" will happen. We will be redeemed by the hand of "Higher Israel," who is the Shekhinah's "good" husband. This "good" is the divine force specifically designated for this purpose.
But what if we don't do good? What if we fail to live up to our potential? Then, the text states, "...'I' shall redeem You." Anokhi – "I" – is a powerful, almost stark declaration. Even if we falter, even if we fail to do our part, God will still redeem us. It’s a promise of unconditional love and ultimate salvation.
So, what does this all mean for us today? It's a call to action. It's a reminder that we are not passive bystanders in the drama of creation. Our actions, our deeds, our very intentions have cosmic consequences. They can either hasten the coming of the light, or, well, prolong the night. But even if we stumble, even if we fall, there's always hope. There’s always the promise of redemption, the assurance that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone. The Shekhinah yearns for reunification, and the Holy One, blessed be He, is always there, ready to offer a hand.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What kind of "good" can we do today to help bring about that morning light?