We're turning to the Tikkunei Zohar, specifically Tikkun 108. The Tikkunei Zohar is like the Zohar's cool, slightly more esoteric cousin, offering "corrections" or deeper interpretations of the Torah.
The passage we're looking at speaks of a time of profound transformation: the arrival of the Messiah. What happens then? According to the Tikkunei Zohar, those who "guarded the sign of the covenant" – meaning those who lived a life of devotion and followed God's commandments, especially the commandment of circumcision – will be saved from death. Death itself will be annulled!
Sounds pretty dramatic, right? But how does this salvation actually unfold? The text references a somewhat cryptic prophecy, quoting Jeremiah 3:14: "...one from a town, and two from a family..." What’s that all about?
The Tikkunei Zohar connects this verse to the story of Noah and the Ark. Remember how the animals entered the Ark? "Two by two they came to Noah..." (Genesis 7:9). But there's another verse, Genesis 7:2, that says "...seven by seven..." So, what gives? Are they coming in pairs, or in groups of seven?
Here’s where it gets interesting. One interpretation offered in the Tikkunei Zohar links the "seven by seven" to Bat Sheva, Bathsheba, which literally translates to "daughter of seven." But what’s the connection? It's a bit of a stretch on the surface, but in Kabbalistic thought, numbers often hold symbolic weight. The number seven is particularly significant, representing completeness and spiritual perfection.
And then we have the link to Noah himself. The text equates Noah with the Shabbat, the Sabbath. Think about it: the Sabbath is a day of rest, a day of peace, inherited by the righteous. Noah, in his righteousness, found favor in God's eyes and was saved from the flood. So, the Shabbat, like Noah, becomes a symbol of refuge and salvation.
But the interpretation doesn’t stop there. The "two by two" that entered the Ark are also connected to specific holy days. The Tikkunei Zohar says they represent the two days of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the Day of Judgement. The text specifically notes that the second day of Rosh Hashanah is observed because of "doubt"– a concept discussed in the Babylonian Talmud (BT Beitzah 4b). We observe the extra day because of uncertainty about when the new moon actually appeared, marking the start of the new month. The "two by two" also alludes to one day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and one day of Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks.
Finally, the "seven by seven" are connected to the seven days of Sukkot, the Festival of Tabernacles, and the seven days of Pesach, Passover. According to this interpretation, whoever observes these holy days is destined to be saved in exile.
What does it all mean? Is it a literal promise? Or is it a deeper message about the importance of connecting to our traditions, of living a life of meaning and purpose? Perhaps the Tikkunei Zohar is telling us that by observing these sacred times, by honoring the covenant, and by striving for righteousness, we are actively participating in the process of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, and bringing about a future where death itself loses its sting.
It’s a complex and layered teaching, one that invites us to delve deeper into the mysteries of our faith and consider the profound implications of our actions. And maybe, just maybe, it offers a glimpse of hope for a world redeemed.