The Jewish mystical tradition, particularly the Zohar, speaks of just such a figure, and it's someone you already know: Moses.
But not just the Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt. The Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, a later and more expansive section of the Zohar, dives deep into the idea of Moses as a continuing presence, a kind of spiritual shepherd who's destined to be with us even in the "final exile."
What's the "final exile?" It's the period before the coming of the Messiah, a time often envisioned as being filled with challenges and darkness. And according to the Tikkunei Zohar, Moses, that "Faithful Shepherd," will be right there in the thick of it.
But here's where it gets really interesting, and maybe even a little uncomfortable. The text connects Moses to a verse from Isaiah (53:5) that Christians often interpret as referring to Jesus: "And he was pained by our crimes... and with his wound we were healed."
Whoa. Hold on a second.
The Tikkunei Zohar isn't suggesting a conversion, of course. Instead, it's offering a radical idea about the role of suffering, particularly the suffering of righteous individuals. It suggests that Moses, in this ongoing spiritual role, takes on the pain and the iniquities of the people. The text specifically says "He was made ‘hol’ because of us, afflicted in our iniquities." Hol here means "mundane" or "profane" – he lowered himself, took on our burdens.
Think of it this way: he’s plagued by poverty, facing oppression, all because of us.
And it's not just the Zohar that hints at this idea. Midrash Tanhuma, Huqat Ch. 10, also places Moses in this role of intercessor and sufferer for the people. The idea is that his suffering, in some mysterious way, can lead to healing. The verse concludes, "...and with his wound we were healed."
Even more powerfully, the Tikkunei Zohar links this idea to a verse from Exodus (32:14): "And Y”Y repented of the evil..." This refers to the episode after the Golden Calf, when Moses pleads with God to spare the Israelites. Moses's intercession, his willingness to take on the burden of their sin, literally changes God's mind.
So what are we supposed to take away from all this? Is it about a single person named Moses? Or is it about something bigger? Maybe it's about the potential within each of us to alleviate the suffering of others, to carry their burdens, and, in doing so, to bring about healing in the world. Maybe it's about recognizing the "Moses" in those around us who are quietly absorbing the pain, the injustice, the negativity.
And maybe, just maybe, it's about recognizing that even in the darkest of times, even in the "final exile," there's always the possibility of redemption, of healing, of change, if we're willing to share the burden.