It’s a window into a deeper, more mystical understanding of our relationship with the Divine. Let's dive into a fascinating passage from the Tikkunei Zohar, specifically Tikkun 114, that sheds light on this.
The passage begins by asking a poignant question: who causes affliction to the Shekhinah in exile? The Shekhinah, often described as the Divine Presence, the feminine aspect of God, is seen as being in exile along with the Jewish people.
The Tikkunei Zohar connects this suffering to the verse in Esther (4:16) where Esther says, "...and thus I shall come to the king, not according to the ke-dat..." The word dat here is translated as "law." But the Tikkunei Zohar sees something more profound. It suggests that Esther enters without Her husband, the Holy One, blessed be He.
How so? Well, we are reminded of Deuteronomy 33:2, which speaks of "from His right hand, a eish dat for them" – a "fiery law." The Tikkunei Zohar argues that the neglect of Torah, the very essence of that fiery law, is what caused the destruction of both the First and Second Temples. Think about that for a moment. The text suggests that our actions, our relationship with Torah, directly impact the Shekhinah, causing Her suffering. It's a powerful and sobering thought.
Esther's willingness to risk everything, even to "perish," reflects this deep connection. But there's hope! Even though She enters "without Her husband" – without DaT, “Law” – She enters through the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The text connects this to Esther's three-day fast, "three days, night and day," seeing the Patriarchs as witnesses to the maiden entering the King's house.
This idea of Esther as a "maiden," a na’arah, is key. The Tikkunei Zohar draws a parallel to Genesis 24:16, where it says of Rebekah, "no man had known her" – except her husband. Just like Esther goes to the king, a virgin, and returns in the morning, a virgin, the Shekhinah maintains Her purity and connection to the Divine even in exile. The passage uses the verses in Esther 2:13-14 to illustrate this point, emphasizing the "evening she would arrive... a virgin girl" and "...in the morning she would return, – a virgin girl."
What does it all mean? The Tikkunei Zohar is telling us that even in the darkest of times, when the Shekhinah is in exile and we feel distant from God, the potential for renewal and connection remains. Through acts of courage, like Esther's, and a recommitment to Torah, we can help restore the Divine Presence and heal the world. It's a message of hope woven into the very fabric of the Book of Esther, waiting for us to uncover it.