It might even have cosmic implications.

Let's dive into a passage from Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar 42, a section of the Tikkunei Zohar, which is itself a companion and expansion upon the more famous Zohar. It grapples with a fascinating and complex idea: the relationship between the earthly and the divine, and how our actions down here can affect the realms above.

The passage begins by referencing a seemingly simple verse from Deuteronomy (22:6): "Do not take the mother upon the children..." This refers to the law about not taking both a mother bird and her young from a nest. Seems straightforward, right? But the mystics saw layers upon layers of meaning in even the simplest commandments.

Tikkunei Zohar 42 connects this verse to the concept of union – specifically, the sacred union of marriage. When a couple comes together "with the sanctification of marriage and the 7 blessings," the text tells us, they embody a divine unity. These seven blessings, recited at a Jewish wedding ceremony, aren't just nice words. They’re considered powerful invocations that draw down holiness and blessing.

But what happens when that unity is absent? What happens when the sacredness is missing? That’s where the verse takes on a darker tone. The text continues, "but if not, then You shall surely send away..." (Deut. 22:7). A separation occurs.

And here's where it gets really interesting. The text links this separation to the exile of Israel – the galut. It says that when the Jewish people "do not unite in their couplings, with the rites of sanctification and the 7 blessings," they find themselves in the domain of the "other side," a place of impurity and separation.

Think about that for a moment. The Tikkunei Zohar is suggesting that our relationships, our most intimate connections, have a direct impact on the spiritual well-being of the entire community, even the cosmos itself.

Instead of holiness, impurity (tumah) resides upon them. Instead of blessing (bracha), cursing (klala) takes its place. And instead of unity (yichud), there is separation (perud).

This isn't just about individual relationships, though. It’s about the collective relationship between Israel and the Divine. When that connection is fractured, the entire world suffers. The exile, in this mystical view, isn't just a historical event, but a symptom of a deeper spiritual disharmony.

So, what are we to take away from this? Perhaps it's a reminder that our actions, even the most personal ones, have far-reaching consequences. That the choices we make in our relationships, in our lives, can either contribute to a world of holiness, blessing, and unity, or, God forbid, to the opposite. It is a call to embrace the sacredness in our unions, to strive for connection, and to remember that we are all interconnected, bound together in this cosmic dance.