Jewish mysticism, especially the Zohar, often grapples with this feeling when discussing the Shekhinah.
What exactly is the Shekhinah? It's the divine feminine presence, the immanent aspect of God that dwells among us, within us, and connects us to the infinite. And according to the Tikkunei_Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">Tikkunei Zohar, a later, even more mystical expansion on the original Zohar, the Shekhinah is intrinsically linked to the idea of kingship.
Specifically, Tikkunei Zohar 120 states that the Shekhinah is the precept, the mitzvah, of "establishing a king." It alludes to the verse in Deuteronomy (17:15): "You will surely appoint for yourself a king…" But what does this even mean?
The text goes on to say that as long as the Shekhinah is not in Her proper place, there is no true King. Think about that for a moment. No Shekhinah, no King. Why? Because the Shekhinah is the malkhut – the kingdom – over a person. It is through Her that Israel becomes, all of them, "children of kings." This isn't about literal royalty, but about the inherent dignity and divine spark within each of us. We are all, in a sense, heirs to the throne.
Consider this: A king without a kingdom is just a person wearing a crown, right? There’s no real power, no authority, no purpose. The kingdom gives the king meaning. Similarly, the Shekhinah needs Her place, Her connection to us, to fully manifest.
The passage then throws in this rather stark image from Proverbs (30:23): “…the maidservant shall inherit her mistress." This refers to the state of exile, a time when things are turned upside down, when the natural order is disrupted. The Shekhinah, in exile, is like a mistress displaced, with the maidservant (representing other, less holy forces) taking her place. It’s a powerful metaphor for the spiritual imbalance that occurs when the divine presence is obscured.
So, what's the takeaway? The Tikkunei Zohar is suggesting that establishing the Shekhinah in Her rightful place – recognizing and nurturing the divine feminine within ourselves and the world – is not just a nice idea, but a fundamental spiritual imperative. It's what allows true kingship, true leadership, and true connection to the divine to flourish. When we honor the Shekhinah, we restore balance, we reclaim our inner royalty, and we help bring the world a little closer to its ultimate redemption. That is a powerful idea.