(Genesis 1:26). We hear that phrase all the time, but what's the deeper, more mystical understanding behind it? The Tikkunei Zohar, a central text of Kabbalah, offers a fascinating – and perhaps surprising – interpretation.
The Tikkunei Zohar isn't your typical read. It's a collection of commentaries on the Zohar, itself a foundational work of Jewish mysticism, diving deep into the hidden meanings of the Torah. And in Tikkunei Zohar 180, we find a rather specific take on that famous verse about creating humanity.
It suggests that the verse, "Let us make a human," is actually a commandment related to conversion to Judaism – specifically, the act of circumcision. Yes, you read that right! The text proposes that a convert becomes "in our image" through the cutting of the foreskin during circumcision, and "as our likeness" through priah, the tearing back of the remaining foreskin.
Now, that might sound a bit… jarring. But let's unpack it. The Tikkunei Zohar argues that if the convert fully embraces the covenant through these two actions, then they are truly "in our image as our likeness." But, and this is a big but, if they don't? Then they're not.
What's going on here? It's not just about the physical act, but about the intention and the complete commitment to entering into the covenant with God.
According to the Tikkunei Zohar, God originally wanted to create humanity in the perfect form of His d’yoqna, His divine image. This image was intended to be without nakedness, without rupture, without division. The idea was that humanity should embody all the Sefirot, the ten divine attributes or emanations through which God reveals Himself to the world.
Think of the Sefirot as a kind of cosmic circuitry, each one representing a different facet of God's being – from Chesed (loving-kindness) to Gevurah (strength) to Tiferet (beauty). The goal was for humanity to be a microcosm, reflecting the entirety of the divine.
And there's more! The Tikkunei Zohar goes on to say that the ideal human was also meant to unite the "Son and Daughter," Tiferet and Malkhut, who are seen as siblings. Tiferet represents divine beauty and balance, while Malkhut represents the divine kingdom and the receiving of God's blessings. Their union symbolizes harmony and the fulfillment of God's creative intention.
So, what does this all mean for us? It suggests that being "in God's image" isn't just about physical resemblance. It's about striving for wholeness, for embodying divine attributes, and for uniting seemingly disparate aspects of ourselves and the world around us. It's about actively participating in the ongoing process of creation, of bringing more light and unity into the world. It's a powerful idea that calls on us to see our own potential for holiness and to recognize the divine spark within ourselves and others.