The Tikkunei Zohar, that mystical expansion on the Zohar, uses a powerful metaphor to describe the relationship between us and the Shekhinah, the divine feminine presence. It's a story of love, separation, and the yearning for reunion.
Imagine a princess, consumed by love for her husband. When he departs, she falls ill, weakened by longing. In her distress, she cries out, "Support me with cakes, ashishot!"—raisin cakes known for their restorative properties. The Tikkunei Zohar sees the Shekhinah in a similar state, confined and yearning. She cries out (Song of Songs 2:5), "Refresh me..." But with what? "...with apples," the text continues, "which flourish in the trees of the forest – and these are the fragrant plants."
Now, here's where it gets interesting. One of the elders in the discussion raises a crucial point. We perform the Havdalah ceremony, the ritual that separates the holy Sabbath from the rest of the week, with fragrant plants. Not just apples, even though the Shekhinah specifically mentions them. Why?
The elder explains that we use fragrant plants because (Song of Songs 7:9) "Your breath is like the fragrance of apples." It’s about the essence of the apple, its evocative scent. And furthermore, all sorts of fragrant plants are suitable for these blessings.
In fact, we often use myrtle branches, or hadassim. Why myrtle? Because they have sets of three leaves. These "three hadassim" hint at the three forefathers: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But what about the apples? Ah, the elder continues, the two nostrils, the organs through which we experience the fragrance, they represent the two apples. These are the two true prophets, from whom the holy spirit – the faithful shepherd – is destined to issue. It all comes back to that cry from the Song of Songs (2:5): "Refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love."
So, what's the takeaway? The Tikkunei Zohar, through this beautiful interpretation of the Song of Songs, reveals the profound connection between our actions and the well-being of the Shekhinah. When we engage with the world in a way that is mindful and fragrant – like the scent of apples – we are, in a sense, answering her call. We are offering comfort and sustenance to the divine presence, helping to heal the separation and drawing closer to that ultimate reunion. And perhaps, in doing so, we also heal a little bit of that longing within ourselves.