The Tikkunei Zohar, a central text of Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition, speaks of just that. It tells us that we are worthy when we prepare a dwelling place for the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, within our hearts. But what does it mean to "prepare a dwelling place"?
The Tikkunei Zohar goes on: We do so by creating beautiful vessels with our limbs – through our actions, our deeds in the world. And also, by nurturing "a beautiful woman," which, according to this passage, is our own soul. It's for the sake of this soul, this inner beauty, that the Higher Shekhinah – "the soul of all life" – abides within us. It's a beautiful image, isn't it? Our soul as a welcoming space for the Divine.
The text then delves into the significance of the Sabbath, drawing from the verse in Exodus 31:17. It says that the Holy One, blessed be He, "ceased" (shavat) and "rested" (naphash). The Tikkunei Zohar interprets this on two levels, aligning with the two aspects of the Shekhinah, the Higher and the Lower.
In relation to the Higher Shekhinah, God "ceased" upon them. And in relation to the Lower Shekhinah, God "rested" upon them. And even more, God gave them extra souls. What are these extra souls? The text quotes Psalm 45:15, describing "virgins following her, her companions, which arrive with Her."
Think of it like this: when we truly connect with the Divine, when we create that space within us, we are not alone. We are joined by a host of celestial beings, angels and servants, all connected to the essence of Sabbath.
These angels, the text tells us, are linked to the commandments to "Remember" (Zachor in Exodus 20:8) and "Observe" (Shamor in Deuteronomy 5:12) the Sabbath. Interestingly, the text connects these angels to the number 70. This is a rich number in Jewish tradition, often associated with completeness and universality. The seventy faces of Torah, the seventy nations of the world… it hints at the vastness and inclusivity of this Divine connection.
So, what does this all mean for us in our daily lives? Perhaps it’s a reminder that our inner state matters. That by striving to live ethically, to create beauty, to nurture our souls, we are not just improving ourselves. We are actively creating a space for the Divine to dwell within us. And when we do that, we are joined by a chorus of angels, all singing the praises of the Sabbath, of rest, of connection, of the Divine spark within us all. How can you make space for the Shekhinah in your heart today?