The Tikkunei (spiritual repair) Zohar, a major work of Kabbalah, tackles that feeling head-on. In its 120th section, it speaks of a future where everything clicks into place. A future where Jerusalem, the spiritual heart of the world, is "built… as a city that has been joined together." Think of it not just as stones and mortar, but as a network of souls, a tapestry of connections, finally whole.
What does that wholeness look like? According to the Tikkunei Zohar, it's a time when the light shines perpetually. We find echoes of this in Isaiah (60:20): "Your sun will set no more, and your moon will no longer be gathered…" No more fading light, no more diminishing hope. It's a promise of unending illumination.
And here's where it gets really beautiful. The Tikkunei Zohar suggests that this era of unity will awaken the Song of Songs, that passionate and intimate dialogue between God and Israel. It’s like the universe itself will be humming with love and connection.
But how does this light actually manifest? The text gives us a powerful metaphor. It speaks of kindling a light, using olive oil and a candle. And here's the breakdown: Israel, the Jewish people, are the wick. The Torah, God's teachings, is the oil that fuels the flame. And the SAFE2 (the Divine Presence) – that's the divine presence, the feminine aspect of God – is the candle itself.
Have you ever thought of yourself as a wick? It's an interesting image, isn't it? We, as individuals and as a community, are the vessels through which the divine light shines. The Torah, as the oil, provides the substance and nourishment for that light. And the Shekhinah, the candle, is the very embodiment of that radiant presence.
This image, of God's candle shining upon us, isn’t unique to the Tikkunei Zohar. It resonates with the words of Job (29:3): "In the shining of His candle upon my head..." Imagine that feeling: bathed in divine light, illuminated from within.
It is an intimate, incredibly powerful image.
So, what does it all mean? It means that the future isn't just something that happens to us. We play an active role in bringing about this era of unity and light. By connecting with the Torah, by nurturing our relationship with the divine, we become the wicks that allow the Shekhinah to shine.
It’s a call to action, really. A reminder that even in the darkest of times, we have the power to kindle a light, to build a Jerusalem that is truly joined together. And maybe, just maybe, to awaken that song of songs within our own hearts.