Jewish mysticism understands that feeling, and it gives it a name: exile. Not just the historical exile of the Jewish people, but a deeper, more personal exile that each of us experiences. And at the heart of this idea is the Shekhinah (the Divine Presence).
Now, the Shekhinah is a complex concept. Think of it as the feminine aspect of God, the divine presence that dwells among us. But when things are out of balance, when there's suffering and injustice in the world, the Shekhinah herself is said to be in exile, imprisoned, so to speak. And as it says in the Talmud (BT Berakhot 5b), "A prisoner does not release himself [from prison]." She can’t free herself. So, who can?
This is where Tikkunei (spiritual repair) Zohar 44 steps in with a beautiful and hopeful message. Even though the Shekhinah is trapped in exile, the Higher Shekhinah, a more elevated aspect of the Divine Feminine, has the power to redeem Her. It's like a lifeline thrown from above, a promise that even in the darkest of times, redemption is possible.
The passage then quotes the Book of Ruth (3:13): "If your redeemer shall redeem, then good, and if he shall not desire to redeem you, then Anochi, 'I,' shall redeem you, as Y”Y lives, lie down until the morning." Anochi, "I," in this context, represents Binah, the higher understanding, the source from which the Shekhinah emanates. SAFE4 , the Divine Mother, will redeem the Shekhinah! It’s a powerful image of divine compassion.
What does "lie down until the morning" mean? The text interprets this as referring to "the right hand extended to accept penitents." It’s about repentance, teshuvah (repentance). This entire process, according to the Tikkunei Zohar, hinges on our ability to turn back to the Divine, to seek forgiveness, to make amends. As it says in the Talmud (BT Sanhedrin 97b), redemption depends only upon repentance.
The "right hand" here isn't just any right hand; it's the "higher right hand of the Shekhinah." This is crucial. It emphasizes that the power to redeem lies within the Divine Feminine itself, a force of love and forgiveness that's always reaching out to us.
So, what does all this mean for us today? It's a reminder that even when we feel lost, trapped, or exiled from ourselves, there's always a path to redemption. It might not be easy, and it might require us to confront our own shortcomings and make amends, but the possibility is always there. The Higher Shekhinah, the Divine Feminine, is waiting to lift us out of the darkness, to guide us back to wholeness. And that, my friends, is a message of hope we can all hold onto.