The verse is brief: "The power of God's deeds, He has related to His people" (Psalm 111:6). The Tikkunei Zohar hears an entire mystical structure inside it.
The Tikkunei Zohar doesn't just read the verse; it dissects it, examines its very bones. It zeroes in on that word, ko-aḥ, "power." What kind of power are we talking about here?
In Tikkunei Zohar, this ko-aḥ refers to the power of Binah (Understanding), one of the ten Sefirot, the divine emanations through which God manifests in the world. Binah is often translated as "understanding" or "intelligence," but it's so much more than just intellectual capacity. It's the womb of creation, the source of all forms and ideas. It's where potential becomes reality.
Here's where it gets really interesting. The Tikkunei Zohar goes on to say that this power of Binah, this divine understanding, is "related to His people." But how? What does it mean to relate power?
The text explains that God reveals this power through the Torah, through the very words and stories that make up our sacred texts. Every commandment, every narrative, every seemingly simple phrase is a vessel containing a spark of that divine ko-aḥ.
Think of it like this: God isn't just handing us a rulebook. God is sharing the very blueprints of creation, inviting us to participate in the ongoing act of bringing the divine into the world. The Torah isn't just a set of laws; it’s a map to unlocking our own potential, to tapping into that same creative energy that brought the universe into being.
But there’s a condition, isn’t there? "He has related to His people." The Tikkunei Zohar subtly implies that this access isn't universal. It requires a connection, a commitment, a willingness to engage with the tradition and to see beyond the literal meaning of the words.
Does this mean that those outside the Jewish tradition are excluded from accessing divine wisdom? Not necessarily. It suggests, perhaps, that different paths lead to the same summit, that each tradition offers its own unique lens through which to perceive the divine. But for those within the Jewish tradition, the Torah is presented as a particularly potent and direct conduit.
So, what does all this mean for us today?
It means that when we study Torah, when we confront its complexities and wrestle with its challenges, we're not just engaging in an intellectual exercise. We are connecting to something far greater than ourselves. We are tapping into the very power that sustains the universe. We are receiving a transmission of divine ko-aḥ.
And that, my friends, is a truly awesome and empowering thought. The next time you open a sacred text, remember that you're not just reading words on a page. You're listening to the whispers of the universe, receiving the secrets of creation, and being invited to participate in the ongoing unfolding of the divine plan. What will you do with that power?