Chilling Reflection: What Is the Suffering of the Shekhinah and How Does It Affect Us?
"The Suffering of the Shekhinah": Why does the Shekhinah experience sorrow and how is it connected to us? Two insights every Jew should internalize.
- מוריה חן
- פורסם ו' אב התשפ"ג
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What do the words "The Suffering of the Shekhinah" mean to you? Let's delve into their profound significance which touches each and every one of us.
Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Lugasi in his book 'My Soul in My Request' explains and highlights two reasons why the Shekhinah is in despair:
1. Suffering of the Shekhinah from the Dishonor of Heavenly Glory
When Heavenly Glory is disgraced, there is a reduction in the number of people who are God-fearing and listen to His commandments. They behave as if no one is watching over them, Heaven forbid, "acting as though the eye above does not see and the ear above does not hear, denying and alienating themselves from His existence and sovereignty."
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2. Suffering of the Shekhinah from the Suffering of Israel
Each of us, especially in our generation, faces challenges such as domestic peace, child education, livelihood, health, and more. Everyone bears their own share of suffering and thus takes part in the suffering of exile.
It is written in Tractate Chagigah: "Anyone who does not experience a hidden face is not one of them"—meaning, anyone who does not suffer from something and experiences a hidden face is not from Israel.
And here is the wonderful explanation by Rabbi Lugasi: "It is clear that each person bears only their own part and not someone else's. If one were to say, 'I am ready to bear my suffering and that of my friend's,' could he endure it? Certainly not, and even if he could, his suffering would be extremely difficult.
"And if a person were to bear the suffering of ten from Israel, would he be able to endure it? Surely, he would collapse instantly, and therefore Hashem gives to each one their share of suffering according to their portion and strength..."
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Rabbi Lugasi continues with one more step, to illustrate to what extent the suffering of the Shekhinah reaches:
It is also stated in the Talmud: "In all their afflictions, He is afflicted," meaning the Shekhinah fully suffers and shares in every sorrow of each member of Israel.
"So, if we imagine gathering all the sorrows of Israel together and placing them all on the shoulders of one mother, which is the holy Shekhinah, can we describe its suffering, feeling, and emotional participation in each individual's sorrow?
So, if one individual barely endures their share of suffering, and if they were also burdened with just another's share, they would collapse. What can we say about the suffering of the Shekhinah, which bears the sorrows of countless people of Israel, each suffering in their way, all concentrated on the Shekhinah alone. Can its suffering be described?"
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