Welcoming the Shabbat Bride: Who is she?

Each Friday, we sing the song Lecha Dodi which welcomes the Sabbath, or Shabbat Bride. This song owes it's origins to the the mystic followers of Rabbi Isaac of Akko, also known as the Ari of Safed. Many Jews and historians believe this is where thought and mention of the Shabbat Bride, or Queen begins with Jewish mystics of the Middle Ages. But the mystics, or Kabbalists themselves say it is much older and after a little research, I believe them. So who is she? Who is the Shabbat Bride?

The easy answer is just what the Kabbalists claim she is...the sphere of Malkhut on the Tree of Life, or God's Divine Presence. She represents the nurturing and creative force of the universe. Hence, her connection to Shabbat which celebrates the act and completion of creation. A very similar concept is found in Indian philosophy in the form of Shakti. She also represents the primordial cosmic energy of creation. She represents the dynamic forces that move throughout the universe, according to Wikepedia. There is also a strong resemblance to the forces of Yin (from the Yin Yang) of Taoist philosophy in China. But does all of this come from an importation of foreign belief into Judaism, or is it a lost part of our heritage representing the heart and soul of Jewish faith?

In Hebrew, the Shabbat Bride, or Queen is called Shekinah, meaning "dwelling" and, as mentioned, is the Divine Presence in creation. She represents the spark of the Divine at the core of all of existence. She is where the divine emanation of God came to rest, as the soul of humanity and the universe. It is she that we seek for spiritual renewal on Shabbat, as we remember and try to reconnect our soul with that of the world around us. Our most intimate connection with her is as the divine breath, the neshamah, that gives us life.

Shekinah is not a new concept to Judaism. You can trace her origins at least as far back the Hebrew sojourn in Egypt where they were exposed to an entire pantheon of goddesses, who were the brides of Egyptian gods. With the discovery of the Jewish Falasha in Ethiopia, who were isolated from the rest of the Jewish world since pre-rabbinic times we find our strongest evidence of the Shabbat Queen as a part of Jewish faith from ancient times. They call her Sanbat and the Sabbath celebration is held in her honor. The research of Graham Hancock in seeking the Ark of the Covenant suggests that the Falasha are descended from the Jews of Elephantine who were sent as protectors of Egypt's southern border as early as the 6th century B.C, or before. One of the distinguishing features of this community is that they built their own temple like that in Jerusalem in which the goddess, Sati was worshipped alongside of Yahweh, as his bride. In Egyptian religion, Sati was seen as an incarnation of the goddesss, Isis.

Now before I leave you with the wrong impression, I am not claiming that Judaism is, or ever was a polytheistic faith. It is and has always been a monotheistic religion which is what separated Jews from their neighbors. Shekinah, or the Shabbat Bride was always seen as an aspect of God representing his creative and nurturing nature. Like I mentioned above, she can be compared to the Shakti of Indian philosophy and the Yin of Taoist belief.

In Genesis, we hear God in the form of Elohim, or the Heavenly Host, say let us make humans in our image...male and female he created him. Humanity was not complete without its female half and neither is God in whose image we are made. The secret is that we are the spiritual bride of God...the co-creator whose role it is to complete creation as a universe of mercy and goodness. This is illustrated metaphorically by the Song of Songs, which tells of spiritual love between Israel and God and is stated plainly by Rabbi Dov Baer of Mezerich who said to think of your soul as a part of the Divine Presence like the raindrop in the sea. It is only our limited perception and temporary amnesia that prevents us from remembering this fact. Shabbat is when we wake up and recall. Being musically inclined, I think of us as being a note in the celestial song of creation...again tying in with the Song of Songs and those that we sing in celebration of the seventh day of rest and renewal.

Perhaps the similarities between Judaism and Indian faith explains why in America Jews make up as much as 60-70% of devotees at Hindu/Buddhist monasteries and ashrams. During the Age of Enlightenment in the mid-1800's, there was an effort to purge Judaism of it's superstitions and to create a more rational faith. Shekinah and the mystical elements of Jewish faith were left behind as part of that process of "Reform." But perhaps she still calls to the Jewish soul, which is why many have sought her out as spiritual enlightenment elsewhere. But with her rediscovery they can come home. She is no longer in exile.

In a future discussion, we will discuss more similarities between Jewish and Indian philosophy which I believe illustrates that Judaism is an Eastern religion come West.

Until next time....

Shmuel