Exile within Exile: Commentary on Yesterday’s Blog: Marc Gafni

See above, a couple of blogs back, where we showed how the Shehina in Exile is Herself in an additional exile, that of the “maidservant”. I would only add here that the Tiqunei Zohar presents another unusual idea — that Kudsha Brih Hu, the Divine masculine Himself, when He is not unified with Shehina — i.e. during the time of exile — is “exiled within the exile” into Metatron (who, in Heihalot texts, is referred to as YHVH Haqatan). To quote: “And when He is below, in Metatron, without His Shehina, He changes. This led Elisha-Aher to say, ‘Could there be two Powers?’ This is why it says “Do not replace Me with Him” (comment in tractate Sanhedrin 38b on Exodus 23:21), for My name is within Him. For Metatron is second (shani) to the King” (Tiqunei Zohar 15a). During the time of Exile, the Shehina Who is the mistress/lover of Metatron may be helpful, if Israel merits. But if they do not, then she becomes evil desire, unclean menstrual blood. Exile within exile (Zohar vol. 1, 27b. This section of the Zohar is actually not part of the Zohar (from 22a-29a). Its content (including this piece) is characteristic of the Tiqunim-Raya Mehimna style). See also Tiqunei Zohar 86a-b for a clear presentation of this idea.

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