The Secret of the Holy Bride: The Power to Eradicate Impurity and Bring Geulah
Lesson No. 261 | Cassette 261 (requires further editing) Sunday morning, Parashas Shoftim, 26 Menachem Av 5760 - at the Yeshiva Monday night, Parashas Shoftim, eve of 27 Menachem Av 5760 - Sheva Brachos (seven wedding blessings) at the home of the Rav
An in-depth discourse on the spiritual power of the bride and righteous women in dark generations. Through the secret of the name "Shalom" and the story of the mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of the wife of Ovadia the Prophet, it is explained how the holiness of the Jewish home subdues the Sitra Achra (the Other Side, forces of impurity) and brings the Geulah (Redemption) closer.
We now have the merit to rejoice in the wedding of two grooms whose names are "Shalom." A person's name is not a simple matter at all. The holy Baal Shem Tov zy"a says that the names of people are awesome secrets. A person needs to know what his name is, because the name is the root of his soul. Every name, and especially the name "Shalom," is the name of Hashem, as it is written:
"And he called it, Hashem is Shalom."
A person lives through his name. All of a person's life-force is hidden within his name, and it is fitting that everyone should remember his name and know after which tzaddik he is named, and which Name of Hashem is associated with his name. When there is a doubling of the name "Shalom," it hints at peace on the outside and peace on the inside, in the secret of the verse:
"Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, says Hashem; and I will heal him."
Within the word "Shalom" are hidden all healings, and at the time of a wedding, it is possible to draw down complete healing for all people.
Pure Souls Against the Darkness of the Generation
It is brought down in the holy Zohar that at the time when King Achaz closed all the synagogues and study halls, the prophet came to him and told him that there are holy children, and through these children, the Geulah (Redemption) will come to the Jewish people. The moment holy and pure children are brought into the world, they are the ones who can bring the Geulah (Redemption).
When one sees that the *Sitra Achra* (forces of impurity) is growing stronger, the truth is exactly the opposite—greater and holier souls are sent from Heaven who can contend with it. The more impurity multiplies, the more pure souls descend into the world to eradicate the impurity like smoke driven away by the wind.
The righteous men and women who sanctify themselves in these dark generations draw down such great souls that can eradicate all impurity in the blink of an eye, with the mere breath of their mouths.
The Secret of the Bride: Subduing the Sitra Achra
The bride is called a "Kallah," from the root word kilyon (destruction or consuming), because the holy bride consumes everything—she consumes and eradicates all the Sitra Achra (forces of impurity). Through the Kingdom of Holiness, the kingdom of the Sitra Achra is nullified, and at every single wedding, the Kingdom of Holiness of the Master of the Universe is revealed.
Every single bride is an aspect of "David, King of Israel, lives and endures"; every bride is an aspect of Mashiach. She is the harp of David, she is the aspect of techeiles (the blue thread of the tzitzis), and she yearns for Hashem in the aspect of "My soul yearns, and even pines away."
Rebbe Nachman says that the moment we merit such holy brides, that is the moment when all the Sitra Achra (forces of impurity) is subdued. The holy bride is the one who must bring the King Mashiach, and the entire Geulah (Redemption) depends on her.
The Mesiras Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice) That Saves the Generation
The power of a holy woman to protect the entire generation is revealed in the story brought down in the Book of Kings about the wife of Ovadia the Prophet. In those days, the wicked Jezebel killed all the prophets of Hashem, claiming that they were the "troublers of Israel" who brought famine to the world. In the face of this decree of annihilation, Ovadia and his wife acted with complete mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) and hid one hundred prophets in two caves—fifty in each.
In order to sustain them, Ovadia was forced to borrow money at exorbitant interest from Yoram the son of Achav. After Ovadia passed away, his wife could not pay the debt, and the creditor came to take her two children as slaves. She came crying out to Elisha the Prophet, and he asked her, "What do you have in the house?" She replied that she had nothing but a "jug of oil."
That righteous woman would go from house to house, collecting drops of oil to provide light for the prophets who were hiding deep in the darkness of the cave and learning Torah all night. Because of her immense *mesiras nefesh* (self-sacrifice) and purity, the meager oil she collected drop by drop would miraculously burn until morning. Measure for measure, she now merited the great miracle of Elisha the Prophet, who commanded her to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors, and from that single, small jug of oil, all the vessels were filled with great abundance.
One Woman Can Protect the Jewish People
Chazal (our Sages) say that were it not for the merit and mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) of Ovadiah's wife, the Jewish people would have been completely lost. In the generation of Achav, where idols of avodah zarah (idol worship) stood on every single furrow, one single woman protected the entire generation. In her merit, Hashem did not bring destruction upon them, and the Jewish people continued to exist for another two hundred years.
From here we learn a tremendous foundation: One woman can protect the entire Jewish people. Especially in dark generations, it is enough for one woman to sanctify herself, purify herself, and have *mesiras nefesh* (self-sacrifice) for the sake of the Torah, in order to nullify all the harsh decrees. This is the power of the holy bride, who protects the entire generation and can bring the complete Geulah (Redemption) and King Mashiach.
Part 1 of 4 — Lesson No. 261
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Receive Torah articles and inspiration directly in your inbox