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The Road To Rectification

11. Tikun Hatzot

At midnight, all of the true tzaddikim rise to study the Torah and to sing its praises. Behold, it has been said that the Holy One Blessed Be He, and all the tzaddikim in Gan Eden, listen to their voices, and a thread of grace is drawn over them by day, as is written, “The L-rd will command his grace in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.” (Tehillim, 42:9) Therefore, the praises that ascend in the night before Him, this is the most perfect praise. (Zohar, Bereshit 82b)

 “I have sworn to David, My servant,” (Tehillim, 89:4) this is the secret of faith (Malchut) that it is always bound up with the tzaddik (Yesod.) And this is the foundation of the world, that they (Malchut and Yesod) never be separated. Except in the time of the exile, when the flow of blessing is cut off (because of transgressions,) and the secret of faith is impaired, and all joy (caused by the union of Malchut and Yesod) is stunted. And when nighttime (the exile) comes, joy does not enter before the King.

And even though joy is not awakened, nevertheless, outside of the palace the angels still sing. And at midnight when the stirring from below ascends on high, the Holy One Blessed Be He arouses all the hosts of heaven for weeping, and strikes the firmament, causing upper and lower worlds to tremble. And there is no comfort except at the time when those below awaken to study the Torah. Then the Holy One Blessed Be He, and all the souls of the tzaddikim with Him, listen with joy to that sound of learning, and comfort is felt by all. For from the day the Temple was destroyed below, G-d swore that He would not enter the heavenly Jerusalem until Israel should enter the earthly Jerusalem, as is written, “until holiness be in the midst of you, I will not enter the city,” (Hosea, 11:9) as we have learned. (Zohar,  Bereshit 231a)

Tikun Hatzot brings about the Yichud-union of HaKodesh Baruch Hu and the exiled Shechinah, and effects great rectifications in all of the worlds. In the same way that sexual transgressions brought about the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, separating the exalted spiritual union of the sefirot of Malchut and Yesod, so do our sexual sins today extend this spiritual damage and lengthen the exile. As it says in Tikun Hatzot, “Our sins have withheld the good (Yesod) from us.” (Yirmeyahu, 5:25) Tikun Hatzot comes to reawaken the love and flow of blessing that was lost. Thus its heartfelt recital, a few times a week, or as much as one can, is a vital aspect of Tikun HaBrit.  Those who are able to keep awake to learn Torah afterward will be rewarded with an exalted spiritual light.

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Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi on Tikun Hatzot
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