Rabbi Shmon ben Yechoi says in the Zohar, that the verse in our Torah portion (Genesis 7,11) which reads, “In the sixth hundred year of Noah’s life…were broken up all the fountains of the great deep” alludes to the fact that in the sixth hundred year of the sixth millennium (corresponding to 1839) the gates of sublime wisdom will open, and the wellsprings of worldly wisdom will surge forth. And the world will become Metaken [fixed] to enable entry into the seventh millennium. Akin to a person who is prepares during the afternoon of the sixth day [Friday], to enable entry into the Sabbath.
1840’s were the pinnacle in the development of the Jewish mystical groups known as Chassdim. At the same time the mid 1800’s till the present day has seen colossal progress in the understand of our ecosystem. During this time the advancement of technology has revolutionized our relationship with the world around us. These two types of wisdom the expansion of Jewish mystical knowledge on the one hand and the worldly wisdom on the other could be what the Zohar means by, “The gates of sublime wisdom will open, and the wellsprings of worldly wisdom will surge forth.”
Yet, what is the connection between worldly wisdom and sublime mystical understanding? Are the two really compatible? The answer is emphatically yes. Just look what you are reading and how it got to you. The Internet came about through the development of technology. Still, we use it for the furtherance of the word of God and His teachings. Both directly and by using them as analogies, science, physics, and technology give the thinker an unprecedented insight to gain a better understanding of the divine.
This is the connection between worldly wisdom and divine knowledge. The more humanity understands and makes use of the world around us the greater opportunity there is to serve and comprehend God. This way worldly wisdom forms a partnership with sublime understanding. It is this connection that prepares and is Metaken [fixes] the world for the seventh millennium. The seventh millennium means the era of the Messiah. Describing the messianic period the prophet Isaiah (40,5) said, “And the glory of Lord shall be revealed, and together all flesh shall see that the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” By furthering this association of wisdoms we bring the world one step closer to that fantastic epoch.