I had a wonderful idea to combine the explanations of the Zohar hakadosh and the Midrash. The Zohar teaches us that women light candles in honor of Shabbas to draw the presence of the Shechinah into their homes. The Midrash teaches us that women light candles in honor of Shabbas because they are responsible for extinguishing the “lamp of the world,” since Chava played a vital role in the “cheit Eitz HaDa’as,” which introduced death into the world, thereby extinguishing man’s neshamah, which is referred to as the “lamp of Hashem.”
First, we will introduce a precious insight from the impeccable teachings of the Alshich hakadosh (Bechukosai), which will shed light for us on several matters. He interprets the passuk (Vayikra 26, 11): "ונתתי משכני בתוככם ולא תגעל נפשי אתכם"—I will place My Tabernacle among you, and My soul (spirit) will not loathe (reject) you—based on a teaching of Chazal in the Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni, Tehillim 150) on the last passuk in sefer Tehillim:
The passuk says: "כל הנשמה תהלל י"ה"—let all souls praise G-d. According to this Midrash, man’s neshamah is constantly trying to leave the body—ascending and descending. What prevents her from doing so? She sees HKB”H, her Maker, and returns. As a result, the neshamah praises Hashem; for she recognizes all the wonders He performs on our behalf.
The Alshich hakadosh explains the Midrash as follows: Everything draws from its source . . . Hence, when the neshamah considers where she comes from, that she is a part of the (divine) Almighty, and goes back down and sees that she is embedded in foul (repulsive) material, she desires to get out with each and every breath. Yet, when she sees her Maker, Who despite all of His spiritual kedushah is present in the lowly world, and His glory fills the world, she, too, returns, is consoled, and remains in the human being.
In this light, he interprets the passuk: "ונתתי משכני בתוככם". If you follow the precepts of Hashem, you will merit having My Shechinah dwell in your midst. As a result: "ולא תגעל נפשי אתכם"—the soul will not be loathe to remain in the human body and yearn to leave it. For, since HKB”H Himself rests His Shechinah on mankind, what right does a neshamah have to protest being placed in a physical body below. Furthermore, even while she is in the human body, she remains attached to her source—i.e., the Shechinah that rests on the person.
