The story of the Lost Princess is the central myth of Kabbalistic symbolism, the Shekhina, who is kidnapped by the Kelipah and held captive in the world of shells until she is rescued and restored to glory by the Messiah. While Judaism is often perceived as a strictly monotheistic patriarchal religion, the mysticism of Kabbalah is largely centered around the divine feminine, the Shekhina. In every chapter of history the Kabbalists saw this legend playing out in world events. The nation of Israel was in exile because the Shekinah was in exile. The Zoharists of the 13th century spoke of the oppression that Israelites suffered under the hand of Esau (Rome/Christianity) as being a reflection of the captivity and oppression of the Shekinah by Samael and the Kelipah. The Frankists of the 18th century spoke of the Maiden whom they served, eventually incarnating in Jacob Frank’s daugher Eva “before Whom all of the kings of the earth kneel.” Hasidic Master Rebbe Nachman of Breslov revived this legend in his famous tale “The Lost Princess,” where she was kidnapped by an evil king and taken “to the place of Evil,” known in Kabbalah as the Kelipah or “world of shells.”
The Sabbatians, like all Kabbalists, where especially obsessed with the Shekhina. The sects founder Sabbatai Zevi was known for being musically talented and would sing hymns to her, most notably, the song “Meliselda, the Emperor’s Daughter.” “Meli” is a prefix signifying royalty, מלך Melekh means “King” while Malkah מַלכָּה means “Queen.” Therefore the name of the Emperor’s Daughter “Meliselda” literally means “Princess Selda,” or “Princess Zelda.” This song is about the search for the Lost Princess, who is imprisoned by the forces of darkness, and the hero’s journey to rescue her from captivity, which is the exact plot of the Zelda games.
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