That, in essence, is the concept of Ein Sof.
Think of it: before anything existed, there was only the Ein Sof – the Infinite Being. This isn't just an old idea; it's a foundational concept in Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism. Everything, and I mean everything that exists besides Ein Sof, has a beginning.
Now, inside this Infinite Being, there was the potential for all worlds, all of creation. Imagine the Ein Sof as a seed containing an entire forest. Then, when the divine will decided it was time, existence sprang forth from potential to reality. How did this happen? Through the sefirot.
The sefirot (singular: sefirah) are often described as the ten emanations, or attributes, of God. Think of them as the tools or channels through which the Ein Sof acts and manifests in the world. As the Zohar (3:225a) tells us, the sefirot are how all the worlds came into being, from the deepest parts of the earth to the highest heavens. Everything that exists comes from Him.
This Ein Sof, literally meaning "endless," fills every corner of time and space. As we find in Tikkunei ha-Zohar 57 (91b), both heaven and earth are equally filled with His light. There’s no place, high or low, that is empty of Him. It's an overwhelming thought, isn't it?
The Ein Sof is considered the Godhead, the most ancient aspect of God, from which all the ten sefirot proceed. But here’s the really mind-bending part: this aspect of God is considered unknowable, beyond time itself. That's why Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev (1740-1810), as quoted in Kedushat Levi, Mishpatim, p. 139, emphasizes that in the universe, God alone does not have a beginning.
In fact, speculation about the Ein Sof is generally discouraged. It’s a concept meant to inspire awe and wonder, not to be dissected and defined. It’s a reminder that there are aspects of the divine that are simply beyond our comprehension. As explained in Tanya (Likutei Amarim), Sha'ar ha-Yihud ve-ha-, Emunah 7 (82b), God is ultimately beyond human grasp.
So, what do we do with this concept of the infinite and unknowable? Perhaps we can simply appreciate the mystery. To recognize that there is something beyond our understanding, something that fills all of existence, is a powerful and humbling thought. Maybe, instead of trying to define the infinite, we can simply open ourselves to the wonder of it all.