You're not alone. Jewish tradition, especially Kabbalah, is deeply interested in the idea of inner and outer, of the pnim (internal) and chitzon (external) – and it applies this concept far beyond just individual people.
The great Kabbalist, Baal HaSulam, in his "Introduction to the Zohar," breaks it down for us in a fascinating way. He says that everything, absolutely everything, has an internal and an external dimension.
Think about the world at large. Who's considered "internal"? According to Baal HaSulam, it's Israel, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The "external" world? The other nations. Now, before you bristle, it's crucial to understand that this isn’t about superiority. It's about a relationship to something deeper, something more central to the unfolding of spiritual reality.
But it doesn't stop there! Even within Israel, there's an internal and external. The "internal" ones are those dedicated servants of God, those who truly strive for connection. The "external"? Those who, well, don't. The same logic applies to other nations too, with righteous gentiles forming their "internal" aspect, as opposed to "the vulgar and damaging people."
See how the layers keep going?
Now, let's get really personal. What about each of us individually? Even within a single Jew, there’s this constant interplay. There are those who are internal, in that they are worthy of understanding the internal soul of the Torah and its secrets, and those who are external, who are only involved in the practical aspects of Torah. According to Baal HaSulam, the "Israel" part of you, the deepest, most essential part, is the secret of the "point in his heart." It is in this part of ourselves that we are the most connected to the Divine.
The "external" part? That's like the other nations within you. It's the body itself, the ego, the impulses that can pull us away from our spiritual center. And what of that "external" part? Is it doomed to be forever separate?
Not at all! Baal HaSulam offers a beautiful image: even that "other nations" aspect can be like a convert to Judaism, a ger tzedek. Think of it! Since it’s linked to the internal aspect, to that spark of the Divine within us, it can become like a righteous convert, willingly attaching itself to the people of Israel, to the internal, to the sacred.
It's a powerful metaphor for the potential for integration within ourselves. That even the parts of us that feel foreign, or even opposed to our spiritual aspirations, can be brought into harmony.
So, what does this mean for us today? It means recognizing that the battle between internal and external isn't just "out there" in the world. It's happening within each of us, all the time. It means striving to strengthen that "point in the heart," to nurture the "Israel" within, and to bring even our most "external" aspects into alignment with our deepest values. The Zohar, as interpreted by Baal HaSulam, invites us to a constant process of refinement, of bringing the outer into harmony with the inner, and ultimately, of revealing the Divine spark that resides within us all.