Jewish mysticism wrestles with this very idea, particularly when it comes to our own imperfections.

The great Kabbalist, Baal HaSulam – Rabbi Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, known for his commentary on the Zohar – dives deep into this concept. He asks us to consider the very plan of creation itself. He argues that everything within that initial design will inevitably be fulfilled. Nothing will be left out! That’s a pretty powerful statement, isn't it? It suggests a profound sense of purpose and completion to the universe.

And this leads us to a pretty wild idea: the resurrection of the dead.

Now, before you picture zombies rising from their graves, let's consider what Baal HaSulam is really talking about. He's not just talking about physical bodies. He's talking about the "exaggerated desire to receive." That intense, almost overwhelming, drive that can sometimes consume us. Think of it as the yetzer hara, the "evil inclination" – though perhaps "challenging inclination" is a better way to think about it.

Baal HaSulam says this desire, which he associates with the "first stage" of creation, is essentially destroyed, decomposed in what he calls the "second stage." But here's the kicker: it must return to life. It must be resurrected.

But why?

Because, according to Baal HaSulam, this resurrected desire will be even greater and more significant than before! It will be limitless. And, crucially, it will even contain its flaws. This isn't about becoming perfect beings overnight. It's about taking our imperfections, our very human flaws, and using them as fuel for growth.

Think about that for a moment. Our flaws, the things we often try to hide or deny, are actually essential to our spiritual journey.

Why? Because it's precisely through acknowledging and working with these flaws that we can begin our service anew. We can begin the process of transforming that "exaggerated desire to receive" into an equally powerful "desire to give." To move from being solely focused on ourselves to focusing on others, on contributing to the world, on embodying chesed – loving-kindness.

It’s a long game. It’s a process. It's about taking what we perceive as broken and turning it into something whole, something purposeful. It’s about embracing the fullness of who we are, flaws and all, and using that to fuel our journey toward becoming more giving, more compassionate, more truly human. What could be more hopeful than that?