It’s a question that’s captivated mystics and philosophers for centuries.

Baal HaSulam, in his preface to the Zohar, offers a beautiful analogy to help us understand this concept. He asks us to consider a lamp. Imagine this lamp, a source of pure light. Now, think about lighting candles from this lamp. You could light one candle, a hundred, a thousand, even countless more! But does the lamp itself diminish? Does its light become weaker because it has shared its flame? Of course not! Whether we draw a little light or a lot, the lamp remains unchanged.

It’s a powerful image, isn't it?

Baal HaSulam then draws another parallel, this time to Adam, the first human. According to Jewish tradition, Adam possessed immense spiritual potential. Now, imagine if Adam had fathered countless descendants, filling the earth with people like us today. Or, on the other hand, imagine if he had remained alone, without any offspring at all. Would Adam himself be fundamentally different? Baal HaSulam argues that no, Adam's essential nature would remain untouched.

So, what’s the point of these analogies? They help us grapple with the nature of Atzilut, the world of emanation in Kabbalistic thought. Atzilut is considered the highest of the four spiritual worlds, closest to the Divine. Baal HaSulam explains that, just like the lamp and Adam, Atzilut remains inherently complete and unchanged, regardless of what happens in the lower worlds.

Think about it: whether we, the "lower creations," receive an abundance of shefa – divine flow or grace – or whether we receive nothing at all, Atzilut itself is unaffected. The growth, the change, the experience – it all belongs to us, the recipients. The source remains constant.

This is a profound idea. It suggests that the Divine is always available, always emanating, and that our capacity to receive is what varies. It also highlights the incredible potential within us to grow and evolve. The shefa is always there; are we ready to receive it?

Ultimately, Baal HaSulam’s analogy reminds us that true giving doesn't diminish the giver. It's a testament to the boundless nature of the Divine and an invitation for us to open ourselves to the infinite flow of goodness that is always available. Just like that lamp, the source of light never runs dry. The question is, what will we choose to illuminate?