Jewish mysticism, particularly in texts like Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, explores this very idea – the concept of light, or divine illumination, being constricted and then released. It's a story about judgment, kindness, and the constant dance between them.
So, what causes this dimming? According to this ancient wisdom, it's "expanding Judgment."
Judgment, in this context, isn't about punishment in the way we might immediately think. It's more about limitation, restriction, a necessary boundary. But when Judgment expands too much, it creates a kind of spiritual darkness. It prevents the lights – these sparks of divine energy – from radiating fully. Think of it like a dam holding back a powerful river. Necessary, yes, but if the dam is too strong, it can stifle the life that river is meant to sustain. The force of the lights, in this state, are not able to shine with their full power.
But here's the good news: this isn't a permanent state. The text tells us that this expanding Judgment "must be made to subside and the Kindness fortified."
How does that happen? Little by little. It's a gradual process, a constant effort to rebalance the scales. As Judgment subsides, the lights – those divine sparks – begin to grow again. It's a beautiful image, isn't it? Like watching the sunrise, or a flower slowly unfolding its petals.
Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah frames this as a movement from immaturity to maturity, where the lights are initially closed up, and afterwards they widen. We're talking about a process of spiritual growth, where the initial constriction is a necessary stage, but not the final one.
The text breaks this proposition into two parts. First, that "Expanding Judgment" is the thing that causes the closure of the lights. Second, that this is not the end of the story, and there is a repair that needs to happen to make things right again.
The key takeaway? It's about balance. Judgment and kindness, restriction and expansion. Too much of one creates darkness, but through a gradual process of repair, of fortifying kindness, the lights can shine again. What does that mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder to examine the judgments we hold, the restrictions we place on ourselves and others. Are they serving a purpose, or are they blocking the light? And what can we do, little by little, to cultivate more kindness, more openness, more illumination in our lives and in the world around us? It's a question worth pondering, isn't it?