It’s a question that’s occupied philosophers and mystics for millennia.
In Jewish mystical thought, specifically in the text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah ("138 Openings of Wisdom"), we find a fascinating model for understanding creation and divine governance. It all starts with Keter, the Crown.
Now, Keter isn't exactly a "thing" in the way we understand it. It's more like the primordial will, the very first stirrings of divine intention. It’s the source of everything that is, but in a completely unmanifested, potential state. Think of it as the seed of all possibilities. It contains within it everything needed for the world to exist, including all the complex rules and regulations that keep things running smoothly.
But here's the thing: Keter, in its pure, undifferentiated form, doesn't actually do anything. It simply is. It's like having all the ingredients for a fantastic meal, but without a recipe or a chef. You need something else to take those raw ingredients and turn them into a delicious, functioning dish.
That’s where Chochmah comes in.
Chochmah, often translated as Wisdom, is the active principle that takes the potential within Keter and brings it into being. Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah tells us that Chochmah is “the thought that divides things into their particulars in the proper way.” It’s the divine blueprint, the detailed plan for how everything should be structured and how it should function. Chochmah takes the undifferentiated oneness of Keter and breaks it down into specific, actionable components. It's the architect designing the building, specifying every brick and beam.
Think of it this way: Keter knows that a universe is needed. Chochmah figures out how to build it.
And this isn't just some abstract philosophical concept. As it says in Psalms 104:24, “You made them all with Wisdom – Chochmah.” The implication? The entire cosmos, with all its intricate details, is a product of this divine wisdom.
So, what's the relationship between Keter and Chochmah? Well, everything that exists in Chochmah also exists in Keter – in potential. Keter includes everything involved in the government of the worlds. However, it's not in the sense of how they actually operate. Rather, it’s in the sense of their basic existence. The light of Keter doesn’t reveal how they govern, but only the fact of their existence.
There's a reason for their existence, Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah explains, and this depends upon the Supreme Will. "This is what it is forbidden to investigate." That final, mysterious statement points us to the ultimate limit of human understanding. We can explore the workings of creation, the unfolding of divine wisdom, but the ultimate source – the very why behind it all – remains shrouded in mystery. Some things, it seems, are simply beyond our grasp. And perhaps, that's part of the wonder of it all.