At the heart of it is the concept of Eyn Sof, often translated as "the Infinite" or "the Endless." Think of Eyn Sof as the ultimate, boundless source of all existence, beyond comprehension, beyond definition. The Sefirot, those ten divine emanations through which God manifests in the world, aren't separate from Eyn Sof. Instead, Eyn Sof encompasses them entirely, both above and below.
The text uses a powerful image: lightning. The light of Eyn Sof flashes from above, descending and spreading downwards. As it moves further from the source, it diminishes in intensity. And here’s the key: once it reaches the bottom, it returns to the source, to Eyn Sof. Then, the light goes back and flashes from below upwards, tracing the same path back to its origin.
This echoes the famous verse from Ezekiel 1:14, describing the Chayot, the holy living creatures in the prophet's vision: "the Chayot were running and returning like the appearance of lightning." This constant movement, this cyclical flow, illustrates the absolute control and perfection of Eyn Sof. Everything emanates from Him, and He is the ultimate destination of everything.
Why this image of the flashing light? The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah emphasizes that the Sefirot aren't something separate, something outside of Eyn Sof. Nothing exists against His will. His light shines in this way—within the Tzimtzum, like lightning—until it disappears. The Tzimtzum, literally "contraction" or "self-limitation," is a foundational Kabbalistic concept, describing how God "contracted" His infinite being to create space for the finite world.
The text suggests that what appears concealed within the Tzimtzum is actually the very perfection that existed within Him from the beginning, before the Tzimtzum even occurred. It's still there, even now, in this phase of concealment. His perfection is ultimately in control, just as it will be in the end.
So, what does this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in moments of darkness, when we feel furthest from the source, the light is still there, still flowing, still returning. The divine is not absent, just veiled. And the perfection we seek is not something we need to create, but something that already exists, waiting to be revealed.