Jewish mysticism grapples with this very feeling in its exploration of creation, specifically with a concept called the Reshimu, or "Residue."
Imagine a vast, boundless light—the Eyn Sof, the Infinite. Before anything existed, there was only this pure, unadulterated light. But how could a world of separate things, of you and me, ever emerge from such a unified source?
That's where Tzimtzum comes in. It's often translated as "contraction" or "self-limitation." The Infinite, in a move of unimaginable generosity, contracted itself to create a space for creation. But what happened to all that light? Did it simply vanish?
The Kabbalists tell us no. A trace, a Residue – the Reshimu – remained.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a key text of Kabbalah, sheds light on this concept. It emphasizes that the light that remained wasn't some brand new, different light. It was, essentially, a tiny piece of the original, primordial light. Think of it like a drop of water from an ocean, still possessing the essence of the whole.
Before the Tzimtzum, this Residue was indistinguishable from the Infinite Light. It was all one and the same. But afterward, it became recognizable as something distinct, a separate entity. It's like flour that has been mixed in with water, you can't see the flour anymore. But after the water evaporates, the flour appears in a new form.
So how can we wrap our minds around something so abstract?
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah suggests we look to the Sefirot, the emanations or attributes of God, particularly at the relationship between Malchut and the other Sefirot in the lower realms – specifically the worlds of Atzilut and below.
Malchut, often translated as "kingship" or "kingdom," is the last of the Sefirot, the one closest to our physical world. It receives from all the other Sefirot above it and then manifests that energy into creation. In other words, the relationship between Malchut and the other Sefirot gives us an analogy for understanding the relationship between the Residue and the departed Primordial Light of Eyn Sof.
Why? Because the Residue is itself referred to as Malchut of Eyn Sof. It is that which receives and then manifests. It’s the point of connection between the infinite and the finite.
So, what does this all mean for us? Perhaps it suggests that even in the apparent absence of the Divine, a spark remains. A trace, a Residue, waiting to be recognized and rekindled. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, a connection to the original light persists.
The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in recognizing that spark, that Reshimu, within ourselves and within the world around us. Maybe, just maybe, that's where we find the key to bridging the gap between the finite and the infinite, and to bringing a little more light back into the world.