The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a text dedicated to unlocking the gates of wisdom, dives headfirst into this very question. It argues something pretty radical: that everything, even what we perceive as evil, doesn't spring from some rival domain that could challenge God. for a second. If evil had its own, independent source, wouldn't that imply a cosmic power struggle, a divine stalemate? But the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah insists that there is only one domain.
Now, this idea flies in the face of those who believe in dualism – the notion that there are two fundamental and opposing forces in the universe. But the text is adamant: such a belief is simply not true.
So what does it mean to say that God is One – Echad in Hebrew? The text breaks it down into two crucial understandings.
First, despite the dizzying array of phenomena in the universe, the endless chains of cause and effect, we must recognize that there is still only One God, blessed be His Name, and only one Divine Will at work. It’s easy to get lost in the details, to see chaos and randomness. But the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah urges us to see the underlying unity, the single source that orchestrates it all.
Second, and this is key: no other will, not even one created by God, can limit Him. God is absolute. There cannot be two independent powers, one responsible for good and the other for evil. That would fundamentally undermine the concept of God's oneness, God's absolute authority.
The declaration, “HaShem our God, HaShem is One” – is more than just a statement. It's a profound affirmation of God's absolute unity, a oneness that encompasses every aspect of existence. It means that everything, ultimately, originates from and is guided by this singular divine source.
So, next time you grapple with the question of evil, remember this: perhaps it's not a separate entity at all, but rather a piece of a much larger, more complex, and ultimately unified divine plan. A plan that, while sometimes difficult to understand, stems from a single, all-encompassing source. Food for thought, isn't it?