These are HUGE questions that have echoed through generations, and our tradition grapples with them head-on.
There's a perspective out there that sees evil as an entity, a power that exists independently. But, according to the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, that's simply not the case. To refute that notion, to show us the true nature of reality, God willed and created evil. It's a radical idea. As it says in Isaiah 45:7, God is "making peace and creating evil."
Why would God do such a thing? Well, the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah explains that by creating what appears to be its opposite, God makes the side of good immediately manifest. Like a spotlight shining in the darkness, good becomes all the more clear.
Moreover – and this is crucial – it shows us that even this "evil" isn’t an independent domain. It's not a rival god or a separate cosmic power. It’s a creation. Only the omnipotent God, blessed be His Name, has the power to bring about what appears to be His very opposite. And through this act, we glimpse His great perfection.
Evil, in this understanding, isn’t some rogue force running amok. God forbid! It's created by God in order for us – His creatures – to understand what the opposite of good is. The intention is that we understand that there is no other ultimate opposite to God, no other independent power that can challenge Him. The only opposite is that which is actually the opposite, created by God Himself.
When we see this "opposite" – and understand that it's ultimately His creation – we gain a clearer, more profound knowledge of His perfection and oneness. The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah then tells us that this act exposes the folly of the wicked and the unbelievers, those who believe that evil exists independently. this way: In the created realms, within the world as we experience it, one side can often only be known through its opposite. We understand light because we know darkness. We appreciate joy because we've felt sorrow. But… the way of the Creator is not the way of His creatures at all.
A creature cannot make the opposite of itself. We are limited beings. But HE made His opposite. And then, here's the kicker: He negates it. He transcends it. And in that act of negation, His oneness is revealed to perfection!
So, what does this all mean for us? It suggests a radical understanding of God's power and ultimate control. It challenges us to see evil not as a separate force, but as a tool – a difficult, challenging, even painful tool, but a tool nonetheless – used to illuminate the very nature of good and the absolute oneness of God. It's a complex idea, no doubt, but one that invites us to delve deeper into the mysteries of creation and our relationship with the Divine. And perhaps, in that exploration, we can find a bit more light in the darkness.