Jewish mystical tradition offers a breathtakingly profound answer, one that begins with a concept called Tzimtzum.
Now, Tzimtzum (צמצום) – literally "contraction" or "withdrawal" – is the idea that Eyn Sof (אין סוף), the Infinite, the ultimate Divine Being, contracted inward to create a "space" for creation. Think about that for a moment. The very act of creation began with a void.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a Kabbalistic text, tells us that this "Place," created by the Tzimtzum, was the very first innovation. It was the result of Eyn Sof, blessed be He, removing His limitlessness to allow a new pathway to be revealed and to operate. This pathway of limitation, this setting of boundaries, is the underlying order that governs the universe. So, in essence, the way things are goes all the way back to that initial act of contraction. The text emphasizes that the very governance of the universe is rooted in this Tzimtzum.
But what about the root of that Place, that initial void? If the Place is the root of all lower creations, as the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah states, what birthed the Place?
Here's where it gets really interesting. We can’t fall into the trap of thinking that Eyn Sof was somehow limited in His creative capacity. We can't say, "Well, He had to create the universe this way, because that's all He could do." Or that the light of the first world was so intense that only a specific number of worlds could handle it. The text argues strongly against this line of thinking.
It’s tempting to think in terms of cause and effect: this had to happen because of that. But we must not, heaven forbid, think that Eyn Sof was forced to act in any particular way.
Why is this so important? Because it speaks to the absolute, unfathomable power of the Divine. Eyn Sof possesses every kind of power imaginable – and unimaginable! As the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah insists, we must understand this.
So, the next time you look up at the stars, remember the Tzimtzum. Remember that the vastness of the universe, in all its complexity and wonder, began with an act of Divine self-limitation, not out of necessity, but out of boundless, incomprehensible power. It’s a reminder that the universe, and everything within it, is a testament to the infinite possibilities of the Divine. And perhaps, a reflection of the infinite potential within ourselves, too.