And while there are no easy answers, Jewish mystical tradition offers a fascinating perspective.

The text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, "30 Openings of Wisdom," dives deep into this very issue, comparing the origins of good and evil, of the Sitrah Achra and the Sitrah De'kudsha (the “Other Side” and the "Holy Side"). It's a pretty mind-bending concept. Let's unpack it.

The core idea is this: to even compare the source of holiness with the source of evil is almost… unthinkable. Seriously! It’s almost forbidden to even ask if there's any equivalence. Why? Because the source of all that is good stems from the One, unified, primordial, eternal Master – blessed be He! The Holy One is eternal, unchanging, the very foundation of existence.

But what about evil? Ah, that's where things get interesting.

According to Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, the "root of the evil Other Side" is something entirely different. It's not eternal. It's not primordial. Instead, it's “merely something newly brought into being.” Its entire existence is contingent, dependent on the will of the Supreme Will (that is, God). The text says that if God hadn't willed it, evil wouldn't exist. If He didn't want it to endure, it wouldn't endure. It's a temporary phenomenon, a shadow cast by the light. It has no independent power.

It’s a difficult concept to grasp, isn’t it? How can God, the source of all goodness, also be responsible, even indirectly, for the existence of evil? It's a paradox that has occupied Jewish thinkers for generations. Some suggest that evil serves a purpose – a test, a challenge, a means of appreciating good. Others see it as an inevitable consequence of free will.

But Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah offers a glimmer of hope. Because it also suggests that this state is not permanent. The text concludes with a powerful image from the prophet Isaiah: “He will consume death for ever and the Lord God will wipe the tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). The implication is clear: evil is not eternal. It will ultimately be overcome, swallowed up by the boundless goodness of God.

So, what does all this mean for us? Perhaps it's a reminder that even in the darkest of times, we can hold onto the belief that good will ultimately prevail. That evil is not an equal force, but a temporary aberration. And that the source of goodness, the Holy One, is always there, waiting to wipe away our tears and usher in a world of everlasting peace.