Our tradition grapples with this question, too. It dives deep into the mysteries of creation, of brokenness, and of eventual repair. One fascinating source for this is the Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a Kabbalistic text. It offers a powerful, if somewhat challenging, image: that of "garments" needing rectification.
What does that mean, exactly?
The text speaks of the Emanator, blessed be He – a reference to God – wanting to rectify these garments. But before that could happen, something else had to play out. The Primordial Kings, ancient figures representing early stages of creation, remained broken. Not just for a moment, but for a specific duration. And why?
Because, the text tells us, this brokenness was necessary for the powers of evil to be revealed. Think of it like this: sometimes, in order to understand the full scope of goodness, we need to see the extent of its opposite.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah draws a parallel to the exile of Israel. The Jewish people went down into exile, and according to this idea, they had to remain there for as long as it took for all the levels of evil ruling over them to unfold. This wasn't arbitrary. It was a process. A painful one, yes, but also one with a purpose: to allow for rectification through suffering, or through overcoming tests of faith like idolatry, philosophy, and secularism.
In the same way, these Primordial Kings remained in their state of destruction for a specific time – on just as many levels – as was required to produce the different divisions of evil.
It’s a challenging concept, isn't it? That darkness needs its time, its space, even its unfolding. But the text doesn't leave us there. It offers hope.
After this period of brokenness, the Supreme Will will be revealed. It will repair everything through the mystery of unity. This idea of tikkun olam – repairing the world – is central to Jewish thought. It suggests that even in the face of overwhelming darkness, there is always the possibility, indeed the imperative, to heal and restore.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah doesn't shy away from the reality of evil. It acknowledges that evil seems to be getting stronger every day. We see it in the headlines, in our communities, even within ourselves. But the text insists that the Supreme Will will ultimately put a stop to it. There's a divine limit.
This is a powerful reminder that even when things seem bleak, the story isn't over. The process of revealing and understanding evil is a necessary step towards the ultimate repair. And that ultimate repair, that revelation of the Supreme Will, is what we strive for. What we hope for. What we work towards, every single day.