You’re not alone. Jewish tradition grapples with this very question – the apparent disconnect between God's initial intention for a world of goodness and the harsh reality we often experience.
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, a Kabbalistic text, delves into this seeming paradox. It observes that, on the surface, history seems to support the idea that things have gone awry. God created the universe for good, a place of potential harmony and blessing. But then, there's the Sitra Achra (סטרא אחרא), the "Other Side" – the realm of evil.
And then comes us. We, humanity, were granted free will – the capacity to choose between good and evil. And, well, we haven’t always made the best choices, have we? According to this line of thinking, humanity's choices have, in a sense, thwarted God's original desire.
This leads to a troubling argument, one often wielded by those who doubt or outright deny God's covenant with Israel. They claim that because the Jewish people have sinned – and continue to sin – there is no hope for salvation, חס ושלום, chas v'shalom, God forbid. The exile and persecution, they argue, are eternal, inescapable. Where could redemption possibly come from after all this?
It's a harsh assessment, and one seemingly backed up by scripture. As the prophet Isaiah laments (3:8), “For Jerusalem is ruined and Judah has fallen because their tongues and their doings are against God, to provoke the eyes of His glory.” Ouch. That stings.
And Deuteronomy 32:18 adds another layer of sorrow, saying, “You forgot (or weakened) the Rock that gave birth to you.” The Rock, of course, being a metaphor for God.
So, where does this leave us? Are we doomed to a narrative of failure, forever separated from God's original plan? Is there no possibility for Zohar" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="source-link">tikkun olam, תיקון עולם, repairing the world? Hold that thought. Because the story, thankfully, doesn’t end here. We'll need to dig deeper into Kabbalistic thought to see how this apparent contradiction gets resolved.