It’s a question that the ancient Kabbalistic text, Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah ("49 Openings of Wisdom"), wrestles with, taking us on a journey to the very heart of creation and repair.
The text paints a picture of complete and utter rectification, a state where the very existence of evil, what it calls "actual evil," is nullified. Now, this isn’t some naive, wishful thinking. It's a profound understanding of how everything is interconnected. Evil, in this context, doesn't just disappear; it's transformed. It no longer functions as a destructive force but remains only to reveal the underlying unity of all things. Think of it like a shadow. It only exists because of the light, and it ultimately defines the shape and intensity of that light.
So, what does this actually mean?
The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah goes on to describe how a part of Malchut, the final Sefirah (divine emanation) on the Tree of Life – often associated with the physical world and the source of manifestation – that produced actual evil, is "consumed" and absorbed by the higher Sefirot. Imagine it like a drop of poison being diluted in an ocean of purity, its harmful properties neutralized by the overwhelming goodness.
This absorption has a ripple effect. It negates the hierarchical structure of Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah becoming Atzilut-Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah. Okay, that's a mouthful! These are the Four Worlds of Kabbalah: Atzilut (Emanation), Beriyah (Creation), Yetzirah (Formation), and Asiyah (Action). Initially, the lower worlds (B-Y-A) are distinct from Atzilut. The text suggests that this separation, this perceived distance from the Divine, was necessary for the manifestation of evil.
But in the state of complete repair, when Malchut is no longer producing evil, this hierarchy collapses. Atzilut-Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah revert to being simply Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah, with the previously concealed Atzilut now revealed. They become like flawless garments, perfectly reflecting the divine light. Think of it like taking off a pair of distorted glasses – suddenly, everything is clear and vibrant.
Before, these worlds were the root of evil, and unity was concealed from them. They produced evil because they were disconnected, fragmented. But now, the forces that once brought forth evil no longer do so. Why? Because of the revealed unity, which transforms evil back into good. Evil loses its independent existence. It's no longer "actual evil."
It's a radical idea, isn't it? The notion that evil isn’t a permanent fixture of reality, but rather a temporary aberration, a distortion that arises from a lack of unity. The Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah offers us a glimpse of a world where that distortion is corrected, where everything is restored to its original harmony. But it's not just a far-off dream. It's an invitation to participate in that restoration, to work towards revealing the underlying unity in our own lives and in the world around us. Perhaps, by striving for unity, we can begin to transform the very nature of what we perceive as evil.