Jewish mystical tradition, especially the Kabbalah, often grapples with this question. It's not just about Adam and Eve; it goes back even further, to the very structure of creation itself. We find a fascinating, if somewhat obscure, hint of this in the text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, which translates roughly as "138 Openings of Wisdom." It's deep stuff, dealing with the very building blocks of reality.
This particular passage discusses the "Primordial Kings" – early attempts at creation that, according to some Kabbalistic accounts, failed. What was their flaw? Why couldn't they sustain themselves?
The text tells us that the "Six Directions" – representing aspects of divine expression – weren't properly oriented towards Malchut. Malchut, often translated as "Kingdom," is the final Sefirah, the last of the ten emanations of the Divine, and represents the culmination of the creative process, the point where divine energy manifests in the world. Think of it as the receiver, the vessel that's supposed to contain and reflect the divine light.
Because these directions weren't focused on Malchut, the primordial kings were plagued by "sadness and angry faces." Not exactly a recipe for a stable universe, right? And Imma – the divine "Mother," representing the Sefirah of Binah, understanding – allowed this state to persist. This is a difficult concept, but it suggests that even divine compassion has its limits, that sometimes a certain degree of harshness is necessary for ultimate correction.
The text goes on to say that because of this initial misalignment, the first three Sefirot of Zeir Anpin were missing. Now, Zeir Anpin – "Small Face" or "Short Countenance" – is a complex concept, often associated with the masculine principle and the six Sefirot from Chesed (loving-kindness) to Yesod (foundation). These Sefirot represent different aspects of emotional and moral attributes. According to this text, these were lacking because Imma (Binah) hadn't yet fully entered into and repaired Zeir Anpin. It’s like saying that the core emotional and ethical framework of the universe was incomplete.
What happened then? The text calls the resulting state "the domain of the many" (reshut harabim). This is a fascinating phrase. It implies a state of diffusion, of lack of focus and unity. And from this fractured state, "the Other Side" emerged.
"The Other Side," or Sitra Achra in Aramaic, is a Kabbalistic term for the realm of negativity, chaos, and evil. The text makes a stark claim: the very nature and function of this "Other Side" is "only to cause separation." Separation from the Divine, separation between people, separation within ourselves.
So, what does it all mean?
It's a powerful reminder that the universe, from its very inception, has been a work in progress. The Kabbalists saw creation not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing process of refinement and repair – what we call tikkun olam. This primordial misalignment, this lack of focus on Malchut, continues to echo in our world today.
We see it in the divisions that plague our societies, in the internal conflicts that tear us apart. But the good news is, if the source of the problem is a lack of alignment, then the solution lies in consciously directing ourselves, our actions, and our intentions towards that ultimate point of unity and manifestation – towards Malchut. By doing so, we participate in the ongoing work of creation, helping to heal the fractures and bring the world closer to its intended state of wholeness. And maybe, just maybe, correct some of the mistakes of those Primordial Kings.