According to some legends, there's a reason the north feels… incomplete. It's said that in the east, west, and south, heaven and earth meet, creating a sense of wholeness. But the north? GOD left it unfinished. Why? To expose any pretenders who might claim divinity. Imagine someone declaring themselves a god. The immediate response? "Alright, finish the north then!" A pretty effective test, wouldn't you agree?
Now, let's talk about beginnings. The creation of the earth, according to tradition, didn't just happen randomly. It started at the center, with the foundation stone of the Temple, the Eben Shetiyah (אבן שתייה). This stone, literally the "stone of foundation," is more than just a rock. It's the navel of the world, the point from which everything else springs forth.
Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews paints a vivid picture: The Holy Land is at the very heart of the earth, Jerusalem at the heart of Palestine, and the Temple at the heart of the Holy City. And within the sanctuary, the Hekal (היכל), the inner sanctum, holds the holy Ark, which rests upon this foundation stone. So, there you have it – the center of the center of the center of… well, everything!
From this Eben Shetiyah, the first ray of light burst forth, piercing the Holy Land and illuminating the entire earth. It’s a powerful image, isn’t it? Light emanating from a single point, spreading outwards to banish the darkness.
Speaking of darkness, the world's creation wasn't just about bringing light into existence. As we find in Midrash Rabbah, it also involved banishing the ruler of darkness. GOD commanded, "Retire, for I desire to create the world by means of light." Only then, after light was established, did darkness arise, each with its own domain – light ruling in the sky, darkness on the earth.
But the story doesn't end there. The power of GOD wasn't just in creating; it was also in setting limits. The heavens and the earth, in their vastness, stretched out as if they wanted to become infinite. They yearned to expand without end. But it required the word of GOD to halt their advance, to impose boundaries.
Think about that for a moment. Creation isn't just about making things; it's about defining them. It's about giving them form and purpose by establishing limits. And perhaps, it's a reminder that even in our own lives, limitations can be a source of strength and definition. What boundaries, perhaps self-imposed, define your world?