tzimtzum

According to the Kabbalah, before the Universe was created only the Ein Sof  existed.  The white surrounding the Seed in this picture represents the Ein Sof - the Infinite and Unlimited Light of God.  To create the limited realm of Souls in Time an Space, Ein Sof withdrew most of its Light from Creation.  The Kabbalists of Tzfat called this process צימצום (tzimtzum) a word that means contraction.

The Ein Sof is still in Creation, however, and is represented in this picture by the innermost, white part of this 'Seed of Creation'.  The light-brown area around that represents the… more

This picture shows the 10 Sefirot of Nothingness in a circular array associated with Nature.  The Hebrew names of the Sefirot are written again and again in circular rings. Starting from the top of the largest ring the name of the highest Sefrirah כתר (Crown) is repeated many times.  It is yellow, as are the rings that contain the names of the 2 other Sefirot of the middle column תפארת and יסוד (Beauty and Foundation).

The name of the next highest Sefirah חכמה (Wisdom) is repeated many times in the second largest ring. It is blue, as are the rings that contain the names of… more

Albert Einstein said “Science without Religion is lame, and Religion without Science is blind.”  The Kabbalists have always seen the two as complementary rather than contradictory.  The cosmology of Kabbalah and of Modern Science can also be seen as complementary perspectives.

In the Kabbalah, the Creation of the Universe is spoken of as a contraction of God’s  Infinite Light.  Nothing can be about ‘what God is’.  That is unknowable.  What is said, is  ‘that He Is’, endlessly.  And the Kabbalah describes in great detail what can be known - what God does - and the tools He uses to… more