We learnt that God speaks creation into being. His speaking, however, is unlike our speaking. When God speaks, the words remain connected to Him, unlike ourselves – that our words separate from us as we say them.
This is important to understand as we progress in being able to see that God is present everywhere and that when we involved ourselves in something forbidden by the Torah, that in essence, we push God away, in a sense “separating” ourselves from God at that point in time. A Jew does not wish to be separated from God even for a moment – and therefore when it comes to sanctifying the Name of God, a Jew will give over his life rather than commit idolatry. Yet at the same time, it is important to be able to take that thought and transfer it to any sin committed against God. Every sin really separates one from God even does idolatry – because simply, when one commits the sin, one connects with an element of denial of God (idolatry) as one chooses the path that opposes Him.
God has created this world and all worlds through a manner of contractions (Tzimtzumim) through which he hides Himself. Each contraction darkness out the presence of God. Ultimately by the time revelation takes place in this world, it seems like God is no longer even here! This He does on purpose in order to hide Himself, so that we have free will to choose any direction we wish to, without feeling as if God is actually watching us. And yet He is…
Though we do not see God, God sees us. Darkness (our darkness) to God is like light (our light) to Him. It is all the same. It is only from our point of view that we cannot perceive God. But God sees us all the time even when we have no way of being able to feel like He is actually there!
This is the secret behind the words that “God is the Lord”. (Listen to the lesson to understand this.)
We begin Chapter 22 as we move forwards discussing this theme of God’s contracting Himself. To such a degree, as we see, God contracts Himself even into the lowliest of things. Even into the most base forms of evil – the Kelipah and the Sitra Achra.
