And the whole system of goodness and evil that G-d decreed for the world [1] is also rooted in the Transcendent Forces, from where it flows downward [2]. G-d set up the Transcendent Forces in the particular order and with the specific qualities they\u2019d need to bring about the various \u201cdamages\u201d and \u201crepairs\u201d [3] necessary for goodness and non-goodness to exist [4].<\/p>\n
In order for true goodness to exist G-d\u2019s \u201cface\u201d must be allowed to shine upon a Transcendent Force, and in order for true evil to exist G-d\u2019s face must be withheld from it [5]. In fact, goodness is a product of the \u201crepairing\u201d of the Forces while evil is a product of their being \u201cdamaged\u201d.<\/p>\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n
[1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See 1:2:2,4.<\/p>\n
[2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Since, as we\u2019ve been saying, the Transcendent Forces are the backdrop behind everything that happens here on earth, it follows then that they\u2019re also the backdrop behind both goodness (which is understandable, given that G-d is loving and benevolent and that He manifests that through the Transcendent Forces) and evil (which seems counterintuitive, given that evil seems to be so far beneath G-d and the Transcendent Forces, but see note 4 below). In any event, since goodness and evil play out in the theater within which we humans act out our lives, it stands to reason that both our moral and immoral actions would all be so intensely rooted in the Transcendent Forces.<\/p>\n
But in order to understand that we\u2019d also need to know that \u2026..<\/p>\n
[3]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 G-d purposely created an imperfect world in which adjustments to the status quo would necessarily need to be made from time to time. That\u2019s to say that there are times when certain \u201cdamaged\u201d (or, off-the-mark) phenomena need to be \u201crepaired\u201d (or, set back on course) in order to keep the entire system intact.<\/p>\n
[4]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ramchal speaks of \u201cnon-goodness\u201d here rather than out-and-out evil because actual evil doesn\u2019t exist in the upper realms: they only allow for the possibility<\/em> of evil to exist in the world and don\u2019t actually manifest it. See Da\u2019at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em> 100-106, 114 and Klach<\/em> Pitchei<\/em> Chochma<\/em> 80 for the Kabbalistic explanation of this theological conundrum.<\/p>\n [5]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The idea is that G-d turns His \u201cface\u201d toward something (i.e., He gives it His full and loving attention) when He favors it and turns away from it when He disapproves of it. It\u2019s based on the phrase \u201cMay G-d bless you and keep you; may God shine His face upon you<\/em> and be gracious to you; may G-d turn His face toward you<\/em> and grant you peace. (Numbers 6:24-36).<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t merely a poetic rendering of G-d\u2019s \u201cfeelings\u201d — it entails a lot of Kabbalistic fine points. See 4:6:10 below as well as Da\u2019at<\/em> Tevunot<\/em> 158 and Klallim<\/em> Rishonim<\/em> 28 for more on it.<\/p>\n The point of the matter is that goodness is a natural product of a healthy and full connection with G-d while evil is a product of its opposite.<\/p>\n (c) 2015 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" And the whole system of goodness and evil that G-d decreed for the world [1] is also rooted in the Transcendent Forces, from where it flows downward [2]. G-d set up the Transcendent Forces in the particular order and with … Continue reading