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tzimtzum
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The tzimtzum or tsimtsum () is a term used in Lurianic Kabbalah to explain Isaac Luria's doctrine that God began the process of creation by limiting the Ohr Ein Sof (infinite light) of the Godhead in order to allow for a conceptual space in which the Four Worlds, or finite realms, could exist. This primordial initial contraction, forming a "vacant space" () into which new creative light could beam, is denoted by general reference to the tzimtzum. In Kabbalistic interpretation, tzimtzum gives rise to the paradox of simultaneous divine presence and absence within the vacuum and resultant Creatio

Wikidata facts

Followed by
Adam Kadmon
Show 3 more facts
facet of
Kabbalah
discoverer or inventor
Isaac Luria
native label
צִמְצוּם
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Encyclopedic overview

13 sections
Contents
  • Function
  • Inherent paradox
  • Lurianic interpretation
  • Hasidic interpretations
  • Non-Hasidic interpretations
  • Vilna Gaon's view
  • Modern interpretations
  • See also
  • References
  • Citations
  • Works cited
  • Further reading
  • External links

The tzimtzum or tsimtsum () is a term used in Lurianic Kabbalah to explain Isaac Luria's doctrine that God began the process of creation by limiting the Ohr Ein Sof (infinite light) of the Godhead in order to allow for a conceptual space in which the Four Worlds, or finite realms, could exist. This primordial initial contraction, forming a "vacant space" () into which new creative light could beam, is denoted by general reference to the tzimtzum. In Kabbalistic interpretation, tzimtzum gives rise to the paradox of simultaneous divine presence and absence within the vacuum and resultant Creation. Various approaches exist as to how the paradox may be resolved, and as to the nature of tzimtzum itself.

== Function ==

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “tzimtzum” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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