zimzum

Definitions

The self-imposed "withdrawal" of a part of God to enable the creation of the universe, as described by Isaac Luria.

uncountable

Examples

“At an early stage⟳ in the creative process⟳, En Sof had tried to fill⟳ the vacuum it had created by zimzum with divine light⟳, but the "vessels" or "pipes" designed to channel it had broken.”

“Several prominent kabbalists viewed the zimzum as a voluntary divine process⟳ intended to make⟳ divinity more approachable to the created realms and to the people.”

“Zimzum is a "restrictive contraction" which takes place⟳ in the first emanation of light⟳ and thus is the seed event which precedes all others in the act of creation.”

CEFR level