TZIMTZUM
Tzimtzum means contraction
or constriction. In the Kabbalistic theory of creation, God had to "contract"
some of his infinite essence in order to make a space for a finite world
to exist. This contraction is known as the "tzimtzum". Why did
the Holy One even bother to create this world? According to the midrash, we are not allowed to ask why. It is an unanswerable
question. It is also understood that this concept of tzimtzum contains a
built-in contradiction. One the one hand, if the Infinite did not restrict
itself, then everything would be overwhelmed by God's totality, but on the
other hand we are told that God's glory fills the world.
Hence, we can have a simultaneous perception of the world being imperfect
and God's presence being everywhere. As a result, most Kabbalists see the
tzimtzum as a cosmic illusion. Furthermore, since man is an Olam Katan,
a small world, this same process of tzimtzum is replicated within ourselves.
We each have our own personal space within which we exist.