צמצום וקוWithdrawal and the Ray

tzimtzum ve-kavIn Gamatria ↗

He made room by holding back, then sent one thread of light.

God could have made boundless worlds but chose finite ones. Named by His actions, He is called Ein Sof when He acts without limit; when He willed limited worlds, it is told in parable as Ein Sof withdrawing from the 'place' where they would be: tzimtzum, contraction. Withholding limitless goodness produced judgment. Yet a residue, the reshimu, remained, and into it He drew a measured line of goodness, the kav, the ray, which is mercy. Every conduct unfolded from this ray: Adam Kadmon and its branches, then the partzufim of Atzilut.

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