You Are Already Infinite (So Why Do You Still Yearn?)
The Soul is a "Part of God Above." It lacks nothing. Yet, it constantly seeks more. Ruth Kedem explains the Zohar's paradox: True Infinity is not a destination; it is a Direction.
“Why is the infinity of the Soul expressed as a Direction, and not as its Being? If it is already infinite in its essence, why does it need to strive?”
1. The Root vs. The Vessel From the perspective of its Root, the Soul is planted in the Infinite Light (Ohr Ein Sof)—literally. The Divine Light does not divide. When a spark is emanated from it, it is not “half a light”; it is Whole Light in terms of its Essence. Therefore, in its Being (Havaya), the Soul is indeed infinite. It has no measure, division, or boundary.
However... That same Soul, the moment it clothes itself in the reality of a Created Being, does not experience its essence directly. It experiences itself through Vessels (Kelim).
The Vessel is not infinite (even if the Light inside it is). Therefore, Infinity is not present as a static state, but as a Process of Revelation.
2. Motion is Life The Light never changes. But the Receiver changes constantly. From this gap, Movement is born.
The Soul is a “Part of God Above.” In its essence, it lacks nothing. But since it descends into a world of Concealment, it experiences itself as a separate entity that needs to ascend.
Not because it lacks Infinity.
But because the Infinity within it is Hidden.
3. The Aspiration is Not for “More” The aspiration of the Soul is not to achieve something it doesn’t have. It is to remove the screens that prevent it from being what it truly is.
Therefore, the striving is not a contradiction to its infinity. Only an infinite thing can be in endless motion. A finite movement would stop once it reached its goal.
4. The River Metaphor The Zohar describes this not as a frozen existence, but as a Ceaseless River.
A river does not strive to be water—it is water. But its nature is to Flow.
According to the Zohar, Infinity (Ein Sof) is not a state of absolute rest, but of Constant Vitality. Renewal that has no end. Therefore, the Soul is infinite in its Being, but the Infinity is revealed in it as Movement, not as Standing Still. Absolute stoppage would be finitude—even if it were wrapped in great light.
5. Redemption is Flow Redemption (Geula) is not a moment where the Soul “arrives” at Infinity. It is a state where it becomes clear that Infinity was always there, and now there is no barrier to its revelation.
The Messiah does not cancel the movement; he sanctifies it. If Infinity became a closed, perfect, static state, it would be the Nullification of Life itself.
Summary
Infinity in Being: Means there is no limit to the Essence.
Infinity in Direction: Means there is no limit to the Revelation.
There are not two different infinities. There is one Infinity experienced in two ways: From its Root -> It is always Whole. From its Appearance -> It opens up forever.
The striving is not a movement toward something missing. It is the movement of the Infinite itself striving to be revealed within a limit.