Chapter 2

The very fact that the creation of the yesh from the ayin must occur in such a manner that the ayin is constantly vested in the yesh and at the same time remain concealed from it proves that the yesh is in and of itself a non-entity. The yesh neither creates itself for there is no such thing as a created being creating itself nor does it provide itself with life. All this comes from the G-dly ayin which brings it into existence and sustains it.

The matter will be better understood by considering the verse: “By the word of the L-rd the heavens were made.”1 The verse tells us that it was the Divine utterance, “Let there be a firmament”2 that was responsible for creation of the heavens. It is also written: “Forever, O G-d, Your word stands firm in the heavens.”3 The Divine utterance with which the heavens were created must constantly be found therein for the heavens to continually exist.

Even after G-d created the heavens with the utterance, “Let there be a firmament,” if the utterance ceased the heavens would return to nothingness, for their very existence is entirely dependent upon the Divine utterance, the G-dly ayin.

Just as this is so with regard to the creation of the heavens, so too with regard to the creation and vivification of all created beings. All of them, large and small, are dependent on the G-dly ayin the Divine utterance which creates each creature. The entire world was created by the “Ten Utterances,” for these encompass all categories of existence inanimate, vegetative, animal and man.

The Divine utterance is the ayin which creates and sustains the yesh of the created being, and this ayin must constantly be found within the yesh. In other words, it is not simply a matter of the G-dly ayin creating the yesh, with the yesh then continuing to exist independently. Rather the ayin must be ever-present in the yesh. It is present in a concealed manner.

The reason the ayin must be constantly in the yesh is rooted in the fact4 that the manner whereby G-d created the world is unlike that of an artisan creating a vessel. When an artisan makes a vessel, once the vessel is complete it is able to exist on its own. The reason for this is that the artisan has but to create it, he does not need to provide it with life.

This, however, is not the case with regard to the creation of the world and all its inhabitants. After the G-dly ayin , the Divine power of creation, creates the material yesh, it must enclothe itself within it in order to provide it with life.

Why, indeed, does Divine creation differ from an artisan creating a vessel? At first glance, the two forms of creation bear a resemblance. Prior to G-d’s creation of the world, the world did not exist. Similarly, before the artisan created the vessel it, too, did not exist. Why then do the manners of creation differ, so that the vessel created by the artisan does not need him once it has been finished, while even after the Divine power of creation brought the world into existence, that power must continue to remain therein?

The difference is as follows: The artisan who creates a vessel does not create the raw material; he only changes the raw material’s shape. [Thus, as a point of fact, the artisan does not really create, he only changes the shape of previously existing material.]

However, Divine creation entails creating something entirely new, [something that prior to its creation did not exist at all.] For this reason, the Divine creative force must constantly be found within the created being, for the created being in and of itself is a not-entity all that truly exists is the Divine force.

This is why “You were [the same] before the world was created; You are [the same] since the world has been created.” Creation causes no change at all in the Creator.

In summary: The Divine creative force of the “Ten Utterances” through which G-d created the universe and all its creatures is the G-dly ayin that gives life to every created being. Even after the creation, the Divine force must remain in it in order to provide it with life. Were the Divine force to depart, creation would cease to be. When an artisan makes a vessel, he only changes the appearance of the raw material, while Divine creation entails the calling into being of something totally new.