Let My People Know

"However high a man rises, whatever effort he makes, the gap between him and the divine remains"

 

Between the Infinite and the finite is an infinite gap. 

Between the Infinite and man is a gap that man cannot bridge. 

However high a man rises, whatever effort he makes, the gap between him and the divine remains. 

From his side, the gap cannot be closed. 

From the time of Adam, the temptation has existed "to become like God, knowers of good and evil."

Artists, writers, scientists–all are tempted by the belief that there is some ruse, some hidden way, some new invention, whereby a person can cross a certain line and become divine. 

But although a person can, by his own efforts, achieve great things–he can even taste of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and know good and evil–but he cannot, on his own, touch on the Infinite. 

The only way that such contact can be achieved is when God creates this contact, when He extends His hand, so to speak, across the gap to grant man the ability to connect with Him. 

–Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz
 
From Opening the Tanya, Chapter 4, by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz