Reshimu (רשימו): Impression

Residual Impression

The faint trace of divine light remaining in the vacuum created after the Tzimtzum (initial contraction/withdrawal of Divine Light) is known as Reshimu.

It serves as the blueprint for creation, bridging the infinite Divine and finite existence, providing a lingering “memory” of oneness that enables the world’s repair and ongoing creation.

Aspects of Reshimu:

Definition: It is the “impression” of the original Infinite Light (OrEinSof) that remains in the void (Tzimtzum) before the light is withdrawn to enable creation.
Function: While the main light withdrawn, the reshimu leaves a trace, allowing for a space where finite beings can exist without being overwhelmed by the divine, yet still connected to the creator.
Lurianic Kabbalah: Central to the teaching of Rabbi Isaac Luria, it is described as the foundational structure that holds the potential for all future creation.
Spiritual Significance: It is often described as the “consciousness” that drives spiritual longing—the feeling of “having forgotten” a higher state and the desire to reconnect to it.

Reshimu is considered both material and spiritual, providing a spark in the void that allows for the creation of vessels (keilim) and the subsequent emanations.