Let us make Man!

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…this is the inner meaning of “Let us make Man b’tzalmeinu in our image, k’dmuteinu like us ” (Genesis 1:26 ).
The light is called the “tzelem” and the darkness is called “dmut“, such that Man will be created from both of these forces: both soul and ego.

The Sages tell us that the entire work of creation is included in the declaration of the first day, “Let there be light.” For within that declaration is included the whole differentiation between the light and the darkness, wherein the holiness is called ‘light’, and the evil is called ‘dark’.
However, despite this differentiation between the light and the dark, with which all the created beings of the creation were clarified, the tikkun is still left incomplete. The entire aspect of evil or dark appears as something for which there is no use, and this is not at all fitting for God’s perfection. The tikkun of creation will only be complete in accordance with the inner meaning of the phrase, “Even darkness will not cause dark to come from You, and the night will give light as day, the darkness will shine as much as the light” (Ps. 139:12).

In order to correct this darkness the human being was created, who includes everything from the uttermost evil to the ultimate good. Through his hand the tikkun will be finished to the required perfection, that is, the evil will transform into good, the bitterness into sweet, the darkness will shine like the light, death will be swallowed up for ever, and the Lord will be King over all the earth .

From the Perush haSulam of Rabbi Yehudah Lev Ashlag on the Zohar
Translated by Yedidah Cohen in A Tapestry of the Soul (Nehora Press)
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