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Images of Kabbalah by Christopher P. Benton, Ph.D. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life is a diagram that represents the dynamics of the created universe. Furthermore, a fundamental tenet, as discussed in the Sefer Yetzirah, the Book of Formation, is that the world is characterized by pairs of opposites and the interaction between them. As it says in Ecclesiastes 7:14, "God made one opposite the other." Thus, portions of the Tree of Life represent the interplay between justice and mercy, and heaven and earth. Another Kabbalistic prinicple is that the world is characterized by imbalance where "holy sparks" are often hidden, and by restoring the balance, we can release these holy sparks. Consequently, tzedakah, charity, and gemilut hassadim, acts of loving kindness, help correct the inequities of life and reveal its inherent holiness. Every part of the universe is symbolized by the Tree of Life, and every part of the tree, in a fractal like manner, contains a smaller image of the tree and so on ad infinitum. The images below were computer generated by Christopher P. Benton (bio), and they represent the presence of the tree in all aspects of existence. By clicking on a thumbnail sketch below, a larger 1024 x 768 image will be displayed which may then be downloaded for use as a background image on your computer desktop. Enjoy! Author: Christopher P. Benton, 2003 Build Your Mitsvah Portfolio | Current Study Passage | Join the Discussion | Maqom Supporters | Individualized Intensive Learning | Annotated Bibliography | Previous Study Passages | A Talmud Tale | Jewish Texts: The Owner's Manual | The Tefillin Gift Shop | Guided Meditations | The Maqom Journal | Art | Links | Home | About Rabbi Abrams Maqom: A Place for the Spiritually Searching admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. © 2001 Judith Z. Abrams