The Divine Paradox in Clinical Practice
This article applies theological insights from Hasidic thought, particularly the concepts of divine presence-absence and tzimtzum (divine contraction), to reconceptualize the therapeutic relationship in clinical practice. Drawing on Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi's understanding of divine kingship as meta-parable and the paradox of "Ana Emloch" (I shall rule), this study proposes a framework for understanding how healing occurs through the dynamic interplay of professional presence and strategic absence in the doctor-patient encounter.
The analysis demonstrates how tzimtzum thinking can inform medical education, clinical practice, and the ethics of care, offering fresh perspectives on therapeutic boundaries, medical authority, and the phenomenology of healing.