Radical Rupture: Chabad’s Theological Continuity When Divine Withdrawal Precedes Sin

Lubavitcher Rebbe’s understanding of tzimtzum represents perhaps the most radical theological departure in modern Chabad scholarship. This article examines Eli Rubin’s claim that the seventh Rebbe fundamentally inverted traditional Chabad theodicy, positioning divine contraction as the precursor rather than consequence of sin. Through comparative analysis with earlier Chabad rebbes and engagement with contemporary scholars including Moshe Idel, Elliot Wolfson, Shaul Magid, Michael Fishbane, and Daniel Matt, we explore whether Rubin’s reading reveals genuine innovation or hermeneutical overreach. The analysis culminates in examining potential connections to Jonathan Eybeschütz’s mystical formulation “ve-avo hayom el ha-ayin” (and I shall come today to the Nothing), investigating whether the Rebbe’s alleged radicalism represents a return to earlier kabbalistic trajectories or an unprecedented theological rupture.