Hashem too holy to abide by us, yet closer to us than we can imagine - how to resolve?

Question

It seems like, when it comes to Hashem's closeness to us, we have 2 different sides, and they go in opposite directions and I would like to know how to resolve them.

A) On the one hand, the reason why Hashem doesn't speak to us openly (i.e. we aren't all prophets casually conversing with the Living God) is because we have sinned and the Shechina is in exile. I.e. Hashem is holy to the superlative, and we are sinners who He can't abide by to speak with.

B) Yet on the other hand, Judaism 101 is that Hashem is intimately involved in creation, again, to the superlative. He is personally creating us and the world, and all events and powers that exist are created by Him. He is closer to us than we can possibly imagine.

So Hashem is very close to us in one way (creating us), but in another way (speaking to us), there is a huge barrier. I would like to try to get to the bottom of the key differences between the two that produce this difference. Do note that it seems, from our vantage point, that creating someone is far more close and intimate than speaking, which in our world takes place at a distance. What's going on here?

There are endless sources to choose from to bring out both A and B, so I'll just pick one each:

Source for A:

אמר רבי שמואל בר נחמן, בשעה שברא הקדוש ברוך הוא את העולם, נתאוה שיהא לו דירה בתחתונים כמו שיש בעליונים. ברא את האדם וצוה אותו ואמר לו: מכל עץ הגן אכל תאכל, ומעץ הדעת טוב ורע לא תאכל ממנו (בראשית ב, טז-יז). ועבר על צוויו. אמר ליה הקדוש ברוך הוא, כך הייתי מתאוה שיהא לי דירה בתחתונים כמו שיש לי בעליונים, ודבר אחד צויתי אותך ולא שמרת אותו. מיד סלק הקדוש ברוך הוא שכינתו לרקיע הראשון.

Ribbi Shmuel Bar Nachman said that the moment Hashem created the world, He desired that there should be a dwelling place for Him in the lowest worlds just like in the highest worlds. He created man and commanded him saying "from all the trees in the garden you should eat, but from the tree of knowledge which is good and evil, don't eat from it". When he violated this commandment, Hashem said "So how I would desire to have a dwelling place in the lower world like the higher, and one thing I commanded you and you didn't listen!"... immediately Hashem withdrew His Shechina to the first heaven...

I picked this source because of how it connects His withdrawal with His desire to be close to us, and how sin blocks that. I could also have picked examples of how prophecy requires high levels of holiness and humility (bittul).

Source for B:

וְהַבּוֹרֵא יִתְבָּרֵךְ בּוֹרֵא הָאֵבָרִים וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶם כֹּחוֹת וּמַמְשִׁיךְ לָהֶם עִם הָרְגָעִים, וְאִלּוּ הָיוּ מַעֲלִים עַל לֵב הִסְתַּלְּקוּת הַשְׁגָּחָתוֹ וְהַנְהָגָתוֹ רֶגַע אֶחָד הָיָה נִפְסָד הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּו

The Blessed Creator creates limbs and gives them their power continually each moment

We cannot fathom how closely we are connected to Hashem.

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So, how do the sources deal with this conundrum? How can Hashem not abide to talk to us, vulnerable to our deeds, actions and personal holiness, yet on the other hand, is so close to us that He is listening to our thoughts, He is animating us down to the atom, and to the core of our soul? I would like to understand this properly, as I am sure the answer is very deep and profound, so if someone would be able to explain it without jargon (He creates us from the "sweat of the Ophanim", "over the shoulder" or "under the Throne of Glory" etc), using grounded, but down to earth mashalim and logical explanations, with sources, I would really appreciate it thank you.

Answer 1

I think there are different contradictions that are at play...

But the main one you are asking about can be solved based off of the רמח׳׳ל if I understood you correctly.

Hashem and whether we are close or far is in reality not a description of proximity (as you know) but it is also not a description of connection either.

It is a description of his obviousness (radiance) and how hidden he is. And so although he can be the cause of every minute detail and where the world is heading, it is difficult for us to see this clearly.

See Derech Hashem Chapter 4:10

והאמנם האדון ב׳׳ה מאיר תמיד למי שיתקרב אליו...

It appears that proximity and הארת פנים are somewhat synonymous to the Ramchal and the Ramchal mentions הארת פנים as how openly revealed Hashem is. This coincides with someones שלמות (perfection). See there.

Purim I think highlights this well. Esther (meaning hidden) and of course Hashem's name not mentioned openly. And yet Hashem runs and orchestrates everything. This is the dichotomy I believe you speak of; however, I don't see it as a contradiction.

Answer 2

This is a really thought provoking question

1. I think one of the best place which answers this question is Rabbi Nachman, in 64 https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.64.1.1?vhe=Likutei_Moharan_-_rabenubook.com&lang=bi&sbsq=%D7%91%D7%90%20%D7%90%D7%9C%20&with=SidebarSearch&lang2=he an explanation in shiur form from Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld (podcast inward).
   Rebbe Nachman explains how the screen of us not seeing Hashem is for our benefit. This answer is a more Chassidic answer.
2. In a more litvish answer, two simulations happen in this world, the Nefesh Hachaim here: https://www.sefaria.org/Nefesh_HaChayim%2C_Gate_I.4.23?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=he (see the whole chapter) explains how the world can be viewed from the perspective of the ‘guf’ or the perspective of the Neshoma. Although our lives feel like disconnection from Hashem we have to get as close as we can. Rabbi Kelman here: https://www.simpletoremember.com/media/a/step-forward/ explains how the further dark we feel the closer we really are to Hashem.