Chapter Ten (פֶּרֶק עֲשִׂירִי)

Let us return to our matter, to expound Adam Kadmon (נַחֲזוֹר לְעִנְיָנֵינוּ לִדְרוֹשׁ אָדָם קַדְמוֹן), the legs of all of them are equal until the end of Atzilut (רַגְלֵי כֻּלָּם שָׁוִין עַד סוֹף הָאֲצִילוּת), and all of them are equal below (וְכֻלָּן שָׁוִין לְמַטָּה), however they separate in their heads, one above another (אַךְ יִתְפָּרְדוּ בְּרֹאשָׁם זֶה לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה), in such a manner that they all become garments (בְּאֹפֶן כִּי יִהְיוּ כֻּלָּם לְבוּשִׁים), this one a garment for this one, and this one a garment for this one (זֶה מַלְבּוּשׁ לָזֶה וְזֶה מַלְבּוּשׁ לָזֶה). And Atik [the Ancient One] (וְהָעַתִּיק), which is the Malkhut of Adam Kadmon (שֶׁהִיא מַלְכוּת דְּאָדָם קַדְמוֹן), and within it the Chokhmah of Adam Kadmon (וּבְתוֹכָם חָכְמַת אָדָם קַדְמוֹן), in the secret of (בְּסוֹד): “Hashem founded the earth with Chokhmah” (יְיָ בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ) (Proverbs 3), and within it Ein Sof itself (וּבְתוֹכָהּ הָאֵין־סוֹף עַצְמוֹ), and all these enclothe themselves within Atzilut (וְכָל אֵלּוּ מִתְלַבְּשִׁים תּוֹךְ הָאֲצִילוּת), in such a manner (בְּאֹפֶן כִּי), that from each one of them only the head is recognizable (אֵין נִכָּר מִכָּל אֶחָד מֵהֶם כִּי אִם הָרֹאשׁ), however their bodies enclothe one within another and are not recognizable (אַךְ גּוּפָם מִתְלַבְּשִׁים אֶחָד תּוֹךְ חֲבֵירוֹ וְאֵינָם נִכָּרִין).

And behold (וְהִנֵּה), all the ten Sefirot of Atzilut were divided into five Partzufim (כָּל הָעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דַאֲצִילוּת נֶחְלְקוּ לַחֲמֵשׁ פַּרְצוּפִין): Keter, namely Arich Anpin (כֶּתֶר [אֲרִיךְ]), Chokhmah, namely Abba (חָכְמָה [אַבָּא]), Binah, namely Imma (בִּינָה [אִמָּא]), Ze’ir Anpin and his Nukvah (זְעֵיר וְנוּקְבֵיהּ), and each one is included from two hundred and forty-eight limbs and three hundred and sixty-five sinews (וְכָל אֶחָד כּוֹלָל מֵרַמַ״ח אֵיבָרִים וּשְׁסָ״ה גִּידִין). And behold (וְהִנֵּה), all the ten Sefirot of Atzilut were divided into five Partzufim (כָּל הָעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דַאֲצִילוּת נֶחְלְקוּ לַחֲמֵשׁ פַּרְצוּפִין), all the five aforementioned in every place in the Zohar and in the Kabbalah of the Ari (כָּל הַחֲמֵשׁ הַנִּזְכָּרִים בְּכָל מָקוֹם בַּזֹּהַר וּבְקַבָּלַת הָאֲרִ״י), are the entirety of the Tikkun of the world of Tohu (הֵן כְּלַל תִּיקּוּן עוֹלַם הַתֹּהוּ). And they are the aspect of the four letters of Havayah encompassing the world of Atzilut (וְהֵם בְּחִינַת ד׳ אוֹתִיּוֹת הֲוָיָ״ה הַכּוֹלֶלֶת עוֹלַם הָאֲצִילוּת), and together with the thorn of the Yod alluding to Arich Anpin (וְעִם קוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יו״ד הָרוֹמֵז לַאֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין), behold they are five Partzufim (הֲרֵי הֵם ה׳ פַּרְצוּפִין). However in relation to the Havayah encompassing all the worlds, as mentioned above (אָכֵן בְּעֵרֶךְ הַהֲוָיָ״ה הַכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל), it is truly the lower Heh (הוּא בֶּאֱמֶת ה׳ תַּחְתּוֹנָה), which is the world of Asiyah (הִיא עוֹלָם הָעֲשִׂיָּה), alluding to the daughter nesting in Asiyah (רוֹמֵז לְבַרְתָּא הַמְקַנֶּנֶת בַּעֲשִׂיָּה). And the letter Vav of Havayah (וְאוֹת ו׳ שֶׁל הֲוָיָ״ה), is the secret of the world of Yetzirah (הִיא סוֹד עוֹלָם הַיְצִירָה), alluding to Ze’ir Anpin nesting within it as is known in the Zohar (רוֹמֵז לִזְעֵיר שֶׁמְּקַנֵּן בּוֹ כַּנּוֹדָע בַּזֹּהַר), “the son nests in Yetzirah” (בְּרָא מְקַנֵּן בִּיצִירָה). And the first Heh of the name Havayah (וְאוֹת ה׳ רִאשׁוֹנָה שֶׁל שֵׁם הֲוָיָ״ה), is the secret of the world of Beri’ah (הוּא סוֹד עוֹלָם הַבְּרִיאָה), alluding to Imma Ila’ah nesting within it as is known in the Zohar (רוֹמֵז לְאִמָּא עִילָאָה שֶׁמְּקַנֶּנֶת בּוֹ כַּנּוֹדָע בַּזֹּהַר): “Imma nests in the Throne” (אִמָּא מְקַנְּנָא בְּכוּרְסְיָיא) (Etz Chaim, Sha‘ar 47, chapter 3). And it is the secret of Alma DeAti [the World to Come] (וְהִיא סוֹד עָלְמָא דְאָתֵי), and from there the righteous receive the reward of the World to Come (וּמִשָּׁם מְקַבְּלִים הַצַּדִּיקִים שְׂכַר עוֹלָם הַבָּא), and from them receive the guardians of the walls, namely the angels guarding the entrances of the Chariot (וּמֵהֶם מְקַבְּלִים שׁוֹמְרֵי הַחוֹמוֹת הֵם מַלְאָכִים שׁוֹמְרֵי מְבוֹאוֹת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה), lest the Klipot seize hold of them (לְבַל יֹאחֲזוּ בָהֶם הַקְּלִיפּוֹת), as it is said (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר): “Upon your walls, Jerusalem, I have appointed guardians” (עַל חוֹמוֹתַיִךְ יְרוּשָׁלַיִם הִפְקַדְתִּי שׁוֹמְרִים) (Isaiah 62). And the thorn of the Yod (וְקוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יו״ד), is the secret of Atzilut (הִיא סוֹד אֲצִילוּת), within which Arich Anpin with his Ketarim enclothe themselves (שֶׁאֲרִיךְ עִם כְּתָרָיו מִתְלַבְּשִׁים בּוֹ), because of his great concealment and subtlety he is not considered (לְרֹב הֶעְלָמוֹ וְדַקּוּתוֹ אֵינוֹ נֶחְשָׁב), except only in the secret of the thorn of the Yod, which is a very subtle matter (כִּי אִם בְּסוֹד קוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יו״ד שֶׁהוּא עִנְיָן דַּק מְאֹד), and all the Ketarim conceal themselves and make use of and enclothe themselves within one Keter (וְכָל הַכְּתָרִים מִסְתַּתְּרִים וּמִשְׁתַּמְּשִׁים וּמִתְלַבְּשִׁים בְּכֶתֶר אֶחָד), therefore they are considered only as one Keter (לָכֵן אֵינָם נֶחְשָׁבִים כִּי אִם לְכֶתֶר אֶחָד), and understand that it is the Keter of Atzilut (וְהָבֵן שֶׁהוּא כֶּתֶר הָאֲצִילוּת). It follows according to this valuation that we said above (נִמְצָא לְפִי זֶה הָעֵרֶךְ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ לְמַעְלָה), that Adam Kadmon is the thorn of the Yod (שֶׁאָדָם קַדְמוֹן הוּא קוֹצוֹ שֶׁל יו״ד), and the ten Sefirot of Atzilut are the secret of the Yod of Havayah alluded to in Chokhmah (וְהָעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דַאֲצִילוּת הֵם סוֹד י׳ שֶׁל הַהֲוָיָ״ה הַנִּרְמֶזֶת בְּחָכְמָה), which is called Abba (שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת אַבָּא), and it is in Atzilut as is known (וְהִיא בַּאֲצִילוּת כַּנּוֹדָע). And after this all the aspect of Ein Sof was completed in the aspect of inwardness (וְאַחַר זֶה נִשְׁלַם כָּל בְּחִינַת הָאֵין סוֹף בִּבְחִינַת הַפְּנִימִיּוּת), as mentioned above (כַּנִּזְכָּר לְמַעְלָה). And then the light thickened (וְאָז נִתְעַבֶּה הָאוֹר), and there was made there a screen and Parsah [barrier] and curtain (וְנַעֲשָׂה שָׁם מָסָךְ וּפַרְסָא וּפָרוֹכֶת), which was mentioned in the world of Beri’ah (שֶׁנִּזְכַּר בְּעוֹלָם הַבְּרִיאָה), and through the screen descended the Malkhut of Atzilut, namely her seven lower Sefirot (וְדֶרֶךְ הַמָּסָךְ יָרְדָה מַלְכוּת דַאֲצִילוּת ז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנִיּוֹת שֶׁבָּהּ), and she became a head to foxes (וְהָיְתָה רֹאשׁ לְשׁוּעָלִים) (Zohar Chadash, Shir haShirim, Ma’amar Mi‘ut haYare’ach), namely the ten Sefirot of Beri’ah (עֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דִּבְרִיאָה), and all this after their thickening and enclothing through the aforementioned screen (וְכָל זֶה אַחֲרֵי הִתְעַבּוּתָם וְהִתְלַבְּשׁוּתָם דֶּרֶךְ הַמָּסָךְ הַנִּזְכָּר). And also the light of Binah of Atzilut enclothed itself within the seven lower Sefirot of the Malkhut of Atzilut (וְגַם בִּינָה דַאֲצִילוּת נִתְלַבֵּשׁ אוֹרָהּ בְּז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת דְּמַלְכוּת דַאֲצִילוּת), and descended through the aforementioned screen (וְיָרְדָה דֶּרֶךְ הַמָּסָךְ הַנִּזְכָּר), and enclothed itself within the ten Sefirot of Beri’ah (וְנִתְלַבְּשָׁה בְּעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דִּבְרִיאָה), and this is the secret of “Binah nests in Beri’ah” (וְזֶהוּ סוֹד בִּינָה מְקַנְּנָא בִּבְרִיאָה). And these seven lower Sefirot of Malkhut became Atik Yomin [Ancient of Days] of Beri’ah (וְאֵלּוּ הַז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת דְּמַלְכוּת נִתְהַוּוּ לְעַתִּיק יוֹמִין דִּבְרִיאָה), and enclothed themselves within Arich Anpin of Beri’ah (וְנִתְלַבְּשׁוּ בַּאֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דִּבְרִיאָה), and all according to the order mentioned in the world of Atzilut (וְכוּלּוֹ עַל הַסֵּדֶר הַנִּזְכָּר בְּעוֹלָם הָאֲצִילוּת), and it too is the five Partzufim of Beri’ah (וְגַם הוּא ה׳ פַּרְצוּפִין דִּבְרִיאָה), and all of them are the aspect of the Heh of Havayah encompassing all the worlds (וְכוּלָּם בְּחִינַת ה׳ דַהֲוָיָ״ה הַכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת). And after this a screen spread forth a second time (וְאַחַר זֶה נִתְפָּרֵשׂ מָסָךְ שֵׁנִית), and the seven lower Sefirot of the Malkhut of Beri’ah descended (וְיָרְדוּ ז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת דְּמַלְכוּת בְּרִיאָה), and within them enclothe themselves the light of the six extremities of Ze’ir Anpin of Beri’ah (וּבְתוֹכָם מִתְלַבְּשִׁים אוֹר ו׳ קְצָווֹת דִּזְעֵיר דִּבְרִיאָה), and they became the aspect of Atik Yomin [Ancient of Days] of Yetzirah (וְנִתְהַוּוּ אֶל בְּחִינַת עַתִּיק יוֹמִין דִּיצִירָה), and this is the secret of “Ze’ir Anpin nests in Yetzirah” (וְזֶהוּ סוֹד זְעֵיר מְקַנֵּן בִּיצִירָה) (Likkutei Shas Chullin). And this Atik [Ancient One] enclothes itself within Arich of Yetzirah (וְזֶה הָעַתִּיק מִתְלַבֵּשׁ תּוֹךְ אֲרִיךְ דִּיצִירָה), according to the way mentioned above in Beri’ah (עַל דֶּרֶךְ הַנִּזְכָּר לְמַעְלָה בִּבְרִיאָה), and it too is the five Partzufim of Yetzirah (וְגַם הוּא ה׳ פַּרְצוּפִין דִּיצִירָה), and all of them are the secret of the Vav of Havayah encompassing all the worlds (וְכוּלָּם סוֹד ו׳ דַהֲוָיָ״ה הַכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת). And after this the seven lower Sefirot of the Malkhut of Yetzirah (וְאַחַר זֶה הַז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת דְּמַלְכוּת יְצִירָה), she alone enclothes herself within Arich Anpin of Asiyah (הִיא לְבַדָּהּ מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת תּוֹךְ אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דַעֲשִׂיָּה), and this too is by way of the screen between Yetzirah and Asiyah (וְגַם זֶה דֶּרֶךְ מָסָךְ שֶׁבֵּין יְצִירָה לַעֲשִׂיָּה), and this is the secret of “the lower Imma nests in Ofan” (וְזֶהוּ סוֹד אִמָּא תַּתָּאָה מְקַנְּנָא בְּאוֹפַן) (Tikkunei Zohar 23a). And it is called Atik Yomin [Ancient of Days] of Asiyah (וְנִקְרָא עַתִּיק יוֹמִין דַעֲשִׂיָּה), and enclothes itself within Arich of Asiyah (וּמִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת תּוֹךְ אֲרִיךְ דַעֲשִׂיָּה), and everything according to the way mentioned above in Yetzirah (וְהַכֹּל עַל דֶּרֶךְ הַנִּזְכָּר לְמַעְלָה בִּיצִירָה), and they too are five Partzufim (וְגַם הֵם ה׳ פַּרְצוּפִין), and all of them are the five aspects of the final Heh of Havayah encompassing all the worlds (וְכוּלָּם ה׳ בְּחִינוֹת ה׳ אַחֲרוֹנָה דַהֲוָיָ״ה הַכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָמוֹת). And if you say (וְאִם תֹּאמַר), from where did the vitality of Arich Anpin of Asiyah come into being in the secret of the screen (חַיּוּת אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין דַעֲשִׂיָּה מֵהֵיכָן נִתְהַוָּה בְּסוֹד מָסָךְ)? It may be said (וְיֵשׁ לוֹמַר), that the light of the first three Sefirot of the Malkhut within Yetzirah enclothed itself within her seven lower Sefirot (דְּג׳ רִאשׁוֹנוֹת דְּמַלְכוּת שֶׁבִּיצִירָה מְלֻבֶּשֶׁת אוֹרָם בְּז׳ תַּחְתּוֹנוֹת שֶׁלָּהּ), and afterward the seven descended (וְאַחַר כָּךְ יָרְדוּ הַז׳), namely Atik [Ancient One] for Asiyah (הַיְינוּ עַתִּיק לַעֲשִׂיָּיה).