Chapter 8

The Order of the Entry of the Parts of the Tzelem [Image] into Ze’ir Anpin According to the Years

פרק ח סדר כניסת פרקי הצלם בז״א ע״פ השנים

And now let us return to explain the first matter (וְעַתָּה נַחֲזוֹר לְבָאֵר עִנְיָן רִאשׁוֹן). And through this you will understand what our Rabbis of blessed memory said (וּבָזֶה תָּבִין מַה שֶּׁאָמְרוּ רַז״ל): “the transactions of minors are valid regarding movable property from six years and one day” (הַפְּעוּטוֹת מִקְחָן מִקָּח בְּמִטַּלְטְלִין מִבֶּן ו׳ שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד), “and at nine years his intercourse is intercourse” (וּבֶן ט׳ שָׁנִים בִּיאָתוֹ בִּיאָה), “and from thirteen years and one day he is an adult” (וּמִבֶּן י״ג וְיוֹם אֶחָד אָז הוּא גָּדוֹל).

And the matter is as follows (וְהָעִנְיָן): when the Mochin [Intellects]—which are the Netzach, Hod, Yesod of Binah—enter into Ze’ir Anpin (כִּי כְּשֶׁנִּכְנָסִׂין הַמּוֹחִין שֶׁהֵם נֵה״י דְּבִינָה תּוֹךְ הַז״א), they first descend into the six Sefirot within him (הֵם יוֹרְדִים תְּחִלָּה לְו׳ סְפִירוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ), which are Chokhmah, Binah, Da‘at of Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet (שֶׁהֵם כַּח״ב דְּחַג״ת), and these correspond to six years (וְהֵם ו׳ שָׁנִים).

And the upper third of the Tiferet, which is covered, are six years and four months (וְשְׁלִישׁ עֶלְיוֹן דְּת״ת שֶׁהוּא מְכוּסֶּה הֵם ו׳ שָׁנִים וְד׳ חֳדָשִׁים), and all of these are aspects of being covered (וְכֻלָּם בְּחִינַת מְכוּסִּים). Afterward, when the Chesedim return in the aspect of returning light (וְאַחַר כָּךְ כְּשֶׁחוֹזְרִים הַחֲסָדִים בְּסוֹד אוֹר חוֹזֵר), through these same Sefirot themselves (דֶּרֶךְ סְפִירוֹת אֵלּוּ עַצְמָן), they are another six years and four months (הֵם ו׳ שָׁנִים וְד׳ חֳדָשִׁים אֲחֵרִים).

Behold, all together this is twelve years and eight months (הֲרֵי הַכֹּל י״ב שָׁנִים וְח׳ חֳדָשִׁים). And the reason that these joints descended first into the six Sefirot of Ze’ir Anpin from within (וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁאֵלּוּ הַפְּרָקִים יָרְדוּ קֹדֶם בְּו׳ סְפִירוֹת דְּז״א מִבִּפְנִים), is in order to enlarge him (הוּא כְּדֵי לְהַגְדִּילוֹ). And the reason that they descended from the crown of the Chesedim (וְהַטַּעַם שֶׁיָּרְדוּ מִכֶּתֶר הַחֲסָדִים) is because from the crown came the drop (הוּא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמִכֶּתֶר הָיְתָה הַטִּפָּה).

And behold, these are the six years and four months that were in the secret of descent (וְהִנֵּה הֵם הַו׳ שָׁנִים וְד׳ חֳדָשִׁים שֶׁהָיוּ בְּסוֹד יְרִידָה). And this is the secret that Ya‘akov was not blessed until he was sixty-three years old (וְזֶה סוֹד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְבָּרֵךְ יַעֲקֹב עַד שֶׁהָיָה בֶּן ס״ג שָׁנָה), for until that point the Chesedim were covered (כִּי עַד שָׁם הָיוּ הַחֲסָדִים מְכוּסִּים), and there they were revealed in the secret of the bursting that burst forth (וְשָׁם נִתְגַּלּוּ בְּסוֹד הַבְּקִיעָה שֶׁנִּבְקַע).

And this is the secret of the letters “Ya‘akov Yibakka [He Shall Break Through]” (וְזֶה סוֹד אוֹתִיּוֹת יַעֲקֹב יִבָּקַע), for the six years—each one inclusive of ten—are sixty (כִּי הַו׳ שָׁנִים כָּל אֶחָד כָּלוּל י׳ הֵם ס׳), which are the six Sefirot—Chokhmah, Binah, Da‘at–Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet (שֶׁהֵם הַו׳ סְפִירוֹת כַּחב״ד חַג״ת), and the additional covered third is another three years (וְעוֹד הַשְּׁלִישׁ הַמְכוּסֶּה הוּא ג׳ שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת), a third of ten years (שְׁלִישׁ מִי׳ שָׁנִים), and all together is sixty-three (וְהַכֹּל ס״ג). And this is the secret of the Name S"G, which is in Binah (וְזֶה סוֹד שֵׁם ס״ג שֶׁהוּא בְּבִינָה), for Binah extends until the chest of Ze’ir Anpin (כִּי בִּינָה מִתְפַּשֶּׁטֶת עַד הֶחָזֶה דְּז״א), and this is sixty-three years, as stated above (וְזֶהוּ ס״ג שָׁנִים כַּנַּ״ל).

And behold, afterward the Chesedim returned to ascend from the outside in the aspect of surrounding light (וְהִנֵּה אַחַר כָּךְ חָזְרוּ הַחֲסָדִים לַעֲלוֹת מִבַּחוּץ בְּסוֹד אוֹר מַקִּיף), so that Ze’ir Anpin would receive the illumination of Abba and Imma in a face-to-face manner (כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּקַּבֵּל הַז״א הֶאָרַת או״א דֶּרֶךְ פָּנִים בְּפָנִים). For initially, during the descent, the Chesedim were covered (כִּי תְּחִלָּה בַּיְּרִידָה הָיוּ הַחֲסָדִים מְכוּסִּים), and just as Beri’ah does not receive from Atzilut except through a screen (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהַבְּרִיאָה אֵינָהּ מְקַבֶּלֶת מִן הָאֲצִילוּת אֶלָּא עַל־יְדֵי מָסָךְ), so too Ze’ir Anpin did not receive from Abba and Imma except through a screen (כֵּן ז״א לֹא הָיָה מְקַבֵּל מֵאו״א רַק עַל־יְדֵי מָסָךְ), for his Chesedim and Mochin [Intellects] were all covered within the screen of the Netzach, Hod, Yesod of Imma (כִּי הָיוּ הַחֲסָדִים וְהַמּוֹחִין שֶׁלּוֹ כֻּלָּם מְכוּסִּים תּוֹךְ מָסָךְ נֵה״י דְּאִמָּא). And this is the secret of “He forms light and creates darkness” (וְזֶה סוֹד יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חֹשֶׁךְ): “forms light” means revelation (יוֹצֵר אוֹר גִּלּוּי), and “creates darkness” means that there is a screen (וּבוֹרֵא חֹשֶׁךְ לִהְיוֹתוֹ מָסָךְ).

For until the chest of Ze’ir Anpin the Chesedim descend covered (כִּי עַד הֶחָזֶה דְּז״א יוֹרְדִים הַחֲסָדִים מְכוּסִּים), and here they are revealed for their own need (וְכָאן מִתְגַּלִּים לְצוֹרֶךְ עַצְמָם). And now, after they have been revealed, the Chesedim return from the outside in the aspect of surrounding light (וְעַתָּה אַחַר שֶׁנִּתְגַּלּוּ חוֹזְרִים הַחֲסָדִים מִבַּחוּץ בְּסוֹד אוֹר מַקִּיף), in order to illuminate him in the manner of Atzilut, without any screen at all (כְּדֵי לְהָאִיר לוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אֲצִילוּת בְּלִי מָסָךְ כְּלָל).

And let us return to what was said above (וְנַחֲזוֹר לְמַה שֶּׁאָמַרְנוּ לְעֵיל), that in their descent and in their return there are twelve years and eight months (כִּי בִּירִידָתָן וּבַחֲזָרָתָן הוּא י״ב שָׁנִים וְח׳ חֳדָשִׁים), and four additional months are required to complete thirteen years (וְצָרִיךְ ד׳ חֳדָשִׁים אֲחֵרִים לְהַשְׁלִים י״ג שָׁנִים), and these are from the covered third that returns in the secret of surrounding light (וְהֵם מֵהַשְּׁלִישׁ הַמְכוּסֶּה שֶׁחוֹזְרִים בְּסוֹד אוֹר מַקִּיף). And the one day is the light that is between the half of the Tiferet of Binah and the skull of Ze’ir Anpin (וְיוֹם אֶחָד הוּא הָאוֹר שֶׁבֵּין חֲצִי ת״ת דְּבִינָה לְגֻלְגֹּלֶת דְּז״א), behold this is thirteen years and one day (הֲרֵי י״ג שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד). Or in another manner (אוֹ בְּאוֹפֶן אַחֵר): for behold, the time of nursing is two years (כִּי הֲלֹא זְמַן הַיְּנִיקָה ב׳ שָׁנִים), and in four other years there enter the two joints of the Netzach of Imma and the two joints of the Hod of Imma into the head of Ze’ir Anpin (וּבְד׳ שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת נִכְנָסִים ב׳ פְּרָקִים דְּנֵצַח אִמָּא וּב׳ פְּרָקִים דְּהוֹד אִמָּא בְּרֵישָׁא דְּז״א), behold they are six years (הֲרֵי ו׳ שָׁנִים).

And these are the secret of “the minors from six years and one day” (וְהֵם סוֹד הַפְּעוּטוֹת מִבֶּן ו׳ שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד), for this is the beginning of the entry of the lower joint of the Yesod of Imma into the Da‘at of Ze’ir Anpin (שֶׁהוּא תְּחִלַּת כְּנִיסַת פֶּרֶק תַּחְתּוֹן דְּיְסוֹד דְּאִמָּא בְּדַעַת דְּז״א). Therefore, since a small amount of Da‘at has entered (לָכֵן כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּכְנַס דָּבָר מְעַט מִן הַדַּעַת), their transactions are valid only with movable property (לָכֵן מִקְחָן מִקָּח בְּמִטַּלְטְלִין לְבַד), which correspond to the six extremities that are “movable” (שֶׁהֵם נֶגֶד ו״ק הַמְּטַלְטְלִין), from Chesed to Din and from Din to Chesed according to our deeds (מֵרַחֲמִים לְדִין וּמִדִּין לְרַחֲמִים כְּפִי מַעֲשֵׂינוּ). And from six years until nine years are three additional years (וּמִו׳ שָׁנִים עַד ט׳ שָׁנִים הֵם ג׳ שָׁנִים אֲחֵרוֹת), and then there enter the two upper joints called the thighs of Netzach–Hod of Binah and the upper joint of the Yesod of Binah (וְאָז נִכְנָסִים ב׳ פְּרָקִים עֶלְיוֹנִים הַנִּקְרָאִים יְרֵכַיִם דְּנֵ״ה דְּבִינָה וּפֶּרֶק עֶלְיוֹן דְּיְסוֹד דְּבִינָה), for its measure is only two joints (כִּי אֵין שִׁעוּרוֹ אֶלָּא ב׳ פְּרָקִים).

And behold, one third had already entered on the first day beyond six years (וְהִנֵּה כְּבָר נִכְנַס שְׁלִישׁ אֶחָד בְּיוֹם אֶחָד הַיּוֹתֵר עַל ו׳ שָׁנִים), and then he is called a minor (וְאָז נִקְרָא פָּעוּט). And now the second joint of the Yesod enters (וְעַתָּה נִכְנָס פֶּרֶק ב׳ שֶׁל הַיְסוֹד), behold this is nine years and one day (הֲרֵי ט׳ שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד), therefore his intercourse is intercourse (לָכֵן בִּיאָתוֹ בִּיאָה), for his entire Da‘at has already entered (כִּי כְּבָר נִכְנַס כָּל הַדַּעַת שֶׁלּוֹ).

But this intercourse does not effect impregnation of the Nukvah until he is thirteen years and one day (אֲבָל אֵין בִּיאָה זוֹ מוֹעֶלֶת לְהִתְעַבֵּר הַנּוּקְבָא עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בֶּן י״ג שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶחָד), which are the secret of the return of the Chesedim to ascend in returning light (שֶׁהֵם סוֹד חֲזָרַת הַחֲסָדִים לַעֲלוֹת בְּאוֹר חוֹזֵר). And the three years are the ascent of the third of the Chesed of the right arm to Chokhmah, and the third of the left arm to Binah, and the two half-thirds to the Da‘at (וְהַג׳ שָׁנִים הֵם עֲלִיַּת שְׁלִישׁ חֶסֶד דְּזְרוֹעַ יָמִין אֶל הַחָכְמָה וְשְׁלִישׁ דְּזְרוֹעַ שְׂמֹאל אֶל הַבִּינָה וּב׳ חֲצָאֵי שְׁלִישׁ בַּדַּעַת). And the fourth year corresponds to the covered third of the Tiferet, which is now revealed, enlarged, and ascended to the Keter of Ze’ir Anpin (וְהַשָּׁנָה הַד׳ הִיא נֶגֶד שְׁלִישׁ ת״ת הַמְכוּסֶּה אֲשֶׁר נִתְגַּלָּה עַתָּה וְנִתְגַּדֵּל וְעָלָה לְכֶּתֶר דְּז״א), behold these are thirteen years (הֲרֵי י״ג שָׁנִים). And the one day is that which is between the half of the Tiferet of Binah and the skull of Ze’ir Anpin (וְיוֹם אֶחָד הוּא אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבֵּין חֲצִי ת״ת דְּבִינָה לְגֻלְגֹּלֶת דְּז״א), which descends from its place until there—this is one day (וְיוֹרֵד מִמְּקוֹמוֹ עַד שָׁם הוּא יוֹם אֶחָד). Or also that small amount that ascended more than half of the revealed third of the Tiferet of Ze’ir Anpin to his Keter (אוֹ גַּם אוֹתוֹ מְעַט שֶׁעָלָה יוֹתֵר מֵחֲצִי שְׁלִישׁ הַמְגוּלֶּה דְּת״ת דְּז״א אֶל הַכֶּתֶר שֶׁלּוֹ), and this is the one day (וְזֶהוּ יוֹם אֶחָד). But the Nukvah receives less than half of a third in her Keter (אַךְ הַנּוּקְבָא הוּא פָּחוֹת מֵחֲצִי שְׁלִישׁ בְּכֶּתֶר שֶׁלָּהּ), and behold thirteen years and one day are completed (וְהֲרֵי נִשְׁלְמוּ י״ג שָׁנִים וְיוֹם אֶ).