Opening materialSin Grants Possibility for the Expansion of the Sitra achra

Sin Grants Possibility for the Expansion of the Sitra achra

הַחֵטְא נוֹתֵן אֶפְשָׁרוּת לְהִתְפַּשְּׁטוּת הַסִּטְרָא אַחֲרָא

And behold, when creation is according to the source of Chokhmah, which is the source of free will (וְהִנֵּה בִּהְיוֹת הַבְּרִיאָה לְפִי מְקוֹר הַחָכְמָה, שֶׁהוּא מְקוֹר הַבְּחִירָה), a place is found for the Sitra Achra (נִמְצָא לַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא מָקוֹם). But there are two times according to this source, and two places for the Sitra Achra (אֲבָל שְׁנֵי זְמַנִּים הֵם לְפִי הַמָּקוֹר הַזֶּה, וּשְׁנֵי מְקוֹמוֹת לַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא), and the secret of this matter is the Diminution of the Moon (וְסוֹד זֶה הָעִנְיָן הוּא מִעוּט הַיָּרֵחַ).

Know that in her beginning the Sitra achra was created (דַּע כִּי בִּתְחִלָּתָהּ נִבְרְאָה הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא), and she emerges only from the aspect of Shevirah alone (וְהִיא הַיּוֹצֵאת לְפִי בְּחִינַת הַשְּׁבִירָה לְבַד), meaning from the root that causes the Shevirah (פֵּרוּשׁ – מִן הַשֹּׁרֶשׁ שֶׁגוֹרֵם לָהּ הַשְּׁבִירָה), and then she is only the outcome of the final level of Holiness (וְאָז אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא תּוֹלַדַּת הַמַּדְרֵגָה הָאַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁל הַקְּדוּשָּׁה), namely the end of Malchut of Asiyah (דְּהַיְינוּ סוֹף מַלְכוּת דְּעַשִּׂיָּה). And in this aspect was the evil inclination in Adam haRishon (וּבְבְחִינָה זוֹ הָיָה הַיֵּצֶר בְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן).

And behold, then Adam did not need a great Tikkun (וְהִנֵּה אָז לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ לְאָדָם תִּקּוּן גָּדוֹל), only to rectify this aspect of the shattering itself (אֶלָּא לְתַקֵּן בְּחִינָה זוֹ שֶׁל הַשְּׁבִירָה עַצְמָהּ). For this he was given seven commandments (נִתְּנוּ לוֹ ז׳ מִצְווֹת), in the secret of the seven kings who died (בְּסוֹד ז׳ מְלָכִים שֶׁמֵּתוּ), and this would have sufficed (וְהָיָה דַּי בָּזֶה).

For in rectifying this, he would have ascended to the other source — the source of Keter as explained above (כִּי בְּתִקּוּן זֶה כְּבָר הָיָה עוֹלֶה אֶל הַמָּקוֹר הָאַחֵר, הוּא מְקוֹר הַכֶּתֶר כְּנַ״ל), and the worlds would have ascended in an elevation as before the Shevirah (וְהָיוּ הָעוֹלָמוֹת עוֹלִים בַּעֲלִיָּה כְּקוֹדֶם הַשְּׁבִירָה). However, a preparation was already prepared in the secret of the Diminution of the Moon (אֲבָל כְּבָר הֻכְנָה הֲכָנָה בְּסוֹד מִעוּט הַיָּרֵחַ), that if man should sin (שֶׁאִם יֶחֱטָא הָאָדָם), the Sitra Achra would strengthen and go beyond her boundary (הִנֵּה תִּתְגַּבֵּר הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא וְתַעֲבֹר גְּבוּלָהּ).

And what at first was only the end of Malchut of Asiyah p1-70(וּמַה שֶּׁבַּתְּחִלָּה לֹא הָיְתָה אֶלָּא בְּסוֹף מַלְכוּת דְּעַשִּׂיָּה), and only drew from there (וְרַק מִשָּׁם הָיְתָה יוֹנֶקֶת), could now spread against the secret of all 613 limbs (תּוּכַל עַכְשָׁו לְהִתְפַּשֵּׁט כְּנֶגֶד סוֹד כָּל תַּרְי״ג אֵבָרִים), which are the totality of the image of man (שֶׁהֵם כְּלָלוּת דְּמוּת אָדָם), and draw from all of them (וְלִינָק מִכֻּלָּם).

And truly, when Adam sinned, immediately permission was granted to the Sitra Achra to spread (וּבֶאֱמֶת, כַּאֲשֶׁר חָטָא אָדָם, מִיָּד נִתַּן רְשׁוּת לַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא לְהִתְפַּשֵּׁט), and from every Sefirah she demands to draw (וּמִכָּל סְפִירָה תּוֹבַע יְנִיקָה). And the secret of the matter is that the soul of Adam was the totality of all soulsp1-71 (וְסוֹד הָעִנְיָן, כִּי נִשְׁמַת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיְתָה כְּלָלוּת כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת), and all the souls were included in Adam HaRishon (וְכָל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת הָיוּ כְּלוּלוֹת בּוֹ). Therefore, in his sin, permission was granted to the Sitra achra to spread and rest over his entirety (וְעַל כֵּן, בְּחֶטְאוֹ נִתַּן רְשׁוּת לַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא לְהִתְפַּשֵּׁט וּלְשָׁרוֹת עַל כֻּלּוֹ), and then all the souls that were included in him were given into the domain of the Sitra achra (וְאָז, כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת שֶׁהָיוּ גַּם כֵּן כְּלוּלוֹת בּוֹ, נִתְּנוּ תַּחַת רְשׁוּת הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא).

Then death was decreed on all of them, which is to separate this evil that had clung to them due to the Sitra Achra that rules over them (וְאָז נִגְזְרָה מִיתָה עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁהִיא לְהַפְרִיד הָרַע הַזֶּה הַנִּדְבָּק בָּהֶם, מִפְּנֵי הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא הַשּׁוֹלֶטֶת עֲלֵיהֶם). And this is the secret of (Shabbat 55a) “There is no death without sin” (וְהוּא סוֹד: אֵין מִיתָה בְּלֹא חֵטְא). For “sin” means blemish, and this is the blemish they all received through his sin (כִּי "חֵטְא" רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר פְּגָם, וְזֶהוּ בְּחִינַת הַפְּגָם שֶׁנִּפְגְּמוּ כֻּלָּם בְּחֵטְאוֹ). Then the Sitra Achra was given permission to demand flow from every level of Holiness which was the root of those souls (וְאָז נִתַּן רְשׁוּת לַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא לִתְבּוֹעַ יְנִיקָה מִכָּל מַדְרֵגוֹת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהֵן שֹׁרֶשׁ לַנְּשָׁמוֹת הָהֵן), for it was decreed upon her to draw from the places that are blemished by the evil deeds of their descendants (כִּי כֵּן הֻחַק לָהּ לִינָק מִן הַמְּקוֹמוֹת הַנִּפְגָּמִים עַל יְדֵי מַעֲשֵׂה תּוֹלְדוֹתֵיהֶם הָרָעִים).

And therefore, afterwards the Torah with its 613 mitzvot was required, to rectify all the levels of the partzuf of man (וּמִפְּנֵי זֶה הָיָה אַחַר כָּךְ צֹרֶךְ לַתּוֹרָה בִּתְרַי״ג מִצְוֹתֶיהָ, לְתַקֵּן אֶת כָּל הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת שֶׁל פַּרְצוּף אָדָם), whereas initially only seven mitzvot would have sufficed (מַה שֶּׁבַּתְּחִלָּה לֹא הָיָה צָרִיךְ אֶלָּא שֶׁבַע מִצְוֺת לְבַד). And even the necessary Tikkun could not be revealed immediately, as I will explain to you (וְגַם שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ הַתִּקּוּן הַצָּרִיךְ לֹא נִתְגַּלָּה מִיָּד כְּמוֹ שֶׁאֲבָאֵר לְךָ).

And behold, when the Sitra Achra strengthened and spread, so did she spread over the entire world (וְהִנֵּה בְּהִתְחַזֵּק הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא וְהִתְפַּשְּׁטָה, כָּךְ נִתְפַּשְּׁטָה עַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ), and the world became defiled (וְנִטְמָא הָעוֹלָם), except for the Land of Israel, over which she did not rule (חוּץ מֵאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא שָׁלְטָה עָלֶיהָ). And this matter is the eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (וְעִנְיָן זֶה הוּא אֲכִילַת עֵץ הַדַּעַת טוֹב וָרָע), for it is the place where evil can overpower good (כִּי הוּא הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ כֹּחַ לְרַע לְהִתְגַּבֵּר עַל הַטּוֹב), in the secret of the Diminution of the Moon, as above (בְּסוֹד מִעוּט הַיָּרֵחַ כְּנַ״ל), and this is the blemish that Adam haRishon caused (וְזֶהוּ הַפְּגָם שֶׁפָּגַם אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן).

Notes

  1. The place of the Sitra Achra is in the Malchut of Asiyah (מְקוֹם הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא בְּמַלְכוּת דְּעֲשִׂיָּה). And this is through the clarification and gradation performed in them (וְזֶה עַל יְדֵי הַבֵּרוּר וְהַהַדְרָגָה שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּהֶם), for at first, although the Kelim were broken, as mentioned above (כִּי בַּתְּחִלָּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁנִּשְׁבְּרוּ הַכֵּלִים כַּנַּ״ל), behold, everything was only within the Sefirot, and the separated entities had not yet emerged (הִנֵּה הַכֹּל הָיָה רַק בַּסְּפִירוֹת, וְלֹא יָצְאוּ עֲדַיִן הַנִּפְרָדִים). That is, what we say about the appearance of evil — it was not the evil itself, which is the Sitra Achra (פֵּרוּשׁ – מַה שֶּׁאָנוּ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁהָיָה הָרַע מִתְגַלֶּה – אֵינוֹ הָרַע עַצְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא), but rather the roots of evil: the judgment and all the forms of defect found in the lights themselves (אֶלָּא שָׁרְשֵׁי הָרַע, שֶׁהֵם הַדִּינִים וְכָל עִנְיְנֵי הַפְּגָמִים הַנִּמְצָאִים בָּאוֹרוֹת עַצְמָם). But the evil itself did not emerge until afterward, after the Tikkun (אֲבָל הָרַע עַצְמוֹ לֹא יָצָא אֶלָּא אַחַר כָּךְ, אַחַר הַתִּקּוּן), that is, once all the levels were structured in their proper repaired form (דְּהַיְנוּ אַחַר שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ כָּל הַמַּדְרֵגוֹת לְפִי תִּקּוּנָם), which were then set as laws of governance (שֶׁהוּקְבְּעוּ לִהְיוֹת חֻקִּים בַּהַנְהָגָה), at which point the separated entities were brought forth, and the Sitra Achra emerged (שֶׁאָז הוֹצִיאוּ אַחַר כָּךְ הַנִּפְרָדִים, וְיָצְאָה הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא), according to the roots revealed to her during the Shevirat haKelim (לְפִי הַשָּׁרָשִׁים הָהֵם שֶׁנִּגְלוּ לָהּ בִּשְׁבִירַת הַכֵּלִים). And this is the gradation previously mentioned — each level withdrew from that process (וּבָזֶה הָעִנְיָן הָיְתָה הַהַדְרָגָה שֶׁזָּכַרְנוּ לְמַעְלָה – שֶׁכָּל מַדְרֵגָה הָיְתָה מְסַלֶּקֶת עַצְמָהּ מִזֶּה), until only the lowest level of Malchut of Asiyah remained to bring forth the evil (וְנִשְׁאֶרָה רַק מַדְרֵגָה הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה שֶׁבְּמַלְכוּת דְּעֲשִׂיָּה מוֹצִיאָה הָרַע), and she brought it out completely, in accordance with all the roots that she possessed from the Sefirot (וְהִיא הוֹצִיאָה אוֹתוֹ מַמָּשׁ לְפִי כָּל הַשָּׁרָשִׁים שֶׁיֵּשׁ לָהּ מִכָּל הַסְּפִירוֹת), for that Malchut includes all those roots and brought them into actuality — and this is the Sitra Achra itself (שֶׁהֲרֵי מַלְכוּת זוֹ כּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל אוֹתָם הַשָּׁרָשִׁים, וְהוֹצִיאָה עִנְיָנָם אֶל הַפֹּעַל, וְהַיְנוּ הַסִּטְרָא אָחֳרָא מַמָּשׁ). And see Adir BaMarom, p. 313 (וּרְאֵה אַדִּיר בַּמָּרוֹם ע׳ שיג): Know that in truth, this entire [Tree of the Other Side] emerged only from the final Sefirah within holiness (וְתֵדַע שֶׁבֶּאֱמֶת כָּל זֶה הָאִילָן לֹא יָצָא אֶלָּא מִסְּפִירָה אַחֲרוֹנָה שֶׁבַּקְּדֻשָּׁה), yet it contains many branches just as the holy Tree does (אֶלָּא שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ כָּל כָּךְ חֲלָקִים כְּמוֹ בָּאִילָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ). Therefore, it too has within it A"B"Y"A (וְעַל כֵּן הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ יֵשׁ בּוֹ אבי״ע)... And behold, the final portion of Malchut of Asiyah is enclothed within it (הִנֵּה הַחֵלֶק הָאַחֲרוֹן מִמַלְכוּת דְּעֲשִׂיָּה מְלוּבָּשׁ בּוֹ), to hold it under the rulership of holiness (לְהַחֲזִיקָהּ תַּחַת מֶמְשֶׁלֶת הַקְּדֻשָּׁה), in the mystery of “His kingdom rules over all” (Tehillim 103:19) (בְּסוֹד ‘וּמַלְכוּתוֹ בַּכֹּל מָשָׁל’). Understand this matter exceedingly well (וְהָבֵן מְאֹד מְאֹד זֶה הָעִנְיָן), for it is not possible to fully elaborate on these matters (כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהַרְחִיב הַדִּבּוּר כָּךְ בְּדְבָרִים אֵלּוּ).

  2. As explained in Sha‘ar haGilgulim, Introduction 1 (רְאֵה שַׁעַר הַגִּלְגּוּלִים, הַקְדָּמָה א׳): He further explained to me the matter of the 613 limbs in the following manner (עוֹד בֵּיאֵר לִי עִנְיַן הַתַּרְיַ״ג אֵיבָרִים בְּאֹפֶן זֶה): Know that all souls were included in Adam haRishon (דַּע, כִּי כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת כְּלוּלוֹת בְּאָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן), and within him they were divided into many roots (וּבוֹ נֶחְלָקִים לְשָׁרָשִׁים רַבִּים). And this is how it is: at first they divide into the three Patriarchs (וְזֶה עִנְיָנָם, בַּתְּחִלָּה הֵם נֶחְלָקִים לִג׳ אָבוֹת), then into the twelve tribes (וְאַחַר כָּךְ לִי״ב שְׁבָטִים), and then into seventy souls (וְאַחַר כָּךְ לְע״ש נֶפֶשׁ), and from there further divisions occur (וְאַחַר כָּךְ מִתְחַלְּקִים עוֹד), until they reach 600,000 small roots (עַד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא שָׁרָשִׁים קְטַנִּים), and from them the soul of Adam haRishon was composed (וּמֵהֶם נִכְלֶלֶת נְשָׁמַת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן). Now the right shoulder of Adam haRishon divides similarly according to the general structure (וְהִנֵּה הַכָּתֵף הַיְמָנִי שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן מִתְחַלֵּק פְּרָטָיו עַל דֶּרֶךְ פְּרָטֵי הַכְּלָל הַנִּזְכָּר), first into the three Patriarchs, then twelve tribes, then seventy souls (כִּי תְּחִלָּה נֶחְלָק לִשְׁלוֹשָׁה אָבוֹת וְאַחַר כָּךְ לִי״ב שְׁבָטִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ לְע״ש נֶפֶשׁ), and all these form seventy minor roots therein (וְכָל אֵלֶּה הֵם בְּחִינַת ע״ש שָׁרָשִׁים קְטַנִּים שֶׁבּוֹ), and they are all still only one minor root from the great roots of Adam haRishon (וְכוּלָּם אֵינָם אֶלָּא שֹׁרֶשׁ אֶחָד פְּרָטִי מִשָּׁרָשִׁים גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן). Altogether there are seventy such minor roots forming one Partzuf of a single Adam (וְאֵין בּוֹ רַק ע״ש שָׁרָשִׁים קְטַנִּים, וְכוּלָּם יַחַד הֵם פַּרְצוּף אָדָם אֶחָד), and afterward these seventy roots divide into 600,000 soul-sparks (וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֵלּוּ הָע״ש שָׁרָשִׁים מִתְחַלְּקִים עַד שִׁשִּׁים רִבּוֹא נִצּוֹצוֹת נְשָׁמוֹת), and these are no longer called roots but sparks (וְאֵינָם נִקְרָאִים שָׁרָשִׁים אֶלָּא נִצּוֹצוֹת). And see Emek haMelekh, Sha‘ar 5, Chapter 32 (וּרְאֵה עֵמֶק הַמֶּלֶךְ, שַׁעַר ה׳, פֶּרֶק ל״ב): And know that Z’eir is Adam haRishon (וְרָ״ע, שֶׁזְּעֵיר הוּא אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן), and Chanoch is from his navel downward, namely Tiferet of Ze’ir (וְחֲנוֹךְ הוּא מִטַּבּוּרוֹ וּלְמַטָּה – דְּהַיְינוּ תִּפְאֶרֶת שֶׁל זְעֵיר), for Adam haRishon includes all the souls of Israel (כִּי אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן כּוֹלֵל כָּל נְשָׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל), as the sages said on the verse “Where were you when I founded the earth?” (Job 38:4) — this was hung from his hair (כְּאָמְרָם ז״ל עַל פָּסוּק ‘אֵיפֹה הָיִיתָ בְּיָסְדִי אָרֶץ’ [אִיּוֹב ל״ח ד׳] – דָּן זֶה הָיָה תָּלוּי בִּשְׂעָרוֹ…). And he is a spiritual light that includes all the light of Israel’s souls within him (וְהוּא אוֹר רוּחָנִי הַכּוֹלֵל כָּל אוֹר נִשְׁמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלָיו). And just as Ze’ir Anpin is seven Sefirot from Chesed and below, with Tiferet at the center (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁזְּעֵיר הוּא ז׳ סְפִירוֹת מֵחֶסֶד וּלְמַטָּה, וְהָעִיקָּר הוּא תִּפְאֶרֶת), so too Adam haRishon is Ze’ir, and Chanoch is Tiferet (כֵּן אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן הוּא זְּעֵיר, וְהֶחָנוֹךְ הוּא תִּפְאֶרֶת), and as Tiferet includes the arms and legs, so too Chanoch — that is, Metatron — includes all seven (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהַתִּפְאֶרֶת כּוֹלֵל הַזְּרֹעוֹת וְהָרְגָלִים, כֵּן חֲנוֹךְ – דְּהַיְינוּ מֶטָּטְרוֹן – כּוֹלֵל גַּם הוּא כָּל הַשִּׁבְעָה), and therefore he is called the Sar haPanim (וְלָכֵן נִקְרָא שַׂר הַפָּנִים). And see Derekh Etz Chayim (וּרְאֵה דֶּרֶךְ עֵץ חַיִּים): So it is in this matter — for since the beginning of the corruption came through Adam, it is impossible for angels to repair what man ruined (כֵּן הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה – כִּי כֵּיוָן שֶׁתְּחִלַּת הַקִּלְקוּל הָיָה עַל יְדֵי אָדָם, לְכָךְ אִי אֶפְשָׁר לַמַּלְאָכִים שֶׁיְּתַקְּנוּ הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה מַה שֶּׁקִּלְקֵל הָאָדָם). And you already know that all souls were included in the soul of Adam haRishon (וְכְבָר יָדַעְתָּ שֶׁכָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת כֻּלָּן הָיוּ כְּלוּלוֹת בְּנִשְׁמַת אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן), and when Adam sinned, he damaged his own soul and all the souls within it (וּכְשֶׁחָטָא אָדָם, פָּגַם אֶת נַפְשׁוֹ וְנִפְגְּמוּ כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת כֻּלָּן), and therefore the repair was given specifically to Israel, to rectify what they themselves damaged (לְכָךְ נִתְּנָה הַתִּקּוּן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל דַּוְקָא – שֶׁיְּתַקְּנוּ מַה שֶּׁקִּלְקְלוּ).