זה החומר הכללי היה לו ליחלק לפרטיו, ואז ראשית הכל היה המונח הכללי, ונקרא אצילות עם שלושה לבושיו. ואחר כך היה מגיע שליטה לכל לבוש בפני עצמו, והיו נקראים שלוש עולמו בי”ע. כי האצילות מתוקן בתיקוניו הוא שורש הכל. ובי”ע – מוציאי תולדות האצילות, כל אחד מוציא תולדה בפני עצמו הראוי לו. וכולם אינם אלא תולדות מה שיש באצילות כבר:
This all-encompassing mass, i.e., the world of Nikkudim, had to be divided up into its component parts of Atzilut, Briah, Yetzirah, and Assiyah, and then there initially came to be the basic foundation which is called Atzilut with its three garments. Afterwards, control was passed to each garment unto itself, which were then called the worlds of Briah, Yetzirah and Assiyah.
For Atzilut when fully repaired is the root of everything, while Briah, Yetzirah and Assiyah serve to bring forth the offshoots of Atzilut. Each one, i.e. Atzilut, Briah, Yetzirah, and Assiyah, eventually brings forth its own distinct offshoot, but they’re all merely offshoots of what already existed in Atzilut.
(c) 2012 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org
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Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).
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