Petach 17

יש ספירה ויש פרצוף. ספירה הוא כח מן העשר כחות בכלל, שהוא המוסד שעליו נבנה כל בנין הפרטיות התלוי בו. אך פרצוף הוא שלמות כל הכח ההוא בפרט, נראה מפורש בסוד דמות אדם. ועיקרו בסוד התרי”ג, שהוא כל בנין האדם:

There are Sephirot (to be considered) and Partzufim. A Sephira is one of the ten generic forces that serve as the foundation upon which the entire structure of particulars that depend on it is built. But a Partzuf is the full, detailed expression of each force which is explicitly “envisioned” in the mystical form of a man, and is comprised at bottom of the mystical 613 (elements) that constitute the full structure of Adam (Kadmon).

And here are the ancillary themes listed in Ramchal’s comments: the difference between Ramak’s and Ari’s Kabbalistic systems, the difference roles played by Sephira and Partzuf in governance, the reason behind the use of the term Partzuf (“face”) in particular, and the significance of the number 613.

(c) 2011 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman

Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org

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