Some of the things we\u2019d need to made clear here that touch upon the worlds of Atzilut<\/i>, Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah, and Assiyah<\/i> which is the subject at hand is the sequence from the World of Tohu <\/i>(i.e., chaos) [1], to the World of Tikkun<\/i> (i.e., rectification), to the eventual final Tikkun.<\/i><\/p>\n
The Bahir <\/i>(2) asks what the Torah meant when it said that \u201cThe world was Tohu<\/i> and Bohu<\/i>\u201d (Genesis 1:2) [2] at creation, seeming to imply that it had already been so? It explains that to mean that in fact \u201cthe world was originally (in a state of) Tohu<\/i> until it turned to (one of) Bohu<\/i>\u201d referring to the initial Tohu<\/i> phenomenon of the Breaking of the Vessels which was then followed by the initial Tikkun<\/i>.\u00a0 Let\u2019s trace this.<\/p>\n
As we\u2019d explained here<\/a>, there was a shattering of the last seven of the original ten vessels which couldn\u2019t endure the breaking-through of the effulgent light (see Eitz<\/i> Chaim<\/i> 8:1) [3]. That was the World of Tohu<\/i>, exemplified by the chaotic upsetting of the design of things.<\/p>\n That chaos was largely rectified by God Himself, with the act of the creation of this world, when a balanced triad system of left, right, and center poles within Partzuf<\/i>-complexes collaborated with each other, and corrected and compensated for each other [4]. What was rectified there, though, was nearly undone by the actions associated with the eating from the Tree of Knowledge (and later on by actions associated with the Golden Calf), but the ultimate and utter rectification will come about when humankind does what it must do to bring that about [5].<\/p>\n Notes:<\/p>\n [1] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is also known as the World of Nikkudim<\/i>, which is the subject of this section.<\/p>\n [2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I.e., \u201cchaotic then defined\u201d according to the Bahir<\/i>, though the expression is usually translated as \u201cformless and empty\u201d.<\/p>\n [3] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This was likewise termed \u201cThe Death of the Kings of Edom\u201d (see here<\/a>; see Otzrot<\/i> Chaim<\/i>, Sha\u2019ar<\/i> Rapach<\/i> Netzutzin<\/i> 1).<\/p>\n [4] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See here<\/a>. Also see Pardes<\/i> 4:6, Tikkunei<\/i> Zohar<\/i> p. 17a, Eitz Chaim<\/i> from Gate 8 onward, and the rest of Klach Pitchei Chochma<\/i>.<\/p>\n [5] \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See here<\/a>.<\/p>\n (c) 2012 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman ———————————————————-<\/p>\n AT LONG LAST! Rabbi Feldman’s translation of Maimonides’ “Eight Chapters” is available here<\/a> at a discount.<\/p>\n You can still purchase a copy of Rabbi Feldman’s translation of “The Gates of Repentance” here<\/a> at a discount as well.<\/p>\n Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has also translated and commented upon “The Path of the Just” and “The Duties of the Heart” (Jason Aronson Publishers).<\/p>\n Rabbi Feldman also offers two free e-mail classes on www.torah.org entitled “Spiritual Excellence<\/a>\u201d and \u201cRamchal<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some of the things we\u2019d need to made clear here that touch upon the worlds of Atzilut, Briah, Yetzirah, and Assiyah which is the subject at hand is the sequence from the World of Tohu (i.e., chaos) [1], to the … Continue reading
\nFeel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n