In order to understand Petach<\/i> 67 we\u2019d need to know the following. Erich Anpin<\/i> is the source of everything under discussion here. And so in order for there to be vessels below, they need to be rooted in Erich Anpin<\/i> — in its lowest triad, that is: it\u2019s Netzach<\/i>, Hod<\/i>, and Yesod<\/i> combination, which is termed Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>\u2019s \u201clegs\u201d. So, those \u201clegs\u201d need to descend below (to the worlds of Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah<\/i>, and Assiyah<\/i>) in order to allow for Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>\u2019s lights to enter into them, and to maintain those vessels [1].<\/p>\n
When the vessels need to ascend<\/i>, though, to Atzilut<\/i> in the Tikkun process, they do that through Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>\u2019s \u201clegs\u201d, too. And they go from the lower triad of Netzach<\/i>, Hod<\/i>, and Yesod <\/i>up to the next higher one of Chessed<\/i>, Gevurah<\/i>, and Tipheret<\/i>, which then allows for an even greater degree of Tikkun<\/i> [1]. As such, this initial descent or \u201cfolding-over\u201d of Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>\u2019s \u201clegs\u201d is the very first phenomenon to allow the broken vessels to ascend and experience Tikkun<\/i> [2]. (And those \u201clegs\u201d serve as the gateway that connects all.)<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Petach<\/i> 67 itself with our interpolations.<\/p>\n
It was the \u201cfolding-over\u201d of Erich Anpin<\/i>\u2019s \u201clegs\u201d<\/b>, i.e., its Netzach<\/i>, Hod<\/i>, and Yesod<\/i> elements, that was the first <\/b>thing that granted the ability to the broken vessels<\/b> to ascend<\/b> from Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah<\/i>, and Assiyah<\/i> to Atzilut<\/i>, and that enabled all their subsequent ascents. <\/b><\/p>\n
In truth, the vessels depended on those \u201clegs\u201d, and were initially sustained by them below<\/b>, i.e., in Briah<\/i>, Yetzirah<\/i>, and Assiyah<\/i>. So, when the \u201clegs\u201d were \u201cfolded-over\u201d the vessels <\/b>also had the ability to return upward. <\/b><\/p>\n
It\u2019s in this sense that Erich Anpin<\/i> is the source of everything, and that they<\/b>, i.e., the \u201clegs\u201d, which<\/b> were the part of Erich Anpin,<\/i> could serve as the source of the vessels when they descended. In fact<\/b>, as a result of the \u201cfolding-over of the <\/b>legs\u201d, Chessed<\/i><\/b>, Gevurah<\/i>, and Tipheret<\/i> <\/b>of Erich Anpin<\/i> also served as their source when the Tikkun<\/i> became <\/b>even greater.<\/b><\/p>\n
Notes:<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b>[1]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>The word used to describe the function of Erich<\/i> Anpin<\/i>\u2019s \u201clegs\u201d is k\u2019ful<\/i> in Hebrew. The term either translates as \u201cdouble (-functioning)\u201d, or \u201cfolded\u201d. We chose to translate it \u201cfolding-over\u201d to express the twofold nature of the phenomenon, and to depict the sort of physical shifting the triad would have to go through to allow for both decent and ascent.<\/p>\n
[2]\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 See Klallot HaIlan<\/i> 4:1. While this seems to be derived from Eitz Chaim<\/i> 17:2, it\u2019s more likely derived from R\u2019\u00a0 Sarug\u2019s Derushei Olam HaMalbush <\/i>(as explicated in Tal Orot<\/i> 1:8-9) because of the discrepancy between the place of the world of Briah<\/i> versus Atzilut<\/i> in the process.<\/p>\n
(c) 2014 Rabbi Yaakov Feldman<\/p>\n
Feel free to contact me at feldman@torah.org<\/a><\/p>\n ———————————————————-<\/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":" In order to understand Petach 67 we\u2019d need to know the following. Erich Anpin is the source of everything under discussion here. And so in order for there to be vessels below, they need to be rooted in Erich Anpin … Continue reading