We\u2019d taken a long Pesach break so let\u2019s review.<\/p>\n
We\u2019d begun to delve into the very esoteric Petach<\/em> 16 which cites the fact that the Sephirot<\/em> express two sorts of \u201cforward\u201d and \u201cbackward\u201d light. Firstly, after the descent grade by grade from Keter<\/em> to Malchut<\/em>, Malchut<\/em> then turns backward to become Keter<\/em>, and so on in the same way until Keter<\/em> becomes Malchut<\/em>.<\/p>\n That\u2019s to say, Sephira<\/em> #1 (Keter<\/em>) emanates from Starting Point A in the spherical Empty Space created by the Tzimtzum<\/em> (to be explained later). Sephira<\/em> #1 then irradiates downward through the spherical Empty Space (which is obviously no longer empty) to produce (spherical) Lights #2, 3, 4, (Chochma<\/em>, Binah<\/em>, Chessed<\/em>, etc.) until it reaches End Point A of the spherical Empty Space, where it produces Light #10 (Malchut<\/em>). Then the whole thing repeats itself in reverse<\/em>.<\/p>\n Light # 10 (Malchut<\/em>) starts ricocheting back from new Starting Point B (i.e., the old End Point A) in the spherical Empty Space so that Light #10 (Malchut<\/em>) now functions as a new Light #1 (Keter<\/em>) until it becomes a new Light #10 (Malchut<\/em>) at new End Point B (i.e., the old Starting Point A). Then the whole process repeats itself.<\/p>\n Now, the often-cited source for this schema is Eitz Chaim<\/em> 6:15, but as R\u2019 Shalom Sharabi points out in his note there (in Shemesh<\/em>), its actual source is Ramak\u2019s Pardes Rimonim<\/em> 15:4. But the latter in fact draws upon Sefer Bahir<\/em> 171, so we\u2019ll cite from the it and see how Ramak explains it, then we\u2019ll delve into Ari\u2019s analysis and wind up seeing what Ramchal says about it in his comments to this Petach<\/em> and in his Biurim<\/em> l\u2019Sefer<\/em> Otzrot<\/em> Chaim<\/em> (36).<\/p>\n (c) 2011 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":" We\u2019d taken a long Pesach break so let\u2019s review. We\u2019d begun to delve into the very esoteric Petach 16 which cites the fact that the Sephirot express two sorts of \u201cforward\u201d and \u201cbackward\u201d light. Firstly, after the descent grade by … Continue reading