Introduction to Sulam Commentary

The Division of Each Level into Two Halves 16. It is known that Malkhut arrests the light of each sefira and every level. In other words, Malkhut arrests the light in the level from spreading into Malkhut itself. This arresting force derives from the force of the constriction that was placed on Malkhut, so that it cannot receive the supernal light. Therefore, the light of the level is drawn forth only up until Malkhut. When the light reaches the partition that is upon Malkhut it is arrested, at which point a fusion through collision occurs with the light on the partition that is on Malkhut (as explained in Petiḥa LeḤokhmat HaKabbala, section 14).

Consequently, since the Malkhut of the level ascended to the Bina in that same level, the Malkhut arrested the light in the place to which it ascended, that is, in the middle of Bina.25This ascent of Malkhut to Bina is referred to as the second constriction, and is referred to in Petiḥa LeḤokhmat HaKabbala, sections 57 – 58. The half of Bina, and Tiferet and Malkhut, which are situated under the terminating Malkhut, which is now situated in Bina, left their original level and became a separate, second level under Malkhut. Thus, on account of the ascent of Malkhut to Bina, each level has been divided in half, so that Keter, Ḥokhma, and half of Bina, which are above Malkhut, remained in the level, while half of Bina, Tiferet (which contains Ḥesed, Gevura, Tiferet, Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod), and Malkhut left the level and became the level below it. This blockage performed by Malkhut in the middle of Bina is called a diaphragm. Keep this in mind.