Introduction to Sulam Commentary

The Rectification of Lines in the Seven Lower Ones and in Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna 27. Therefore, the first rectification required for the seven lower sefirot is to initially bring down the judgments in the Malkhut that mingled with the sefirot, that is, simply to extend illumination from Ḥokhma and Bina of Adam Kadmon, which brings down the Malkhut from Bina and returns it to its place (as stated in section 18 above).42The yearning of the lower sefirot for the light of Ḥokhma triggers the process of rectification that ultimately leads to their receiving the illumination of Ḥokhma. The yearning from below activates the levels of Ḥokhma and Bina of Adam Kadmon, which shine their light down into the levels that are constricted by the second constriction. This illumination, in a series of stages described further in later sections, removes Malkhut from Bina and returns it to its place. This allows the sefirot that were dislocated to the lower levels to return to their original place. Because of their relationship with that lower level, however, they retain a certain distance from their original level, represented by them operating now as the “left side” of the level. Then the three vessels of Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut return to the sefira and become the left line, while Keter and Ḥokhma, which remained there, become the right line. Since the level has been made whole by having the five vessels, Keter, Ḥokhma, Bina, Tiferet, and Malkhut, all five lights, nefesh, ruaḥ, neshama, ḥaya, and yeḥida, return to it (as explained there), and the light of Ḥokhma returns to the level. The middle line can then unite the two lines with each other and complete the level with all its rectifications.