Introduction to Sulam Commentary

87. We must now explain how the other partzufim of Atzilut emerged, those which are below Atik.271As discussed frequently in the preceding sections, this is the first partzuf of the world of Atzilut.

The idea is that initially, after the breaking of the vessels,272This is a process that takes place in the level of Nekudim, ultimately leading to the formation of the partzufim of Atzilut. the partition of Nekudim ascended to the head of Sag. That is, it was purified from all levels of opacity that emerged from it as the five partzufim,273This refers to the five partzufim of Nekudim that had already emerged from the opacity of the partition of Nekudim. Now that partition, having been purified of its opacity through the formation of the partzufim and the beating of the surrounding light against the partition in the standard process of partzufim formation discussed previously, ascends to the head of Sag of Adam Kadmon. As usual, this ascent is the result of an equating of form, in which the partition of Nekudim is now spiritually identical to the partition of the head of Sag. until it was equated with the partition of the head of Sag. Nevertheless, the remnants of the opacity of the five partzufim that emerged from the partition remained in the partition, apart from the last level, which was lost, as has been explained in connection with all the partzufim.274When partitions are purified and then ascend to the partition of the head, where their opacity is “reawakened,” the last level remains permanently eroded. This was discussed in the extensive processes of partzuf formation detailed in the earlier sections of this work, sections 63–65. Therefore, when the partition of Nekudim was incorporated in the fusion through collision of the partition of the head of Sag, the opacity of all five partzufim was renewed in the partition of Nekudim, and then a fusion through collision took place upon the opacity in the partition.

However, not all levels of the opacity were included in the fusion through collision, but only the partition's uppermost level, which is the opacity of the forehead that was attached to the fourth level275As explained in the previous section, the fourth level of the sefirot, Malkhut, is now present in this context as a result of the second constriction. This presence gives rise to the capacity for fusion through collision against this partition. and by means of the three phases, gestation, infancy and brains, the partzuf’s ten sefirot were completed at the height of Keter.276As usual, given that the opacity in the partition is that of the fourth level (the “most dense” level of opacity), the partition generates returning light of the height of Keter, and a partzuf of that height. The other remnants, from the rest of the partzufim of Nekudim that were in the partition, did not receive anything from this fusion through collision in the head of Sag, since they were below the level of Keter, and are thus considered immaterial in relation to its worth.277The lower levels of opacity are inconsequential in comparison to the fourth level and are not manifest in the fusion through collision as a result. Consequently, when Atik emerged from the head of Sag, all the remnants from the rest of the partzufim, which were not incorporated in its fusion through collision, descended with it. After Atik was completed through the gestation, infancy and brains of the face, the supernal light illuminated upon the upper level of the remnants that remained in the partition, which is the opacity of the third level.278Now that the fourth level of opacity has been activated and manifest as the partzuf of Atik, the third level of opacity is the “most dense” level present. Through the three phases of gestation, infancy and brains, ten sefirot of the height of Ḥokhma emerged, and this is the partzuf of Arikh Anpin.279As discussed, this is the second partzuf of the world of Atzilut, corresponding to the level of Ḥokhma in the sefirot. This height emerges from a partition in which the opacity of the third level interacts with supernal light in a fusion through collision.

Here too, all the remnants of opacity that are less opaque than the opacity of the third level are considered immaterial in relation to the value of the fusion through collision of the third level, which emerged in the head of Atik.280As above, in order for a new partzuf to emerge, the partition of the previous level of opacity must be purified of its opacity at which time it ascends back to the head of the partzuf. There, the remnants of opacity are “reawakened,” except for the level that gave rise to the preceding partzuf, as that level has been permanently purified. Thus, the phrase “emerged in the head of Atik” refers to the phase of the process in which the new partzuf emerges from the partition as a result of the fusion through collision in the head of the preceding partzuf (Atik in this case). Therefore, when Arikh Anpin was born and left from the head of Atik to its place, all those remnants were drawn with it to its place. After Arikh Anpin was completed through all three phases, gestation, infancy and brains, the supernal light illuminated upon the uppermost level that remained in those remnants, which is the opacity of the second level. Then, by means of the three aspects of gestation, infancy and brains, ten sefirot of the height of Bina emerged upon it, and these are the partzuf of Abba and Imma.281This is the term for the partzuf of Atzilut corresponding to the level of Bina. The rest of the partzufim emerged in the same manner. It has now been explained how the partzufim of Atzilut emerged from one another.