The Lock and the Key
41. Rabbi Chiya and Rabbi Yosi were walking along the road. As they reached a field, Rabbi Chiya said to Rabbi Yosi, The words BARAH SHEET (created six) certainly allude to the word BERESHEET because the supernal 6 days, i.e., VAKdeBina, shine on the Torah (which is ZA),while the others, i.e., GARdeBina, are concealed.
ZA of the world of Atzilut is called the Torah. The 6 supernal days are VAKdeBina that are located above ZA. Hence, the first word of the Torah, BERESHEET = BARAH (created) and SHEET (six) indicates that the SefiraBina turns to the SefiraHochma with the purpose of receiving OhrHochma and passing it ZA. Since ZA is unable to receive all of the OhrHochma (GARdeHochma, the Light of 10 Sefirot) from Bina, but only VAK de Hochma (the Light of 6 Sefirot), this is stressed in the word BARAHSHEET – CREATED SIX. This means that ZA receives from Bina only the Light of 6 SefirotH-G-T-N-H-Y or VAKdeHochma, whereas GARdeHochma, the Light of the SefirotK-H-B, is concealed from it.
The reason for this is that although the PartzufAtik belongs to Tzimtzum Aleph (the 1st restriction), it is obliged to shine down on all the rest of the Partzufim of the world of Atzilut and on all the worlds of BYA with the Light of Tzimtzum Bet. Therefore, with regards to the lower Partzufim, it appears as a Partzuf belonging to Tzimtzum Bet. In other words, it deliberately imposed on itself an outward (with regards to others) restriction to enable the lower Partzufim to receive from it. It raised Malchut from the Peh to the Eynaim and made a Zivug on the screen that stands in Nikvey Eynaim, and produced the PartzufAA.
That is why AA is the Partzuf with the properties of the 2nd restriction and acts as Keter of the entire world of Atzilut instead of Atik. This was designed so by PartzufAtik itself. These Partzufim split into two parts: while GE remained in Atik, the AHP became a part of the second Partzuf, AA. Since Malchut rose to NE (Nikvey Eynaim), the PartzufAA remained without Malchut and the SefiraAteret Yesod is used in the Partzuf instead of it. Malchut is concealed in NE of the PartzufAtik. GEdeAtik are concealed from the lower Partzufim, Malchut stands in NE of the RoshdeAtik. AHPdeAtik are GEdeAA and the Ateret Yesod is MalchutdeAA.
In likeness to these Partzufim, all the subsequent Partzufim of the world of Atzilut emerged. In other words, they all split into two parts, GE and AHP. The PartzufBina was divided into two Partzufim: GEdeBina formed the PartzufAVI and the PartzufYESHSUT, which remained without Malchut.
The same applies to ZON: GE formed the big ZON and AHP formed the small ZON. Malchut remained in NE of the big ZON while the small ZON have only 9 Sefirot without Malchut, which is replaced in them by Ateret Yesod as in the PartzufAtik. That is to say, as Keter = Atik split into 2 parts: GAR = Atik and ZAT = AA, so was Bina divided into GAR = AVI and ZAT = YESHSUT. ZON were divided into GAR = the big ZON and ZAT = the small ZON: Malchut remained in GAR and Ateret Yesod replaced it in ZAT.
As a result of this, the upper part of each level remains as concealed as the PartzufAtik, because Malchut does not descend to its previous place in the Peh from that place (NE) where it rose. Although AHP in the big state return to their position, or rise to their own GE, GE do not get filled with OhrHochma (the Light of GAR) as a consequence of that, because Malchut remains concealed in GE. Malchut exists under the ban of the Tzimtzum Aleph and cannot receive OhrHochma. Hence, GE remain with OhrHassadim.
Only the lower part of each level gets filled with the Light of GAR (Hochma) in the big state: there was Avir (air) = Aleph-Vav-Yud-Reish, then the letter Yud exited this word and only the letters Aleph-Vav-Reish remained to form the word Ohr (Light), OhrHochma or GAR.
From this it follows that all the Partzufim of the world of Atzilut have GE, GAR of the Kelim, the SefirotK-H-B-H-G-T with OhrHassadim, the Light of VAK. Whereas AHP, the SefirotN-H-Y, VAK of the Kelim in the big state of the Partzuf are filled with OhrHochma or the Light of GAR. GE = GARdeKelim are filled with the Light of VAK = OhrHassadim and AHP = VAKdeKelim are filled with the Light of GAR = OhrHochma. Hence, it is said that ZA in the world of Atzilut has but the Light VAK = 6 days, while GAR are concealed even in the Partzufim that are higher than ZA.
42. However, the hidden mysteries of BERESHEET say that He who is Holy and Concealed established His laws in Bina, in the hidden and in the secret, which is Malchut of the PartzufAtik. Atik is a Partzuf with Malchut of Tzimtzum Aleph, which rose up to Bina and lowered the AHP of AA below its Rosh. The same law that he established in Bina was hidden in it and locked with one key. This key is kept hidden in a hall and although everything is hidden in that hall, the most important thing is that key because it locks and unlocks everything.
HE WHO IS HOLY AND CONCEALED is AA because its Hochma is concealed. THE LAWS ARE ESTABLISHED IN IT, meaning in Malchut of Atik. The lack of the KelimdeAHP is confirmed. Malchut of Tzimtzum Aleph that is called the central point of the entire creation is the sole creation on which Tzimtzum Aleph was imposed. In contrast to it, if the screen stands not in Malchut, but in SefiraYesod or, more precisely, in Ateret Yesod, the place of the covenant (of circumcision), in the place of a Zivug that was permitted after Tzimtzum Bet, this screen allows receiving the Light; hence it is called the “point of population” and not the “central point.”
Keter
Hochma
Bina
ZAYesod
ZA – Malchut that received the properties of ZA to “bestow,” the populated place
Malchut – No Zivug can be made; the deserted place
The fact is that there is no GAR in AA because the upper Malchut of Atik, which is inside AA, is already corrected so that it is in the NE of its own Partzuf. In the big state, the screen descends from NE to the Peh, and because of that, AHP return to their position. And as a result of a Zivug on all 10 Sefirot, they receive the Light of GAR or OhrHochma. Therefore, the screen in NE is called the “lock.” It blocks the entry of GAR of the Light into the Partzuf. GAR of the Light is called OhrHochma. However, by descending from NE to the Peh, the screen lets the Light into the Partzuf; hence, it is called Nikvey Eynaim (pupils of the eyes).
Although Atik itself is in NE together with Malchut, this affects AA (not Atik itself) because AA was created by the screen which is located not in Malchut, but in Ateret Yesod (or simply in Yesod), and there is no Malchut in it. That is why it is not Malchut that rules in NEdeAA, but Ateret Yesod. Unlike the Light of Atik, its Light can be attained because Malchut in Atik is the central point which does not make a Zivug on OhrHochma. Although with regards to Atik,AA is the AHP of Atik, AA itself has its own GE and AHP.
Subsequently, AA created AVI and confirmed the absence of OhrHochma in them due to the absence of AHPdeKelim. These AHP are the HALL in which all the Light of Hochma is concealed (GARdeNeshama, GARdeHaya, and GARdeYechida). This KEY IS KEPT HIDDEN IN A HALL: Bina is a hall for the OhrHochma. Malchut rises to GARdeBina (AVI) and rules there, but the absence of OhrHochma is not felt there because the properties of AVI is to desire only OhrHassadim. It is important for them and completely substitutes for the OhrHochma. VAKdeBina is ruled by the key or Ateret Yesod.
The most important thing is THAT KEY BECAUSE IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS EVERYTHING. Concealments and revelations are made by Malchut that stands in NE: when Malchut rises to NE, it conceals the OhrHochma because in that case, the Partzuf remains without its Kelim of AHP and cannot use its desires to “receive” for the sake of the Creator. Consequently, there is no OhrHochma in it because the OhrHochma can be received only within the Kelim of AHP.
When the Partzuf receives powers to resist the egoistical desires of reception of its KelimdeAHP from above and can “receive” for the Creator’s sake, this means that it acquired a screen against its desires and can work for the Creator. It then returns its Malchut from NE to the Peh or raises its Kelim (the desires of AHP) to the Rosh and starts calculating how much Light it can receive in them for the sake of the Creator (which is the same thing). However, the pleasure received must not be too great to make it enjoy egoistically. After that, the Partzuf receives the OhrHochma in its Guf (body).
Thus, only Malchut standing in NE allows or forbids the Light to enter the Partzuf. Since it should let the Light into the Partzuf in ZAT (where the rule belongs not to Malchut that rose to NE, but to Ateret Yesod called the “key”) and the GAR of every Partzuf remain with OhrHassadim (they desire only the Light of Hassadim), letting the Light in or preventing it from entering the Partzuf depend only on the key, but not on Malchut itself.
43. That hall has a lot of hidden treasures one upon the other. In that hall there are 50 closed gates that are meant to block access to the Light. They divided into 4 sides and became 49 gates because one gate has no side, and it is not known whether it faces up or down. Hence, this gate remained closed.
There are many types of GAR: GAR of the OhrNeshama, GARdeHaya or GARdeYechida. Each of them has many particular levels and details. Hence, it is written, ONE UPON THE OTHER. However, as long as Malchut stands in NE, all of these levels of Light are concealed and unknown.
A gate means a vessel, the will to receive the Light. There are no bodies in the spiritual world, but only desires; a desire itself is called a body. If there is no desire, there is no body; there is no vessel to receive the Light (pleasure). The bigger the desire is, the “bigger” the body. All the bodies are similar in their structure. Just as a human body in our world consists of 613 parts, so does the spiritual body consist of 613 spiritual parts (desires).
If a person can use one of the desires of his spiritual body for the sake of the Creator, this action is referred to as a “Commandment.” The received Light is called the Torah. A spiritual Partzuf has a Rosh (head), the place where decisions are made. It includes only such desires that are known to be fit with a screen (resistance to these desires) in order to use them spiritually, altruistically, and to “turn them around” from “for one’s self” to “for the Creator.” If a person has fulfilled all 613 Commandments of the Torah and 7 Commandments of the nations of the world (in all 620 Commandments), he thereby ascends 620 levels and completely merges with the Creator.
To observe all the Commandments means to fill one’s spiritual Partzuf with the Light of the Torah by means of fulfilling affirmative Commandments (Mitzvot Aseh) and negative Commandments (Mitzvot Lo Ta’aseh). The fulfillment of the negative Commandments lies in the unwillingness to receive the pleasure that is found in them.
There are two types of desires or gates are: when they are closed and receive nothing; and when they open up and receive the Upper Light. Whentheyareallclosed, thereare 50 ofthem. However, only 49 out of 50 can be opened. The 10 SefirotK-H-B-H-G-T-N-H-Y-M are the 5 SefirotK-H-B-ZA-M (because ZA consists of 6 Sefirot H-G-T-N-H-Y), but Malchut includes these 6; hence, it consists of10 Sefirot. Since each of 5 Sefirot consists of 10, in all they make up 50.
However, since a Zivug is made not on Malchut, but on Ateret Yesod, MalchutdeMalchut does not receive the Light. The Light is received by the 4 SefirotK-H-B-ZA that precede Malchut. Each of them consists of 10, hence 4 x 10 = 40. There are 9 additional Sefirot in Malchut, from Keter to Yesod. In all, 40 + 9 = 49. Only 1 Sefira (MalchutdeMalchut) out of 50 does not receive the Light because until all the Kelim (desires) have been corrected, the Light cannot enter it. It is known in advance that MalchutdeMalchut has no strength to oppose such a powerful egoistical desire to receive pleasure.
Instead of being in MalchutdeMalchut, the screen stands in the SefiraYesoddeMalchut. This place is called Brith (Covenant), where the Commandment of circumcision has to be observed to make a Zivug. This Zivug is made not on Malchut itself (on the 1st restriction), but on Yesod or, rather, Ateret Yesod (on the 2nd restriction). MalchutdeMalchut is called “Sha’ar Nun” (the 50th gate). This refers to Malchut of every Partzuf in the worlds ABYA.
Malchut of the PartzufAVI descends from NEdeAVI to its place in the Peh, while their AHP and the YESHSUT that dresses them rise to the level of AVI. AVI and YESHSUT join to form one Partzuf, as a result of which OhrHochma descends to them from AA. However, AVI are unwilling to receive Ohr Hochma, so they accept none of it and remain only with OhrHassadim, as if Malchut had never descended from their Eynaim to the Peh.
Therefore, it is impossible to know by the Light of AVI whether Malchut is in NE or in the Peh. On the contrary, by looking at AVI, it always seems to us that Malchut stands in NE. Only by the state of YESHSUT can we determine the position of Malchut because when it rises to AVI in the Gadlut (big state), YESHSUT receives OhrHochma.
Although Malchut itself can receive OhrHochma in AVI, since AVI receive no OhrHochma, they do not use their own Malchut. YESHSUT has Ateret Yesod instead of Malchut; hence, it receives the Light or “opens up,” while AVI remain closed.
However, the absence of the 50th gate, or Zivug on Malchut in YESHSUT, causes the absence of the corresponding Light of Hochma in all the Partzufim. It is written about this: “All 50 gates of Bina are given to Moshe except one, the last secret of the Upper Light’s absence.” This Upper Light can be received only inside the Kelim (desires) of Malchut itself, of primordial egoism. This will occur when the correction has been completed after 6000 years.
44. There is a lock with a tiny and narrow keyhole inside the gates. This lock is marked and known only by the impression of the key. No one knows about it without having the key. It is written about this secret, BERESHEET BARAHELOKIM – IN THE BEGINNING THE CREATOR CREATED. “In the beginning” is the key in which everything is hidden, as it unlocks and locks. This key includes six gates which it unlocks and locks. When it locks those gates and includes them within itself, it is written BERESHEET: a revealed word that is usually concealed. BARAH, wherever it appears, is a concealed word, implying that the key unlocks and locks it up.
Malchut that stands in NE is called the “lock” because it prevents OhrHochma from entering the Partzuf. The entire Partzuf ends in Hochma (the Light can only be in K-H); hence, it is merely Nefesh-Ruach. In the absence of the Kelim-SefirotB-ZA-M, the Lights Neshama-Haya-Yechida are absent. YesoddeMalchut is the 49th gate, the maximum of what can be before the end of the correction, because MalchutdeMalchut is the 50th gate.
If the key (Ateret Yesod of the Light) enters YesoddeMalchut (the 49th gate), then this Light lowers Malchut to its place, from NE to the Peh. This Light opens the Partzuf and OhrHochma fills it. ThatiswhyAteretYesodiscalledthe “key.”
However, there is a special Reshimo that allows one not to use MalchutdeMalchut as a place of Zivug before all the others (except Malchut deMalchut or the Kelim-desires) have finally been corrected. This Reshimo is in AVI: since they never receive OhrHochma (i.e., they do not use this key), their genuine AHP do not rise. Nevertheless, even the factitious AHP is sufficient to let YESHSUT receive OhrHochma and realize that knowledge means the presence of the OhrHochma.
If the Light that corresponds to the Ateret Yesod enters into the appropriate Sefira in Malchut (i.e., YesoddeMalchut or the 49thSefira), then Malchut (the 50th gate) does not forbid this Light to fill the Partzuf. It does “lock up” the Partzuf because it has the Reshimo of prohibition only on that which enters Malchut itself. The reason for this lies in the fact that the Reshimo (the key’s memory) rules in ZATdeBina, i.e., in YESHSUT. Hence, this Light is called the “key.”
The word BERESHEET – IN THE BEGINNING includes only the key (Ateret Yesod or the 49thSefira) excluding MalchutdeMalchut or the 50th gate. None of the SefirotK-H-B of all the Partzufim in the world of Atzilut receive OhrHochma. Instead, the OhrHassadim shines within them. Therefore, the words BERESHEET BARAH mean CONCEALED HOCHMA because the word BARAH (created) is derived from the notion of BAR (beyond). This means that the Creator moved Malchut deMalchut beyond the reception of OhrHochma;hence this part of the Kelim was locked up by the absence of the Light.