Section: The Tzimtzum and the Line (Openings 24–30)
Op. 27 introduced the Line descending into the chalal. Op. 28 specifies that the Line divides into two operative modes: Or Pnimi (Inner Light) — concealed within the Reshimu, governing it; and Or Makif (Encompassing Light) — standing outside, surrounding it. The light that entered the chalal did not all enter — half stands outside and accomplishes its function from there. The Inner Light is the small revealed part; the Encompassing is the greater concealed part — the cause of the Vessel and the goal of human service (the reward). The Encompassing Light is within the chalal — accommodating itself to the Reshimu — unlike Eyn Sof, who encompasses from outside the Vacated Space. Zohar Raya Meheimna, Emor 109b: "He is inside every Sefirah and outside every Sefirah." Both lights divide into the five soul-levels: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah (clothed in Exterior, Intermediary, Inner Vessel) + Chayah, Yechidah (encompassing from outside) — the canonical NRNCY structure of every Sefirah and Partzuf.
This is the chapter that introduces the Vessel-and-Light structure that will run through the rest of Klach. Every Sefirah and Partzuf has Inner Light (or pnimi), Encompassing Light (or makif), and a Vessel (kli) with three internal levels (Exterior, Intermediary, Inner). Both lights have five soul-levels: NRNCY (Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah, Yechidah).
Four parts:
Part 1 — Inner Light. The Line is concealed within the Reshimu on all levels — governing it. This concealment is the source of the two modes of government (Op. 27 ¶28: rule of good-and-evil = Kinui; rule of unity = Shem). The rule of unity is concealed within the manifest rule of good-and-evil.
Part 2 — Encompassing Light. Half the light did not enter — it stands outside, surrounding the Reshimu. Cause and goal: the Vessel contains the roots of human service; the Encompassing is the reward.
Part 3 — Yet accommodates to the Reshimu. Unlike Eyn Sof who encompasses from beyond the Vacated Space, the Encompassing Light is within the chalal — accommodated to the Reshimu's structure.
Part 4 — Five levels (NRNCY) and three Vessels. Both lights divide into five soul-levels. Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah are clothed in Exterior, Intermediary, Inner Vessel respectively. Chayah, Yechidah encompass from outside. "He is inside every Sefirah and outside every Sefirah" (Zohar, Raya Meheimna, Emor 109b).
(All paragraphs treated below.)
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
הקו מתחלק לאור פנימי ומקיף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The Line divides into the Inner and Encompassing Light of the Sefirot. Plain English: The Line divides into Inner Light and Encompassing Light of the Sefirot.
Concepts: kav, or_pnimi, or_makif, sefirot_class.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
קו הא"ס ב"ה, הנכנס בתוך הרשימו, נעלם בו בפנים בכל מדרגותיו, ונקרא שמנהגו. ועומד בחוץ ומקיפו, ונקרא שכולל כחו ומביט עליו לכל צד. ואף על פי כן, הכל רק בדרך מה שהוא משתווה לרשימו. וזהו אור פנימי ומקיף של ספירות, שהוא סוד הכלי:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The Line of Eyn Sof, blessed be He, that entered into the Residue is concealed within it on the inside on all its levels, and is thus said to govern it. Yet it stands outside and encompasses it, and it must be said to include its power and to look down upon it on every side. Even so, all this occurs in such a way that the Line accommodates itself to the Residue. This is the Inner and Encompassing Light of the Sefirot, which is the underlying foundation of the Vessel. Plain English: Four claims: (1) the Line is concealed within the Reshimu on all levels — governing; (2) yet it stands outside and encompasses — including its power and looking down on every side; (3) all this is accommodated to the Reshimu; (4) this is the Inner and Encompassing Light of the Sefirot, the underlying foundation of the Vessel.
Concepts: kav, or_pnimi, or_makif, vessel_kli, reshimu, sefirot_class.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
אחר שזכרנו הכנס הקו תוך החלל, עתה צריך לפרש באיזה אופן הוא מתפשט בו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Having discussed the entry of the Line into the empty Space, we must now explain the manner in which it spread out within it. Plain English: Op. 27 explained the Line's entry; now Op. 28 explains the manner of its spread.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה הם ג'. ח"א, קו הא"ס כו', והוא האופן שנתפשט הקו בתוך הרשימו. ח"ב, ואע"פ כן, והוא שהקו משוה עצמו לפי הרשימו שהוא נכנס בו. ח"ג, וזהו אור פנימי, וכו', והוא חילוקי התפשטות בשם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The proposition consists of four parts. Part 1: The Line of Eyn Sof... This explains how the Line extends within the Residue. Part 2: Yet it stands outside… This explains the Encompassing Light. Part 3: Even so... This explains how the Line accommodates itself to match the Residue into which it enters. Part 4: This is the Inner and Encompassing Light... This explains the different aspects of the spreading light and their names. Plain English: Four parts: (1) Line within Reshimu; (2) Encompassing Light; (3) accommodation; (4) names and levels.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: קו הא"ס ב"ה, הנכנס בתוך הרשימו, נעלם בו בפנים בכל מדרגותיו. והיינו לפי ענין שתי הנהגות שזכרתי למעלה, הנהגת הטוב ורע והנהגת היחוד [נ"א,הנהגת שם וכינוי]. הנה הנהגת היחוד נעלמת בתוך אותה של טוב ורע הנראית, ועל כן נאמר שהקו נעלם, וזה מה שהרויח הקו להתלבש ברשימו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 1: The Line of Eyn Sof, blessed be He, that entered into the Residue is concealed within it on the inside on all its levels... The concealment of the light of the Line of Eyn Sof within the Residue is the source of the two modes of government discussed earlier: the rule of good and evil and the rule of unity, corresponding respectively to the Form of Address and the Name. The rule of unity is concealed within the manifest rule of good and evil. Accordingly, we say that the Line is concealed. And this is what was gained through having the Line clothe itself within the Residue. Plain English: The concealment of the Line within the Reshimu is the source of the two modes of government (Op. 27 ¶28): the rule of good-and-evil (= Kinui, manifest) and the rule of unity (= Shem, concealed within the rule of good-and-evil). This is what is gained by having the Line clothe itself within.
Concepts: kav, reshimu, shem_form, kinui_form.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ונקרא שמנהגו, והוא מה שאמרנו למעלה שהרשימו מתנהג על פי הנהגת היחוד. וזה מה שאמרנו שמרויח הרשימו ממה שהקו נעלם בו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and is thus said to govern it. As stated earlier, the Residue is governed by the rule of unity. This explains what we mean when we say that the Residue gains from the fact that the Line is concealed within it. Plain English: The Reshimu is governed by the rule of unity (Shem). This is what the Reshimu gains from the Line's concealment.
Concepts: reshimu, kav, shem_form.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: ועומד בחוץ, וזה כי האור שהלך לכנס בכלי - לא כולו נכנס, אלא חציו עומד בחוץ. וכן עושה פעולתו ועומד על משמרתו, זה שבפנים כמו זה שבחוץ. ועוד תבין אלה הענינים מה הם - בחלק הג' מן המאמר הזה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 2: Yet it stands outside... The reason why it stands outside is that when the light came to enter into the vessel, not all of it entered. Half of it stands outside, and thus it accomplishes its function while standing in its appointed place – what is within just like that which is outside. These matters are explained further in Part 4 of this proposition. Plain English: When the light came to enter the Vessel, not all of it entered. Half stands outside and accomplishes its function from there.
Concepts: or_makif, vessel_kli.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ומקיפו, ר"ל שאינו עומד מרחוק, שלא יהיה לו שייכות עם הנפעל, שהוא הרשימו, אלא מקיפו: ונקרא שכולל כחו, ר"ל שהוא סיבה לו, ונמצא שכולל אותו כסיבה למסובב: ומביט עליו לכל צד, היינו שכל סיבה צריכה להספיק לכל חלקי המסובב ממנה. והמקיף הוא סיבה לכלי כנ"ל. אם כן צריך להביט עליו לכל צד:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and encompasses it... This indicates that it does not stand far off, for if so, it would have no connection with what it produces, namely the Residue. Rather, it surrounds it. ...and it is said to include its power... This means that it is the cause of and "includes" it in the way that a cause includes its effect. The Encompassing Light is the cause of the Vessel – namely, the Residue. The Encompassing Light is the ultimate revelation. The Vessel and the Residue contain the roots of man's service, whereby we are able to attain the revelation, which is the reward. The Encompassing Light is thus the cause and goal of man's service, the latter being the means, the Vessel. Plain English: It does not stand far off (then it would have no connection); it surrounds. Includes its power = is its cause (cause includes effect). The Encompassing Light is the cause of the Vessel and the ultimate revelation. The Vessel contains roots of human service; the Encompassing Light is the reward — the goal of the service.
Concepts: or_makif, vessel_kli, reshimu.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ג: ואף על פי כן, הכל רק בדרך מה שהוא משתווה לרשימו, אף על פי שהוא מקיף, שלא נגבל בכלי, אינו כמו הא"ס ב"ה המקיף שהוא חוץ לכל גבול, אלא כל מה שנכנס לחלל משתווה הכל לרשימו. ולכן האור המקיף שייך לכלי:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 3: Even so, all this occurs in such a way that the Line accommodates itself to the Residue. Even though the light is encompassing light and is not limited by the vessel, it is not like Eyn Sof, Who encompasses everything yet is beyond all limitations. In the case of the Line, everything that enters into the Space accommodates itself entirely to the Residue. The Encompassing Light thus has a relationship with the Vessel. In other words, the Encompassing Light is also within the Space, unlike Eyn Sof, Who surrounds and encompasses the Vacated Space or Place from outside. Plain English: The Encompassing Light is not like Eyn Sof — Eyn Sof encompasses beyond all limits; the Encompassing Light accommodates to the Reshimu. The Encompassing Light is within the Vacated Space; Eyn Sof encompasses from outside it.
Concepts: or_makif, eyn_sof, chalal_empty_space, reshimu.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ד: וזהו אור פנימי ומקיף. אלה הם השמות של שתי המדרגות: של ספירות שהוא סוד הכלי, וזה ביאור כל ענין זה של פנימי ומקיף. והוא מה שפירש ברע"מ פ' אמור על א"ס ב"ה, שהוא בגו כל ספירה ולבר מכל ספירה.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 4: This is the Inner and Encompassing Light... These are the names of two levels of the Light …of the Sefirot, which is the underlying foundation of the Vessel. Here we have the explanation of the Inner and Encompassing Light. Thus the Zohar (Raya Meheimna, Emor 109b) states that "He is inside every Sefirah and outside every Sefirah". Plain English: "Inner and Encompassing Light" are the names of the two levels. The Zohar (Raya Meheimna, Emor 109b): "He is inside every Sefirah and outside every Sefirah."
Concepts: or_pnimi, or_makif, sefirot_class, vessel_kli.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
והענין הוא כמו שאמרנו כבר, איך הקו מנהג הרשימו בכל אותם הדרכים שזכרתי, דהיינו שהפעולה היא בדרך בלתי -תכלית, ושהיא בדרך השלמות. נמצא שעל כל מדרגה ומדרגה מן הרשימו יש השקפת הא"ס ב"ה על המדרגה בשלמותו. ואין קיום לחלקים אלא מפני שהרצון רוצה בהם. וזהו ענין הא"ס ב"ה הנמצא בכל ספירה וספירה בכל צד, שאין קיום לשום ענין של הספירה ההיא אלא ממנו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> As discussed earlier, the action of the Line in governing the Residue through all the pathways discussed is itself in the mode of limitlessness – which is the mode of perfection. Thus every single level within the Residue is under the supervision of Eyn Sof in His intrinsic perfection, and these different parts exist only because it was His Will that they should exist. This is expressed by saying that Eyn Sof is found in every single Sefirah on every side, and the entire existence and functioning of the Sefirah is only through Him. Plain English: The Line's governing-action is in the mode of limitlessness = perfection. Every level within the Reshimu is under Eyn Sof's perfection. Every part exists only because His Will. Eyn Sof is found in every single Sefirah on every side.
Concepts: eyn_sof, kav, sefirot_class, eyn_sofs_will.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ונמצא שכל העיקר הוא הא"ס ב"ה, ומכל פעולה שהוא פועל לצורך הנבראים, אפילו מה שהוא לפי ענינם, עם כל זה אינו מתגלה ממנו אלא החלק היותר קטן שבה.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Thus the entire essence is Eyn Sof, blessed be He. Nevertheless, in every action that He executes for the sake of the created realms and beings, even those that are on their level, nothing is revealed of Him except the very smallest part – the Inner Light. However the Encompassing Light, while serving the created realms and entering into the Place created by the Tzimtzum, is not revealed. Anything man may understand about the works of the Creator is only a drop in the ocean. Plain English: The entire essence is Eyn Sof. But in every executed action, only the very smallest part is revealed = the Inner Light. The Encompassing Light, though serving created realms and entering the Place, is not revealed. What man may understand is only a drop in the ocean.
Concepts: or_pnimi, or_makif, eyn_sof, the_creation.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ונמצא שהשקפת הא"ס על המדרגה המוגבלת, שהיא מה שמקבלים התחתונים - רוב ההשקפה נשגבה ממנו, וזהו האור המקיף. והחלק האחרון שבפעולה הוא אותו השלמות שמתלבש בפועל הנפעל. דהיינו שאפילו השלמות שאנו מבינים שיש בפועל, הנפעל בסוד קו שבתוך הרשימו, אינו אלא החלק הקטן שבפעולה ההיא, והוא העומד לנהג הרשימו הנראה, ששיעורו כנגד החלק הקטן ההוא.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Thus even though Eyn Sof looks down providentially and supervises the level of limitation, on which the lower realms and creatures receive, the greater part of His providence is too exalted for us. This is the Encompassing Light. The last part of the action is that aspect of His perfection that clothes itself in the executed work itself. However, even the level of perfection that we are able to understand as contained in the action executed by the Line within the Residue is nothing but the smallest part of that action. This is what stands to govern the visible Residue, whose measure corresponds to that small part. Plain English: Even though Eyn Sof providentially supervises the limited level, the greater part of His providence is too exalted for us — this is the Encompassing Light. The last part of His action clothes itself in the executed work (Inner Light). What we understand is the smallest part; this corresponds in measure to the visible Reshimu.
Concepts: or_makif, or_pnimi, eyn_sof, reshimu.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
והנה ההשקפה הזאת נמצאת בכמה דרכים בספירה, בתוכה ממש, בכל חילוקי הדרגותיה, שהם הנקראים כלים - חיצון ופנימי ותיכון, והעיקר מבחוץ לה בסוד מקיף עליה.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Now this providence exists in several ways in each Sefirah – within it on all its different levels, these being called the Exterior, Interior and Intermediary Vessel. But the main light is the Encompassing Light outside. Both the Inner and Encompassing Light are divided into five levels, corresponding to the five levels of the soul: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah and Yechidah. The Nefesh, Ruach and Neshamah are clothed respectively in the Exterior, Intermediary and Inner Vessel, while the Chayah and Yechidah encompass the Vessel from the outside as Encompassing Light. Plain English: Each Sefirah has several levels of providence — Exterior, Intermediary, Inner Vessel. The main light is the Encompassing Light outside. Both lights divide into five soul-levels: Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah, Yechidah. NRN clothed in the three vessel-levels; ChY encompassing from outside.
Concepts: vessel_kli, or_pnimi, or_makif, nefesh_level, ruach_level, neshamah_level, chayah_level, yechidah_level.
Relationships:
- nefesh_level ↔ Exterior Vessel; ruach_level ↔ Intermediary Vessel; neshamah_level ↔ Inner Vessel
- chayah_level, yechidah_level → encompass from outside (= or_makif)
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וכל אלה נקראים בשמות פרטיים לפי דרך התפשטותם. וכל הדרך המבואר בדברי הרב זללה"ה בענין התפשטות אור פנימי ומקיף, הוא רק על ההשקפה הזאת המתפשטת גם היא במדרגות לפי סדר חקות הרשימו ומדרגותיו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> All these are called by their own individual names according to the way in which they spread and extend. The explanation of the spread of the Inner and Encompassing Light in the writings of the ARI relates only to Eyn Sof's "looking down" over and providential supervision of the different levels in accordance with the laws of the Residue and its ordered levels. Plain English: Each is named by the way it spreads and extends. The Arizal's treatment of the Inner and Encompassing Light relates only to Eyn Sof's looking-down over the Reshimu's ordered levels.
Concepts: or_pnimi, or_makif, eyn_sof, reshimu.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ענין זה במראה יראה, האורות בנוים מכלים מתוקנים, ובתוכם וסביבם אור א"ס ב"ה בסוד אור פנימי ומקיף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> In the vision this appears as lights made of perfectly wrought vessels, within and around which is the Light of Eyn Sof, blessed be He, on the levels of Inner and Encompassing Light. Plain English: In vision: lights made of perfectly wrought vessels, within and around which is the Light of Eyn Sof — on the levels of Inner and Encompassing Light.
Concepts: prophetic_vision, vessel_kli, or_pnimi, or_makif, eyn_sof.
Op. 28's claim, in one sentence: The Line, on entering the chalal, divides into Inner Light (concealed within the Vessel, the small revealed part — the rule of unity hidden within the rule of good-and-evil) and Encompassing Light (standing outside, the greater concealed part — the cause of the Vessel and goal of service); both lights divide into the five NRNCY soul-levels, with NRN clothed in the three internal Vessel-levels (Exterior, Intermediary, Inner) and ChY encompassing from outside — fulfilling the Zohar's teaching that "He is inside every Sefirah and outside every Sefirah."
This chapter installs the operating model of every later Sefirah, Partzuf, and world: each has Inner Light, Encompassing Light, three Vessel-levels, five NRNCY soul-levels.
or_pnimi, or_makif, vessel_kli, NRNCY (5 soul-levels).Op. 28 specifies that the Line divides into Inner and Encompassing Light within the Sefirot. The chapter has no explicit forward references but the two-light doctrine is foundational.