Section: The World of Nekudim (Openings 36–50)
The chapter that explains the visible event of Nekudim — the fall and the breaking of the vessels — by separating them as two distinct events. Two parts: (Part 1) When the garments needed to be repaired, the highest part contained in Nekudim (= their Atzilut) became concealed, and the garments ruled by themselves. Why the concealment? Because "evil will not dwell with You" (Psalms 5:5) — Atzilut and evil cannot coexist. Since the intention was to produce evil, the garments must rule. Why allow rule at all? For the sake of the eventual repair (Op. 41 cross-ref). The light cannot return as new MaH until actual damage occurs first. The pipes-under-construction analogy: when channels are being constructed to bring water from a river, the river must not be allowed to flow into the unfinished pipes (it is as if they are not its pipes). During construction the river is concealed; once built, they serve as channels. So with BYA: during their construction, Atzilut is concealed. Atzilut has no part or share in the production of evil; its light can only be drawn down via BYA when they are rectified. (Part 2) Why this is called a fall — and the distinction from breaking. Two different things: (a) Fall = descent from being included in Atzilut as its garments to ruling alone; not that they spread forth but that Atzilut departed; they were left as worlds on their own lacking the body they had been clothing. = the death of the kings. (b) Breaking = the destructive way of ruling — destruction took control, damaging them, generating all the different kinds of damage and evil that can exist in the world. The vessels in their broken state constitute the measure of all the different kinds of damage that can exist — what was not calculated at the outset could not come into being afterwards. Empty of light = the very deficiency that gives them power to bring forth evil; ruling only in their aspect of harsh judgment. Yet the light did not altogether cease — even at the great fall, 288 sparks (רפ"ח) descended with the vessels, because the ultimate intention was always to turn the great destruction into total perfect repair.
This chapter delivers the event the unit has been preparing for. After Op. 41 (light hidden), Op. 42 (progressive entry), Op. 43 (evil rooted in BYA), Op. 44 (only in Nekudim), Op. 45 (at the feet) — Op. 46 finally narrates what happened: the fall, the breaking, the 288 sparks.
Part 1 — Why and how the garments came to rule. Atzilut concealed because "evil will not dwell with You" (Psalms 5:5). Garments must rule to produce evil. Pipes-under-construction analogy: river concealed during pipe-building. Atzilut has no part or share in evil; can only flow when BYA are rectified. Garments thus left ruling alone — not as the feet of Atzilut but as worlds on their own.
Part 2 — Fall and Breaking are two different things. Fall = descent of level (Atzilut departed, garments left without the body they had been clothing). Breaking = destructive rule (parts not in orderly balance; destruction took control; measure of all damage that can exist). Empty of light = power to bring forth evil. 288 sparks descended with the vessels — light didn't altogether cease — because the ultimate intention was always total perfect repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
נפילת ושבירת הכלים:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The fall and breaking of the vessels – to produce evil Plain English: Theme: fall and breaking of the vessels — to produce evil.
Concepts: fall_vs_breaking, breaking_of_the_vessels.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כשהוצרך לתת שליטה ללבושים בפני עצמם לתקן את עצמם, נתעלם החלק העליון שהיה בנקודים, והוא ענין האצילות שלהם, ואז היו שולטים הלבושים בפני עצמם. וזה נקרא להם נפילה, כי היו נופלים ממה שהיו נכללים באצילות בסוד לבושיו, ושולטים בפני עצמם, ולא בסידור ותיקון, אלא בקלקול, ריקים מן האורות שנתרחקו מהם. ואז היו פונים תמיד לתת מקום לרע לצאת ולהמצא, כרי שיתוקן לבסוף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> When it was necessary to give control to the garments by themselves in order for them to be repaired, the highest part that was contained in Nekudim became concealed, this being their Atzilut, and then the garments ruled by themselves. This is called a fall for them, for they had fallen from having been included in Atzilut as its garments and were now ruling by themselves, not in a state of order and repair but in one of damage and destruction, empty of all the lights that had distanced themselves from them. In this state they were all the time intent on providing a place for evil to emerge and exist, in order that it should be rectified in the end. Plain English: Six-claim proposition: (1) garments needed control by themselves to be repaired; (2) highest part of Nekudim (= their Atzilut) became concealed; (3) garments ruled by themselves; (4) called a fall — fallen from being Atzilut's garments to ruling alone; (5) not in order and repair but in damage and destruction, empty of lights that distanced themselves; (6) intent on providing a place for evil to emerge and exist — for the sake of eventual rectification.
Concepts: fall_vs_breaking, breaking_of_the_vessels, atzilut_concealed_for_construction, light_initially_hidden, garments_as_concealing_veils, return_evil_to_good.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
אחר שבארנו ענין הלבושים האלה, ושהיו צריכים לשלוט כדי להוציא הרע, עכשיו נפרש שליטתם זאת וענינה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Having discussed these garments and how they needed to rule in order to produce evil, we will now explain what this rule entailed. Plain English: Op. 43-45 said that garments rule to produce evil. Now: what this rule entailed.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה ב'. ח"א, כשהוצרך לתת שליטה, והוא ענין שליטת הלבושים. ח"ב, וזה נקרא נפילה, והוא ששליטתם נקראת נפילה, והטעם לזה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The proposition consists of two parts. Part 1: When it was necessary to give control... This explains how the garments ruled. Part 2: This is called a fall for them... This explains why their rule is called a fall. Plain English: Two parts: (1) how garments ruled; (2) why called a fall.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: כשהוצרך לתת שליטה ללבושים בפני עצמם, זהו מה שכתבתי למעלה, שהרע היה מושרש רק במעשה שעושים הלבושים בשעת שליטתם, שהם נבחנים לעולמות בפני עצמם, כי כל מה שעומד בבחינת אצילות - נאמר בו, "לא יגורך רע". והנה בהיות הכוונה להוציא ענין הרע, על כן צריך שישלטו הלבושים האלה, ואז יוציאוהו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 1: When it was necessary to give control to the garments by themselves... As I wrote above, the root of evil lay only in the function carried out by the garments during the time of their rule, when they were considered worlds in their own right. For it is said of all that stands in Atzilut, "Evil will not dwell with You" (Psalms 5:5). Now since the intention was to produce evil, it was necessary for these garments to rule, and then they would produce it. Plain English: Root of evil = function of garments during the time of their rule, when they were considered worlds in their own right. Psalms 5:5: "Evil will not dwell with You" — said of all that stands in Atzilut. Since intention = produce evil → garments must rule.
Concepts: evil_will_not_dwell_with_you, garments_as_concealing_veils, actual_evil_in_BYA, atzilut, sitra_achra.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
לתקן את עצמם, זהו גם כן מה שכתבתי למעלה - שכל זה הוא לצורך התיקון. כי עד שלא יצא הקלקול בתחלה, ונזדמנו הדברים ליתקן בסוד החזרת הרע לטוב - אין לאור לבוא, כי אדרבא, בעבור זה נעלם האור להניח לכלים לעשות ענינם זה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...in order for them to be repaired... This too is as I wrote above (Opening 41) that all this was necessary for the sake of the eventual repair. For as long as the actual damage had not occurred so as to prepare things to be repaired through the mystery of the return of evil to good, the light (of the new MaH) could not come (so as to return to the vessels after they broke). On the contrary, it was precisely for this purpose that the light was concealed – to allow the vessels to carry out this function. Plain English: Op. 41 cross-ref: all for eventual repair. As long as actual damage had not occurred (preparing things for repair via return of evil to good), the new MaH light could not come (to return to vessels after breaking). Precisely for this purpose the light was concealed — to allow the vessels to carry out this function.
Concepts: tikkun_repair, new_mah, return_evil_to_good, light_initially_hidden, vessel_must_complete_mission.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
נתעלם החלק העליון שהיה בנקודים, והוא ענין האצילות - שלהם, היינו כי פעולות העולמות האלה, היינו, אחר שנתאצלו האורות באצילות - להמשיכם לחוץ לצורך התחתונים, וכל אחד לוקח מן האצילות מה שלוקח, וממשיכו למקומו, וזהו הסדר המתוקן. אבל עתה לא זאת היא הכוונה, כי עתה צריך לברר מציאות העולמות האלה לפי עצמם, שיהיו ראוים אחר כך לעשות הפעולה הראויה להם, דהיינו ההמשכה מן האצילות.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...the highest part that was contained in Nekudim became concealed, this being their Atzilut... For after the emanation of the lights of Atzilut, the function of these worlds (after the repair) would be to draw those lights down to the outside for the sake of the lower realms and beings. Each one then takes what it takes from Atzilut and channels it to its proper place, and this is the rectified order. However, this was not the intention now (in Nekudim). For what was necessary now was to establish the existence of these worlds in and of themselves so that they would afterwards be suited to perform their appropriate function, which is to draw from Atzilut. Plain English: Highest part of Nekudim concealed = their Atzilut. After Atzilut's emanation, BYA's function (after repair) = draw lights down for lower realms — each takes from Atzilut, channels to proper place (rectified order). But not the intention now. Now: establish existence of these worlds in and of themselves so that they would afterwards be suited to draw from Atzilut.
Concepts: atzilut_concealed_for_construction, garments_as_concealing_veils, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
הא למה זה דומה, לצינורות שנוטלים מים מן הנהר וממשיכים אותו למקומם, כל צינור - החלק הראוי לו להגיע אל מקום הראוי לו, הרי זה סדר מתוקן. אך כשרוצים לתקן הצינורות בפני עצמם, דהיינו לעשותם כלים מוכנים, להיות אחר כך צינורות שיהיו למי הנהר, הנה אין הנהר שייך להם בזמן התקנם כלל, אדרבא אין לו לשפוך על ידם, וכאילו אינם צינורות שלו. ובאמת כשהם הולכים ונבנים חוץ ממנו, אינם צינורות שלו, אלא כלים נבנים, עתידים להיות צינורות שלו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This can be compared to a system of pipes or channels taking water from a river in order to conduct it to various different locations. When each pipe takes its proper share of water to bring it to its proper place, this is the rectified order. However, during the process of preparation and installation of the actual channels themselves – to produce vessels that will afterwards serve as pipes to channel the water from the river – the river is of no relevance. Quite the contrary: the river must not be allowed to flow into the pipes: it is as if they are not its pipes. And indeed, as long as they are being built away from the river, they are not its pipes. Rather, they are vessels that are under construction in order to serve as pipes for the river later on. Plain English: Pipes analogy. River + pipes conducting water to various locations. Rectified order = each pipe takes its share, brings to proper place. During construction: river is of no relevance. River must not flow into the pipes — as if they are not its pipes. As long as they are built away from the river, they are not its pipes — only vessels under construction.
Concepts: pipes_under_construction, atzilut_concealed_for_construction.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כן הדבר הזה, כשבי"ע עם אצילות אחר שכבר הם בנוים - אז כל אחד לוקח מן האצילות וממשיך. אך בהבנותם כל אחד בפני עצמו, אין שייך אצילות בזה, אדרבא, הוא מתעלם, ומניח להם להיות רק גולמי כלים, שהולכים ונבנים מעט מעט, עד שנשלם כל התלוי בהם לבנינם, כדי שאחר כך יהיו לצינורות אליו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> So too here, when Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah are with Atzilut after having been built, each one receives from Atzilut so as to channel its influence outwards. However, during the process of their actual construction, Atzilut is of no relevance. On the contrary, Atzilut is concealed, leaving them as unfinished vessels that are built successively, little by little, until everything depending on their structure is complete, so that they may afterwards serve as channels for Atzilut. Plain English: So too here: BYA with Atzilut after built = each receives from Atzilut to channel outwards. During construction: Atzilut of no relevance. Atzilut concealed — leaving them unfinished vessels built successively, little by little, until structure complete, then they serve as channels.
Concepts: pipes_under_construction, beriyah, yetzirah, asiyah, atzilut_concealed_for_construction.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ועל כן עתה שהוצרך לעשות דברים התלוים במציאותם, דהיינו הוצאת הרע, והחזרת הקלקולים תיקון כנ"ל, הנה האצילות נתעלם מזה הדבר, כי אינו שייך בו. ונשארו העולמות הם לבדם, שהולכים להתברר ולהתקן. שאין לאצילות חלק ונחלה בהוצאות הרע כלל, אלא אורו ימשך דרך בי"ע, כשיהיו מתוקנים לצינורות לו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Accordingly, now that it was necessary to produce the things that depended on their existence – i.e. to bring forth evil so as afterwards to restore what was damaged to a state of repair, as discussed above – Atzilut was concealed from this process, since it had no connection with it. These worlds thus remained alone on their own as part of the process of becoming steadily more defined on the way to their rectification. For Atzilut has no part or share whatever in the production of evil, and its light can only be drawn down by way of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah when they are rectified to serve as its channels. Plain English: Now that production of evil was necessary, Atzilut was concealed — no connection with it. Worlds remained alone — process of becoming steadily more defined on the way to rectification. Atzilut has NO part or share whatever in the production of evil; its light can only be drawn down via BYA when rectified to serve as its channels.
Concepts: atzilut_concealed_for_construction, actual_evil_in_BYA, evil_will_not_dwell_with_you.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואז היו שולטים הלבושים בפני עצמם, כי אז אין להם להחשב לרגלים לו, אלא מרגלים שהיו - נשארו עולמות בפני עצמם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and then the garments ruled by themselves. During that time, they cannot be considered the feet of Atzilut, and instead of being the feet as they had been, they were left as worlds on their own. Plain English: Garments ruled by themselves. During that time, cannot be considered feet of Atzilut — instead of being feet, left as worlds on their own.
Concepts: feet_of_atzilut, garments_as_concealing_veils.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: וזה נקרא להם נפילה, אף על פי שהתפשטות כסדר הוא, שיהיו בי"ע בתחלה לבושי אצילות - אחר כך עולמות בפני עצמם. אך בנידן דידן אינו כך, אלא נקרא נפילה, והיינו מיתת המלכים, וכדלקמן: כי היו נופלים ממה שהיו נכללים באצילות בסוד לבושיו, ושולטים בפני עצמם, סדר התפשטות הוא - שהאצילות נשאר, והלבושים הם מתפשטים, דהיינו שניתן להם שליטה לכל אחד, להמשיך מן האצילות חלקו, כנ"ל. אך כאן נתעלם האצילות, ואין הלבושים ממשיכים ממנו בסדר הנ"ל. אלא אדרבא, נפילה הוא להם, שלא הם נתפשטו, אלא אצילות הוא שנסתלק. ואז מה שהיו הם רגלי ולבושי האצילות - נשארים עולמות בי"ע בפני עצמם, יען חסר מהם הגוף שהיו מלבישים.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 2: This is called a fall for them... Although the orderly array of the worlds (in their rectified state) entails that Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah should initially be garments of Atzilut and afterwards worlds in themselves, the process we are discussing was not like this. Rather, it is called a fall – i.e. the death of the kings. ...for they had fallen from having been included in Atzilut as its garments and were now ruling by themselves... The order in which they spread forth (after the Tikkun) is that Atzilut remains, while it is the garments that extend in the sense that control is given to each one of them to draw its share from Atzilut, as stated above. Here, however, Atzilut is concealed, and the garments do not channel its influence in an orderly way. Rather, it is a fall for them because it was not that they spread forth but rather that Atzilut departed. After having previously been the feet and garments of Atzilut, they were then left as the worlds of Beriyah, Yetzirah and Asiyah on their own, since they lacked the body which they had been clothing. Plain English: Part 2: orderly rectified array = BYA first garments, then worlds in themselves. But this process was NOT like this. Called a fall = death of the kings. After Tikkun: Atzilut remains; garments extend (control given to each to draw its share). Here: Atzilut concealed; garments do not channel influence in an orderly way. Fall: not that they spread forth — rather that Atzilut departed. Previously feet/garments of Atzilut → left as worlds of BYA on their own, lacking the body they had been clothing.
Concepts: fall_vs_breaking, kings_who_ruled, garments_as_concealing_veils, feet_of_atzilut, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ונמצא שבסדר ההשתלשלות, בבחינה אחת הם לבושים, ואחר כך הם נבחנים בבחינה אחרת בזמן שליטתם, והם עולמות. [נ"א, אבל אעפ"כ שתי הבחינות צודקות בהם בכל פעם], אך כאן אותה הבחינה עצמה שהיתה בסוד הלבושים - נשארה עולמות, שחסר מהם בחינת היותם לבושים, יען חסר מהם הגוף המתלבש, כמ"ש. ואין זה אלא שהם צריכים עתה להבנות, כדי להיות אחר כך על דרך זה לבושים לאצילות, ואז יהיו בפעולתם הראוי להם.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Thus in the order in which things developed, they are garments in one aspect, but afterwards, during their period of rule, they are considered in a different category and then they are "worlds". However, here it is the very aspect that was previously in the category of garments that remains as worlds, since they lack the aspect of being garments inasmuch as they lack the body that is being clothed, as stated above. And this is only because they now need to be built in order to be able afterwards to serve as garments to Atzilut in this way, and then they will serve in their proper function. Plain English: Order of development: garments in one aspect, then in period of rule a different category (= "worlds"). Here: the very garment-aspect remains as worlds — they lack the aspect of being garments because they lack the body being clothed. Only because they now need to be built to serve afterwards as Atzilut's garments.
Concepts: garments_as_concealing_veils, pipes_under_construction.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וכן תבין שאין דומה שליטתם זאת לשליטה שיש להם כשהם מתוקנים עם האצילות. כי בשליטה שיש להם כשהם מתוקנים עם האצילות - הוא ששולטים להמשיך אורות האצילות לתחתונים. אבל שליטה זאת אינה כך, אלא שהם שולטים בסוד החלקים שלהם ממש, בלא שייכות עם האצילות כלל. אלא שהם שולטים בסוד חלקיהם ממש - לגלות כחותיהם ופעולותיהם הפרטיות בבחינת בנינם, כדי להוציא עניני הרע הבלועים בין הכחות האלה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> You must likewise understand that their rule now cannot be compared to the rule they have when they are rectified with Atzilut. For when they are rectified with Atzilut, the purpose of their rule is to channel the lights of Atzilut to the lower creations. But their rule (in Nekudim) is not like this, for they then rule with parts of their own, and they have no connection with Atzilut at all. (The vessels are then cut off from the lights remaining in Atzilut.) They actually rule with parts of their own – revealing their individual powers and functions as they are when built, in order to bring forth the various aspects of evil swallowed up among these powers... Plain English: Their rule now ≠ their rule when rectified with Atzilut. Rectified rule: channel Atzilut-lights to lower creations. Nekudim rule: rule with parts of their own; no connection with Atzilut at all. Vessels cut off from lights remaining in Atzilut. They rule with their own parts — revealing individual powers and functions as built — to bring forth evil swallowed up among these powers.
Concepts: breaking_of_the_vessels, vessel_kli, actual_evil_in_BYA, kelipot.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ולא בסידור ותיקון, אלא בקלקול, זה השבירה שאנחנו מזכירים. כי יש נפילה, ויש שבירה. נפילה - ר"ל שנפלו ממדרגה עליונה לתחתונה כנ"ל, ושבירה הוא שלא היו שולטים בסידור חלקיהם כראוי, אלא אדרבא, באותם הקלקולים שגורם הרע כשהוא שולט. כי כבר שמעת שהשבירה היתה שליטת כחות ההפסד, שהיו מפסידים אותם, ונעשו בכל מיני קלקולים, בכל מיני רעות שיכולים להיות בעולם. והם הם למעלה כל מיני פגמים וקלקולים שיכולים להמצא באורות העליונים. שהרי זה הוא שיעור כל ההפסדים, כי מה שלא שיער מתחלה - לא היה יכול להיות אחר כך:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...not in a state of order and repair but in one of damage and destruction... This is the breaking we speak about, because falling and breaking are two different things. When we speak of falling, it means that they fell from their high level to a lower level. When we speak about breaking, it means that they did not rule with an orderly balance of their various parts, but rather in a destructive way, generating all the different kinds of damage that evil causes when it rules. For as you have already heard, the breaking of the vessels means that the powers of destruction took control, damaging them and causing all the different kinds of damage and evil that can exist in the world. On the upper level, these are all the different kinds of flaws and damage that can exist in the supernal lights. For the vessels in their broken state constitute the measure of all the different kinds of damage that can exist, because what was not calculated at the outset could not come into being afterwards. Plain English: Breaking ≠ falling — two different things. Falling: fell from high level to lower level. Breaking: did not rule with orderly balance of parts — destructive way, generating all the different kinds of damage evil causes when it rules. Powers of destruction took control. Vessels in their broken state constitute the measure of all the different kinds of damage that can exist — what was not calculated at the outset could not come into being afterwards.
Concepts: fall_vs_breaking, breaking_of_the_vessels, kelipot, sitra_achra.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ריקים מן האורות שנתרחקו מהם, גם זה חסרון גורם להם כח לעשות הפעולה הנרצית בהם בשבירתם זאת. והיינו כי האור הוא בסוד היחוד המחזיר כל הרע לטוב. אך בכאן הכוונה היתה להוציא הרע בבחינת רע. והנה בזה מוסיפים כח הכלים האלה, לעשות פעולה, במה שנתרחק מהם האור, ושהם יורדים עזובים ממנו, שאז רצה לומר שאינם מתנהגים על פיו, אלא אדרבא, מהעלמו הגדול נמשך הענין הזה של השבירה. ואז הם נותנים כל מגמת פניהם להוציא הרע, וכדלקמן. ולא היה באמת מעשה מעלים השלמות כזה - שהאור מאס אפילו ליכנס כלל בענין הכלי. ואז נשאר הכלי שולט רק בבחינת הדין הקשה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...empty of all the lights that had distanced themselves from them. This very deficiency also gives them the power to perform their intended function in this broken state. For the light is the mystery of the unity that turns all evil to good. Here, however, the intention was to produce evil as such, and what gives added power to these vessels to carry out this function is precisely the fact that the light distances itself from them so that they descend bereft of light. This means that in this phase they are not governed by the light. On the contrary, it is precisely from the intense concealment of the light that this fragmentation derives. They then direct themselves entirely to the purpose of bringing forth evil. And in truth nothing caused such a concealment of perfection as the fact that the light disdained even to enter into the vessel. The vessel was then left ruling only in its aspect of harsh judgment. Plain English: Empty of light = the very deficiency that gives them power to perform intended function. Light = mystery of unity that turns evil to good. Here: intention to produce evil as such → power given precisely by light's distance. Not governed by light. From intense concealment of light the fragmentation derives. Vessels direct themselves entirely to bringing forth evil. Nothing caused such concealment of perfection as light's disdaining even to enter the vessel. Vessel left ruling only in its aspect of harsh judgment.
Concepts: kelipot, breaking_of_the_vessels, light_initially_hidden, din, sitra_achra.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואז היו פונים תמיד לתת מקום לרע לצאת ולהמצא, כי כיון שנתרחקו מן ענין השלמות הרחק גמור. אז נשארו פונים רק לענין זה, והיו כל הדברים רק לזה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> In this state they were all the time intent on providing a place for evil to emerge and exist... For since they were now completely distanced from perfection, they were left intent only on producing evil, and everything was directed to this purpose alone. Plain English: Completely distanced from perfection → intent only on producing evil; everything directed to this purpose alone.
Concepts: vessel_must_complete_mission, kelipot, actual_evil_in_BYA.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כדי שיתוקן לבסוף, עם כל זה לא היתה הכוונה לעשות רק רע, אבל הכוונה התכליתית הרחוקה עם כל זה היתה רק לתיקון. וכן תראה שלא עזב על כל פנים האור מהאיר מרחוק אל הכלים. אפילו כשלא האיר עוד, שאז נעשית הנפילה - נפילה גדולה, על כל פנים היו הרפ"ח ניצוצין שירדו עם הכלים. כי הכוונה סוף סוף היא רק, אדרבא, לעשות מן הקלקול הגדול הזה - תיקון גמור שלם לגמרי:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...in order that it should be rectified in the end. Nevertheless the intention was not merely to produce evil, for the ultimate distant intention was only for the sake of repair. Accordingly, you will see that in any event the light did not altogether cease shining from afar to the vessels. Even when it did not shine at all, which is when the fall came about – a great fall – nevertheless there were the 288 sparks that descended with the vessels. For on the contrary, the final and ultimate intention was only to turn this great destruction into a total, perfect repair. Plain English: Yet: intention was not merely to produce evil — ultimate distant intention = for the sake of repair. Light did not altogether cease shining from afar. Even when it didn't shine at all (the great fall), there were the 288 sparks that descended with the vessels. Final and ultimate intention: turn this great destruction into a total, perfect repair.
Concepts: 288_sparks, flashes_and_sparks, tikkun_repair, return_evil_to_good.
Op. 46 narrates the visible event the unit has been preparing for, and does so through one decisive conceptual move: separating fall from breaking as two different things. The chapter rests on Psalms 5:5 — "Evil will not dwell with You" — which establishes the categorical incompatibility of Atzilut with evil, therefore requiring Atzilut's concealment if evil is to be produced. The Lurianic pipes-under-construction analogy supplies the architectural reason: a river cannot flow into pipes that are being built — they are not yet its pipes; they are vessels under construction that will afterwards serve as channels. So with Atzilut and BYA: during BYA's construction, Atzilut is concealed — Atzilut has no part or share whatever in the production of evil. With this in place, the chapter sets out the fall (the level-descent: garments fell from being included in Atzilut as its garments to ruling alone; not that they spread forth, but that Atzilut departed; left as worlds on their own lacking the body they had been clothing — the death of the kings) and the breaking (the destructive manner of ruling: parts not in orderly balance; destruction took control; the vessels in their broken state constitute the measure of all the different kinds of damage that can exist — what was not calculated at the outset could not come into being afterwards). The chapter's deepest theodicy-claim sits here: every kind of evil possible in the world is determined by the broken vessels' parts. Empty of light means empowered to produce evil precisely because unity-light has withdrawn — leaving the harsh judgment-aspect alone. Yet the light did not altogether cease — even at the great fall, 288 sparks descended with the vessels — because the ultimate distant intention was always only to turn this great destruction into a total perfect repair. The 288 sparks are the substance of every birur the world's history then performs: each one sifted, each one elevated, each one contributing to the new MaH light Op. 47 will introduce.
fall_vs_breaking, atzilut_concealed_for_construction, pipes_under_construction, 288_sparks, new_mah, evil_will_not_dwell_with_you.Op. 46 is THE BREAKING chapter — the structural climax of the Nekudim unit. The fall-vs.-breaking distinction; the pipes-under-construction analogy; Psalms 5:5 ("Evil will not dwell with You"); 288 sparks; new MaH forecast. Forecasts Op. 41.