Section: The World of Repair (Openings 59–69)
This chapter specifies the operational mechanism by which the broken vessels first gained the power to ascend: the folding of the legs of Arich Anpin. Three parts: (Part 1) The folding of the legs of Arich Anpin gave the broken vessels their first power to ascend — initiated all subsequent ascents. From then on, through this initial power, vessels can rise to all heights befitting them. Note 1: legs of a Partzuf = NHY (Netzach-Hod-Yesod); arms and chest = CGT (Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet). The folding of legs to chest takes meaning from the embryo's position in the womb. The proximity of folded legs to arms/chest signifies how lower levels are elevated to receive power from higher levels. Note 2: apparent difficulty — this folding took place after emergence of Atik/Arich/Abba/Imma (Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2). Possible answer: Arich Anpin here may refer to Arich Anpin of the ten Nekudim — i.e. their Keter (which was not broken); the source of the upper-three Sefirot of the first Atzilut which rectify ABYA. (Part 2) The vessels were dependent on these legs. Even when fallen below, a certain radiation (he'arah) reached them — sustaining them — from the legs of Arich. So: legs below + radiated → vessels sustained below. Legs folded up → arousal of return (hachazarah) reaches vessels → they ascend with the legs. (Part 3) Why Arich Anpin specifically: Arich is root of everything; these vessels must also be rooted in Arich. Legs = the part of Arich in which vessels were rooted during descent (nothing lower than legs; the vessels' lowly status matched the lowliest part of Arich). After the folding: vessels also rooted in Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet of Arich (Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2) — as the extent of their repair increased.
This is the unit's ninth chapter — Op. 66 said Coupling, Pregnancy, Birth describes how new Partzufim come into being. Op. 67 turns to what made the very first ascent of the broken vessels possible: the folding of the legs of Arich Anpin. Three parts.
Part 1 — The folding initiated all ascents. Arich's legs folding gave broken vessels first ascent-power; from then on, all subsequent ascents possible. Notes: legs = NHY; arms/chest = CGT (Sefirot-anatomy). Embryo-image. Apparent difficulty re: timing resolved by reading Arich Anpin as Arich-of-the-ten-Nekudim = their Keter (not broken).
Part 2 — Vessels dependent on legs. Sustained by radiation from the legs even when fallen below. Folding → hachazarah (arousal of return) → vessels ascend.
Part 3 — Why Arich. Arich = root of everything. Vessels initially rooted in legs (lowest part) per their lowly descent-status. After folding: also rooted in CGT of Arich (higher; Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2).
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
קיפול רגלי א"א:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The legs of Arich Anpin sustained the broken vessels; the folding of the legs repaired and elevated them. Plain English: Theme: legs of Arich sustained broken vessels; folding of legs repaired and elevated them.
Concepts: folding_of_legs, arich_anpin, tikkun_repair, breaking_of_the_vessels.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
קיפול רגלי א"א היה הכח הראשון שניתן לכלים הנשברים להתעלות. ומשם והלאה יכלו להיות כל העליות שבהם. והאמת, שהכלים היו תלוים באלה הרגלים, ובתחלה היו מתקיימים על ידם למטה. ובהקפלם - ניתן גם בכלים כח החזרה למעלה. וזה מה שא"א הוא שורש לכל, וזה היה החלק של א"א, שבו היו נשרשים הכלים בזמן רדתם. ואחר כך נשרשו גם בחג"ת, כשנתוסף בהם התיקון:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The folding of the legs of Arich Anpin was what first gave the broken vessels the power to ascend, making possible all their subsequent ascents. The truth is that the vessels were dependent upon these legs. At first they were sustained through them down below. Then, when the legs were folded up, this gave the vessels the power to return and go back up. It is in this sense that Arich Anpin (of the first Atzilut) is the root of everything. The legs were the part of Arich Anpin in which the vessels were rooted during the time of their descent. Then afterwards (as a result of the folding of the legs) they also became rooted in Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet as the extent of their repair increased. Plain English: Six claims: (1) folding of legs gave first power to ascend → all subsequent ascents possible; (2) vessels dependent on these legs; (3) at first sustained through them below; (4) folding up → power to return up; (5) Arich Anpin = root of everything; (6) legs = part of Arich in which vessels rooted during descent; afterwards rooted in CGT as repair increased.
Concepts: folding_of_legs, vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich, vessels_rerooted_in_chesed_gevurah_tiferet, arich_anpin_as_essential_root, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה ג'. ח"א, קיפול רגלי א"א, והוא ענין קיפול רגלי א"א. ח"ב, והאמת, ענין הקיפול הזה איך גורם, מה שגורם לכלים. ח"ג, וזה מה וכו', טעם למה בא"א היה ענין זה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This proposition has three parts. Part 1: The folding of the legs of Arich Anpin… This explains the concept of the folding of the legs of Arich Anpin. Part 2: The truth is… How this folding causes what it causes to the vessels. Part 3: It is in this sense… This explains the reason why it was in Arich Anpin that this occurred. Plain English: Three parts: (1) concept of folding; (2) how it causes what it causes; (3) why Arich Anpin specifically.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: קיפול רגלי א"א היה הכח הראשון שניתן לכלים הנשברים להתעלות, שאנחנו רואים שהוצרכה עליה זאת של הרגלים, להעלות הכלים למעלה בפעם ראשונה, ולא הוצרך עוד בעניני הכלים שום דבר מא"א. אך הענין הוא, שלהביאם לידי עליה - הוצרך כן. ומשם והלאה, בכח הקיפול הזה יעלו כל העליות הראויות להם. וזה: משם והלאה יכלו להיות כל העליות שבהם, שזאת היתה הפעולה, שחידש ענין זה של עליה בכלים:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> NOTE 1: The concept of the folding of the legs takes its meaning from the way the legs of the embryo in the womb are folded up to its chest. Kabbalistically, the legs of a Partzuf are Netzach-Hod-Yesod, while the arms and chest are Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet. The proximity of the folded legs to the arms and chest signifies how the lower levels are elevated in order to receive power from the higher levels. > NOTE 2: There is an apparent difficulty in this Opening since the folding of the legs of the Partzuf of Arich Anpin took place after the emergence of the Partzufim of Atik, Arich Anpin, Abba and Imma, as a preparation for the repair of the Partzuf of Zeir Anpin (see Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2). Here, however, the folding of the legs of Arich Anpin is explained as a general preparation for the repair of the vessels, out of which all the Partzufim were subsequently built, including that of Arich Anpin. The intent may be that there was already a similar folding of the legs in the overall Arich Anpin or Adam Kadmon in relation to the broken vessels, which were seven Nekudot or "points" in the relative category of Zeir Anpin. Thus in the present Opening, Arich Anpin may refer to Arich Anpin of the ten Nekudim – i.e. to their Keter, which was not broken. This is the source of the upper three Sefirot of the first Atzilut, which were not broken, and which rectify Atzilut-Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah – including Arich Anpin, which is the Keter – of the second Atzilut. > > Part 1: The folding of the legs of Arich Anpin was what first gave the broken vessels the power to ascend... We see that this raising of the legs was necessary in order to lift up the vessels for the first time, and nothing further was required from Arich Anpin with respect to the vessels. It was to give the vessels the ability to ascend that this folding of the legs was necessary, and from then on, through the power gained thereby, they can rise to all the heights befitting them. ...making possible all their subsequent ascents. It was this action of folding the legs that initiated the ability of the vessels to ascend. Plain English: Note 1: folding of legs takes meaning from embryo's legs folded to chest. Kabbalistically: legs of Partzuf = NHY; arms and chest = CGT. Proximity of folded legs to arms/chest signifies lower levels elevated to receive power from higher. Note 2: apparent difficulty — Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2 places folding after emergence of Atik/Arich/Abba/Imma (preparation for Zeir's repair). Here: explained as general preparation for vessel-repair. Possible: Arich here = Arich of ten Nekudim — their Keter (not broken) — source of upper-three of first Atzilut which rectify ABYA. Part 1: folding first gave broken vessels power to ascend. Nothing further required from Arich; from then on, through power gained, they rise to all heights.
Concepts: folding_of_legs, legs_as_NHY_arms_chest_as_CGT, arich_anpin, partzuf, bya_becomes_abya.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: והאמת, בלא זה גם כן היינו יכולים להבין שגם זה הקיפול היה התעוררות של אור חוזר שהגיע עד הכלים האלה. אך האמת בפרט, הוא זה שנאמר: שהכלים היו תלוים באלה הרגלים, דהיינו כי כבר שמעת, שגם בהיותם למטה, היתה באה להם הארה שהיתה מקיימת אותם. והארה הזאת באה להם משם, כי שם היו תלוים, כדלקמן בחלק ג'. ועל כן כשהוצרכה הארה - באה להם משם, ולשהוצרכה עליה - באה להם משם. וזהו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 2: The truth is... Even without taking into account that, as it goes on to say, it is the legs of Arich Anpin that sustain the vessels, we could still understand this folding of the legs as an arousal of returning light that reached these vessels. Nevertheless, the actual truth is ...that the vessels were dependent on these legs. For you have already heard that even when they were in their fallen state down below, a certain radiation (הארה, he'arah) still reached them, and that is what sustained them. The radiation came to them from there (i.e. from the legs of Arich Anpin), for that is the level on which they were dependent, as explained further in Part 3. Accordingly, during the time when they required a radiation (when they were down below) it came to them from there. And likewise, when they needed to ascend, the power came from there. Accordingly, the proposition continues: Plain English: Could understand folding as arousal of returning light reaching vessels. Actual truth: vessels dependent on these legs. Even when fallen, certain radiation (he'arah) reached them — from the legs of Arich — that is the level on which they were dependent. When required radiation (below): came from there. When needed to ascend: power came from there.
Concepts: vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich, vessels_kept_in_existence_by_source, arich_anpin, radiation_from_chariot, 288_sparks.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ובתחלה היו מתקיימים על ידם למטה, דבר זה נראה ממה שבעלית הרגלים הם עולים, שמע מינה שיש להם תליה באלה הרגלים. ואנו רואים שעד שהוצרכו הכלים להתעכב למטה, היו הרגלים למטה, ומאירים בהם, וכשהוצרכו לעלות - נתקפלו. מכאן נבין שהכלים תלוים באלה הרגלים כנ"ל. וכשהוצרכו לבת למטה, היו הרגלים למטה ומאירים בהם, וכשהוצרכו לעלות - נתקפלו, ועלו אחריהם. וזהו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> At first they were sustained through them down below. This is evident from the fact that with the ascent of the legs, the vessels also ascend. We thus infer that they had some dependency on those legs. We see that as long as the vessels needed to be kept below, the legs were down below and radiated to them, and when the vessels had to rise up, the legs of Arich Anpin were folded up. From this we can understand that the vessels are dependent on these legs, as stated above. When the vessels had to stay below, the legs were below and shined in them. And when the vessels had to ascend, the legs were folded and the vessels ascended after them. Plain English: With the ascent of the legs, vessels also ascend — dependency. Vessels needed below → legs below + radiated. Vessels needed up → legs folded up. Vessels ascended after them.
Concepts: vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich, folding_of_legs.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ובהקפלם - ניתן גם בכלים כח החזרה למעלה, הקיפול נעשה בכח ההתעוררות של החזרה, והגיע התעוררות הזה גם לכלים התלוים בהם, ועלו גם כן:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Then, when the legs were folded up, this gave the vessels the power to return and go back up. The folding of the legs came about through the power of the arousal of the return (החזרה, hachazarah), and this arousal also reached the vessels that were dependent upon them, and they too ascended. Plain English: Folding came about through arousal of return (hachazarah). Arousal also reached the vessels dependent on them → they too ascended.
Concepts: hachazarah_arousal_of_return, folding_of_legs, tikkun_repair.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ג: וזה שא"א הוא שורש לכל - מה שייך [א"א] בכלים, אלא שא"א הוא שורש הכל, וגם אלה הכלים ודאי צריך שיהיו נשרשים בו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 3: It is in this sense that Arich Anpin (of the first Atzilut) is the root of everything. What relation does Arich Anpin have to the vessels? Arich Anpin is the root of everything, and these vessels must also be rooted in Arich Anpin. Plain English: Why Arich? Arich is root of everything; vessels must also be rooted in Arich.
Concepts: arich_anpin_as_essential_root, vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
וזה היה החלק של א"א, שבו היו נשרשים הכלים בזמן רדתם, פחות מרגלים לא יש, ובזמן רדת הכלים היו נשרשים רק בחלק כל כך תחתון, וזה כפי ערכם:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> The legs were the part of Arich Anpin in which the vessels were rooted during the time of their descent. There is nothing lower than the legs, and during the time of their descent, the vessels were rooted only in such a lowly part because of their own lowly status. Plain English: Legs = part of Arich in which vessels rooted during descent. Nothing lower than legs. Vessels rooted in lowly part because of their own lowly status.
Concepts: vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich, arich_anpin, breaking_of_the_vessels.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ואחר כך נשרשו גם בחג"ת, כשנתוסף בהם התיקון, זהו תועלת הקיפול - שנשרשו גם בחג"ת, כמבואר בדברי הרב זללה"ה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Then afterwards (as a result of the folding of the legs) they also became rooted in Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet as the extent of their repair increased. This was what was gained from the folding of the legs – that the vessels also became rooted in Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet of Arich Anpin, as explained in the writings of the ARI (Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2). Plain English: After the folding: vessels also became rooted in CGT (Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet) of Arich. Repair-extent increased. Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2.
Concepts: vessels_rerooted_in_chesed_gevurah_tiferet, chessed, din, rachamim, tikkun_repair.
Op. 67 specifies the operational mechanism by which the broken vessels first gained the power to ascend: the folding of the legs of Arich Anpin. Three parts. Part 1: the folding initiated all subsequent ascents — nothing further was required from Arich Anpin with respect to the vessels; once the first ascent-power was given, the vessels could rise to all the heights befitting them. Note 1 establishes the Sefirot-anatomy mapping: legs of a Partzuf = NHY (Netzach-Hod-Yesod); arms and chest = CGT (Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet). The folding of legs to chest takes its meaning from the way the legs of the embryo in the womb are folded up to its chest — the proximity of the folded legs to the arms and chest signifies how the lower levels are elevated in order to receive power from the higher levels. Note 2 addresses an apparent difficulty: Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2 places the folding after the emergence of Atik/Arich/Abba/Imma — as preparation for Zeir Anpin's repair — but Op. 67 explains it as a general preparation for vessel-repair. The reconciliation: Arich Anpin in Op. 67 may refer to Arich Anpin of the ten Nekudim — their Keter, which was not broken — the source of the upper-three Sefirot of the first Atzilut which rectify ABYA (including the Keter of the second Atzilut). Part 2: the vessels were dependent on these legs. Even when fallen below, a certain radiation (he'arah) reached them — from the legs of Arich — and that is the level on which they were dependent. So when vessels needed to be below, legs were below and shined in them; when they needed to ascend, the legs were folded up and the arousal of return (hachazarah) reached the vessels that were dependent upon them, and they too ascended. Part 3: why Arich Anpin specifically. Arich is the root of everything; the vessels must also be rooted in Arich. During the descent, they were rooted in the legs — the lowliest part of Arich — matching their own lowly descent-status (nothing lower than the legs). After the folding, the vessels also became rooted in Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferet of Arich (Etz Chayim, Shaar Zeir Anpin ch. 2) — a higher part of his structure — as the extent of their repair increased. The folding didn't just lift the legs; it elevated the rooting — repositioning the vessels' attachment-points from NHY-only to also CGT.
folding_of_legs, hachazarah_arousal_of_return, vessels_rooted_in_legs_of_arich, vessels_rerooted_in_chesed_gevurah_tiferet, legs_as_NHY_arms_chest_as_CGT.Op. 67 says the legs of A"A sustained the broken vessels; the folding of the legs repaired and elevated them. First ascent; vessels rerooted from NHY to also CGT.