Section: Partzufim (Openings 70–73)
This opens the new section unit Partzufim (Op. 70-73) — building on Op. 17's introductory Sefirah-vs.-Partzuf distinction and Op. 12's Likeness of Man. The chapter defines what a Partzuf actually is. Two parts: (Part 1) A Partzuf is how a single light spreads and is revealed in all its particulars in one order — interior + exterior; higher + lower; all bound in one order, joined to one another, governed by one overall governmental law, each per its own function. Inner-outer = the measure of thickness (ovi; breadth — how things are clothed one within another: e.g., Chochmah-Binah-Daat within Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferet within Netzach-Hod-Yesod). Higher-lower = the measure of height (shiur hakomah — proximity to root vs. spread to lower world). Bound in one order = Likeness of Man (Op. 12). Mechanism: koneniyut — "like a clock whose wheels meet and one small wheel moves many great wheels" (Daat Tevunot p. 101). Joined to one another: when one level aroused, connected level also aroused; spirit (ruach) goes around through whole body (Op. 34 Part 2). One overall governmental law = the heart (Tiferet, the center) which through its blood and spirit governs all limbs/organs per their individual nature. Government emerges from the "understanding heart" — where Binah, Tiferet, and Malchut are joined together. (Part 2) The 613 parts. To be a Partzuf, a Sefirah must be differentiated into particular details; the total number is 613 — integral to the Likeness of Man (calculated by the Supreme Mind for the required character of the world). Each part is further built of smaller details (per complete perfection).
This is the unit-opening chapter for Partzufim (Op. 70-73). After Op. 59-69 detailed the World of Repair, Op. 70 turns to the question: what, formally, is a Partzuf? Answer: the formal mode of government — a single light spread into 613 differentiated, interconnected parts, governed by one overall law (the heart) operating through coupled-wheels (koneniyut) and a circulating spirit (ruach).
Part 1 — Definition. A Partzuf = a single light spread and revealed in 613 particulars. Three architectural features: (a) interior/exterior (measure of thickness, ovi); (b) higher/lower (measure of height, shiur hakomah); (c) bound in one order (Likeness of Man) governed by one overall governmental law (the heart). Mechanism: koneniyut (clock-wheels — Daat Tevunot p. 101) + circulating spirit (Op. 34).
Part 2 — 613 parts. Differentiation into particular details = required for Sefirah to become Partzuf. Total = 613 (Likeness of Man). Each part built of smaller details per complete perfection.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
הפרטים הנבחנים בפרצוף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Partzuf – a complete mode of government with 613 parts Plain English: Theme: Partzuf = complete mode of government with 613 parts.
Concepts: partzuf_definition_613_parts, partzuf, 613_parts_per_partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
פרצוף הוא מה שאור אחד מתפשט ומתגלה בכל פרטיו, בסדר אחד, שבו איזה חלקים נשארים פנימים, ואיזה חיצונים, איזה עליונים, ואיזה תחתונים. וכולם מקושרים בסדר אחד, להיות מתחברים אלה באלה, ומתנהגים על פי הנהגה אחת כללית, כל אחד לפי ענינו. וכללותם הם תרי"ג חלקים, כל אחד בנוי אחר כך מכמה חלקים קטנים, כמו שצריך לשלמותו.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> A Partzuf is how a single light spreads and is revealed in all its particulars in one order in which certain parts remain interior while others are exterior, some are higher and others lower. All of them are bound together in one order so as to be joined to one another and governed by one overall governmental law, each in accordance with its own function. Altogether there are 613 parts, each of which is in turn built of a number of smaller parts as required for its complete perfection. Plain English: Six claims: (1) Partzuf = single light spread and revealed in all its particulars in one order; (2) interior + exterior; (3) higher + lower; (4) bound together in one order, joined to one another, governed by one overall governmental law; (5) each per its own function; (6) altogether 613 parts, each built of smaller parts per complete perfection.
Concepts: partzuf_definition_613_parts, measure_of_thickness_ovi, shiur_hakomah_measure_of_height, understanding_heart_governance, 613_parts_per_partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
אחר התיקון היה הענין שהספירות נעשו פרצופים, וזה מה שנבאר עתה. אך בתחלה צריך לבאר מהו ענין הפרצוף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> After the repair, the Sefirot were made into Partzufim, and this is what we will now discuss. The first thing that must be explained is the concept of a Partzuf. Plain English: After the repair, Sefirot were made into Partzufim. First: concept of a Partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלקי המאמר הזה ב'. ח"א, פרצוף, והוא מה צריך להיות ליקרא פרצוף. ח"ב, וכללותם הם תרי"ג, והוא מה הם אורות של הפרצוף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> This proposition consists of two parts. Part 1: A Partzuf... This explains under what conditions the term Partzuf is applied. Part 2: Altogether there are 613... This explains the lights that make up the Partzuf. Plain English: Two parts: (1) conditions for the term Partzuf; (2) the 613 lights making up the Partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק א: פרצוף הוא מה שאור אחד מתפשט ומתגלה בכל פרטיו, כבר נתבאר למעלה ההפרש שיש בין ספירה לפרצוף. ושם נאמר ענין זה לבאר ההבדל שבין זה לזה, לפי ענין צפיית המרכבה. אך עתה צריך לפרש בפרט ענין הפרצוף, לפי מה שצריך להבין אחר כך ההנהגה. ושם אמרנו כבר, שהוא אחד מן הכחות שמפרט חלקיו ותנאיו בגילוי:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 1: A Partzuf is how a single light spreads and is revealed in all its particulars... The difference between a Sefirah and a Partzuf has already been explained above (Opening 17). Our purpose there was to explain the difference in the way they appear in the prophetic vision of the Chariot (i.e. to explain the place of each in the Chariot, which is a composite of all the modes of divine government). Now, however, it is necessary to discuss the concept of Partzuf in more detail in order to provide the necessary foundation to understand the governmental order later on. As stated above, a Partzuf is one of the powers (i.e. Sefirot) that becomes differentiated into its constituent parts and conditions in a revealed way. Plain English: Op. 17 cross-ref: difference between Sefirah and Partzuf re: prophetic vision of Chariot. Now: more detail — foundation for understanding governmental order. Partzuf = one of the powers (Sefirot) that becomes differentiated into its constituent parts and conditions in a revealed way.
Concepts: partzuf, sefirot_class.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
בסדר אחד - הסדר של הפרטים של דמות אדם הנזכר למעלה:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...in one order... This is the order or organizational basis governing the arrangement of all of the individual details that make up the Likeness of Man, as discussed earlier (Opening 12). Plain English: One order = organizational basis governing arrangement of all individual details making up the Likeness of Man (Op. 12).
Concepts: dmut_adam, partzuf_definition_613_parts.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
שבו איזה חלקים נשארים פנימים, ואיזה חיצונים, היינו כללות מה שצריך להבחין לפי דמות אדם - הוא מה שתלוי בפנימיות וחיצוניות, דהיינו החלקים פנימים וחיצונים. ובכאן נכלל ענין נשמה וגוף. ובגוף עצמו ג' כלים - פנימי חיצון ותיכון, וכן גוף ולבושים, וכן אור פנימי ואור מקיף. וכל מה שנדרש בענין זה מצד המצב של המדרגות, זה בתוך זה, ונקרא זה "שיעור העובי", ומובן בזה התלבשות הדברים.
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...in which certain parts remain interior while others are exterior... In terms of the Likeness of Man, a fundamental distinction must be made between the interior and the exterior – i.e. the internal and external parts. Included here is the concept of the soul and the body. In the body there are three vessels: internal, external and intermediary. Moreover, we distinguish between the body and its garments, and likewise between inner light and encompassing light and all the other aspects discussed in the Kabbalistic writings in connection with the various states of the different levels, one within the other. This is called the "measure of the thickness" (עובי, ovi) or "breadth". What is understood by this is the way things are clothed one within another (e.g. Chochmah-Binah-Daat within Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet, which are within Netzach-Hod-Yesod). Plain English: Interior/exterior in Likeness of Man — fundamental distinction between internal and external parts. Includes: soul/body; three vessels in body (internal/external/intermediary); body/garments; inner light + encompassing light. Called the measure of thickness (ovi / breadth). Clothed one within another: e.g., Chochmah-Binah-Daat within Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferet within Netzach-Hod-Yesod.
Concepts: measure_of_thickness_ovi, inner_light_outer_light, vessel_kli, chochmah, binah, daat.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ועוד שתלוי בענין ראש וסוף, עליון ותחתון. וזהו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Another fundamental distinction is between the head or start and the end, and between upper and lower, as the proposition goes on to say: Plain English: Another fundamental distinction: head/start vs. end; upper vs. lower.
Concepts: shiur_hakomah_measure_of_height.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
איזה עליונים ואיזה תחתונים, דהיינו מה קרוב להשורש, או מה מתפשט יותר לגבי מטה. וזהו "שיעור הקומה", שכל עליון גבוה בענינו מן התחתון ממנו, ומובן בזה ההשתלשלות. ועוד שתלוי בהם קשר האורות זה בזה. וזהו:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...some are higher and others lower. Things can be higher or lower in terms of their proximity to the root or the extent to which they spread in relation to the lower world. This is the "measure of the height" (שיעור הקומה, shiur hakomah): every upper level has a higher function than the level below it. These concepts enable us to understand the developmental sequence governing the emergence of the Partzufim and also how the lights are connected with one another. Plain English: Higher/lower = proximity to root vs. spread toward lower world. Called measure of height (shiur hakomah). Every upper level has higher function than level below. Enables understanding of developmental sequence and how lights are connected.
Concepts: shiur_hakomah_measure_of_height, partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כולם מקושרים בסדר אחד, באותו הדמות הפרטי, שהוא דמות אדם. ומובן בזה ענין קשר המדרגות זה בזה, וכן הסמכם זה בזה בסוד הכונניות. ועוד מה שתלו בענין החבורים וההרכבות:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> All of them are bound together in one order... i.e. in that same particular form or likeness, namely the Likeness of Man. Through this we can understood the way the levels are linked to one another and likewise how they depend on one another through the principle of mechanical interaction (כונניות, koneniyut, "like a clock whose wheels meet and one small wheel moves many great wheels" – Daat Tevunot p. 101). Various other Kabbalistic concepts also relate to the way the different levels join together and interact. Plain English: Bound in one order = Likeness of Man. Levels linked and depend on one another through koneniyut (mechanical interaction): "like a clock whose wheels meet and one small wheel moves many great wheels" (Daat Tevunot p. 101).
Concepts: dmut_adam, koneniyut_clock_interaction, structural_coupling.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
להיות מתחברים אלה באלה, שנרכב חלק אחד עם חבירו, לעמוד בחיבור לפי ההנהגה. ומובן בזה חיבורי המדרגות בהנהגתם, שבהתעורר אחת - מתעוררת אותה שמתחברת עמה. ועוד מה שתלוי ברוח הסובב בכל הגוף:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...so as to be joined to one another... Each part is joined with another to work in combination as required by the governmental order. Thus the different levels join together to rule in such a way that when one level is aroused, the level connected with it is also aroused. In addition, there is a spirit (רוח, ruach) that goes around through the whole body (see above, Opening 34 Part 2). Plain English: Each part joined with another to work in combination per the governmental order. When one level is aroused, the level connected with it is also aroused. Spirit (ruach) goes around through the whole body (Op. 34 Part 2).
Concepts: structural_coupling, spirit_circulating_through_body, irrigation_of_the_tree, koneniyut_clock_interaction.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
ומתנהגים על פי הנהגה אחת כללית, והוא ענין הלב המנהג כל האברים לפי ענינם, בדם שלו וברוח שבו. כן הנהגת כל הפרצוף יוצא משורש, שהוא קשר הפרצוף ההוא בסוד הלב מבין, והוא פרטיות אחד עומד לצורך זה, שבו מתחברים בינה ת"ת ומלכות ביחד, ומשם ההנהגה יוצא בעומק ואמת:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...and governed by one overall governmental law... This is the "heart" (i.e. Tiferet, the center) which, through its blood and through the spirit (רוח, ruach) within it, governs all the different limbs and organs in accordance with their individual nature. This is how the government of the entire Partzuf emerges from the root, which is the connective bond of the Partzuf through the mystery of the "understanding heart". This is a particular facet that stands for this purpose, whereby Binah, Tiferet and Malchut are joined together, and from there the government emerges in its full depth and truth. Plain English: One overall law = the heart (Tiferet, the center), which through blood and spirit (ruach) within it, governs all limbs and organs per their individual nature. Government of entire Partzuf emerges from root — connective bond through the mystery of the understanding heart = Binah, Tiferet, Malchut joined together. From there government emerges in full depth and truth.
Concepts: understanding_heart_governance, binah, daat, chessed, din, rachamim, partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כל אחד לפי ענינו, זה פשוט, שהרי הוא כמו הלב ממש שמנהיג כל האברים, כמ"ש:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...each in accordance with its own function. Each part or limb of the Partzuf is governed by the "heart" in accordance with the nature and function of the part in question. This is obvious, because this overall law is literally like the heart, which governs all the limbs. Plain English: Each part/limb governed by the heart per its nature and function. Overall law literally like the heart, which governs all limbs.
Concepts: understanding_heart_governance, partzuf.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
חלק ב: וכללותם הם תרי"ג חלקים, להיות פרצוף צריך שיהיה מפורט בפרטיו. אך האמת הוא, שהפרטים הם תרי"ג, והם סוד דמות אדם, שכך שיערה המחשבה העליונה שצריך להעמיד העולם בתכונה שצריך:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> Part 2: Altogether there are 613 parts... To be a Partzuf, the Sefirah must be differentiated into its particular details. But the truth is that the total number of details is 613. This number is integral to the mystery of the Likeness of Man, for the Supreme Mind calculated that this was what was necessary in order to give the world the required character. Plain English: Part 2. To be a Partzuf, Sefirah must be differentiated into particular details. Total number = 613. Integral to Likeness of Man: Supreme Mind calculated this was necessary to give the world the required character.
Concepts: 613_parts_per_partzuf, partzuf_definition_613_parts, dmut_adam, exact_measure_of_roots.
Source — Hebrew (קל"ח פתחי חכמה):
כל אחד בנוי אחר כך מכמה חלקים קטנים, גם זה בסוד דמות אדם, שכל חלק בנוי מפרטים קטנים רבים: כמו שצריך לשלמותו, גם זה משוער בשיעור זה ששיערה המחשבה העליונה, להביא אל השלמות:
Source — English (Greenbaum):
> ...each of which is in turn built of a number of smaller parts... This is also integral to the mystery of the Likeness of Man: each part is built of numerous small details. ...as required for its complete perfection. This was also part of the calculation made by the Supreme Mind in order to lead to complete perfection. Plain English: Each part built of numerous small details — integral to Likeness of Man. Required for complete perfection. Part of Supreme Mind's calculation.
Concepts: 613_parts_per_partzuf, dmut_adam, laws_of_perfection.
Op. 70 opens the new section unit Partzufim (Op. 70-73) by defining what a Partzuf is. After Op. 59-69 culminated in the claim that "the Partzufim govern the worlds", Op. 70 supplies the formal definition. Part 1: a Partzuf is how a single light spreads and is revealed in all its particulars in one order. The one order has three architectural features: (a) interior/exterior (the measure of thickness, ovi — the clothing-within-clothing structure: Chochmah-Binah-Daat within Chesed-Gevurah-Tiferet within Netzach-Hod-Yesod; soul-body, body-garments, inner-light + encompassing-light, three vessels — internal/external/intermediary); (b) higher/lower (the measure of height, shiur hakomah — proximity to root vs. spread to lower world; every upper level has a higher function than the level below it); (c) bound in one order — the Likeness of Man (Op. 12). The operational mechanism: koneniyut — "like a clock whose wheels meet and one small wheel moves many great wheels" (Daat Tevunot p. 101). When one level is aroused, the connected level is also aroused; a spirit (ruach) goes around through the whole body (Op. 34 Part 2). The one overall governmental law is the heart — Tiferet, the center, which through its blood and spirit governs all limbs and organs per their individual nature. The deepest governing-faculty is the "understanding heart" — Binah, Tiferet, and Malchut joined together — from which the government emerges in its full depth and truth. Part 2: the total number of differentiated parts in a Partzuf is 613. Integral to the Likeness of Man; the Supreme Mind calculated this number as what was necessary to give the world the required character. Each part is further built of smaller details per complete perfection. The 613-architecture is the operational form of human service in the cosmic Partzuf-system — each mitzvah corresponds to one part of the Likeness of Man; each transgression flaws one; each fulfillment repairs one. With this definition in place, the unit can proceed to detail how Partzufim emerge, how they couple, and how they actually govern the worlds.
partzuf_definition_613_parts, measure_of_thickness_ovi, shiur_hakomah_measure_of_height, koneniyut_clock_interaction, understanding_heart_governance, spirit_circulating_through_body, 613_parts_per_partzuf.Op. 70 opens the Partzufim unit with the formal definition: a single light differentiated into 613 parts in one order. Three architectural features: measure of thickness (ovi); measure of height (shiur hakomah); bound in Likeness of Man. The understanding heart (Binah-Tiferet-Malchut joined); koneniyut (mechanical-clock interaction; Daat Tevunot p. 101); circulating spirit (ruach). Forecasts Op. 12, 17, 34.