Olam Ha'Atzilut ("The World of Emanation") Ten stages (partzufim--figures) of the world of Atzilut--exclusive consciousness of Divine unity.
Abba	Imma	Abba Ila'ah	Imma Ila'ah	Yisrael Sabba
Tevunah	Ze'ir Anpin	Nukvah D'Ze'ir Anpin	Leah	Rachel

Rachel

In the imagery of Kabbalah, partzuf Rachel is initially situated "back-to-back" (the "back" of Rachel to the "back" of Ze'ir Anpin) from the "back" of the "chest" of Ze'ir Anpin to the "back" of his "feet."

In the soul, partzuf Rachel represents the "letters of speech." Just as speech is "the revealed world," so is Rachel's beauty revealed: "and Rachel was beautiful of figure and beautiful of countenance." Her soul is the secret of the Ten Sayings by which God created the world. Her beauty is the innate beauty of nature.

Jacob fell in love with Rachel. Their union is referred to Kabbalah as the union of "voice" and "speech" (of Jacob it is said: "the voice is the voice of Jacob"). So, in general, it is the level of Jacob that unites with partzuf Rachel.

Though initially "back-to-back" with Ze'ir Anpin, in times of union partzuf Rachel turns "face-to-face" with Ze'ir Anpin. The word "face" means "innerness." In times of union, the innermost level of emotion of the heart (Ze'ir Anpin) becomes one with the innermost expression of speech (Rachel).

The revelation of the ten sefirot of Ze'ir Anpin is that of the Ten Commandments of the giving of the Torah. When Ze'ir Anpin and Rachel unite (in this world, before the coming of Mashiach, their union is not continual, as is the union of Abba and Imma), the Ten Commandments unite and shine through the Ten Sayings of Creation.

The exile of the Jewish People is referred to as the exile of the Divine Presence or the exile of Rachel. In times of exile Rachel becomes "mute." Redemption implies the return of the rectified power of speech to Rachel.

Previous

Next