23. Now the statement of the Sages cited above can be properly understood:28See section 15. “Initially, it was God’s intent to create the world through the attribute of judgment” – that is, through the Malkhut of the first constriction, which is the attribute of judgment.29fter the placement of the partition resulting from the first constriction, Malkhut was unable to directly receive the supernal light.
As a result, Malkhut operates as a force that limits the light and imposes darkness upon the vessels. This limiting dynamic is the “attribute of judgement” discussed here. The term “world” should be explained as referring to the Ze’er Anpin and Nukba of Atzilut, which are called “world.” It can also be interpreted as referring to this world, which receives supernal light from the level of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba of Atzilut, for everything that is received in the level of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba of Atzilut can be received by human beings in this world, whereas anything that is not received in the level of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba of Atzilut cannot be received by human beings in this world, as we cannot receive from any level above the level of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba in Atzilut.30This level of Atzilut can be thought of as a sort of divine root of our world.
There are many levels that are higher than this level of Atzilut, but since they are beyond the root of our world, and similarly, beyond the root of our very selves, we have no way of accessing them. If we think of the different levels and layers as coverings or filters for the supernal light, then the intensity or radiance of the supernal light above this level of Atzilut is beyond our capacity. Only after it is filtered through this layer does it begin to reach states that are accessible to us.
The root of our souls derives from Ze'er Anpin and Nukba, the root of this world. Therefore, since the root of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba is below the navel of Adam Kadmon, where the Malkhut of the attribute of judgment is dominant, Ze’er Anpin and Nukbacannot receive the supernal light and continue to exist, on account of the constriction of Malkhut which controls them. All the more so, this world cannot exist.31At this point in the discussion, the author of the Sulam is addressing the state of things if there would not have been a second constriction, which is the ascent of Malkhut to Bina.
He does so in order to substantiate the explanation of the words of the Sages regarding the partnering of judgment with mercy to create the world. The issue here is that the root in Adam Kadmon of the lower part of the world of Atzilut, which is Ze’er Anpin and Nukba, is positioned below the navel of Adam Kadmon. This area of the partzuf of Adam Kadmon is the end of that higher partzuf, the area where the supernal light cannot enter.
This means that the supernal light has no way of reaching Ze’er Anpin and Nukba, which is the partzuf and level of Atzilut that is the root of our world. Accordingly, in this state, our world cannot exist, as it would have no access to the supernal light that provides lifeforce for existence. As the author of the Sulam goes on to explain, the ascent of Malkhut to Bina allows for Ze’er Anpin and Nukba to ascend to the higher level of Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna, the roots of which are above the navel of Adam Kadmon.
It is this elevation that allows for our world to exist, as it allows Ze’er Anpin and Nukba to receive supernal light, and in turn, to transmit that light to the lower levels.