The word Partzuf (plural Partzufim) literally means "face" or "countenance," but in Kabbalah, it refers to a divine configuration or persona. Think of them as aspects of God, different ways that the Divine manifests. We're talking here specifically about the Partzufim of Atzilut, the realm of emanation.
In the text Kalach Pitchei Chokhmah, we encounter a fascinating proposition about these divine faces, specifically about Abba and Imma. Abba means "father" and Imma means "mother." These aren't literal parents, but represent the divine principles of wisdom (Chochmah) and understanding (Binah), respectively. They're crucial for the unfolding of creation.
So, what’s the proposition? It’s in two parts. First, Abba and Imma must… divide up their lowest part, which is Israel Sabba and Tevunah. These names are a bit dense, so let’s unpack that. Sabba means "old man" in Aramaic, and Tevunah means "understanding" or "discernment." So we have "Israel the Elder" and "Understanding". The Second Israel Sabba-Tevunah are a subdivision of the First Israel Sabba-Tevunah.
Think of it like this: Abba and Imma are vast, encompassing principles. To make their influence more specific and focused, they essentially "delegate" certain functions. That's where the Israel Sabba and Tevunah come in, acting as subdivisions of Abba and Imma, respectively.
Altogether, the main Partzufim make up a total of five, embodying the entire array of the Ten Sefirot of the world in question. (Arich Anpin is Keter, Abba is Chochmah and Imma is Binah, while Zeir Anpin is Chessed-Gevurah-Tiferet-Netzach-Hod-Yesod and Nukva is Malchut.) These Sefirot are the ten attributes or emanations through which God manifests in the world.
Now, the second part of the proposition explains the reason for this subdivision. Abba and Imma subdivide their Sefirot into whatever levels are required. Thus Abba, the First Israel Sabba, and the Second Israel Sabba are all Abba. But when certain separate functions and powers are given to his Malchut, we find these two other Partzufim – although Abba is the one that is actually operating. The same applies to Imma in relation to the First and Second Tevunah.
Essentially, Abba and Imma are the source. They’re the power behind it all. But to get things done, to manifest their influence in a detailed and specific way, they need to create these "sub-personalities," these specialized aspects of themselves. It's like a CEO delegating tasks to different departments within a company. The CEO is still in charge, but each department has its own focus and responsibilities.
What does this tell us? Maybe it’s about the way the Divine operates in the world. It’s not a monolithic force, but a complex, multi-faceted reality that constantly adapts and subdivides to meet the needs of creation. And perhaps, it tells us something about ourselves too. Maybe we also have different "faces," different aspects of our personality that we bring to bear in different situations, all while remaining fundamentally ourselves. Just like Abba and Imma, we contain multitudes.