There is a concept in some of the deepest most esoteric area of Torah understanding which has been explained by using the term Partzufim. The term which means lesser face of G-d or Zeir Anpin. Naturally like all things in Kabbalah, the concept is very deep and also possibly difficult to explain.

The idea has been explained to me like this: When things emanate from the world of creation, as created by G-d, they tend to reveal (or manifest) themselves in this world in a package of five things. In other words in order to even understand or see something as a tangible object thing, or creation which exists in this world, that, that thing consists of five attributes, which directly connect to the spherot (energy levels) of 5 specific emanations which originated from G-d. These attributes rather than descending from Ayin Sof (the endless one, a concept attempting to explain an idea about G-d, explained elsewhere as the undifferentiated state of G-d, or G-d before the cosmic creation) as five distinct characteristics, one at a time, rather they emanate as one “packet” which consist of five distinct attributes.

A simple example to help illustrate the idea is that when one attempts to explain an idea that a person simply is not understanding, they often need to explain it utilizing several different examples. For example if someone wanted to explain the concept of  how the energy contained in fossil fuel original came from the sun, they might begin by explaining how during the process photosynthesis CO2 and H2O is converted by green plants into another form of energy known as carbohydrates. The carbohydrates were then consumed by large carnivores, when these large carnivores died and later decomposed producing the the fossil fuel known as oil. When we put gas in our car, we are burning a derivative of these fossil fuels, and in the process releasing carbon dioxide  back into the atmosphere.

Therefore if one simply stated that the energy which our car runs from originally came from the sun, a person who was familiar enough with science would understand these five distinct characteristics of the non-renewable energy source  that we know of as oil. Therefore the one concept which has come to exist in our world, is comprised of no less than 5 specific attributes, which has been explained a  Partzufim (or lesser face) Zeir Anpin, the small face of G-d.

The specific quality of Partzufim, is that the entire packet, becomes manifest at once.

Massada Ramp

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Tags: Ayin Sof, Partzufim, Zeir Anpin