378. HE ASKS: Why is THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE called "dry land"? Rabbi Yitzchak replied: This is one of which it is written, "The bread of affliction (lit. 'poverty')" (Devarim 16:3). It is written: "oni (poverty)" WITHOUT THE LETTER VAV, THEREBY ALLUDING TO THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE WHEN SHE HAS CHOCHMAH WITHOUT CHASSADIM. AT THAT TIME, SHE IS CALLED "THE BREAD OF POVERTY," BECAUSE SHE CANNOT SHINE. Because she is CONSIDERED THEN TO HAVE THE NAME, "The bread of affliction," she is also called "dry land" AS WELL, WITHOUT THE WATERS THAT ARE THE MOCHIN. THEREFORE, THE FEMALE PRINCIPLE absorbs into herself all the waters of the world, NAMELY THE LIGHT OF CHOCHMAH THAT INCLUDES THE ENTIRE MOCHIN OF THE UPPER THREE SFIROT. NEVERTHELESS, she remains dry until this place, NAMELY YESOD THAT IS CALLED "ONE PLACE," fills her up WITH THE LIGHT OF CHASSADIM. The waters then flow throughout the sources OF ABUNDANCE FROM YESOD THROUGH THE ENCLOTHING OF CHOCHMAH WITH CHASSADIM.