The first Correction (formation)

89. Rabbi Yitzchak stood up and opened the discussion saying, "Who is El like you, who pardons iniquity...he will again have compassion upon us... You will show truth to Jacob..." (Michah 7:18-20). We have learned that thirteen shapes appear here IN THIS SCRIPTURAL VERSE - all emanate from the thirteen springs of the anointing oil of the THIRTEEN Corrections (formations) of the holy beard of the most Ancient One, the concealed of all that is concealed, ARICH ANPIN. We have learned that the beard shapes are hidden and veiled, concealed yet not concealed, covered and not covered, known through its shapes, aware but not clearly, MEANING TO SAY, HE IS REVEALED AND KNOWN TO THOSE WORTHY OF HIM. TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT WORTHY OF HIM, HE IS HIDDEN AND NOT KNOWN.

90. We have already learned the first principle that every single hair, however minute and insignificant, does not bond to its neighboring hair. The fine hairs of the beard begin to form according to the form of the hair in the head, MEANING THEY BEGIN AT THE SIDES OF THE HEAD.

91. Here we have to scrutinize to see whether all the minute hairs of the head and the minute hairs of the glorious supreme beard are all included in one hair, MEANING THAT THEY ARE OF ONE LEVEL AND FLOW FROM ONE ROOT - FROM THE MEMBRANE OF AIR - IF SO, why are these HAIRS OF THE HEAD long, and these HAIRS OF THE BEARD not so long? Why are the fine hairs of the beard not very long, but rough, and those of the head are not so rough, but rather smooth?

92. HE ANSWERS: All the hairs of the head and beard are in measure, EACH ACCORDING TO ITS PARTICULAR ASPECT. Those of the head are long to the shoulders to reach the top of Zeir Anpin, from the inspiration of his own brain to the brain OF ZEIR ANPIN. Therefore, they are not rough but rather soft.

93. We have learned that it is written: "Wisdoms cry aloud in the street" (Mishlei 1:20) and at the end it is written: "She utters her voice in the squares" (Ibid.). The beginning of this verse does not suit the end and its conclusion does not complement its beginning, AS IT BEGINS TO SPEAK IN THE PLURAL FORM "WISDOMS" AND CONCLUDES BY SAYING, "HER VOICE" IN SINGULAR FORM. HE ANSWERS: When it says, "Wisdoms cry aloud in the street," EXPRESSING IT IN THE PLURAL FORM, it refers to when Chochmah flows forth from the concealed brain of Arich Anpin through the hair strands, OF THE HEAD HAIR, to the brain of Zeir Anpin. It is as if externally IN ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH IS OUTSIDE ARICH ANPIN, two brains joins, CHOCHMAH OF ARICH ANPIN AND CHOCHMAH OF ZEIR ANPIN. They integrate into one brain, since the lower brain, IN ZEIR ANPIN, has no existence of its own without the upper brain OF ARICH ANPIN. THAT IS WHY IT IS EXPRESSED IN THE PLURAL "WISDOMS" AS THERE ARE TWO CHOCHMOT. After drawing one from the other, MEANING AFTER CHOCHMAH OF ZEIR ANPIN HAS RECEIVED FROM THE CONCEALED BRAIN, it is written: "She utters her voice," SINCE it is one CHOCHMAH, CHOCHMAH OF ZEIR ANPIN.

94. Because CHOCHMAH is drawn from the brain OF ARICH ANPIN to the brain OF ZEIR ANPIN through these strands of hair OF THE HEAD HAIR, they are not rough. What is the reason? It is because if they would have been rough, Chochmah could not be drawn through them to the brain OF ZEIR ANPIN. This is the reason that Chochmah does not emanate from a person who has harsh and angry character, as it is written: "The words of wise men heard in quiet" (Kohelet 9:17). We learn from here that wisdom does not settle on a man whose head hair is rough.

95. Therefore, THE HAIR ON THE HEAD is long to be of use for everybody. What is for everybody? THAT IS SO THAT CHOCHMAH should enter THROUGH THE HAIR to the spinal cord that gets nourishment from the brain; THEREFORE, THEY ARE LONG TO THE TOP OF THE SHOULDER, SINCE THERE IS THE LOCATION OF THE SPINAL CORD. Therefore, the hair of the head does not hang over the hair of the beard, since the hairs of the head hang and rise above the ear to the back OF THE HEAD. They do not hang on the beard, since they must not be blended the ones with the others, since each one follows its own path.

96. We have learned that all hairs, either of the head or of the beard OF ARICH ANPIN, are white as snow. We have learned that those of the beard are coarse. What is the reason? It is because they are the strongest of the strong, in order to lower TO THE ONES BELOW these thirteen measures OF THE THIRTEEN CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS) OF THE BEARD of the most Ancient One of all, THAT IS ARICH ANPIN. Those THIRTEEN measures originate from the front of the ears. These THIRTEEN measures are concealed so they do not blend with others, WITH THE THIRTEEN MEASURES OF ZEIR ANPIN.

97. If you say that there are no others like them, it is not so. We have learned that the thirteen measures of mercy stem from Atika Kadisha (Eng. 'the ancient Holy One'): "who is El like you" (Michah 7:18) is one; "who pardons iniquity" (Ibid.) is two; "and forgives the transgressions" (Ibid.) is three; "of the remnant of His heritage" (Ibid.) is four; "He does not maintain His anger forever" (Ibid.) is five; "because he delights in mercy" (Ibid.) is six; "He again will have compassion upon us" (Ibid. 19) is seven; "He will suppress our iniquities" (Ibid.) is eight; "and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Ibid.) is nine; "You will show truth to Jacob" (Ibid. 20) is ten; "loyal love to Abraham" (Ibid.) is eleven; "as you have sworn to our fathers" (Ibid.) is twelve and "from days of old" (Ibid.) is thirteen. Corresponding to these, THERE ARE THIRTEEN MEASURES IN ZEIR ANPIN, WHICH ARE: "El, merciful and gracious, slow to anger..." (Shemot 34:6), which are below IN ZEIR ANPIN.

98. You may wonder why Moses did not say all these THIRTEEN MEASURES of the above IN ARICH ANPIN, WHICH ARE, "WHO IS EL LIKE YOU... " BUT SAID RATHER THE "EL, MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS," WHICH ARE THE THIRTEEN MEASURES OF ZEIR ANPIN. HE ANSWERS: It is because Moses required only the place where there is Judgment, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, and where there is Judgment one must not speak of this, THE THIRTEEN MEASURES OF ARICH ANPIN. Moses said that only when Yisrael were sinful and Judgment was impending OVER THEM. Therefore, Moses did not say THE THIRTEEN MEASURES OF MERCY, only in the place where Judgment was dwelling, MEANING IN ZEIR ANPIN. However, for the place where it is the order of prayer OF THE THIRTEEN MEASURES to Atik Yomin (Eng. 'Ancient of Days'), MEANING "WHO IS EL LIKE YOU...," the prophet sets THEM in order.

99. These thirteen Corrections (formations) of the holy upper beard OF ARICH ANPIN are among the hidden most hidden, and strong, so as to break and subdue all verdicts. He who saw the beard of the uppermost holy, most hidden among the concealed, must not be ashamed before it. Due to that, all its hairs are coarse and strong in their shapes.

100. (A) You might say, If so, the hairs below OF ZEIR ANPIN are black. Why then were these not like those OF ARICH ANPIN WHICH ARE WHITE? Because we have learned that it is written: "His locks are wavy, and black as a raven" (Shir Hashirim 5:11), "And the hair of whose head was like the pure wool" (Daniel 7:9), MEANING WHITE. THE SCRIPTURES SEEM TO CONTRADICT EACH OTHER. HE REPLIES: That is no problem. WHERE IT SAYS, "LIKE THE PURE WOOL," it refers to the supernal beard OF ARICH ANPIN and WHERE IT SAYS, "BLACK AS A RAVEN," it refers to the beard below IN ZEIR ANPIN. Thus, when the Torah was given to Yisrael, it was conveyed in black fire over white fire.

(B) The essence of it is that these hairs are from the brain, flowing to the lower brain OF ZEIR ANPIN. They are above the hair of the beard; the beard is separate and the hairs OF THE HEAD are separate.

101. The first Correction (formation) OF THE BEARD HAIR is the Correction (formation) that starts at the top of the head-hair, MEANING AT THE SIDES OF THE HEAD THAT ARE THE BEGINNING OF THE HEAD-HAIR UPWARDS, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THEIR MALCHUT. We have learned that all the Corrections (formations) of the beard are only affected through the brain of the head. Here, BY THE FIRST CORRECTION (FORMATION), he does not explain it that way, SINCE HE SAYS THAT IT IS IN THE SIDES OF THE HEAD, because it is not caused FROM THE BRAIN IN THE HEAD, BUT RATHER FROM THE SIDES OF THE HEAD. Therefore, the first Correction (formation) is such that it descends from the top of the head-hair AND NOT FROM THE CONCEALED BRAIN.

102. From THE COMPOSITION OF this beard, everything that is in the head becomes known. That is the thousand worlds sealed with the pure ring, the ring that is composed of all rings. THAT IS THE SECRET OF THE CONCEALED WISDOM IN THE HEAD OF ARICH ANPIN.

103. The length of each hair that descends in front of the ears is not long, MEANING TO SAY THAT CHOCHMAH ALLUDED TO AS LENGTH BECOMES REVEALED THERE AND THE HAIRS do not cleave to each other. THE HAIRS ARE SHORT and do not fall down. When they grow big, THESE HAIRS flow and hang UPWARD.

104. At the start of the first Correction (formation), there are 31 groups of hair THAT ARE even, extending to the top of the mouth, and 390 strands are contained in each individual group.

105. HE EXPLAINS THE MATTERS IN THE GENERAL SENSE OF THE CORRECTION (FORMATION) AND GOES ON TO SAY: The 31 locks that are EQUALLY even, which are in the first Correction (formation), are coarse, so as to subordinate JUDGMENTS below. They are of the numerical value of El. What is the meaning of El? IT IS a mighty EL, capable OF SUBDUING EVERYTHING. In every lock OF THE ASPECT OF ITS ENTIRETY, there is a division into 31 mighty dominating worlds, to subdue. They then spread out, 31 on this side and 31 on this SIDE OF THE FACE, and each individual world of it divides to a thousand desirable worlds of great delight. All this is concealed at the top of the beard - that is, contains harsh JUDGMENT. ALL are contained in this NAME El and, despite all this, this NAME El is submissive to the compassionate mercy of Atik Yomin. It is contained and spread in it.

106. HE ASKS: Why DOES THE FIRST CORRECTION (FORMATION) EXTEND UNDER THE EARS to the mouth? HEREPLIES, IT IS because it is written: "Sat in judgment, and the books..." (Daniel 7:10). What is the meaning of "sat in judgment," MEANING THAT JUDGMENT sits in its position and does not reign? This is what is written: "Wonderful, counselor, mighty El" (Yeshayah 9:5), meaning El who is mighty, WHICH IS ALLUDED TO IN THE 31 LOCKS OF HAIR, AS MENTIONED ABOVE. He is filled with the aroma of the holy beard of Atik Yomin. The secret of this is written: "Who is El like you" and refers to Atik Yomin, to the first Correction (formation) of the most holy beard.

107. The first world, which extends from this first Correction (formation), dominates and descends and ascends to a thousand of thousands and ten thousand of tens of thousands of shielded beings who hold to it through the measure of a great ring.

108. The second world emerging from this Correction (formation) is dominant and leaves to descend BELOW. It rises to 57,000 levels of wailing beings which hold to it, so as to surrender to the white part of the back of its neck, MEANING IN THE FLESH OF THE BACK OF THE NECK.

109. The third world emerging from this Correction (formation) dominates and descends DOWNWARD and rises to 96,000 lamenting beings. They hold to it via the concealed candle. From this Correction (formation), all are subdued and are filled with the fragrant bitterness of tears that are firmly established in the great sea.

110. Who saw this Correction (formation) of the holy beard, the supernal, the precious, and did not become ashamed by it? Who saw the glory of the locks of the hair hanging from this old one, who is sitting adorned with crowns, THAT ARE THE THIRTEEN CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS) OF THE BEARD REFERRED TO AS CROWNS? These are the crowns of all crowns, SINCE THE BEARD CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS) OF ZEIR ANPIN ARE DRAWN FROM THE BEARD CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS) OF ARICH ANPIN. THEY ARE THE CROWNS OF ALL CROWNS. They are crowns that were not contained in the crowns OF ZEIR ANPIN, MEANING TO SAY, THEY DO NOT DESCEND TO BE CLOTHED IN THEM. They are crowns unlike the rest of the crowns of ZEIR ANPIN, BECAUSE THE CROWNS OF ARICH ANPIN ARE LIKE CLEAN WOOL AND THE CROWNS OF ZEIR ANPIN ARE BLACK LIKE A RAVEN. They are the crowns to which the lower crowns, OF ZEIR ANPIN, hold, BECAUSE THE BEARD CORRECTIONS (FORMATIONS) OF ZEIR ANPIN RECEIVE FROM THE THIRTEEN CORRECTIONS OF THE BEARD IN ARICH ANPIN. That is why these Corrections (formations) WERE ESTABLISHED, so the lower Corrections (formations) OF ZEIR ANPIN would be able to hold to them.

111. The Corrections (formations) were formed, since it is necessary to bless the one who requires a blessing. There are blessings for all the Corrections (formations) that were formed BELOW, and whatever needs to be done is accomplished, WHETHER IT IS A BLESSING FOR CHILDREN, LONGEVITY OR SUSTENANCE. Everything is included and contained in these Corrections (formations) and all straighten THEIR STATURE in accord with the Corrections (formations) of the ancient forceful King who is concealed by all. All are firmly established from these Corrections (formations).

112. We have learned that if the most ancient among the ancient, the most holy among the noly THAT IS ARICH ANPIN, would not have been formed with all these Corrections (formations), the upper and lower beings would not exist. Everything would have been as if it were not, SINCE WITHOUT THEM, THERE WOULD BE NEITHER CHILDREN, LONGEVITY NOR SUSTENANCE, NOT ABOVE AND NOT BELOW. We learn to what extent these beard Corrections (formations) illuminate, up to thirteen. As long as these thirteen exist, those below and the rest illuminate. In the account of these thirteen, there is the beard of the ancient King most precious of all. All as one are concealed and glorious.

113. Since it is honored and concealed from any PROPHET, THE BEARD is not mentioned in the Torah and it is not revealed in it which beard was revealed. It is the beard of the uppermost High Priest, WHICH IS CHESED OF ZEIR ANPIN. This beard descends to the beard of the lower High Priest. The beard of the High Priest, OF ZEIR ANPIN, was formed with eight Corrections (formations) AND, TOGETHER WITH MALCHUT THAT CONTAINS THEM, THEY ARE NINE. Consequently, there are eight Corrections (formations) to the High Priest, when oil runs down on his beard, THAT IS THE EIGHT PRIESTLY GARMENTS. This is what is written: "It is like the precious ointment upon the head, running down upon the beard... " (Tehilim 133:2).

114. We know THAT THE HIGH PRIEST BELOW COINCIDES WITH THE HIGH PRIEST ABOVE, since it is written: "For brothers to dwell together (lit. 'also') in unity" (Ibid. 1). "Also" comes to add the High Priest below. As long as the High Priest below serves in the High Priesthood, it is as if the High Priest above performs in the High Priesthood.

115. That is one of the Corrections (formations) of the beard of Atik that is most concealed of all. Rabbi Shimon said to him: It is fitting for you, Rabbi Yitzchak, to see the glory of the Corrections (formations) of the beard and the countenance of Atik Yomin (Eng. 'Ancient in Days'), the most ancient. Praiseworthy is your lot and praiseworthy is my part with you in the World to Come.