199. "And his sister stood afar off..." (Shemot 2:4). HE ASKS, Whose sister? AND HE ANSWERS, The sister of he who called the Congregation of Yisrael "my sister," MEANING ZEIR ANPIN, as is said, "Open to me my sister, my love" (Shir Hashirim 5:2) - MEANING THE SHECHINAH STOOD BY MOSES TO GUARD HIM. "Afar off" is as is written, "Hashem appeared of old (also: 'from afar') to me" (Yirmeyah 31:2), MEANING THAT KEEPING IS NOT IN THE OPEN, BUT RATHER HIDDEN, FROM A DISTANCE.

200. It seems that the righteous are known above before their descent to the world; this refers to all THE RIGHTEOUS, and all the more so to Moses. THEREFORE IT IS SAID OF HIM, "SHE SAW HIM" (SHEMOT 2:6) SPELLED WITH HEI-VAV, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE IMPRESSION MADE BY THE KING AND THE QUEEN, AS ALREADY MENTIONED. And it is also understood that the souls of the righteous are drawn from a high place, as we explained IN THE PASSAGE, "AND THERE WENT A MAN OF THE HOUSE OF LEVI" (IBID. 1) - WHICH IS THE SECRET OF YESOD OF CHOCHMAH AND BINAH, WHICH IS A HIGH PLACE. The secret of this is what we learned from here, that the soul has a father and a mother, WHICH ARE ZEIR ANPIN AND THE NUKVA, BECAUSE MAN IS ZEIR ANPIN AND THE DAUGHTER OF LEVI IS THE NUKVA. Similarly, there is a father and mother to the body on earth. And it appears that in all aspects, whether above or below, everything comes forth from a male and a female, and we have explained the secret of the passage, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures" (Beresheet 1:24). "The earth," refers to the Congregation of Yisrael, WHO IS NUKVA. "Living creatures" (lit. 'soul'), is the soul of Adam, as we explained - BECAUSE ZEIR ANPIN AND NUKVA ARE FATHER AND MOTHER OF THE FIRST MAN, AS WE EXPLAINED. Rabbi Aba came and kissed him. He said, Assuredly, you are speaking beautifully and it is definitely so. Fortunate is the portion of Moses, the faithful prophet, above all the other prophets of the world.

201. "And his sister stood." This is Chochmah, THE NUKVA THAT IS CALLED THE 'LOWER CHOCHMAH.' As is said, "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister" (Mishlei 7:4). Rabbi Yitzchak said, The decree of Judgment was never removed from the world. For every time that Yisrael sinned, Judgment accused them, and then "his sister stood afar off." FOR THE SHECHINAH DISTANCED HERSELF FROM THEM, as is said, "Hashem appeared from afar to me."