788. The YOUTH, MEANING THE HUSBAND, opened the discussion saying, "And you shall make boards for the Tabernacle of acacia wood standing up" (Shemot 26:15). It says here "standing up" and elsewhere "Seraphim stood above" (Yeshayah 6:2). Just as there are Seraphim there, so also THE BOARDS here ARE THE SECRET OF Seraphim. These SERAPHIM THAT ARE CALLED 'boards' stand as implements of the Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, around the Chupah (Eng. 'marriage canopy'), WHICH IS THE COVER THAT IS ABOVE THE BOARDS, so that the Supernal Spirit shall dwell upon that canopy, NAMELY ZEIR ANPIN. Ii is the same way with the bride below, as it is necessary to prepare a canopy as a cover in beautiful ornaments in honor of the other Bride, WHICH IS THE SHECHINAH, that comes to dwell there in joy upon the lower bride.
789. In honor of the supernal Bride, we should to make a beautiful canopy with beautiful decorations to invite the supernal Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, to this canopy. Just as in every Covenant of circumcision below, we should to decorate a beautiful second chair for he who is zealous for the sign of the Covenant who comes there, NAMELY ELIYAHU, similarly here, we should to have beautiful decorations to cover the canopy, in honor of a Bride, THAT IS THE SHECHINAH.
790. This one, THE BRIDE BELOW, is similar to that one, THE BRIDE ABOVE, and the one OF BELOW is elevated with Seven Blessings, while the other OF ABOVE is elevated with Seven Blessings. Therefore, it is prohibited to cohabit with her until she has been included with these Seven Blessings, as is with the one of above.
791. The Bride, WHO IS THE SHECHINAH, inherits these Seven Blessings from the Supernal Spirit, THAT IS ZEIR ANPIN, the place from where all the blessings are drawn. HE QUESTIONS, There are six blessings, NAMELY CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, that the Bride is blessed with, yet you say there are seven. HE ANSWERS, The seventh one establishes them all, FOR THE SEVENTH BLESSING CORRESPONDS TO BINAH.
792. HE QUESTIONS, Why are most blessings recited over wine? HE ANSWERS, WINE is the aspect that causes everyone to rejoice, the wine that is always kept in its grapes. Therefore, the first blessing of those seven BLESSINGS is the secret of wine, NAMELY 'WHO CREATES THE FRUIT OF THE VINE (HEB. BORE PRI HAGEFEN),' because wine produces fruits both above IN BINAH and below IN MALCHUT. The vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT, receives everything and brings forth fruits to the world, FOR AFTER RECEIVING THE ASPECT OF WINE, MALCHUT IS NAMED LOWER CHOCHMAH. AND BEFORE SHE RECEIVES CHOCHMAH, SHE IS NOT ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH. The arousing of joy, MEANING THE BEGINNING OF THE UNION OF ZEIR ANPIN AND MALCHUT, is the left, as it is written, "His left hand is under my head" (Shir Hashirim 2:6) and afterwards, "And His right hand embraces me" (Ibid.) That Tree of Life, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, produces fruits and plants with this arousal OF THE LEFT, BECAUSE BEFORE IT RECEIVES CHOCHMAH FROM THE LEFT OF BINAH, IT CANNOT BEGET. Therefore, it is the first blessing of them all.
793. The second blessing is, 'That He has created everything (all) for His honor.' This is the secret of the Holy Covenant, NAMELY YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN THAT IS CALLED 'ALL.' This is the joy of the union that receives all the blessings from the secret of the right, THAT IS CHESED, to produce fruits by that vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT THAT IS CALLED 'HIS HONOR.' That fruit first descends from above, FROM BINAH, through the limbs, WHICH ARE THE SFIROT OF ZEIR ANPIN, and is drawn to the Holy Covenant, WHICH IS YESOD, to be drawn to that vine, WHICH IS MALCHUT. This is from the right side, WHICH IS CHESED, because fruits are to be found only on the right. The left arouses THE BEARING OF THE FRUITS and the right produces THE FRUITS. FRUITS REFER TO THE SOULS OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
794. Afterwards, the left is included in the right and the right in the left in order to become the secret of man, WHICH IS THE CENTRAL COLUMN, TIFERET. Therefore, the third BLESSING is 'the Creator of Man.' Jacob, who is the Central pillar, was the image of Adam (man), FOR THE IMAGE OF ADAM POINTS TOWARD THE CENTRAL COLUMN, AS RIGHT AND LEFT ARE COMBINED IN HIM.
795. The fourth BLESSING, NAMELY 'WHO CREATED,' is one pillar of the right thigh, NAMELY THE SFIRAH OF NETZACH. The fifth blessing is, 'May the barren one (Heb. akarah) rejoice,' NAMELY the mistress (Heb. akarah) of the house, MALCHUT, and be happy at the ingathering of her children from the four winds of the world. This is the secret of the other thigh, WHICH IS NETZACH, that joined in the left thigh, WHICH IS HOD, to go to all sides, gather the children and bring them between the knees, WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD.
796. And in these two, NETZACH AND HOD between whom the prophets dwell, AND RECEIVE THEIR PROPHECY FROM THEM, abides the joy of the Mistress of the House, WHICH IS MALCHUT. What is the reason? It is because two willow branches (Heb. aravot), WHICH ARE NETZACH AND HOD, do not produce verdure and fruits and the ingathering of the children to them is their fruits and verdure, WHICH THEY BRING TO THE MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE THAT IS MALCHUT. The ingathering of the children is aroused only by prophets, WHO ARE NETZACH AND HOD. THEREFORE, THIS BLESSING, 'MAY THE BARREN ONE REJOICE AND BE HAPPY AT THE INGATHERING OF HER CHILDREN,' IS IN HOD.
797. The sixth blessing is, 'Grant abundant joy to the loving friends.' It is the place where there are favor, joy, and delight, NAMELY the pillar of the entire world that is called 'Righteous,' WHICH IS YESOD. And righteous and righteousness, WHICH ARE YESOD AND MALCHUT, are friends and beloved, as they do not turn away one from the other. BECAUSE THIS BLESSING ALSO INCLUDES MALCHUT, IT SAYS 'LOVING FRIENDS.' Until here are the six blessings by which the bride is blessed.