Nekudim (נקודים) — The World of Points
Core definition
Nekudim ("points") is the second of the three general rungs of the hishtalshelut after the tzimtzum — Akudim, Nekudim, Berudim. The order of revelation is: first Akudim (the first revelation in the rungs after the tzimtzum), and from Akudim are drawn and revealed the levels of Nekudim and Berudim — though the manner of Nekudim's drawing from Akudim is entirely different from Berudim's revelation from Akudim [31675/maamar_018 :: §29–40].
In the Lurianic scheme developed here, Akudim holds ten lights in a single vessel (ten crowns included in one point, in Keter-in-Keter); Nekudim is the rung where the lights emerge as distinct points — and, crucially, "the revelation's main is Nekudim's level; how much more so Berudim" [31675/maamar_018 :: §196–197].
How the Rebbeim develop it
The maamarim place the three rungs in the chain after the tzimtzum: Adam Kadmon — though after the tzimtzum — is not yet counted among the rungs, since it stands in the level of general thought, including all the hishtalshelut "in the including's extremity" without yet bearing the title of a rung. The first rung is Akudim — the first revelation that went out from Adam Kadmon. From Akudim, Nekudim and Berudim are drawn and revealed [31675/maamar_018 :: Summary p. קצד–קצה].
The verse's four terms are mapped onto the general worlds: "'I created him,' etc., 'I made him' — they are Adam Kadmon, Akudim, Nekudim, Atzilut" — i.e., "Atzilut and Nekudim are Asiyah and Yetzirah in the general worlds" [31675/maamar_018 :: §127–128].
The classic distinction between the rungs is illustrated "from my flesh I shall see Elokai" — from the soul's powers: Adam Kadmon's including is like the soul's etzem carrying powers — one essence, no distinct powers at all; Akudim's including is like powers included in the soul — nullified and included in the soul, not yet in existence. Nekudim is where the powers step into revealed existence [31675/maamar_018 :: Summary p. קצד–קצה].
Within Nekudim itself, the lights stand as separate "points" — each sefirah a distinct nekudah — which is the kabbalistic root of the world of Tohu, whose shattering (sheviras hakeilim) the corpus treats in its own right. The revelation-character of Nekudim is what makes the breaking possible: where Akudim's lights were one vessel, Nekudim's are many.
Key distinctions
Akudim vs. Nekudim vs. Berudim. Akudim: ten lights, one vessel — inclusion, still in the hidden aspect ("only toward Adam Kadmon is Akudim called revelation"). Nekudim: ten lights, ten points — the main of revelation begins here. Berudim: the further articulation and interweaving of the points [31675/maamar_018 :: §29–40, §196–197].
The two modes of drawing. Though both Nekudim and Berudim are drawn from Akudim, "the Nekudim's drawing from the Akudim is in an entirely other manner than as is the Berudim's revelation from the Akudim" — the maamar stresses the difference without collapsing the two into one process [31675/maamar_018 :: §34].
General vs. particular worlds. The four general rungs (Adam Kadmon, Akudim, Nekudim, Atzilut) parallel the four particular worlds (Atzilus, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah): Nekudim occupies, in the general scheme, the place Yetzirah holds among the particular worlds [31675/maamar_018 :: §127–128]. (On the "Beriah" naming: both Adam Kadmon and Akudim are sometimes called "the man of Beriah" — Adam Kadmon relative to the pre-tzimtzum Ohr Ein Sof, Akudim within the post-tzimtzum chain [31675/maamar_018 :: §129].)
Related concepts
- Akudim — the first revelation; ten lights in one vessel.
- Berudim — the third rung, drawn from Akudim in its own manner.
- Sheviras hakeilim — the shattering of the vessels, rooted in Nekudim's separated points (the world of Tohu).
- Adam Kadmon — the general thought including all, before the rungs are counted.
- Tzimtzum — the contraction after which the whole chain unfolds.