Yesod (יסוד) — Foundation, Connection

Core definition

Yesod ("foundation") is the ninth sefirah, the last of the lower triad Netzach–Hod–Yesod (נ"ה"י) [15911/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 106]. Its function is connection: it receives the flow from the sefiros above and transmits it to Malchus, which passes it to the worlds below. It is called "חי עולמים" — "Life of the worlds": "when it receives from Binah and transmits to Malchut" [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 3].

How the Rebbeim develop it

According to Kabbalah, the difference between "חי" with a tzeireh and "חי" with a patach is that "חי" with a tzeireh is in Yesod and "חי" with a patach is in Binah — "and Yesod too is called 'חי' with a patach — when it receives from Binah; i.e., 'חי עולמים' (Life of the worlds): when it receives from Binah and transmits to Malchut" [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 2–3]. This is the matter of the oath "חי הוי׳": "the efflux from the light of Binah is drawn through Yesod to Malchut" (Pardes) [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 4]. The mochin are called "lives" (חיים) — "and wisdom gives life," and Binah is called "the living Elokim" (אלקים חיים) — and Yesod is the conduit of that life downward [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 5].

Yesod is how the highest light reaches the lowest place. The maamar describes "the drawing of the aforementioned aspect of 'essentially alive' (חי בעצם) from the aspect of the innerness of Chochmah, Binah, Da'as, through Yesod to Malchut — so that below, in Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah, too, there be revelation from this aspect" [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 276]. "The drawing of the efflux that shines to Malchut from Binah, through Yesod" — from the innerness of Binah to Yesod, and from there to Malchut, "to shine below, in Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah" [15911/maamar_004 :: עב׳ 283–284]. Nothing descends from above to below without passing through Yesod; it is the junction of the flow.

The human embodiment of Yesod is the tzaddik. "And the tzadik is the foundation of the world" (וצדיק יסוד עולם, Mishlei 10:25) — "the main endurance of the world is specifically on the tzadikim's avodah" [15962/maamar_008 :: עב׳ 61–62]. "There is one pillar in the world, and tzadik is its name" (Chagigah 12b) [15962/maamar_008 :: עב׳ 64] — for this the Torah scholars are called "builders," occupied in the world's building [15962/maamar_008 :: עב׳ 63]. The verse "imru tzaddik ki tov" is read "tzaddik Havayah": the tzaddik is "the drawing-down from the level of the concealed Yesod in the Ohr Ein Sof before the tzimtzum" — "the great pipe drawn from the Unlimited Ohr Ein Sof" [19802/maamar_001 :: עב׳ 447–451]. The tzaddik is the living connector between the Unlimited and the measured worlds, just as the sefirah Yesod connects the higher sefiros to Malchus.

In the command of milah, He revealed in the name Shakai — "named 'v'tzaddik yesod olam'": "through this the revelation is drawn from sovev kol almin's level" [15966/maamar_018 :: עב׳ 309–310].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Malchus, Netzach and Hod, the tzaddik, milah and the name Shakai, "חי עולמים," the flow (shefa) from Binah.

Sources