Malchus of Atzilus

Malchus of Atzilus is the final sefira among the ten sefiros of the world of Atzilus. The sefira of Malchus in every world represents the revelation of that world, and similarly Malchus of Atzilus transfers the lights of the world of Atzilus to the lower worlds of Briah, Yetzira and Asiya (BY"A).

Malchus of Atzilus is also called Knesses Yisroel as it is the source of all Jewish souls. It is also called the Shechina, since Malchus of Atzilus descends to the separate worlds of BY"A and dwells within them to give them life.

Receiving Its Flow

Generally, Malchus of Atzilus receives its flow from the middos of the world of Atzilus. The middos of Atzilus are included in the partzuf of Ze'ir Anpin which influences Nukva, Malchus of Atzilus. This process is necessary for the existence of the BY"A worlds, since the Ohr Ein Sof as it shines through the middos of Atzilus cannot be revealed in the BY"A worlds except through being concealed in the level of Malchus. This aspect of Malchus is called the aspect of "sea", just as water covers what is within it, so too the function of Malchus from this level is to conceal the sefiros above it (in order to be able to influence BY"A).

Its Descent to the BY"A Worlds

Malchus of Atzilus descends to give life to the BY"A worlds and to refine the sparks within them, and from there elevates them in a state of tikun in the world of Atzilus. Several explanations are given regarding the order of its descent to BY"A:

At night, it is a time when "the gates of Gan Eden are closed", nevertheless it states: "She rises while it is yet night and gives food to her household." Malchus of Atzilus gives life to the BY"A worlds through its external aspect, from its seven lower sefiros. This is comparable to a sleeping person who maintains only minimal life force to sustain the body, meaning only the external spreading of life force like the powers of digestion and metabolism, which are incomparable to the powers of intellect, emotions, sight and hearing.

When Malchus of Atzilus descends to the world of Briah, it clothes itself there in the aspect of a throne, therefore the world of Briah is called "the throne." The concept of the throne is like the metaphor of sitting which represents lowering oneself - when a person stands their full height and head are elevated above the ground, but through sitting their stature is lowered.

During weekdays, Malchus of Atzilus descends to the BY"A worlds and repairs the sparks there through the tikun of Ban. On Shabbos, however, Malchus of Atzilus ascends to the world of Atzilus and is repaired there through the influences of Ze'ir Anpin through the tikun of Mah.

Malchus of Atzilus becomes Atik Yomin to Briah through a parsa.

Source of Jewish Souls

Malchus of Atzilus is called "Knesses Yisroel" as it is the source of Jewish souls. The concept is that Malchus of Atzilus receives five chasadim and five gevuros. The five chasadim flow to it from Abba Ila'ah, and the five gevuros flow to it from Ima Ila'ah. These two aspects are the inner and outer dimensions of Malchus. The root of Jewish souls is from the inner dimension of Malchus which receives the five chasadim whose source is from Abba.

Malchus of Atzilus is also called the collective of Jewish souls, as Jewish souls are drawn from its vessels. The inner vessels are the root of the neshama in the world of Briah, the middle vessels are the root of ruach in the world of Yetzira, and the outer vessels are the root of nefesh in the world of Asiya. Every Jew, even the most simple, has a spark from the nefesh of Asiya which is clothed in an illumination from Malchus of Atzilus from its outer vessels.