Eight Princes

The "Eight Princes" are eight historical figures who continue to provide influence to the souls of Israel in the manner of "makifim" (encompassing lights).

Their Significance

The Eight Princes are eight historical figures who influence Israel in the manner of "makifim" (encompassing lights) from the aspect of "sovev kol almin" (encompassing all worlds). The Eight Princes are mentioned in the prophecy of Micah, and later in the Gemara it is explained that these are Jesse, Saul, Samuel the Prophet, Amos, Zephaniah, Zedekiah, the King Messiah, and Elijah the Prophet.

The difference between the Seven Shepherds and the Eight Princes is that the Seven Shepherds influence the souls of Israel in an internal manner, whereas the Eight Princes influence in an external manner. Therefore, Moses is one of the Seven Shepherds, and Elijah is one of the Eight Princes , as Moses is from the internal aspect, and Elijah from the external aspect.

Their Source

In terms of influence, the Seven Shepherds are more elevated, as they influence in an internal manner, unlike the Princes who influence in an external manner. However, at their source, the Princes have an advantage, as their souls are from a higher world, but they influence from the externality of the higher world, while the Shepherds are from the internality of the lower world.

Specifically, the source of the Eight Princes is in the first eight tikunim (rectifications) of the thirteen tikunei dikna (rectifications of the beard) of Arich Anpin, which are in the aspect of makifim (encompassing lights). This is because the tikun of "notzer chesed la'alafim" (preserving kindness for thousands) is in the aspect of inner light, as "la'alafim" refers to "a'alfecha chochma, a'alfecha binah" (I will teach you wisdom, I will teach you understanding), where Abba and Imma draw from the two mazalot (spiritual conduits) of Arich Anpin, and this drawing is in the aspect of inner light. But the first eight mazalot that precede the aspect of "la'alafim" are in the aspect of makifim (encompassing lights), and from there is the source of the Eight Princes .

See Also

• Seven Shepherds