"Abba Ila'ah Mekanen B'Atzilus"

Abba Ila'ah Mekanen B'Atzilus is a phrase appearing frequently in Chassidus and Kabbalah. Its meaning is: Abba Ila'ah — a term referring to the Sefirah of Chochmah — nests and dwells in the world of Atzilus.

This means that the primary dwelling place of the Sefirah of Chochmah, its revelation and influence, is in the world of Atzilus. Consequently, the primary Sefirah of Atzilus is Chochmah, and all the Sefiros, Heichalos, and other elements of the world of Atzilus are aligned with and function according to the nature of Chochmah.

The essence of the Sefirah of Chochmah is profound bitul — selflessness and nullification — before the Ohr Ein Sof Baruch Hu. This is reflected in the very name Chochmah: the letters כח-מה (koach-mah), meaning "the power of mah," mah being an expression of bitul. This quality of bitul permeates the entire world of Atzilus.