Ofanim

Ofanim is the name of angels mentioned in Ezekiel's chariot vision. In Kabbalah and Chassidus, it is explained that these angels are in the world of Asiyah.

Their Essence

The angels called Ofanim are mentioned in Ezekiel's chariot vision: "The appearance of the Ofanim and their work was like the color of tarshish stone, and all four had one likeness. Their appearance and their work was as if there was an ofan (wheel) within an ofan..." In Kabbalah and Chassidus, it is explained that the Chayos HaKodesh are the angels in the world of Yetzirah (Formation), and the Ofanim are the angels in the world of Asiyah.

Regarding the Ofanim, the verse states that "their appearance and their work was as if there was an ofan (wheel) within an ofan," meaning that these angels function at a level where physical space has no significance, where high and low can exist together, since above and below are equal before Him. Like when a small wheel (ofan) is inside a larger wheel, on the upper side the larger wheel is higher, and on the lower side the larger wheel is lower. In fact, the higher something is, the lower it descends. Therefore, even though the Ofanim are lower than the Chayos HaKodesh, and thus exist in a lower world, the world of Asiyah, nevertheless their service reaches a higher place.

This also explains what is stated later in the verse: "for the spirit of the chayah was in the ofanim," saying "spirit of the chayah" (singular) and not "spirit of the chayos" (plural), since the intention is not the angels called Chayos HaKodesh but rather the totality of the four chayos that form the aspect of the Man on the Throne. The Chayos HaKodesh are divided into "the face of a lion on the right and the face of an ox on the left," showing distinctions of place, which is not the case with the aspect of Man, which has no right or left.

Their Service

The root of the Ofanim is in the middos (attributes) of Netzach, Hod, and Yesod, and therefore the service of the Ofanim is in the manner of a circle, encompassing and surrounding, because they do not comprehend the Infinite Light at all, and only serve the Holy One, blessed be He, because of their natural love, in the aspect of acknowledgment (hoda'ah). This differs from the service of the Seraphim, who are in the aspect of yosher (straightness), since they comprehend the Infinite Light. Therefore, regarding their service it is said, "with a great noise they rise toward the Seraphim," for when they hear the praise "Holy, holy, holy is the L-rd of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory," which is beyond their comprehension, they become excited like a person who hears something he doesn't understand but knows is something great.

Expanded entry – Baruch Kevod Hashem Mimkomo

Their Name

The Ofanim are called by this name because of their service, as "ofan" means "wheel," which is a circle, indicating their service in the aspect of encompassing and surrounding without understanding or comprehension.

Their Source

The Ofanim receive their influence from Malchus of Malchus of the world of Asiyah.

Their Influence

The influence of the Ofanim is called "the dregs of the Ofanim," which is the external aspect of the Ofanim and their waste, like the dregs of wine which are the waste of the wine.

From the dregs of the Ofanim, which is the lowest level and waste of them, influence flows to the seventy ministers, and from them to the constellations, and through them, the matters of this world are drawn down.

This drawing down is generally divided into two aspects: from the inner aspect of the dregs of the Ofanim comes the animal soul, which has intellect and emotions, and from the external aspect of the dregs of the Ofanim comes the actual animal soul and other external influences.

When reciting the blessings of the morning Shema, through understanding and knowing the root of the animal soul from the dregs of the Ofanim, and understanding and knowing their nullification, the animal soul is weakened and leaves its position and state, becoming a vessel fit for the Divine light.