Atik Yomin
Atik Yomin is the inner partzuf of Kesser of the world of Atzilus. It is the 'supreme Kesser' which serves as the "intermediary" that creates the "bridge" between the Ohr Ein Sof and the world of Atzilus, constituting the ancient source of the order of hishtalshelus. 'Atik' is considered the lowest level of the Ohr Ein Sof, but at such a level that it still has no connection to the order of hishtalshelus. While "Atik" is considered the inner and upper part of Kesser, Arich Anpin is considered the outer and lower part of Kesser in which the Ohr Ein Sof begins to contract and create the order of hishtalshelus through the sefirah of Chochma of Atzilus.
'Atik Yomin' consists of ten sefiros which together form the partzuf of Atik Yomin. The sefirah of Daas of Atik is the source of Torah.
'Atik Yomin' is called "Atik" from the language of "ne'etak" and "nivdal" (meaning "removed" and "separated"), as it is 'removed and separated from the aspect of days and the days of the world'. In other words: the four spiritual worlds were created through the order of hishtalshelus, the first sefirah that belongs to the order of hishtalshelus is the sefirah of Chochma of the world of Atzilus, which draws powers from Arich Anpin - which is the lower and outer part of the supreme Kesser, but "Atik" which is the upper and inner part of the supreme Kesser as its name implies is "removed" and "separated" from any aspect of tzimtzum and concealment of the divine light. Arich Anpin constitutes the aspect of sovev for the worlds of ABY"A, and Atik Yomin is even higher than that and is not even included in the aspect of sovev.
In Daniel's VisionEdit
In Daniel's vision it is said (7:9): "I was watching until thrones were set up, and Atik Yomin sat; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire."
"And Atik Yomin sat" refers to the Holy One, blessed be He, and about Him it is said that "His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool." In Kabbalah and Chassidus it is explained that the level of "Atik Yomin" is a high level in divinity, higher than the partzufim of the world of Atzilus, and even higher than the partzuf of Arich Anpin.
The matter of "His garment was white as snow and the hair of His head was like pure wool" is connected to the matter of mitzvos and Torah. The matter of "His garment was white as snow" is the garment of Malchus in which the Holy One, blessed be He, clothed Himself, making a garment and concealment to be clothed in the aspect of kingship, and this is the matter of mitzvos, which are the commandments of the king that there should be bitul hayesh to ayin. And the matter of "the hair of His head was like pure wool" is the matter of the particular halachos of the Torah, as the drawing down of mitzvos to this world is in many particular details, and this is like the parable of hairs.
It is further explained that "His garment was white as snow" refers to the partzuf of Arich Anpin which clothes the partzuf of Atik Yomin. And "the hair of His head was like pure wool" refers to Arich Anpin, which is the hair of the head of Arich Anpin. And this is as explained that the root of mitzvos is in the gulgalta of Arich Anpin.
Inner and Outer Aspects of Atik YominEdit
The partzuf of Atik Yomin is divided into the aspects of inner and outer. The inner aspect of the partzuf of Atik Yomin, which is its three highest [sefiros], is at the level of Malchus of Ein Sof, and does not come into revelation even in the partzuf of Arich Anpin. And this is the matter of risha d'lo isyada, which even Arich Anpin does not know. And the outer aspect of the partzuf of Atik Yomin is the seven lower [sefiros] in it, and they come into revelation by being clothed in Arich Anpin. And since it is explained that Atik Yomin is the final level of the Emanator, and Arich Anpin is the first level in the emanated, it is understood that the seven lower [sefiros] of Atik Yomin that are clothed in the partzuf of Arich Anpin are the illumination from the Ohr Ein Sof that is drawn and clothed in the root of the emanated.
It is explained that the matter of positive mitzvos is from the seven lower [sefiros] of Atik Yomin, and therefore they have the ability to draw [divine light] into the worlds, and negative mitzvos are from the three highest [sefiros] of Atik Yomin, and therefore they do not have the ability to draw [divine light] into the worlds, but only not to prevent the illumination. And the revelation of the three highest [sefiros] of Atik Yomin will only be in the future to come.
Daas of AtikEdit
Daas of Atik is the sefirah of Daas of the partzuf of Atik Yomin. It is explained that the matter of Daas of Atik is the source of Torah and it is a drawing from the inner aspect of Kesser. It is explained that the root of Torah is in the aspect of Daas which includes Chesed and Gevurah. The matter of the 248 positive mitzvos and 365 negative mitzvos is Chesed and Gevurah. And similarly, the Written Torah and the Oral Torah are in the aspect of Chesed and Gevurah, as the Oral Torah is in the aspect of negative [mitzvos], as most of it is restrictions and boundaries. And it is explained that the Daas which is the source of Torah is Daas of Atik.