Olam Ha'Akudim (World of Binding)
Olam Ha'Akudim is one of the worlds of Ein Sof that precede Olam Ha'Atzilut, which are Akudim, Nekudim, and Berudim. Its significance is that the sefirot within it are all bound in one vessel, due to the intensity of their bitul (self-nullification).
Its Nature[edit | edit source]
In this world, the ten sefirot are contained within a single vessel, to the extent that they are not at all recognizable as separate entities.
It is explained that this world corresponds to the Name of Av (72). The Name of Av is the Name of Havaya filled with Yuds, which indicates the sefirah of Chochmah. The concept of the sefirah of Chochmah is "koach mah" (the power of "what"), which represents absolute bitul (self-nullification). Therefore, the state of the sefirot in Olam Ha'Akudim is one of absolute bitul, to the extent that they are all bound in one vessel.
The analogy used in Chassidut is that of the faculties contained within the soul—despite their contradicting one another, when they are contained within the soul, they do not contradict each other due to the intense and powerful revelation of the soul.
Nevertheless, it is explained that it is not complete simple unity, since it contains ten sefirot, even though they are unified.
Its Position[edit | edit source]
It is a world above the level of Keter Elyon (Supernal Crown). Sometimes Olam Ha'Akudim is included together with Keter Elyon, as all levels above Olam Ha'Atzilut are included in Keter Elyon, which serves as the intermediary between the Emanator and the emanated. Regarding Keter Elyon, it is explained that Olam Ha'Akudim is at the level of the inner dimension of Keter Elyon, which is the partzuf of Atik Yomin.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Akudim, Nekudim, Berudim