"M.N.Z.P.CH"
1) This is a dissertation concerning the twenty-two Hebrew characters and the five final letters - ם "Mem", ן "Noon" ץ "Zaddik", ף "Peh" and ך "Chaph", the initial letters of which make up "M.N.Z.P.CH".
This composition relative to the Hebrew letters is hewn from the mouth of Elijah; that is to say: Elijah the Prophet promulgated this essay.
It is written: "MOSHCHEINY ACHARECHO NORUTZO" (DRAW ME, WE WILL RUN AFTER THEE") (Song of Songs: 1:4).
It is written in Genesis: "VAYIVRO ELOKIM ES HO-ODOM B'TZALMEY"; "SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE" (1:27).
It is just as the holy assembly promulgated: Two "Partzufim" (Two Phases) were created. By two "Partzufim" is meant that the two: the masculine principle and the feminine principle were brought to being in one unity. These are the two known phases ז"א "Z.A" ("Tifereth") and "Malchut" (Kingdom).
2) The Zohar elaborates thus: "The bigger upper letters came out from above vertically to the masculine principle, that is, "Z.A"; whereas the lower smaller letters were arranged for the "Nukvoh", "Malchut", in reversed order".
The Zohar renders further elaboration, thus: "The upper big letters came down directly straight to the masculine principle, that is, vertically, beginning with the letters א "Aleph" ב "Beth" ג "Gimel" ד "Daleth" down to the last letter; just as the letters are properly adjusted to come directly to the masculine principle". This order of the letters is connoted as the identity, the appearance, of the face of the spriritual countenance.
However, the small letters, which dwell below, appeared in the "Nukvoh" the feminine principle in reversed order, thus: ת "Tav", ש "Shin", ר "Reish", ק "Koof", צ "Zaddik", פ "Peh" ע "Ayin", ס "Samach", and all the way down to the end.
In other words, the letters in "Malchut" begin with the ת "Tav" and terminate with the א "Aleph", as befits the feminine polarity; since she was located behind ז"א "Z.A" ("Zeir Anpin"). The "Kesher", the tie of the phylactery of the head is designated as the posterior part, representing the "Nukvoh", the feminine polarity, located behind the head of "Z.A". This is indicated in Psalms: "THOU HAST BESET ME BEHIND AND BEFORE" (139:5).
This verse serves to elaborate upon the subject matter just treated. King David tells us: "OCHER VOKEDEM TZARTONE" ("THOU HAST BESET ME BEHIND AND BEFORE").
The word behind refers to the "Nukvoh", "Malchut", because she was located at the posterior part of "Z.A"; whereas "Vokedem" refers to the masculine principle, which is "Z.A".
3) HE APPEARED WITH HIS FACE SHINING. This explains what Moses our teacher was told by GOD: "V'RO-EESO ES ACHEROY OOPONY LO YERO- OC"; "AND THOU SHALT SEE MY BACK PARTS: BUT MY FACE SHALL NOT NE SEEN" (Exodus, 33:23).
Thou shalt see "My Posterior Parts" refers to the "Nukvoh", that is, "Malchut" (Kingdom) who was behind "Z.A". This means that when "Malchut" appeared in her first stage, the "Nukvoh" was in the back of "Tifereth", that is, "Z.A", which explians why "Z.A" was unable to bestow the light of mercy upon the "Nukvoh"; for, in order for one to impart goodness to another, they both must be face to face with one another as, when the recipient is located behind the one who has to give, he is not in a position to receive. In order for the "Nukvoh" to be able to receive the light of mercy, she must face ז"א "Z.A" in order to bring up her returning light of wisdom so as to get in return the light of mercy.
When the "Nukvoh" is adorned by the upper king, "Z.A", who dwells above the "Nukvoh", it is then that the "Nukvoh" turns her face to "Z.A".
In other words, when the letters of the "Nukvoh" were brought up to "Z.A", "Tifereth", their proper place, ז"א "Z.A" then brought "Malchut" into his chambers in order to effect her emendation. It is then that her letters become corrected.
Each letter of the "Nukvoh", that is, "Malchut" had called to each letter of the masculine principle "Z.A"; and they were thus united. This, consequently, culminated in the emendation of each letter, which is to say that each letter becomes comprised of the masculine principle and the feminine principle.
Each of the letters of the alphabet called out and said: "MOSHCHEINE ACHARECHO V'NOROOTZO" "DRAW ME, WE WILL RUN AFTER THEE" (Song of Songs: 1:4).
4) When the letters were emended by this union, they were corrected in this order: The א "Aleph" united with the ת "Tav". The ב "Beth" with the ש "Shin" and so on. it was doubled until the end of the alphabet. The א "Aleph", which is the symbol of the masculine principle united with the ת "Tav", symbolic of the feminine principle. The ב "Beth", the symbol of the feminine polarity, became united with the ש "Shin", symbolic of the masculine polarity and so, the rest of the letters were likewise arranged in the same order face to face.
Whenever the "Nukvoh", "Malchut" has the desire to appear before ז"א "Z.A", she then tells him that she is adorned with the light of "Immah" Mother, the Sephirah "Binah" and that all the letters are corrected through the union just explained. She is therefore requesting ז"א "Z.A", "HAVIANE HAMELECH CHADOROV", "THE KING HATH BROUGHT ME INTO HIS CHAMBERS" in order to become further perfected and thus adorned completely by menas of the supernal light, consisting of the light of the first three Sephiroth "Keter, Chochmoh and Binah" called "Kishootin", embellished with ornaments.
5) All this is brought about in order that we "NOGEELOH V'NISSMECHO BOCH", "BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN THEE" The Hebrew word "Boch" has the numberical value of twenty-two, which word indicates the twenty-two letters impressed from above. This is intimated in Exodus, thus: "ASHER NISHBATO LOHEM BOCH", "TO WHO THOU SWAREST BY THINE OWN SELF".
In other words, the Hebrew word "Boch" בך carries with it a two fold connotation:
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It refers to the twenty-two letters.
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It refers as well to the Maker himself, as expressed in the just quoted words from Exodus: 32:13: "ASHER NISHBATO LOHEM BOCH" בך .
It is said: "NAZKIROH DODECHO M'YOYIN", "WE WILL REMEMBER THY LOVE BECAUSE OF THE WINE" (Song of Songs: 1:4), which must be interpreted to mean that due to our (Israel) uniting "Malchut" with ז"א "Z.A" in that great rejoicing of ours, we will allot to each one a portion of our gladness and thus satisfy them, which is intimated in the words: "YIZKOR KOL MINCHOSECHO", "HE WILL REMEMBER ALL THY OFFERINGS" (Psalm 20:3).
"M'YOYIN", "BECAUSE OF THE WINE" means our rejoicing caused by the wine, that is, the bestowal of "Chochmoh" (Wisdom) which results in enwrapping all in joy and gladness.