58. However, in Atzilut there are twelve partzufim: The four partzufim of Keter, which are called Atik and Nukba, Arikh and Nukba; the four partzufim of Bina, which are called Abbaand Imma Ila’in and Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna; and the four partzufim of Ze’er Anpinand Nukba, which are called the “big” Ze’er Anpinand *Nukba* and the “small” *Ze’er Anpin*****and **Nukba.**¹³⁹ to Bina in the second constriction ultimately resulted in a situation in which each partzuf is now paired with a “female” partzuf. Thus, Atik and Arikh, partzufim of the level of Keter, are each paired with Nukba, a partzuf of Malkhut. Similarly, the first three of Bina (mentioned in the earlier sections – see sections 41 – 43 for useful background on this section) become the “male” and “female” partzufim of Abba and Imma Ila’in (the supernal father and mother). The lower seven of Bina become the pairing of Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna. Finally, there are two “sizes” of Ze'er Anpin and Nukba, for a total of four partzufim structures between them. The author of the Sulam elaborates on these structures in the following sections.

footnotes: ¹³⁹ The ascent of Malkhut

The reason for their division is as follows: In each and every partzuf in Atzilut there are two types of vessels: (1) vessels that emerged in the world of Atzilut through a fusion through collision, and these are called “vessels of Mah,” and (2) vessels that broke in the world of Nekudim, which are called “vessels of Ban.”¹⁴⁰ (rectification), which is the world of Atzilut and downward. As this section describes, these broken vessels, from the world of Nekudim, descended to a low level, then were “salvaged” and served as a pairing component for the partzufim structures of Atzilut formed through the fusion through collision against the partition. These are rectified and ascend from Beria, Yetzira, and Asiya and connect to the level****s that emerged through a fusion through collision in the world of Atzilut, which is called Mah. The vessels of Mah are considered male, while the vessels of Ban are considered female. Consequently, there are male and female components in each partzuf from Atzilut and downward**.**

footnotes: ¹⁴⁰ The “breaking of the vessels” is a complex process that ultimately gives rise to the world of tikkun