229. “You might say that this, etc.” You might say that this nefesh ḥaya [living soul, creature], which is incorporated in Israel, is meant for everyone. [The verse therefore] reiterates: “After its kind” [Genesis 1:24], i. e., for Israel and not for the converts. How many corridors and rooms, one inside the other, are possessed by this Earth called ḥaya [living], under its wings.

Explanation: It has been explained that it is possible to raise the soul of the convert only when we raise feminine waters for the pairing [of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba in their state] of maturity and draw for ourselves the illumination of neshama from that pairing. Then the spreading of the wings of the Divine Presence occurs, towards which the soul of the convert ascends, and he too receives from the light of the pairing, as stated.

In this regard, [the Zohar] says: “You might say that this nefesh ḥaya, which is incorporated in Israel, is meant for everyone.” [In other words, ] one might claim that the convert also receives from that light of [the pairing of Ze’er Anpin and Nukba, the light of] the living soul [nefesh ḥaya] that Israel drew forth for the illumination of their souls. “[The verse therefore] reiterates: After its kind,” [to teach] that the converts receive [only the specific] illumination of the pairing that belongs to their type, i. e., only from the exterior of the pairing, not from the interior, which belongs to Israel alone.

Now, you already know that the wings are the aspect of the six extremities from the phase of immaturity, which function during the pairing of [the phase of] maturity as well, to cover the light [generated by] the pairing. The six extremities consist of Ḥesed, Gevura, Tiferet, Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod. Ḥesed, Gevura, and Tiferet are called “rooms,” meaning places for dwelling. Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod are called “corridors,” because they are only gateways and entrances to the rooms, but they themselves are not for dwelling, since they serve only as entrances and exits.

The reason [for this distinction] is that the essence of Ḥesed, Gevura, and Tiferet is Tiferet, their middle line, which is a complete vessel and a receptacle for the light of giving. [In contrast, ] the essence of Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod is Yesod, the middle line, which does not contain a receptacle for itself at all, but serves only as a passageway [for direct light], as well as to raise returning light, as is known. This is why the Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod are called only “corridors.”

[The Zohar] says: “How many corridors and rooms etc. under its wings,” for she must bring under her wings converts from seventy nations, and therefore many rooms are ready for them in the Ḥesed, Gevura, and Tiferet of the wings, and several corridors in the Netzaḥ, Hod, and Yesod of the wings. [The converts] receive the aspect of nefesh from the corridors, and the aspect of ruaḥ from the rooms.