Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna (Kabbalah)

Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna is a double partzuf with a male and female aspect. It was generated in the world of Atzilut after the second constriction (tzimtzum), which separated every level of reality into two parts. The upper part of each level contains the sefirot of Keter and Hokhma, while the lower part of the level contains Bina>, Tiferet, and Malkhut. This split began in the third level of Adam Kadmon, which is the level of Bina> of Adam Kadmon. The part of the level of Bina> that remains above the split and so contains the first three sefirot of the original level – Keter, Hokhma, and Bina> – is called Abba VeImma Ila’in, or “the lofty Father and Mother.” The part of the level below the split consists of the seven lower sefirot, Hesed, Gevura, Tiferet, Netzah, Hod, Yesod and Malkhut – and is called Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna. The reason this lower part is called by this name is because the primary purpose of this level is to pass along the supernal light flowing through Abba VeImma Ila’in to the partzufim below Yisrael Sabba and Tevuna. Those lower partzufim are Ze’er Anpin and Nukba. Ze’er Anpin is referred to as Yisrael, and therefore, the corresponding aspect of the partzuf above it is called Yisrael Sabba (Grandfather Yisrael). The word Tevuna comes from the language of ben and bat, which means “son” and “daughter.” This indicates the idea of this level sharing its light to the “children,” Ze’er Anpin and Nukba, which are the “offspring” of Bina>, the “mother.”