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Ze`ir Anpin (Aramaic: זְעֵיר אַנפִּין meaning "Lesser Countenance/Small Face", is a revealed aspect ofGod inKabbalah, comprising the emotionalsephirot attributes:Chesed,Gevurah,Tiphereth,Netzach,Hod andYesod.
TheZohar's imagery expounds its role in Creation, where it is the microscopic equivalent ofArich Anpin (Macroprosopus) in the Sephirotictree of life. The Sifra D'Tzniuta portrays it as the revealed face of God, and theIdra Rabba elaborates on the Kabbalistic significance of its several attributes[citation needed]. In 16th centuryLurianic doctrine it becomes systemised as one of the 6 PrimaryPartzufim Divine Personae, as part of the cosmic process of Tikkun Rectification.
Zeir Anpin, the emotionalsephirot centered onTiferet (Beauty), is thetranscendent revelation of God to Creation ("The Holy One Blessed Be He"), a perceptible manifestation of the essential Divine infinity (theTetragrammatonname of God). Nukvah ("Female" of Zeir Anpin) is the indwellingimmanentShekhinah (Feminine Divine Presence) within Creation, the concealed Divine finitude (the nameElokim). In Medieval Kabbalah, the sin ofAdam, as well as later sin, introduces apparent separation (perceived from Creation) between the two, bringing exile and constriction on High. The task of man is restoring union (Yichud) to the Male and Female Divine manifestations. This is the origin of the Kabbalisticprayer formula recited before performing aJewish observance. Within the tetragrammaton, the first two letters signify the Concealed World/Upper Unity with God, and the latter two signify the Created World/Lower Unity:
"For the sake of the union of the Holy One Blessed be He, and His Shekhinah, to unite the name Y-H with V-H in a perfect union, in the name of all Israel"
InLurianic Kabbalah, the origin of disharmony in the Sephirot is located earlier, in the primordialRealm of Tohu before the creation of Man, though later sin brings further exile. The task of man, while also affecting Male-Female union on High, involves Messianic redemption of the exiled "Sparks of Holiness" (Birur) from Tohu that are scattered within Physical existence. Birur becomes the inner dimension of Yichud. Each indwelling spark is relatively female in relation to the person who redeems it from captivity. The collectivity of all sparks, similar to the collective People of Israel, also comprises the exiled Shekhinah, awaiting raising up to God.