“It was said, ‘Since it is a time of good will, let us ask for mercy for the inclination to commit an offense.’ They asked for mercy and it was given to them. He said to them, ‘See, that if you kill it, the world will end.’ They incarcerated it for three days and sought an egg that was born on that same day, but throughout the land of Israel, none was found. They said, ‘How will we do it? If we kill it, the world will end! And if we ask for mercy for half, half is not given from above.’ They poked out its eyes and let it go, since one does not tease one’s kin” (Yoma 69b).

“The inclination to sin” is the inclination to receive pleasure, discerned as Hochma. “If we kill it, the world will end,” meaning that the purpose of creation—to do good to His creations, to receive pleasure—will be revoked.

“And if we ask for mercy for half,” meaning that it will spread downward only to half of the degree of Hochma. That is, why should we make the middle line? To cancel the left line, but there is fear that they will not extend the middle line. Hence, it is best if it spreads down only half of the left line, meaning only illumination of Hochma, as it will be later by the decision of the middle line.

“Half is not given from above.” Only wholeness comes from above, since when spirituality is revealed below, it is always in wholeness.

“They poked out its eyes and let it go.” That is, precisely through the middle line, for Hochma is called “eyes.” RASHI interpreted that he was blinded by blue, as in “You put a boundary to the sea,” meaning that he does not see below that it is expansion from above downward, and he feels only in his place. “One does not tease one’s kin” means that he has it during the Dvekut [adhesion].