Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

55/1) The seven sections, sections of the upper earth, contain seven halls of faith, meaning of Malchut of Atzilut, who is called “faith.” They correspond to the seven upper firmaments.

A firmament is ZA, who has seven firmaments—his Bina and HGT NHY. The hall is Malchut. The seven halls, which are her Bina and HGT NHY, correspond to the seven firmaments in ZA, where each hall receives all that is in it from its corresponding phase in the firmaments of ZA.

The sections are VAK, and the halls are GAR. The seven halls clothe inside the seven sections because anyone who is higher than his friend is also considered more internal. Therefore, every upper one dresses inside the lower one. And as Partzuf HBD dresses in Partzuf VAK, the halls HBD dress inside the sections, which are VAK, each hall in the section attributed to its phase. Also, in each of the seven halls are upper spirits, which are the angels appointed over those halls.

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

First Hall, Yesod

55/2) The first hall from below upward is the hall Yesod. There is a spirit here who was appointed over the souls of the proselytes who have converted. His name is Rachmiel, from the words Rachamei El [God’s mercy], as he extends mercy over the souls of the proselytes. This angel takes those souls of the proselytes, and they enjoy through him from the brightness of the glory of above.

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

Second Hall, Hod

56) The second hall is Hod. It contains one spirit, Ahaniel, and stands over all those souls of infants who were not rewarded with studying Torah during their lives. He stands over them and teaches them Torah because one is not complete before one has attained the five phases of the soul, NRNHY. However, not every person is rewarded with them in one incarnation. It is even more difficult when one shifts from VAK to GAR and cannot be sufficiently refined, as it should be with a degree of GAR, for Neshama, Haya, Yechida.

At that time, one has to die and reincarnate into this world once more. Those who die after they have attained VAK are called “souls of infants who were not rewarded with studying Torah in this world.” VAK is called “infants,” and they were not rewarded with studying Torah in this world and complementing to GAR.

For themselves, they were worthy of coming into the third hall, Netzah, since they were already rewarded with NR, VAK. But since the hall of Netzah does not illuminate from above downward, they could not receive any benefit there, hence they come to the hall of Hod. And although it is a decline in their merit, it is still to their benefit to be able to receive complete light from above downward. This is why the angel appointed on studying with them is called Ahaniel, Ahaneh El, from the words “useful” and “benefit,” since through him these souls obtain great benefits and use.

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

Third Hall, Netzah

57) The third hall is Netzah. It contains one spirit, Adarniel, who stands over the souls of those who repented but did not repent, meaning who contemplated repenting, but died before they actually repented.

Therefore, the angel appointed over them is called Adarniel, from the words Hedrina El, which means remorse and repentance, as he is appointed over the souls of these penitents. They are punished in Hell, then they are admitted to that spirit, who accepts them. They desire to enjoy the brightness of the glory of their Maker, but they cannot enjoy.

It was explained in the second hall, in the souls of infants, that once they were not rewarded with GAR, they rise to receive correction in the second hall. However, they died and did not taste the taste of sin. Yet, some prolonged their days, having begun to be rewarded with GAR and did not die in Katnut, but sinned. And although they contemplated repenting right away, they did not have time to complete their repentance and died.

These souls are first punished in Hell, then rise to the hall of Netzah, where they obtain a great desire to enjoy the brightness of the glory of the Creator, but they cannot enjoy there except on Sabbath and beginnings of months.

These souls are called “children of flesh.” It is written about them, “And it shall be from new moon to new moon ... all flesh will come to bow down before Me.” They are called “children of flesh” because the ten Sefirot have many names. HGT are called marrow, bones, tendons, and NH are called “flesh and skin.” And since the souls are the offspring of the hall Netzah, they are called “children of flesh,” since flesh is Netzah.

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

Fourth Hall, Tifferet

58) The fourth hall is Tifferet. Here stands one spirit, Gdariahel. This angel stands over all those souls of the slain by the nations of the world to admit them, so they are imprinted with the king’s garment. They are imprinted in the garment until the day when the Creator avenges them, as it is written, “He will judge among the nations; He will fill them with corpses; He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.” This is why the appointee is called Gdariahel, from the words Gdariah El, as in “His fathers left him a place to pride in,” since the Creator takes pride in the souls of those slain.

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

Fifth Hall, Gevura

59/1) The fifth hall is the hall Gevura. Here stands one spirit, Adiriel. He stands over all those souls that have been completed on the left side. Adiriel comes from the words Adirei El [God’s mighty ones]. Adir means strong because he is appointed over the hall of Gevura [strength, valor, overcoming].

Seven Halls of the Upper Earth

Sixth Hall, Hesed

59/2) The souls found in this highest of all sections are above all the souls. The appointee Michael, the highest of all angels, stands and governs that hall of Hesed.

There are several thousands and tens of thousands of angels under his governance on the side of Hesed, and there the souls of the Hassidim [pious] delight in the upper light that is drawn there from the next world, Bina.

The seventh hall is missing here because The Zohar comes to tell us the names of the appointees over each hall, and there are no appointed angels in the seventh hall.