Israel Sabba and Tevuna: The Internal Structure of Binah

Bina is defined by the desire to be like the Creator, a nature of bestowal. At the same time, in order to actualize bestowal, she must relate to wisdom and to a vessel of reception.

When we speak about Israel Sabba, we speak about something that relates to the white, to wisdom, and therefore to the vessel of reception. But in terms of the nature of Bina, she defines herself in bestowal. So there is a division within Bina between her nature and the way that nature is expressed.

In order to actualize bestowal, Bina needs to turn, to extend, to give birth to a body in Malchut, a body that can receive life, meaning wisdom, without changing her nature. This action is not coming closer. It is getting away, because it is an extension, a restoration of wisdom into the created being. This is Tevuna, the aspect that allows the giving of life and the restoring of wisdom. Alongside this remains the nature of Bina itself, which is the wish to be like the Creator.

These two aspects allow Bina to teach and to allow the creature to receive and to be part of the will of the Creator to bestow goodness to His creation. The division is between the nature of Bina and the action of giving life. Through this, the created being can receive wisdom without changing the intention of bestowal, and can be included in the will of the Creator.