The straps and the knot of the hand Tefilin

456. Two straps come out of each side, NAMELY FROM THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT, this being the secret of the two thighs THAT ARE FROM THE CHEST AND downwards of Aleph Chet, WHICH IS ZEIR ANPIN, NAMELY NETZACH AND HOD OF ZEIR ANPIN, to which the true prophets are attached. For from above, ON THE HEAD, two straps come out, which are the secret of the two arms THAT CIRCLE THE HEAD from the right and from the left, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF CHESED AND GVURAH, and to which the Dalet, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is attached, IN THE SECRET OF THE KNOT OF THE HEAD TEFILIN. Later MALCHUT descends, and THE STRAPS, WHICH ARE THE SECRET OF the thighs below, extend downwards. For, since she is attached above, WITH THE DALET OF THE KNOT OF THE HEAD TEFILIN, as is proper, she goes down TO NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD, to hold on to her hosts, WHICH MEANS POUR PLENTY TO THE DWELLERS OF THE WORLDS OF BRIYAH, YETZIRAH AND ASIYAH. And when it becomes attached THERE, TO NETZACH HOD YESOD, she is so attached at the top of the thighs, and the imprint of the Yud, which is the Holy Covenant, NAMELY YESOD, IS over her from above, and she then unites in one unity WITH ZEIR ANPIN.

457. Yud is the secret of the covenant, NAMELY YESOD, for everyone who keeps this covenant will be saved above and below. Because Pinchas (Pe Nun-Chet-Samech) was zealous for this covenant, he was saved from the heavenly judgment and from earthly judgment, which is why the letter Yud was added in him, INTO HIS NAME, as it is written: "Pinchas (Pe Yud Nun Chet Samech), the son of Elazar..." (Bemidbar 25:11).

458. This Yud must never move from the hand Tefilin, NAMELY THE KNOT OF THE HAND TEFILIN THAT IS IN THE SHAPE OF THE LETTER YUD, WHICH ALLUDES TO YESOD, AS ABOVE. This is so that there should be no separation BETWEEN YESOD, WHICH IS YUD, AND THE HAND TEFILIN, WHICH IS MALCHUT. And the whole of MALCHUT'S rejoicing is with this Yud, WHICH IS YESOD. And this Yud is to be found in the Male but not in the Female. He, YESOD, IS CALLED 'Righteous' (Heb. Tzadik - Tzadi Dalet Yud Kof), while she, MALCHUT, is called 'righteousness' (Heb. Tzedek - Tzadi Dalet Kof), WITHOUT YUD, FOR YUD IS TO BE FOUND WITH THE MALE AND NOT IN THE FEMALE. And this is why THE YUD is close to it ON THE HAND TEFILIN, and whoever removes the Yud, WHICH IS YESOD, away from this place, FROM MALCHUT, WHICH IS THE HAND TEFILIN, will himself be far from the delights of the World to Come, NAMELY HE WILL NOT BE PRIVILEGED TO RECEIVE THE PLENTY COMING FROM THE UNION OF YESOD AND MALCHUT THAT IS DRAWN DOWN FROM THE UPPER EDEN, CALLED 'THE WORLD TO COME.'

459. In the Male he is righteous while the Female it is righteousness, without Yud. Similarly he is a man (Heb. ish, Aleph Yud Shin, SPELLED WITH YUD, while she is a woman (Heb. ishah, Aleph Shin Hei) SPELLED without Yud. This is why it is her rejoicing to come close TO THE YUD and to delight with it IN UNION. Whoever brings apart this delighting is himself removed from delight on high. And thus it is written: "for them that honor Me I will honor..." (I Shmuel 2:30).