Pesukei d’Zimra: Rav Chaim Vital: What is a Man?

The 30th of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Chaim Vital (1543-1620): The Ten Sefirot were emanated in a direct manner in the image of a human being. And there are Ten Vessels in the likeness of a human being and in each vessel there is inwardness and outwardness. Everything is done in a straightforward way in the image of a human being.

It is clearly expounded that the Ten Sefirot are shaped as a person who has 248 limbs, known as vessels, and within them is contained the essence of the lights which is known as human soul.

As the earthly person has body and soul, so the heavenly person is composed of Ten Sefirot, which are “essence,” and “vessels.” The essence is concerned with inner lights that illuminate the vessels just as the soul illuminates the human body, as it is said, “The life breath of a man is the lamp of God.” (Eitz Chaim, 25, 30)

I use this to focus my attention before reciting, “And David blessed God in the presence of the entire congregation.”