Ze'er anpin
From Innerpedia
Ze'er Anpin (זְעֵיר אַנְפִּין) means "small face" or "small countenance" in Aramaic.
It is the partzuf corresponding to the emotive sefirot from loving-kindness through foundation, also called the midot (מִדוֹת).
Initially, the midot consist of the six sefirot from loving-kindness to foundation. These six sefirot develop, in the rectified world of Emanation (Atzilut), into the full partzuf of Ze'er Anpin, by the addition of the three mental powers drawn into them by means of the partzufim of Abba (Father) and Imma (Mother) above them.
Ze'er Anpin and Arich Anpin
There is a special relationship between Ze'er Anpin and Arich Anpin, the lower partzuf of the crown. This relationship can be noted in the linguistic similarity of the two. Arich Anpin literally means "the long face" or "countenance" and represents the experience of the infinite inherent in the crown. Ze'er Anpin ("the small countenance") represents the experience of finitude. Indeed, the very name midot (given to the sefirot from loving-kindness and on and forming the essenential core of Ze'er Anpin) means "measurements" and implies definite finite states of being.
In practice, Ze'er Anpin enclothes the partzuf of Arich Anpin figuratively from the latter's naval to its feet. This means to say that the lower half of the experience of infinity enters the experience of finitude in order to enliven it, just as the soul (infinite in its essence) enlivens the body (finite).
the lower half of every partzuf is its so called- human-like part, as said with regard to the connotation of Moses as "man of God": "From half down ?man,' from half up ?God'")
Just as the figurative "long countenance" of Arich Anpin symbolizes infinite patience, the "small countenance" of Ze'ir Anpin symbolizes relative impatience. By the deeds of mortals, Ze'ir Anpin may become "angered" (and the extent of his partzuf reduced).
Ze'er Anpin and Jacob
Ze'ir Anpin is identified with the archetypal soul of Jacob, the third patriarch. As the extent of the partzuf Ze'ir Anpin fluctuates in accord with the deeds of mortals (unlike the higher partzufim) as explained above, Jacob possesses two essential names, Jacob and Israel (unlike Abraham, who after being called by God Abraham was never again called Avram, Jacob, even after being called Israel, continues to be called Jacob). When relatively small, he is called Jacob, when fully grown in spirit he is called Israel.
In Chassidut it is explained that the name Jacob refers to the service of the beinoni (the level of Divine service obtainable by all Jewish souls), while the name Israel refers to the service of the tzaddik (the uniquely righteous souls of each generation).
Ze'er Anpin in Ezekiel's Vision of the Chariot
Ze'ir Anpin is referred to as "the Higher Man," the image of God which the prophet Ezichkial saw in the "vision of the chariot." As explained above, "the Higher Man" is influenced by the lower man. Likewise, the lower man aspires to emulate the attributes of "the Higher Man."
