Mali, at Binah, is the “upper female,” seeking to “be with child.” The etrog, at Malchut, is the “lower female” with the blessing of the child “within it.” For the blessing in the etrog to become the reality in Mali, the main character Moshe requires tikkun of the (six) attributes between the two – especially that of his anger, which is rooted in Gevurah/Judgment.
Most of the main characters themselves, need to undergo their own tikkun. Thus, the tikkun of Eliyahu, who represents Gevurah, is tied to that of Moshe. Both men exhibit “flawed judgment” through the story.
All of this relates to the concept that the attribute of Gevurah (Eliyahu) must be ‘satisfied.’ Moshe (and Mali’s) suffering, humiliation, etc., accomplishes this. Once Eliyahu sees Moshe ‘is for real’ and sees how ‘they really messed him up,’ Elihayu attains his own tikkun – going so far as doing a great mitzvah by preparing a wonderful meal for Moshe.
An even deeper concept then presents itself whereby neither Moshe or his ‘satan/accuser’ (Eyliahu) know what is really happening (on the part of G-d!) This culminates in Moshe eating the etrog – something he would never had done “under normal circumstances,” but that had to be done in order for the connection to be made from its internal “blessing for a boy” (at Malchut) through the now rectified six attributes of Moshe, over to Mali at Binah.
In fact, because Moshe and Mali sink so low – their ‘return’ is even greater and they can impact the tikkun of many more people who otherwise would not been put in situations they ‘needed’ to face certain deficiencies. This is the concept of “descent (of the tzaddik) for the sake of ascent.”
Our ultimate goal is to sweeten our problems, to transform darkness into light.
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