YES Monthly Heritage Series: Purim Unmasked – The Ten Sefirot Behind the Hidden Miracle

by YES Kosher Friendship Team

(Edmonton) – Purim is the holiday of masks.

Hashem’s Name never appears in the Megillah, yet Divine guidance fills every line. When we unmask the story, we uncover something deeper, the structure of the Ten Sefirot.

The Ten Sefirot are the channels through which Hashem’s infinite light (Ein Sof) flows into the world. They describe how Divine will becomes thought, emotion, and ultimately action.

The Sefirot originate in early Kabbalistic teachings, especially the Zohar, and are later explained in detail by the Arizal and in Chassidic thought. They describe not only how Hashem relates to the world, but how our souls are structured.

But when we list them, something curious happens. Sometimes it looks like there are eleven.

Keter — Will

Chochmah — Insight

Binah — Understanding

Da’at — Connection

Chesed — Kindness

Gevurah — Discipline

Tiferet — Harmony

Netzach — Endurance

Hod — Humility

Yesod — Bonding

Malchut — Expression

So why are they called Ten Sefirot?

Because Keter and Da’at are never counted together. They represent two dimensions of the same level of consciousness.

Keter is the hidden crown, the super-conscious will that stands above intellect. It is beyond awareness, the deep root of intention before a thought even forms. Da’at is conscious connection, when knowledge becomes internalized and lived.

When Keter is revealed and counted, Da’at is hidden. When Da’at is counted, Keter remains concealed. It is either ten including Keter (without Da’at), or ten including Da’at (without Keter). Never eleven.

This itself reflects Purim.

Keter is like the hidden Divine plan, Hashem’s Name never mentioned. Da’at is like Esther’s moment of commitment, “If I perish, I perish.” The will becomes embodied.

One is concealed. One is revealed. But they are part of the same flow.

We are created b’tzelem Elokim , in the Divine image. So when we act with kindness, we express Chesed. When we set boundaries, we use Gevurah. When we endure, we embody Netzach. When we connect deeply, we live Yesod. When we bring purpose into action, we step into Malchut.

Purim Unmasked teaches us that what seems missing is simply hidden. Just as Hashem’s Name is concealed yet present, so too Keter may be unseen — but it crowns everything. Behind every mask, there is a Crown. And behind every hidden layer, there is Divine design.

Wishing the community a Joyful Purim Sameach.

Interested in learning more email YesKosherFriendship@gmail.com