Pekidah

The Ramchal lists a few different actions that occur during the time of Pekidah.

• The rising of the Shechinah from the dirt of Galus - The dirt is a metaphor for the klipot. At this time, the Shechinah gains the light of rulership, but it is only revealed outward at the time of Zechirah.
• The first Zivug between the Tsaddik and the Shechinah
• The fixing of Hester Panim - as discussed in the previous posts. This repair is partial, and is not easily viewed from the outside. Only a discerning eye (or perhaps one with 20/20 hindsight) can see this. Also, this fix is temporary, until the time of Zechirah.
• The light of the Pekidah causes a desire in Am Yisrael to do Teshuvah. The Ramchal writes that this is the purpose of the Pekidah.
• The going out of the imprisoned souls
• The Yechidah (the highest level of soul) is built for Moshiach

Following the Pekidah is a time of darkness, a weakness after the light of the Pekidah is withdrawn.

Pekidah and Zechirah - The Repair

The Ramchal tells us further the following in Maamar HaGeulah:

• The Pekidah is the time of repair for the first problem of Galus, Hester Panim, and even then, only partially.
• The Zechirah is the time of repair for the rest of the problems generated by Galus.

This seems to be problematic. If we have Hester Panim on the one hand, and abundance to the nations of the world on the other, should it not be that the tikkun for both is at the same time? But alas this is not the case, the Ramchal writes. There is a period of time when things begin to get better for Am Yisrael (particularly in Eretz Yisrael) in an incomplete way. Then there is the period between Pekidah and Zechirah where Am Yisrael receive in more abundance, and the nations are receiving in abundance.

The period of Zechirah brings this parity to a close.

It is not hard to see (based on the above), but I will state it anyway. We are in between Pekidah and Zechirah.

Effects of Galus

The Ramchal, in part 1 of Maamar HaGeulah, writes that 4 things occur during Galus, each with its own benefit. All 4 are to be repaired during the Geulah.

• Hastarat Panim - The "pipes" through which abundance arrives at Am Yisrael from Heaven are "clogged", so to speak, only allowing what is necessary to pass through. It is lack of strength and abundance, and also the Torah and Wisdom is lacking.
• Great Abundance for the Nations of the World - From an expression in Pesachim 42:2 - If this one is full, this one is desolate.
• Galus of the Shechinah - Because the Shechinah is in exile, this strengthens the effects of the abundance given to the nations.
• The Sufferings of Galus (and their benefit) - The Ramchal here writes that the benefit of this suffering is to (to quote Daniel 9:24) to finish transgression and end sin. That is to say to serve as atonement for Am Yisrael's sins.

He then goes on to say that the Geulah itself is divided in to two parts, the Pekidah and the Zechirah. These two ideas will require their own posts.