Parte 12 · Capítulo 160

And with this reason another reason will be explained to you, why the coupling of Mincha is not so excellent as the morning prayer, even though both are by day. But the reason is that the coupling of the Mincha prayer is from the remnants of the Mochin of the morning prayer. And also with this you will understand why the judgments intensify in the Mincha prayer, in the secret of "when the shadows of the evening incline." The reason is that the Mochin go and diminish; but nevertheless it is still called the measure of day. But in the evening prayer, when all the Mochin were cut off completely, therefore all the dominion of the external forces and the harmful spirits is at night, as stated in the Ra'aya Mehemna, Parashat Pinchas, that at night the gates of the Garden of Eden are closed and the gates of Gehennom, which is the bitter gall, are opened, etc. — as is known that the judgments and Gevurot of the night are several levels greater than the judgments at the time of Mincha, for the true dominion and rulership of the external forces is only at night, as is known.