Likutay Moharan - Torah-teaching 152

Likutey Moharan 152

When a holy soul comes into the world with its attached branches

When a holy soul enters this world along with its attached branches, the klipah encircles it—only an opening opposite faith remains. Opposite the faith, the opening stands open. From defects in those branches, G‑d forbid, they may be cast out—i.e., cast out from faith. Then they cannot draw near to their root, which is that soul. Sometimes one is expelled from faith, as our Rabbis of blessed memory said: regarding those who died unworthy to be buried in the Land of Israel—“And you came and defiled My land and My inheritance...” [Zohar Acharei 72a].

That closing of the opening—i.e. the faith—due to those defects in the branches is only temporary. Afterwards, the opening re‑opens as it was. When one must cast outside someone unworthy of drawing near, the surrounding klipah (which initially allowed only a thin opening opposite faith) strengthens and spreads over that opening, preventing entry. Immediately afterward, the opening re‑opens as at first.

But when there is, G‑d forbid, a multitude of defects—so much that the surrounding klipah can fully cover the opening—they fear lest the opening seal completely, G‑d forbid. Then they station a God‑fearing person at that opening to guard it. His presence serves benefit: the klipah cannot draw near or spread over the opening because the God‑fearing person stands there. And through self‑sacrifice—i.e. sacrificing his soul to travel and draw near to the Tzadik—it becomes possible to attach oneself to him. But wisdom itself (the brain) cannot illuminate in that situation.

May Hashem speed the general and particular redemption. See in the Zohar Terumah [140b–141a, Pardes Shaar HaTemuros ch. 2]: In the Holy Land all is repaired, describing a “thin curtain” spread over the opening. In the mystical scheme this corresponds to the God‑fearing person at the opening. The klipah cannot approach or spread over the gateway because of this thin veil. Read the text carefully and you will comprehend wonders.

Also consult Sefer Tuv Ha‑Aretz, which discusses the Land of Israel in similar terms. Compare concept to concept—for all is one with the above.