א' חשון – אגרת הקודש פרק כ"ה

The Alter Rebbe begins by explaining that just as there is holiness in the world, there is also the opposite—זה לעומת זה—'this opposite that.' In other words, for every aspect of holiness, there is a corresponding force of impurity.

He describes that there are עשרה כתרי דמסאבותא—ten crowns of impurity. These are the spiritual roots of all unholy forces in the world. Just as the ten sefiros are the channels through which G‑dliness is revealed, these ten crowns are the channels through which impurity is expressed.

From these ten crowns, the souls of the nations of the world—נפשות העו"ג—are drawn. And just as the ten sefiros include all the different aspects of holiness, so too, the souls of the nations are also composed of these ten aspects, but on the side of impurity. This sets up a parallel structure: holiness on one side, impurity on the other, each with its own ten-part system.

The Alter Rebbe now brings a source to explain how this system operates in our world. He says that it is well known—ומודעת זאת בארץ—that this is something established and recognized, as explained in ספר הגלגולים (the Book of Reincarnations by the Arizal).

He quotes the verse, "אשר שלט האדם באדם לרע לו" ("that man rules over man to his detriment," Koheles 8:9). The Arizal explains that this refers to the secret of the exile of the Shechinah—גלות השכינה—within the klipos, the forces of impurity. During exile, the Divine Presence is hidden within the klipos, giving them life and allowing them to rule.

But, the verse says, this is "לרע לו"—ultimately, it is to their own detriment. Even though the klipos seem to be in control, this is only temporary and ultimately not for their benefit.

Because of this dynamic, the nations of the world—העו"ג—are able to rule over the Jewish people at times. This is not because they have independent power, but because their souls come from the klipos, and the Shechinah is in a state of exile within them.

The Shechinah being in exile means that the Divine energy is concealed and channeled through the klipos, which gives them the ability to dominate. This is the spiritual explanation for why, in times of exile, the nations can have power over the Jewish people.

The Alter Rebbe acknowledges that this is a deep and complex subject—זה צריך ביאור רחב איך ומה—it really requires a much broader explanation to fully understand how this works and what it means.

However, he says, the truth remains as stated. Even if we don't grasp all the details, the reality is that the Shechinah is in exile within the klipos, and this is the source of the nations' power during exile.

Yet, despite all this, the klipos and the nations of the world do not receive their life-force directly from holiness. Rather, they only receive from a very limited, external aspect—אחוריים דקדושה—the 'backside' or the most external level of holiness.

The Alter Rebbe uses the analogy of someone who throws something over his shoulder—כמאן דשדי בתר כתפי'. This means that the Divine energy given to the klipos is not given willingly or directly, but as if it is cast behind, without attention or desire. The klipos are sustained only by this indirect, external flow.

Even this external flow of Divine energy is not given freely. It comes only after many צמצומים ומסכים רבים ועצומים—many contractions and powerful screens or barriers. The Divine light is filtered and diminished again and again until it becomes completely concealed within the physicality of this world.

It is only after all these contractions that this energy is able to reach the nations of the world, providing them with material blessings—עושר וכבוד וכל תענוגים גשמיים—wealth, honor, and all sorts of physical pleasures. But all of this is just the most external, diminished form of Divine energy, not the true inner vitality.

In contrast, the Jewish people—ישראל—receive their life-force from the פנים העליונים—the inner, revealed aspect of G‑dliness. This is a direct and intimate connection to holiness, not a distant or external flow.

This is expressed in the verse, "יאר ה' פניו אליך" ("May G‑d shine His face upon you," Bamidbar 6:25). Each Jew receives this inner Divine light according to the root of his soul—כל אחד ואחד לפי שרש נשמתו עד רום המעלות—all the way up to the highest spiritual levels. This is the unique relationship that the Jewish people have with G‑d, receiving vitality from the very source of holiness itself.