Chapter 6

In chapter 1, the Alter Rebbe spoke of the Animal Soul. In chapter 2, he spoke of the Divine Soul, and said (in chapter 3) that it has ten “Tools.” Finally, in chapter 4, he said that it has three “Garments” to express those “Tools.”.

Now the Alter Rebbe returns to the first soul, and explains that he also has ten “Tools” and three “Garments”.

(The same is true in all things in the world. There are many things that can be used for good, but they can also be used for evil. A good example is the internet. Within ourselves, too, there is a force for good things and a parallel, opposing force for bad things.).

Just as the Divine Soul possesses intellect, so does the Animal Soul. The same applies to feelings, which grow in accordance with intellect; the more a person grows, the more elevated their emotions become. For example, a child gets angry (emotion) when they don't receive a toy they believe they deserve (intellect), while an adult won't get angry if they don't receive a toy because they are no longer interested; they are thinking about other things.

The Animal Soul is like a child; it is only interested in things it likes, even if they are not good for it; it gets angry easily, is impulsive, selfish, etc.; it does not think about serving others. Hashem, She thinks only of herself. She uses her three "outfits" only for what interests her.

The Alter Rebbe says that anything we think, say, or do that is not related to Hashem, it is automatically a “Garment” of the Animal Soul and is not holiness (kedushahHoliness is something that is exclusively dedicated to Hashem. If we do something for our own benefit, even if it doesn't go against the Torah, is not Holiness. That which is not Holiness is called Shell (klipá In Hebrew, like the peel of an orange that covers the pulp, there is a spiritual peel that conceals Hashem).

Everything in the world receives energy from some spiritual level. That is, everything we see is created and sustained by Hashem. We see the physical thing, for example, the cow in the field, but, in reality, what exists is a force of Hashem creating and giving life to the cow, the field, pasture, land, etc.

The life force of Hashem The Shell is so hidden and concealed that the Shell itself comes to believe that it is a god!

But not all levels of Shell are equal. There is a Shell that is entirely evil and impure, containing nothing good. From this “impure Shell” those Gentiles who do not fulfill the seven Mitzvot of Noah¹, all unclean animals (such as pigs, horses, etc.) and all plant foods that cannot be eaten, such as fringe (the fruits of the first three years of a tree) and Kiláim (seed mixture).

Also all the thoughts, words, and actions of the things that Hashem doesn't want us to do it (Mitzvot prohibitive or negative) receive energy from this “impure shell”.