Chapter 7

At the end of the previous chapter, the Alter Rebbe explained that there is a completely impure Shell, the energy of Hashem It is completely hidden inside. All things forbidden by the Torah, They receive spiritual energy from that level. In this chapter, he explains that there is also an intermediate level, between Holiness and “Impure Shell”: a “Bright Shell” (klipat noga).

From this intermediate level, the animal soul of the Jew receives spiritual energy, as do all edible animals and all edible plants and minerals. Also, all common actions, words, and thoughts—everyday things that have nothing to do with anything forbidden by the law—are also the source of spiritual energy. Torah but they're not from either Mitzvot, They receive energy from that intermediate level.

For example, a cake kosher (food suitable for a Jew to eat) is something that the Torah It allows eating. There is no obligation to eat cake, it's not a Mitzvah, It's optional; you can eat it or not. The life force of that cake comes from the "shiny rind.".

But, continuing with the example, something special happens with the life force of the cake: if we eat the cake only because we want to and not because we want to serve Hashem With the energy that cake gives, then the life force of that cake falls into the “impure husk.” It cannot rise to holiness, because holiness is only something that is done, said, or thought exclusively for Hashem.

But what would happen if we ate the cake during a Brit Mila (circumcision) and its energy gives us strength and desire to make good resolutions to improve our service to HashemEating in a Brit Mila It is a Mitzvah, Then the life force of that cake becomes Holiness!

Another example: talking nonsense and telling jokes is not a transgression of the Torah, Therefore, its life force is of the “Bright Shell.” If we say foolish things because we are bored, the life force of those words cannot become Holiness, because we are not saying those words for Hashem. But if a friend is sad and we tell jokes to cheer him up, the life force of those words becomes holiness, because the jokes become part of the Mitzvah to love your neighbor (Ahavat Israel).

Returning to the cake example. If we like it so much that we buy a slice every time we pass a bakery, the life force of those cakes descends to the "impure crust"...

But… what if we did something that wasn't meant to be done? Hashem, For example, if we ate the cake kosher Because we felt like it? How does something rise from the “impure shell” to holiness? Like the cake receiving energy from the “shining shell,” the intermediate level, with repentance for not having acted well, and fulfilling Mitzvot With the vital energy of that cake, we can raise that vital energy from the “impure husk” to holiness.

It's like something that was on the ground floor, needed to be taken to the first floor, and instead, fell into a well. The ground floor is the "Shining Shell," the first floor is Holiness, and the well... the "Impure Shell." Lifting that thing out of the well is done by repenting and reusing that thing for a Mitzvah.

This only works for something whose life energy comes from the "bright shell," like the cake, the cow, etc., but something that comes from the "impure shell," like food that is not kosher, cannot rise to holiness, even if the person repents of not having acted well in that matter. Because the things that the Torah They are prohibited because they are “bound” to the “impure shell” and have no way to rise.

The Alter Rebbe explains that there are some cases in which it is possible to elevate even those things "bound" to the "impure shell," but that will happen when the Messiah, or with very deep regret, out of love for Hashem, which is capable of elevating even the most impure things.

The Alter Rebbe explains that saying the Shema Israel¹ Before going to sleep, with great fervor and desire, thinking about Hashem, This, along with sincere repentance for wrongdoing, helps to erase some transgressions from the Torah.