Daily Tanya Thursday 1st Marcheshvan Igeres Hakodesh 25: The Duality of Spiritual Forces – Holiness and Impurity in the Human Soul and Nations

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Title: The Duality of Spiritual Forces – Holiness and Impurity in the Human Soul and Nations

Overview

This passage explores the spiritual duality in creation, focusing on the concept of “זה לעומת זה”—the idea that for every force of holiness, there exists a corresponding force of impurity. It examines how the souls of the nations derive their vitality from impure sources, and how this reflects the exile of the Divine Presence (Shechinah) within the realm of impurity during times of spiritual concealment.

Key Concepts and Structure

  1. Ten Crowns of Impurity
  • Just as holiness is structured through ten Sefirot, impurity is structured through עשרה כתרים דמסאבותא—ten crowns of defilement.
  • The souls of the nations are derived from these ten impure levels, mirroring the structure of holiness but in a distorted form.
  1. Exile of the Shechinah
  • The verse “אשר שלט האדם באדם לרע לו” (Kohelet) is interpreted in Sefer HaGilgulim as referring to the exile of the Shechinah within the kelipot (spiritual husks or shells).
  • This exile allows the kelipot to receive vitality and temporarily dominate, especially during times of Jewish exile.
  1. Source of Vitality for the Nations
  • The nations receive their vitality from the external aspect (אחוריים) of holiness.
  • This is likened to someone throwing something over their shoulder—a metaphor for indirect, undesired giving.
  • The vitality is heavily contracted and concealed, passing through many tzimtzumim and masachim until it reaches the coarse materiality of this world.
  1. Material Prosperity vs. Spiritual Connection
  • The nations receive material abundance—wealth, honor, and physical pleasures—from this external Divine light.
  • In contrast, Israel receives vitality from the פנימיות (inner face) of holiness, as expressed in the verse: “יאר ה’ פניו אליך”—a direct and intimate Divine illumination.
  • Each individual receives from this Divine ray of Holiness in accordance to his soul root, to the highest of levels.

Takeaway

This teaching reveals a profound spiritual framework for understanding the current state of the world, especially the dominance of materialism and external powers during exile. It emphasizes that while impurity may seem dominant, it is sustained only by a distant and diminished light. The Jewish soul, by contrast, is rooted in the inner Divine face, representing a deeper, more essential connection to holiness. This duality sets the stage for the ultimate redemption, when the Shechinah will be liberated from exile, and the true source of vitality—the inner Divine light—will be revealed to all.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.