The Secret of the Souls of the World of Chaos: The Immense Greatness of Converts and Penitents

Lesson No. 6 | Monday, Parshas Behar, 8th of Iyar, 5755 (1995). Continued from No. 5

Converts and penitents merit immense lights and supernal chambers, sometimes in a single moment, due to the high root of their souls from the World of Chaos (Olam HaTohu). This discourse reveals the secret of the "tears of the oppressed," the inner weeping of the soul over its distance, and the only way to break through all the veils and merit the Geulah (Redemption)—the power of melody and song.

The Chamber of the Sapphire Pavement: The Convert's Shortcut

Yosef HaTzaddik (Joseph the Righteous) underwent a long and grueling ordeal of suffering. For thirteen years, day and night, he withstood trials that were almost unbearable, trials beyond human strength. Only after passing all those difficult tests did he merit entering the supernal chamber called "Heichal Livnas HaSapir" (the Chamber of the Sapphire Pavement). And behold, a wonder is revealed to us: into this very chamber, which Yosef labored so many years to achieve, Gerim (converts) enter immediately the moment they convert.

The Gerim merit entering the chamber of Yosef HaTzaddik, "Heichala d'Sapir," immediately, regarding which it was said at the Revelation at Mount Sinai:

"And they saw the God of Israel, and under His feet was like a work of sapphire pavement (Livnas HaSapir)"

What the Jewish people achieved at Mount Sinai was an attainment of the greatest Tzaddikim. Nadav and Avihu, Moshe and Aharon, merited seeing this awesome sight of "And they beheld God, and they ate and drank." Yet, the convert possesses this immense attainment immediately. As soon as the Ger converts, he attains that same illumination that was present at Mount Sinai. He enters this chamber and achieves this light, through whose power the Geulah (Redemption) will come to the Jewish people.

The entire reality and existence of the Jewish people depend on the Gerim among them. They are the ones who advocate for the nation, and in their merit, Hashem does not, Heaven forbid, destroy Israel. The "Etz Chaim" (a primary Kabbalistic work) explains that "Heichal Livnas HaSapir" is the foundation of creation. This is the secret of Yosef HaTzaddik, who represents the attribute of "Yesod" (Foundation), and this is the light that the Gerim merit—something no one else achieves with such ease.

Ba'alei Teshuvah: The Tears of the Oppressed

After the level of the Gerim comes the level of the Ba'alei Teshuvah (penitents). These are awesome souls containing an immense and vast light, a light that even an ordinary Tzaddik cannot attain. Until those Ba'alei Teshuvah returned to Hashem, they were in the state of "the tears of the oppressed." They would cry out to Hashem: "Master of the World, why is our fate different from all other fates?"

Ba'alei Teshuvah are the aspect of the 974 generations [souls that existed before the world was created]. This is the secret of "Olam HaTohu" (the World of Chaos). These souls were supposed to be refined over a thousand generations, but Hashem wanted them to be refined within six thousand years. Therefore, they fell into the "Tehomah Rabbah" (the Great Abyss), to the lowest places, exactly like the soul of King David.

Where did Hashem find David? In Sodom. David's soul was one of those high souls that fell into the depths of the Kelipos (husks of impurity). Therefore, it is written:

"And he who stumbles among them on that day shall be like David"

All those who stumble, those who have fallen into dark places—if they merit following the light they see and overcoming their Kelipos, they will be exactly like King David. But until the moment they return in Teshuvah (repentance), the soul within them moans and weeps and has no rest.

The Inner Cry: "Why did You throw me here?"

This is "the tears of the oppressed, and they have no comforter." The soul of the Ba'al Teshuvah asks Hashem: "Why did You put us in such a coarse body? Why did You throw me into some remote kibbutz, or some secular neighborhood in Ramat Aviv? Why wasn't I born in Meah Shearim to righteous and pure parents?"

The soul weeps and cries out to Hashem, and it has no comforter. As it were, even Hashem has no answer for them, for this is a profound decree. He only sends them lights, signs, and flashes of inspiration so they can strengthen themselves and overcome the terrible Kelipos in which they find themselves.

The moment they merit overcoming the terrible Kelipos—they will merit being exactly like King David. King David, who was also from the root of those souls of the World of Chaos that fell into Sodom, succeeded in emerging from the lowest places in the world. Through his power, everyone can emerge. The light of the Ba'alei Teshuvah is the greatest light there is, but the question remains: How does one get out? How do we break through the darkness?

The Secret to Emerging from Darkness: Song and Melody

The only way for a Ba'al Teshuvah to emerge from the straits is through song and Niggun (melody). There is no other way. Logic will not help here, only the Niggun.

Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our Teacher), who is the aspect of "Then Moses sang" (Az Yashir Moshe), can save all the Ba'alei Teshuvah. He implants thoughts of Teshuvah in every single person and brings the whole world back in Teshuvah through the Niggun. The "Emek HaMelech" explains that the moment a Ba'al Teshuvah does Teshuvah, he destroys tens of thousands of Kelipos. He was given a special role—to eradicate evil in the world.

Without any physical war, without firing a single bullet, the Ba'alei Teshuvah eradicate the Kelipos and the wicked. How? By the power of their perseverance, their prayers, their cries to Hashem, their weeping, and especially—their singing and playing music.

"He saw their distress when He heard their song (Rinatam)"

Hashem sees their song. For a Ba'al Teshuvah, all the gates and chambers have been closed, and the soul burns within him more than an ordinary person. He has only one open gate, one way to open all the locks: only through song and Niggun. The moment he sings and plays, he will break through all the gates.

When the Ba'al Teshuvah sings to Hashem, the verse is fulfilled: "And He broke the doors of bronze and cut the bars of iron asunder." The "Emek HaMelech" says that immediately then, the Geulah (Redemption) will occur. For with every thought of Teshuvah, with every melody of longing, he burns infinite Kelipos which are the root of all wickedness in the world. In the merit of this Niggun of the Ba'alei Teshuvah, we shall merit the complete Geulah speedily in our days, Amen.

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