The Secret of the Souls of the World of Tohu: The Immense Virtue of Converts and Baalei Teshuvah

Class No. 6 | Monday, Parashas Behar, 8 Iyar 5755 (Continuation from No. 5)

Converts and baalei teshuvah (returnees to Judaism) merit tremendous lights and supernal chambers, sometimes in a single moment, in the merit of their lofty soul root from the World of Tohu (Chaos). This article reveals the secret of the "tears of the oppressed," the inner weeping of the soul over its distance from Hashem, and the only way to break through all the barriers and merit Geulah (Redemption)—the power of melody and song.

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

Yosef HaTzaddik endured a long and grueling ordeal of suffering. For thirteen years, day and night, he withstood unbearably difficult trials, tests that were beyond human strength. Only after withstanding all those severe trials did he merit to enter the supernal chamber known as the "Heichal Livnas HaSapir" (Chamber of the Sapphire Brick). Yet, a wondrous thing is revealed to us: this very chamber, which Yosef toiled so many years to attain, converts enter immediately the moment they convert.

Converts merit to enter immediately into the chamber of Yosef HaTzaddik, the "Heichala D'Sapir," about which it is said regarding the revelation at Mount Sinai:

"And they saw the God of Israel, and under His feet was the likeness of sapphire brickwork."

What the Jewish people attained at Mount Sinai was the spiritual comprehension of the greatest tzaddikim. Nadav and Avihu, Moshe and Aharon, merited to see this awesome vision of "And they gazed at God, yet they ate and drank." Yet, the convert attains this immense comprehension immediately. The moment a convert completes their conversion, they attain the exact same illumination that was present at Mount Sinai. They enter this chamber and attain this light, through the power of which the Geulah (Redemption) will come to the Jewish people.

The entire reality and existence of the Jewish people depend on the converts among them. They are the ones who advocate on behalf of the nation, and in their merit, Hashem does not, God forbid, cut off the Jewish people. The Eitz Chaim explains that the "Heichal Livnas HaSapir" is the foundation of creation. This is the secret of Yosef HaTzaddik, who represents the spiritual attribute of Yesod (Foundation), and this is the light that converts merit to receive—something that no one else attains with such ease.

Baalei Teshuvah: The Tears of the Oppressed

Following the virtue of converts comes the virtue of baalei teshuvah. These are awesome souls that possess a tremendous and immense light, a light that no ordinary tzaddik can attain. Until these baalei teshuvah returned to Hashem, they were in the state of "the tears of the oppressed." They would cry out to Hashem: "Master of the Universe, why is our fate so different from all other fates?"

Baalei teshuvah represent the 974 generations. This is the secret of the "World of Tohu" (the primordial realm of Chaos). These souls were supposed to be spiritually refined over the course of a thousand generations, but Hashem wanted them to be refined within the six thousand years of creation. Therefore, they fell into the "Tehuma Raba" (the Great Abyss), to the lowest possible places, exactly like the soul of David HaMelech.

Where did Hashem find David? In Sodom. The soul of David was one of those lofty souls that fell into the depths of the klipos (forces of spiritual 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 to follow the light they see and overcome their klipos—they will become exactly like David HaMelech. But until the moment they do teshuvah (repentance), the soul within them is turbulent and weeping, finding absolutely no rest.

The Inner Cry: "Why Did You Throw Me Here?"

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

The soul weeps and cries out to Hashem, and it has no comforter. As it were, even Hashem has nothing to answer them, because this is a profound decree. He only sends them lights, signs, and spiritual flashes, so that they can strengthen themselves and overcome the terrible klipos in which they are trapped.

The moment they merit to overcome the terrible *klipos*—they will merit to be exactly like David HaMelech. David HaMelech, who was also from the root of those souls of the World of Tohu that fell into Sodom, managed to emerge from the lowest places in the world. Through his power, anyone can get out. The light of the baalei teshuvah is the greatest light there is, but the question remains: How does one get out? How does one pierce through the darkness?

The Secret to Emerging from the Darkness: Song and Melody

The only way for a baal teshuvah to emerge from the narrow straits is through song and melody. There is absolutely no other way. Logic will not help here, only the melody.

Moshe Rabbeinu, who embodies the aspect of "Then Moshe sang," can save all baalei teshuvah (returnees to the faith). He instills thoughts of teshuvah (repentance) in each and every person, and brings the entire world back in repentance through the melody. The Emek HaMelech explains that the moment a baal teshuvah repents, he cuts off tens of thousands of kelipos (impure spiritual shells). He was given a special mission – to eradicate evil in the world.

Without any physical war, without firing a single bullet, the baalei teshuvah cut off the kelipos and the wicked. How? Through the power of holding strong, praying, crying out to Hashem, weeping, and above all – singing and playing melodies.

"And He saw their distress when He heard their song."

Hashem sees their song. For a baal teshuvah, all the gates and all the heavenly halls have been sealed shut, and the soul burns within him more than a regular person. He has only one gate open, one way to unlock all the padlocks: this is only through song and melody. The moment he sings and plays a melody – he will break through all the gates.

When the baal teshuvah sings to Hashem, the verse is fulfilled in him: "For He has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder." The Emek HaMelech says that immediately then, the Geulah (Redemption) will come. Because with every thought of teshuvah (repentance), with every melody of yearning, he burns infinite kelipos which are the root of all wickedness in the world. In the merit of this melody of the baalei teshuvah, may we merit the complete Geulah (Redemption) speedily in our days, Amen.

---