The Gate of the Klipot

שַׁעַר הַקְּלִיפּוֹת

he Shivrei Kelim [Broken Vessels], when they fell into Beri’ah, Yetzirah, and Asiyah (הַשִּׁבְרֵי כֵלִים כְּשֶׁנָּפְלוּ בבי״ע), stood there on the outside (עָמְדוּ שָׁם מִבַּחוּץ), and adjacent to them are the Dinim [Judgments] (וְסָמוּךְ לָהֶם הַדִּינִין), called Chol [Profane] (הַנִּקְרָאִים חוֹל), and they are between the Kedushah [Holiness] and the Tum’ah [Impurity] (וְהֵם בֵּין הַקְּדוּשָּׁה וְהַטֻּמְאָה), and at their head stands the Great Tanin [Serpent/Dragon] (וּבָרֹאשׁ עוֹמֵד הַתַּנִּין הַגָּדוֹל), which is in the sea (אֲשֶׁר הוּא בַּיָּם), and it is the Nachash [Serpent] that is in the sea (וְהִיא הַנָּחָשׁ אֲשֶׁר בַּיָּם), and it does not harm as much as the earthly serpent (וְאֵינוֹ מַזִּיק כָּל כָּךְ כְּמוֹ נָחָשׁ הָעָפְרִי). And this Tanin [Serpent/Dragon] is emasculated (וְהַתַּנִּין הַזֶּה הוּא מְסוּרָס), for the fin and its female counterpart were sweetened (כִּי הַסְּנַפִּיר עִם הַנְּקֵבָה שֶׁלּוֹ נִמְתְּקוּ), and from them were made four hundred worlds of longing (וְנַעֲשׂוּ מֵהֶם ת׳ עָלְמִין דְּכִיסּוּפִין), and it has an opening in its head to receive abundance (וְיֵשׁ לוֹ נֶקֶב בְּרֹאשׁוֹ לְקַבֵּל שֶׁפַע), and it includes all the other Taninim [Serpents/Dragons] (וְהוּא כּוֹלֵל כָּל הַתַּנִּינִים הָאֲחֵרִים), as it is said (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר): “You shattered the heads of the Taninim upon the waters” (שִׁבַּרְתָּ רָאשֵׁי תַנִּינִים עַל הַמָּיִם) (Psalms 74:13). And also from them sparks of purity are extracted as Mayin Nukvin [Female Waters] (וְגַם מֵהֶם מוֹצִיאִים נִיצוֹצֵי טָהֳרָה לְמ״ן), as I explained in its place (כַּאֲשֶׁר בֵּאַרְתִּי בִּמְקוֹמוֹ).

And behold, the eleven Sefirot of Tum’ah [Impurity] I have already explained at the beginning of Sha’ar Kiryat Arba [Gate of Kiryat Arba] (וְהִנֵּה י״א סְפִירוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּים בִּתְחִלַּת שַׁעַר קִרְיַת אַרְבַּע), and beneath them in Beri’ah stands one impure Merkavah [Chariot] (וְתַחְתֵּיהֶם בִּבְרִיאָה עוֹמֶדֶת מֶרְכָּבָה טְמֵאָה אַחַת), opposite the Heikhalot [Palaces] of Malchut on the left side (נֶגֶד הֵיכְלֵי מַלְכוּת מִצַּד שְׂמֹאל), for God made this corresponding to that (כִּי זֶה לְעֻמַּת זֶה עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים) (Ecclesiastes 7:14). And this impure Merkavah [Chariot] (וְהַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַטְּמֵאָה הַזֹּאת), has the form of four impure Chayot [Living Creatures] bearing it (צוּרַת אַרְבַּע חַיּוֹת טְמֵאוֹת נוֹשְׂאוֹת אוֹתָהּ), and behold, on its right side, namely in the southeastern corner (וְהִנֵּה מִימִין שֶׁלָּהּ דְּהַיְינוּ בְּקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית), there is Adam Belial and a serpent (יֵשׁ אָדָם בְּלִיַּעַל וְנָחָשׁ), and in the southwestern corner (וּבְמַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית), a lion and a horse (אַרְיֵה וְסוּס), and opposite them are an ox and a cow, and a donkey and a she-donkey (וּכְנֶגְדָּם שׁוֹר וּפָרָה וַחֲמוֹר וַאֲתוֹן), and the impure animals descend from there (וְהַבְּהֵמוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת יוֹרְדוֹת מִשָּׁם). And these forms of the man and the serpent (וְאֵלּוּ צוּרַת אָדָם וְנָחָשׁ), are the power of the Klipah of male and female (הֵם כֹּחַ הַקְּלִיפָּה שֶׁל זָכָר וּנְקֵבָה), who rule over that Merkavah [Chariot] (הַשּׁוֹלְטִים עַל הַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַהִיא). And beneath this Merkavah [Chariot], corresponding to the Olam haYetzirah [World of Formation] (וְתַחַת הַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַזֹּאת כְּנֶגֶד עוֹלָם הַיְצִירָה), there is a second Merkavah [Chariot] (יֵשׁ לָהּ מֶרְכָּבָה שֵׁנִית), and it is like a square piece (וְהִיא כְּמִין חֲתִיכָה מְרֻבַּעַת), and one power of Klipah rules over it (וְשׁוֹלֶט עָלֶיהָ כֹּחַ קְלִיפָּה אַחַת), and Ashmedai emerges from it (וְאַשְׁמְדַּאי יוֹצֵא מִמֶּנָּה). And beneath the piece, toward its end (וְתַחַת הַחֲתִיכָה כְּלַפֵּי סוֹפָהּ), there is a scorpion and two forms beneath it (יֵשׁ עַקְרָב וּשְׁתֵּי צוּרוֹת תַּחְתֶּיהָ), and over them is the wicked Samael (וַעֲלֵיהֶן סַמָּאֵ״ל הָרָשָׁע), who gives them a spirit resembling that of holiness (שֶׁנּוֹתֵן בָּהֶם רוּחַ דּוּגְמַת הַקְּדוּשָּׁה), and in the form on the right (וּבְצוּרַת יָמִין), Asimon rides upon Na’amah (הוּא אַסִימוֹן רוֹכֵב עַל נַעֲמָה), and Na’amah rides upon Igeret bat Machalat (וְנַעֲמָה רוֹכֶבֶת עַל אִגֶּרֶת בַּת מַחֲלַת), and this Igeret rides upon many kinds of Gardinei Tehirin [Watchers of Purities] and Chavilei Trikin [Bands of Harmers] (וְאִגֶּרֶת זוֹ רוֹכֶבֶת עַל כַּמָּה מִינֵי גַּרְדִינֵי טְהִירִין וַחֲבִילֵי טְרִיקִין). And on the left side (וּמִשְּׂמֹאל), there is the form of a serpent (יֵשׁ צוּרַת נָחָשׁ), riding upon a blind Tanin [Dragon] (רוֹכֵב עַל תַּנִּין עִוֵּר), and this Tanin [Dragon] rides upon Lilith the guilty one (וְהַתַּנִּין הַזֶּה רוֹכֵב עַל לִילִית חַיֶּיבְתָּא), and from them descend the souls of the impure animals and beasts (וּמֵהֶם יוֹרְדִים נַפְשׁוֹת הַחַיּוֹת וְהַבְּהֵמוֹת הַטְּמֵאוֹת). And from the holy Merkavah [Chariot] descend the souls of the pure Chayot [Living Creatures] and Behemot [Animals] (וּמִן הַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה יוֹרְדִים נַפְשׁוֹת הַחַיּוֹת וְהַבְּהֵמוֹת טְהוֹרוֹת), and sometimes they mix with them the soul of some wicked person when he emerges from above (וְלִפְעָמִים מְעָרְבִים עִמָּהּ נֶפֶשׁ אֵיזֶה רָשָׁע כְּשֶׁיּוֹצֵא מִלְמַעְלָה). And just as the good deeds of Israel cause Mayin Nukvin [Female Waters] above (וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהַמַּעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹרְמִים מַיִן נוּקְבִין לְמַעְלָה), which cause the holy kisses (הַגּוֹרְמִים הַנְּשִׁיקוֹת הַקְּדוֹשׁוֹת), so too transgressions cause evil Mayin Nukvin [Female Waters] (כָּךְ הָעֲבֵרוֹת גּוֹרְמִים מַיִן נוּקְבִין בִּישִׁין), and kisses between the union of these wicked ones (וּנְשִׁיקוֹת בֵּין זִוּוּג הָרָעִים הָאֵלֶּה), as it is said (שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר): “But the kisses of an enemy are abundant” (וְנַעְתָּרוֹת נְשִׁיקוֹת שׂוֹנֵא) (Proverbs 27:6), and it is said (וְנֶאֱמַר): “For the lips of a strange woman drip honey, and her palate is smoother than oil” (נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתֵי זָרָה וְחָלָק מִשֶּׁמֶן חִכָּהּ) (Proverbs 5:3). And all the companies are under the dominion of Samael (וְכָל הַכִּתּוֹת תַּחַת מֶמְשֶׁלֶת סַמָּאֵ״ל הֵם), and this northern one is “Mehetabel daughter of Matred, daughter of Mei-Zahav” (וְזוֹ הַצְּפוֹנִית הִיא מְהֵיטַבְאֵל בַּת מַטְרֵד בַּת מֵי זָהָב) (Genesis 36:39), for “from the north gold comes” (כִּי מִצָּפוֹן זָהָב יֶאֱתֶה) (Job 37:22), and from there comes the absence of light and the increase of darkness (וּמִשָּׁם הֶעְדֵּר הָאוֹר וְתוֹסֶפֶת הַחֹשֶׁךְ). And behold, from ancient times enmity and hatred have existed between the two nations (וְהִנֵּה מִימֵי קֶדֶם קַיֶּמֶת הַשִּׂנְאָה וְהָאֵיבָה בֵּין שְׁנֵי אֻמּוֹת), and Esav went and took Machalat daughter of Yishmael (וְהָלַךְ עֵשָׂו וְלָקַח אֶת מָחֲלַת בַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל), to unite this red-red emanation (לְיַחֵד הָאֲצִילוּת הָאָדוֹם הָאָדוֹם הַזֶּה), with the northern one who is the prince of Yishmael (עִם הַצְּפוֹנִי שֶׁהוּא שָׂרוֹ שֶׁל יִשְׁמָעֵאל).

And behold, one of the offspring of the primordial serpent (וְהִנֵּה כִּי אַחַת מִתּוֹלְדוֹת הַנָּחָשׁ הַקַּדְמוֹנִי), serves at times (הוּא מִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ לִפְעָמִים), according to whatever emanation reaches it (כְּפִי מַה שֶּׁיַּגִּיעַ אֵלָיו הָאֲצִילוּת), because of that emanation (מִסִּבַּת הָאֲצִילוּת הַהִיא), which is Samael (שֶׁהוּא סַמָּאֵ״ל), for all these companies are under his hand and dominion (שֶׁכָּל הַכִּתּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה תַּחַת יָדוֹ וּמֶמְשַׁלְתּוֹ). One of them has the form of “Machalat daughter of Yishmael” (הָאַחַת צוּרָתָהּ כְּצוּרַת מָחֲלַת בַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל), and so is her name (וְכֵן שְׁמָהּ), yet she is not the daughter of Yishmael below (וְלֹא שֶׁהִיא בַּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל שֶׁל מַטָּה), rather she is emanated from the one above (וְהִיא נֶאֱצֶלֶת מִזּוֹ שֶׁל מַעְלָה). And this is what Esav intended (וְלָזֶה נִתְכַּוֵּן עֵשָׂו), when he took this Machalat as a wife (כְּשֶׁלָּקַח לְאִשָּׁה מָחֲלַת זֹּאת), to unite the two arms (לְיַחֵד שְׁנֵי זְרוֹעוֹת), and he called her name Basmat (וְקָרָא שְׁמָהּ בָּשְׂמַת), because through her he became perfumed through that Supernal Machalat (כִּי עַל יָדָהּ נִתְבַּשֵּׂם בְּאוֹתָהּ מָחֲלַת שֶׁל מַעְלָה), to draw emanation upon himself (לְהַשְׁפִּיעַ אֲצִילוּת עָלָיו). And behold, Nogah surrounds the entire Olam haAsiyah [World of Action] (וְהִנֵּה נֹגַהּ סוֹבֶבֶת לְכָל עוֹלָם הָעֲשִׂיָּה), and it is clothed within Metatron (וְהִיא מִתְלַבֶּשֶׁת בְּמֶטַטְרוֹן), and after it are the three Klipot: Ruach Se’arah [Storm Wind], Anan Gadol [Great Cloud], and Esh Mitlakachat [Flaming Fire] (וְאַחֲרֶיהָ שָׁלֹשׁ קְלִיפּוֹת רוּחַ סְעָרָה עָנָן גָּדוֹל אֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת). And beneath them are seven Klipot (וְתַחְתֵּיהֶם ז׳ קְלִיפּוֹת), and from them emerge the seventy princes of the nations and their powers (וְיוֹצְאִים מֵהֶם שִׁבְעִים שָׂרֵי הָאֻמּוֹת וְכֹחוֹתֵיהֶם), and beneath them are the seven Heikhalot haTemurah [Palaces of Substitution] (וְתַחְתֵּיהֶם שִׁבְעָה הֵיכָלוֹת הַתְּמוּרָה), mentioned in the Zohar, Pekudei (הָאֲמוּרִים בַּזֹּהַר פְּקוּדֵי), see there (עַיֵּן שָׁם). And concerning this it is said (וְעַל זֶה נֶאֱמַר): “For the ways of Hashem are upright; the righteous walk in them, and the transgressors stumble in them” (כִּי יְשָׁרִים דַּרְכֵי י״י צַדִּיקִים יֵלְכוּ בָם וּפֹשְׁעִים יִכָּשְׁלוּ בָם) (Hosea 14:10), and it is said (וְנֶאֱמַר): “For behold, Your enemies, Hashem, for behold, Your enemies shall perish; all workers of iniquity shall be scattered” (כִּי הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ י״י כִּי הִנֵּה אוֹיְבֶיךָ יֹאבֵדוּ יִתְפָּרְדוּ כָּל פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן) (Psalms 92:10), “But You are exalted forever, Hashem” (וְאַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעוֹלָם י״י) (Psalms 92:9), blessed is Hashem forever, Amen and Amen (יִתְבָּרַךְ י״י לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן).