Letter 237

Falsehood is not at all from the character trait of Israel — only from the character trait of Esau — as it is written: "And Esau hated Jacob" [Genesis 27:41]. Just as the character trait of falsehood is very evil — so too the character trait of truth is very praiseworthy. For it causes many troubles and evils and heresies and apostasy — and many troubles and evils. And many have stumbled through it… And then it will be good for the heart — and also for others.

The essential repair of counsel is — when one completes through the counsel what is needed. For what comes through counsel in war and succeeds through it for a while — and afterwards the wheel turns and one falls through it — certainly this is not a good counsel. And the essential good counsel is — when one merits through it a good end.

And therefore all the counsels of the gentile nations are foolish counsels. For even though they succeed through it for a while — and rule over Israel — but their end is utter destruction. And about them it is said: "Hashem has foiled the counsel of the nations — frustrated the thoughts of peoples" [Psalms 33:10]. In the aspect of "Take counsel — and it will be foiled" [Isaiah 8:10], etc. For they take counsel every time to entirely annihilate Israel — Heaven forbid. As it is written: "They take cunning counsel against Your people and plot against Your hidden ones. They say: Come — let us cut them off as a nation — and the name of Israel will be remembered no more" [Psalms 83:4–5]. But the Holy Blessed One saves us from their hand — and does not allow them to complete their counsel — the counsels inverted from the truth — who bring in counsels inverted from the truth.

The essential repair of counsel is through joining and peace and love. And through this one merits to the wholeness of counsel. Through which the deep counsels of the Tzadik are revealed — that illuminate… That flow down to the feet — to all the most lowly levels — through this Israel will return to Hashem Yisburach.

The darkness of night is the aspect of the darkness of counsel. And the light of day — this is the aspect of "who reveals deep things out of darkness" [Job 12:22]. The aspect of the revelation of the depth of counsel. For the essential counsel is needed in the time of darkness — in the time when one does not know how to give counsel to his soul. Then one must ask greatly from Hashem Yisburach that He repair him with good counsel from before Him.

…Whom Hashem has decreed upon him — from the time of the beginning of his existence in his mother's womb — that he would be… in order that he raise the flag of Rabbainu za.l. in the world. And open the eyes and the hearts of Israel — that they see and understand in the revelation… And make known and reveal to all the people — that in this is the entire essential redemption and deliverance of our souls.

That he subdue and shatter and nullify the falsehood of this generation. That all will see and understand the truth that illuminates…