Letter 442

When a person is in great straits — and the evil and the Sitra Achra intensify against him — as they intensify — until he has no path to turn right or left. Until it seems that hope is lost — Heaven forbid. And he is in the very extremity of his distress and the narrowness of his soul — he turns to Hashem Yisburach from the strait. Even though what he turns himself to Hashem Yisburach — is only as thin as a hair — it is very precious before Hashem Yisburach. And "mitzar" (straits) becomes "tzemer" (wool) — in the aspect of a thread of wool — that whitens the sins — on Yom Kippur.