אות-כ

When a person distances himself from Hashem, G-d forbid — all the more so when he falls to evil desires and transgressions, G-d have mercy — this is the aspect of: "Rachel weeping for her children", etc. — for the Shechinah [Divine Presence], which is the holiness of Israel, is called "Rachel." And then she is in the aspect of "as a sheep before her shearers is silent" — for the k'lipos and sitra achra shear her and take from her, so to speak, her splendor and glory, and she is silenced among them. And then she is in the aspect of: "the Shechinah says: 'I am pained from my head [lit. 'heat']'," etc. And when this distant one is aroused in the very depth of his distance and does not despair of himself in any manner, and weeps and cries to Hashem, may He be blessed, always — this is the aspect of: "A voice is heard in Ramah, wailing, bitter weeping". For the holiness of his soul weeps with great bitterness: "and she refuses to be comforted… for he is not" — for it sees that it has been so long that she is so distant from Hashem. But even so, since she still holds on to cry and weep to Hashem always, then Hashem's mercies are aroused and an illumination and strengthening shines upon her from above: "So says Hashem: refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for there is reward for your labor and there is hope for your future" [Jeremiah 31:15–17]. And all of this Hashem, may He be blessed, communicates to her only through the great Tzadik of the generation who illuminates each Jewish soul and informs it that "there is still reward" — for there is no despair in the world. For no speech and no cry is ever lost, even a cry from the lowest depths. And even when desires and obstacles overpower him and spread before him so greatly that he cannot emerge from them — even then, when he yearns and craves at all times for Hashem and does not abandon the will and longing ever: all of this is very precious before Hashem, may He be blessed. (Halachos of Pesach, Halacha 9)