אות-ג

The entire distancing of the majority of the world from Hashem, may He be blessed, is only because of falls and weakening of the mind. For most of them tried several times and began the service of Hashem, and afterward fell to whatever they fell to, each person according to his fall, G-d have mercy. And some were aroused to begin again once more or several times, but afterward when they saw that they still fell again — they therefore despaired of themselves. But in truth all of this is the work of the Ba'al Davar himself, who is the zaken d'sitra achra — the "elder of the Other Side" — for he is called "an old and foolish king," and he wants to bring the person to old age and weakening of strength, G-d forbid, as if he has already grown old in his sins and deeds to the point where it is impossible for him to change. But in truth it is not so — for every day a person is literally a new creation, as we bless several blessings over this in the morning blessings [birchas hashachar]. Therefore one must strengthen oneself at all times and consider oneself as though today one was born and as though today one is receiving the Torah anew. (ibid.) And the remedy for this is to give tzedakah [charity] to worthy poor people. For the essence of the Creator's greatness, may He be blessed, is revealed through tzedakah given to a worthy pauper — through this the Holy One, blessed be He, is magnified and glorified. And through this one will merit to subdue the k'lipos — which are the obstacles and confusions, etc. — that overpower at each and every level, as mentioned above. (ibid.) Even if a person does not merit to serve Hashem, nonetheless as long as he still hopes in Hashem, may He be blessed, he must certainly strengthen and fortify himself greatly in this alone as well — as in the aspect of: "Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Hashem" [Psalms 31:25]. And let him not fall in his resolve for any reason in the world, for there is no evil greater than a fall, G-d have mercy. And so too every single person must strengthen his fellow not to fall in his resolve for any reason in the world — even if he knows about himself that he is as he is, let him nevertheless strengthen his fellow, for it is easier to strengthen one's fellow than to strengthen oneself — as it is said: "a captive cannot free himself." And when he merits not to bring his fellow down, G-d forbid — even though he knows about himself that he is far from service: on the contrary, let him strengthen him with all manner of strengthenings and revive him and restore him with all manner of words that revive the soul. Through this it can happen that afterward he will also merit to return and go back to the service of Hashem. See there. (ibid., Ois 120)