Klipah

Klipah is a concept in Kabbalah, frequently discussed in Chabad Chassidic teachings, serving as a comprehensive term for the existence of evil and impurity in the world. Klipah is also known as "Sitra Achra" (Aramaic: the other side, which is not the side of holiness) or "Chitzonim" (the external forces). The term Klipah, meaning shell, is used because evil is comparable to the shell of a fruit - covering the fruit itself, though it is merely worthless waste. Similarly, impurity and evil are apparent in the world, despite not being the true reality, but rather a covering over the divine holy reality. Through breaking the shell, one reveals the truth and goodness in the world.

Types of Klipot

Specifically, there are several types and levels of Klipot, which generally divide into two categories: Klipat Nogah - which contains a mixture of good and evil, and the three impure Klipot - which contain only evil.

Nature and Purpose

With the creation of the world by the Holy One, Blessed be He, and His contraction of divine flow, many events occurred in the spiritual worlds. Among them was the "Breaking of the Vessels," where many supreme lights began to serve in opposition to the lights of holiness, constituting the power of the Sitra Achra in this world. Thus, it became possible for the world to conceal the divinity within it, and the creation of the Holy One would not be openly recognizable as such.

This fact, that an unholy force conceals the divine force and divine spark existing in everything, is called in Kabbalah and Chassidut "Klipah," just as a shell covers the fruit within it.

The role and purpose of Klipah is to assist a Jew in their work to establish divinity in this world, according to the will and desire of the Holy One to have a dwelling place in the lower worlds.

Formation of the Worlds of Klipot

In holiness, the higher something is, the more revelation of lights it contains. In Atzilut, all ten Sefirot shine, as supernal Abba, which is the Sefirah of Chochmah, along with the other Sefirot, nests in Atzilut. In Beriah, Chochmah does not shine, only Binah and the lower Sefirot shine. In Yetzirah, even Binah doesn't shine, only Zeir Anpin alone, and in Asiyah, even Zeir Anpin doesn't shine, only the aspect of Ofan alone.

However, in the worlds of Klipot, the order is reversed. In the Atzilut of the opposing side, there are only seven lower aspects. In the Beriah of the opposing side, there is also Chochmah and Binah, which is the aspect of Ammon and Moab. In the Yetzirah of the opposing side, there is also Keter of the opposing side, "You are the golden head," and in the Asiyah of the opposing side, there is even the aspect of Atik Yomin of Klipah, which is the strongest Klipah, to the point that it is called Atik, meaning it is removed even from the Klipot due to the great strength of the Klipah within it.

The Olive as a Metaphor

The olive serves as one of the metaphors for the bitterness of Klipah, as it is bitter, as our Sages said, "May my food be bitter as an olive." Therefore, the olive also causes one to forget seventy years of learning, as forgetfulness comes from the world of Klipot. Through crushing the olive, meaning the subjugation of the Sitra Achra, the oil is revealed, representing the aspect of Chochmah; meaning nullification to divinity (as Chochmah represents nullification, for the word Chochmah also means: the power of "what is" - nullification).