Likutei Moharan 31:12/ליקוטי מוהר"ן ל״א:י״ב

112. This is the concept of “points of KeSeF (silver).” That is, as a result of the KiSuFin (yearning), vowel points, which correspond to the soul, are made. In other words, through this that he yearns and longs <for the thing>—whether for good, or, God forbid, for evil—then, commensurate with the yearning, vowel points are made and the letters within the thing he yearns for <combine>.

2For all things have letters, but the letters on their own are golem-like and have no animation without the vowel points. However, commensurate with the person’s yearning and longing, the letters become animated through the vowel points, which are the aspect of soul received as a result of the yearning.

3In other words, if one yearns for something good, a holy soul is created from the kisufin and the vowel points become points of kesef. Then, the letters which were golem-like become animated and become vessels with which to receive good. The same is true of the reverse, God forbid. If one yearns for evil, souls, which are the aspect of vowel points, are created from the yearning. Then, the letters become animated and become vessels with which to receive evil, God forbid.

4For “From the mouth of the Most High come neither the evils nor the good” (Lamentations 3:38). Rather, each person [is given] commensurate with the vessel he designs and creates to receive good or evil, through his yearning and longing. <For> through this the soul becomes an aspect of vowel points, and through the vowel points the letters move and become animated for good or the reverse, God forbid.

5Yet, <as a result of the abovementioned yearnings, the soul is still only in potential, and> in order to have it go from potential to actual it is necessary to articulate the yearnings and longings which he yearns and longs. As is written, “My soul came forth when he spoke”—through speech the soul comes forth from potential to actual. By means of longing the soul comes to exist in potential. And by means of the words with which he expresses his longing with his mouth, the soul is completed and goes from potential to actual.

6This is as our Sages taught: “If the teacher is like an angel of the God of Hosts, seek Torah from his mouth.” This is because the letters of the Torah are “workers,” for they are the vitality of each thing. As is written (Daily Liturgy), “In His good He forever renews each day the works of Creation.” And “good” is nothing other than Torah (Berakhot 5a), because <the Torah is the vitality of each thing>. [And the letters] are what guide the entire world. Yet the letters themselves are golem-like, without any movement or vitality, and they have no animation whatsoever.

7Because of this, the Torah has two powers: If one is worthy, it becomes an elixir of life… (Yoma 72b). For each person, commensurate with his yearning, accordingly designs and explains the letters of the Torah. The Torah contains a predilection for good and evil, and “the tzaddikim go in them while the wicked stumble in them” (Hoshea 14:10). That is, each person, commensurate with his yearnings from which souls are made, makes vowel points for the letters of the Torah. The letters become animated and are explained for good or the opposite, God forbid. And in line with the way they are animated, that is how they work in the world. This is why the letters of the Torah seek to be animated by the mouth of the tzaddik. For he articulates his holy yearnings, and through this the letters receive vowel points and become animated for good.

8And this is: “If the teacher is like an angel of the God of Hosts.” For the teacher must also have the two powers which the Torah has: an elixir of life and a potion [of death]. This is so that the one who draws close to him can receive as he desires; “the tzaddikim go… the wicked stumble.” If he <truly> longs to serve the Holy One, he will be able to receive from the teacher an upright path through which to serve God. But if not, and he has a grievance in his heart, he can also find in the teacher a means to “cut the plantings” and heretically deny everything, God forbid.