Peeling Back the Klipos: The Truth Within the Facade
$0.00 – $1,150.00
Oil, Acrylic and 24kt gold on Canvas
30 x 24 inches
After the sin of Adam and Chava eating from the Tree of Knowledge, confusion entered the world. Good and evil became intertwined, making it much harder to discern between אמת (truth) and שקר (falsehood).
As Rabbi Yehoshua Gordon once explained regarding chapter 37 in Tanya : When Moshiach comes and Galus (exile) ends, every Jew will ask themselves: “Why did I occupy myself with darkness, instead of revealing the light within the darkness?” We’ll realize we had the opportunity to uncover divine energy, to elevate the sparks hidden in the mundane—and yet we got distracted.
Today, we often chase fake light —like the dazzling distractions of Times Square—mistaking them for something real. But instead of being pulled in by superficiality, we can elevate the klipos (spiritual concealments). By doing mitzvos, we reveal true light, and when the Geula (redemption) comes, we will bask in the brilliance we ourselves helped bring into the world. Every holy choice, every mitzvah, peels back the layers of concealment.
In the painting, Galus is represented by a night scene painted in acrylic, symbolizing darkness and spiritual confusion. The verse I chose is from Mesillas Yesharim:
כי היצר מסמא את עיניו ממש, והנה הוא כהולך בחשך
“His evil inclination literally blinds his eyes, and he is like one who walks in darkness, unable to see the obstacles before him.”
Tearing through the darkness on the canvas is the Geula, painted in rich oils and adorned with touches of 24kt gold. This section features the Beis Hamikdash and a river running through Yerushalayim, as prophesied in Zechariah 14:8. Below are the tunnels from which the revival of the dead will emerge. In that time, everything will be as clear as day!
The verse on the Geula side of the painting is from Aleinu—a prayer we say three times a day:
לתקן עולם במלכות שקי
“To perfect the universe through the Almighty’s sovereignty.”
May we merit to greet Moshiach today!
