Know! there is an aspect of Arikh Anpin in the kelipah (forces of evil). Someone who meets a woman from this aspect will find it very difficult to be saved from an improper thought. Even if he closes his eyes, she will be in front of him, no matter in which direction he turns. This is because she is the aspect of Arikh Anpin of the kelipah, they being “long faces.” Therefore, in whatever direction he turns, she will be in front of him.
Know, too, that charity is a segulah (preternatural remedy) and helps greatly to be spared from lustful thoughts. However, it is nevertheless forbidden to rely on this so as to mingle with women and to converse excessively with them, God forbid. It is just that it is not as harmful to him. This is the explanation of “treat the poor as members of your household, and do not converse excessively with the woman” (Avot 1:5). That is, even though you are charitable and the poor are as members of your household, still, do not converse excessively [with women].
However, the prohibition is only not to overdo it, whereas that which is necessary will not harm him. This is accomplished by [giving] charity, which saves from lustful thoughts—the aspect of the highest source of impurity, the aspect of a corpse. Charity protects against them, in the aspect of “Charity saves from death” (Proverbs 10:2). God save us.
דַּע שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּחִינַת אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין בַּקְּלִפָּה (ע' ע"ח שער הקליפות פ"ג), וּמִי שֶׁפּוֹגֵעַ בְּאִשָּׁה מִבְּחִינָה זוֹ, קָשֶׁה לוֹ לְהִנָּצֵל מֵהִרְהוּר, וְאַף אִם יַעֲצִים עֵינָיו, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן בְּכָל צַד שֶׁיִּפְנֶה תִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ, כִּי הִיא בְּחִינַת אֲרִיךְ אַנְפִּין שֶׁל הַקְּלִפָּה, שֶׁהֵם פָּנִים אֲרֻכִּים, וְעַל־כֵּן בְּכָל צַד שֶׁיִּפְנֶה תִּזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ:
Know! there is an aspect of Arikh Anpin in the kelipah (forces of evil). Someone who meets a woman from this aspect will find it very difficult to be saved from an improper thought. Even if he closes his eyes, she will be in front of him, no matter in which direction he turns. This is because she is the aspect of Arikh Anpin of the kelipah, they being “long faces.” Therefore, in whatever direction he turns, she will be in front of him.
וְדַע, שֶׁצְּדָקָה הוּא סְגֻלָּה גְּדוֹלָה וּמוֹעֶלֶת מְאֹד לְהִנָּצֵל מֵהִרְהוּרֵי נִאוּף, אַךְ אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אָסוּר לִסְמֹךְ עַל־זֶה, וְלִהְיוֹת מְעֹרָב עִם הַנָּשִׁים וּלְהַרְבּוֹת שִׂיחָה עִמָּהֶם חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, רַק שֶׁאֵינוֹ מַזִּיק לוֹ כָּל־כָּךְ, וְזֶהוּ (אבות פ"א): וְיִהְיוּ עֲנִיִּים בְּנֵי בֵּיתְךָ, וְאַל תַּרְבֶּה שִׂיחָה עִם הָאִשָּׁה; הַיְנוּ שֶׁאַף שֶׁאַתָּה עוֹשֶׂה צְדָקָה וַעֲנִיִּים הֵם בְּנֵי בֵּיתְךָ, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן אַל תַּרְבֶּה וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל,
Know, too, that charity is a segulah (preternatural remedy) and helps greatly to be spared from lustful thoughts. However, it is nevertheless forbidden to rely on this so as to mingle with women and to converse excessively with them, God forbid. It is just that it is not as harmful to him. This is the explanation of “treat the poor as members of your household, and do not converse excessively with the woman” (Avot 1:5). That is, even though you are charitable and the poor are as members of your household, still, do not converse excessively [with women].
אֲבָל אֵין הָאִסּוּר רַק שֶׁלֹּא יַרְבֶּה, אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁהוּא מֻכְרָח אֵין מַזִּיק לוֹ, וְזֶה נַעֲשֶׂה עַל־יְדֵי הַצְּדָקָה, שֶׁהִיא מַצֶּלֶת מֵהִרְהוּרִים שֶׁל נִאוּף, שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת אֲבִי אָבוֹת הַטֻּמְאָה, בְּחִינוֹת מֵת, וּצְדָקָה מַצֶּלֶת מֵהֶם, בִּבְחִינַת (משלי י): וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת, הַשֵּׁם יַצִּילֵנוּ:
However, the prohibition is only not to overdo it, whereas that which is necessary will not harm him. This is accomplished by [giving] charity, which saves from lustful thoughts—the aspect of the highest source of impurity, the aspect of a corpse. Charity protects against them, in the aspect of “Charity saves from death” (Proverbs 10:2). God save us.