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Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Four, Tammuz 16, 5775

Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Four, Tammuz 16, 5775

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So far the Alter Rebbe explained how Hashem has 10 faculties (sfiros) which He chose to create and manage all of existence. The Alter Rebbe also explained how these 10 faculties (sfiros) are manifest in the four letters of His name, Havaye. Today the Alter Rebbe explains:  Since: a. Our soul was breathed into us by G-d (Havaye). b. One who exhales, does so from within. Then: c. Our soul contains the same 10 faculties that Havaye has (“hamavdil havdolos l’ein…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four- Tammuz 15, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four- Tammuz 15, 5775

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Previously, the Alter Rebbe explained that the soul is a “piece” of G-d. His name, Havaye, is a label by which we refer to Him, but also connotes the manner of His expression; how we relate. Well G-d created ten “garments” by which He expresses Himself and manages the creation. Each letter of Havaye, His name, is an expression: 1. The thorn on the yud is His will, because it is the tag or kesser of yud. 2. The yud is…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four; Tammuz 14, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Four; Tammuz 14, 5775

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Continuing on the subject of returning the higher and lower “hei’s” of Havaye, the Alter Rebbe explains how and what the nature is of our being. We are a piece of G-d Himself and He blew within us a the soul of life. When one blows, it is from within, indicating to us the depth of our relationship with Hashem–we’re connected at the core.

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter Four; Tammuz 18, 5776

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter Four; Tammuz 18, 5776

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Everything we mentioned earlier about fasting/ tzedoko is with regards to achieving wholeness of atonement and polishing of the soul. Like the olah offering, these things are to appease Hashem and restore the closeness/willingness in the relationship. T’shuva is returning to Hashem wholeheartedly. In kabbalistic terminology, t’shuva means, toshuv hei, or returning the “hei.” In Hashem’s name, Havaye, there is the final or lower “hei” and the first or higher “hei.” Returning the lower “hei” is called “t’shuva tattoh,” and…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: End of Chapter Three; Tammuz 12, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: End of Chapter Three; Tammuz 12, 5775

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Any person, if they want to be closer to Hashem will try to do the appropriate amount of fasts required do correct the damage caused by sin. Depending on one’s physical ability, one can fast in the winter, when the days are a shorter. One can do half-day fasts: one fasts 168 half-day fasts to accomplish 84 regular fasts (for the sin associated with young men). One can even eat in the morning, before daylight (provided one decided so before…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Three; Tammuz 11, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Middle of Chapter Three; Tammuz 11, 5775

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Nowadays we’re not able to fast like the great rabbis of old, and even they were only a select few who had the physical strength to do so. Nowadays we give tzedoko in place of the fasts (18 gedolim poilish). Check out this interesting forum on this subject. Note: I think the ma’amer quoted from 5746 is Margela B’Fumei D’Rovo.

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beggining of Chapter Three; Tammuz 10, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beggining of Chapter Three; Tammuz 10, 5775

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Previously, the Alter Rebbe established what fasting is for. Now he explains that there is a set number of fasts for every sin. If we did a sin that requires 84 fasts, but we did the sin ten or twenty times, we still only fast 84 x 3. Not because we’re lenient, but because after three times, the damage has spread to the furthest reaches.

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Chapter Two; Tammuz 9, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Chapter Two; Tammuz 9, 5775

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Earlier the Alter Rebbe explained that there is a difference between t’shuva and forgiveness/atonement. Today, the Alter Rebbe explains the need for fasting on top of the t’shuva and the forgiveness. If one wronged a king, for that matter, “sorry,” wouldn’t suffice. 1. There’s the t’shuva, which includes a resolution and verbal admission. 2. There’s the forgiveness, because G-d loves Jews. 3. Appeasement. Just because we were forgiven doesn’t mean we see eye to eye yet. This is where fasting comes in: In the…

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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

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There are three kinds of atonement and they each involve t’shuva (return). We return to Hashem and we fix our mistakes. Call it accountability, responsibility, love, duty, etc. Here we will be discussing atonement and forgiveness. There are two types of mitzvos (proactive and refraining), but when it comes to t’shuva, there are three ways to go wrong (which require fixing): 1. Refraining mitzvos (mitzvos lo sa’asei) which one has transgressed. We crossed the line. a. Krisus u’misos beis din…

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