Kesser/ Kotzo Shel Yud (the thorn on the yud)/ Hishtalshelus HaK’ssorim

Kesser/ Kotzo Shel Yud (the thorn on the yud)/ Hishtalshelus HaK’ssorim

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Kesser means “crown” and is defined as: 1. The initial revelation of light after the tzimtzum. This means, the initial point where we’re no longer in essence or core, but in expression or extraversion. It is the skull, or cranium (from the word crown) relative to the brain. 2.Kesser creates, so to speak, something from nothing. Kesser takes the initial expression which is beyond recognition and brings it into a recognizable state. Imagine your mind is blank cleared of all…

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Hispashtus (Hashpo’oh)/ Mashpia

Hispashtus (Hashpo’oh)/ Mashpia

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Hispashtus, from the word poshut, which means simple, minimalist, etc., means spread. This word refers to expression, “light,” sharing, and influence. The same is true of hashpo’oh (hashpo’eh, depending who’s teaching the class). Hashpo’oh is how light exits a vessel to enter a second vessel, i.e., the way your idea makes its way out of your head into the other person’s head. Being mashpia is the process of having hashpo’oh. For example, one who gives over an idea, is being…

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Wage War With Love (but first know who you love)

Wage War With Love (but first know who you love)

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This sicha can be found in Likkutei Sichos, Cheilek Beis, p. 338 I. Bil’om and Amoleik It says in sforim(1), that there is a connection between Bil’om and Amoleik. The remez: If we write the names Bil’om and Amoleik on two lines, one above the other, the right half of the two words read (from the top down), “Bil’om”: the “beis-lammed” from Bil’om, and “ayin-mem” from Amoleik. The left side of the words read (from the top down: the “ayin-mem” from…

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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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Neshoma Klollis (Core Soul) / Neshoma (Soul)

Neshoma Klollis (Core Soul) / Neshoma (Soul)

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A neshoma klollis is the soul of the leader of any particular generation or the yechida,some say the chaya-yechida.  Let’s start with basics in Jewish soul-logy: 1. A soul is an extension from G-d (Tanya ch. 2) revealed (a little) in a body. 2. There are 600,000 general souls that split into 600,000 more souls and each gets a body. There are five degrees of the soul: 1. Nefesh, gives life to the body. This is the “lowest” or most external…

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Will

Will

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Will transcends the body. The proof is, that as soon as you want to put your foot in fire, for example, or jump in cold water, your body obeys despite the nature of the body. Will comes from above intellect (from kesser, it’s called higher will) and as a result of intellect (from da’as it’s called lower will). The first kind of will stands firm in the face of adversity. The second kind of will can be changed if the logic…

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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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Alive Against Our Will?

Alive Against Our Will?

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You’re probably familiar with the statement, “Against your will you live and against your will you die.” It means that the soul is thrown into the physical body and this physical world while all she wants is to be attached to G-d. Here the Rebbe Rashab asks the question: there’s a general principle that a hamshocho, spiritual “drawing down,” or expression can only willful. So, how then could it be that the soul is forced into the body?   He…

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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.