Copyright. Different הסכמות, approbations and some stories. ר’ זושא ור’ ליב הכהן, Reb Zusha, and Reb Leib HaKohen The hidden tzaddik “Carl.” The Alter Rebbe’s children publish a complete Tanya with five sections and explain what they are. Haskama for that also. Text-based Tanya classes from Rabbi Yossi Paltiel are available on his site, http://www.insidechassidus.org/ Posted on thelongshortway.org with permission.
Three reasons not to write the Tanya: Not everyone has enough clarity to understand what he reads without getting confused. If a sefer is a product only שכל אנושי, human intellect, it’s reach and appeal is limited. Even when the Sefer is a product of שכל אלוקי, G-dly intellect, the complexity of הנסתרות, the hidden parts of Torah, makes it almost impossible to identify your part and avoda in Chassidus. The answer to these questions: As a Rebbe he…
Three reasons not to write the Tanya: Not everyone has enough clarity to understand what he reads without getting confused. If a sefer is a product only שכל אנושי, human intellect, it’s reach and appeal is limited. Even when the Sefer is a product of שכל אלוקי, G-dly intellect, the complexity of הנסתרות, the hidden parts of Torah, makes it almost impossible to identify your part and avoda in Chassidus. Text-based Tanya…
Let’s Be Windows Why do we need to do mitzvos everyday? Can’t the mitzvah be done tomorrow? Can I do a whole bunch of mitzvos today and not do any tomorrow? This is the first installment of the Rebbe’s ma’amer, V’Avraham Zokein 5738 (1977). This ma’amer was said in the Rebbe’s room and was published on motzoey Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah. Download the PDF here. בְּסִיּיַתָּא דִשְׁמַיָא. מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת פַּרְשַׁת חַיֵי שָׂרָה, מְבָרְחִים הַחֹדֶשׁ כִּסְלֵו – בְּחֲדָרוֹ –…
This is an updated version of the essay that sparked The Long Short Way over a year ago. It happened when Rabbi Simon Jacobson, a while after his My Life: Chassidus Applied videos came out, made an essay contest to encourage people to tackle an issue head-on. I didn’t win or even come close, but the idea stuck with me. Joy: The Long Short Way Download the PDF here. Many wonder what the key is to happiness. Is happiness really an “inalienable…
What is joy? Water and Wine וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה.(בישעיה י”ב). “And you shall draw water with joy from the fountains of the salvation” Download the PDF here. הִנֵה בְּכָל הַשָׁנָה הָיָה נִיסוּךְ הַיַיִן עַל גַבֵּי מִזְבֵחַ וְהוּא מְפוּרָשׁ בְּתּוֹרָה שֶׁבְּכְּתַב בְּהֶדְיָא בְּכַּמָּה מְקוֹמֹות. וּבְּחַג הַסוּכּוֹת הָיָה עוֹד גַּם נִיסוּךְ הַמַיִם עַל גַבֵּי הַמִזְבֵחַ כָּל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הֶחָג. Throughout the year, wine was poured on the altar in the Holy Temple, as is explained in many places in Scripture….
Part Two: Conceptual Background to Part Two: I. Elokeinu means, “our G-d.” In Chassidus, “Elokeinu” also is the type of relationship G-d has with us. He chooses to relate to the world as a king, i.e., Melech Ha’Olam (King of the universe), He chooses to relate to us as a father as well. As a general principle, in Chassidus, “Elokeinu” means “our strength and our vitality.” In Hebrew it’s “kocheinu v’chayuseinu,” which connotes our physical life itself, our energy, enthusiasm, life dedication, etc., as explained at…
Here, the Alter Rebbe explains how to have ahavas olam, eternal love. The general definition of ahavas olam, is a love that it’s based on one’s understanding of the greatness of G-d, that is, His Creatorship, Kingship, etc. Since it is a love based on understanding, there are two (basic) ramifications: 1. It is limited, like the mind from where the love was born and the subject which was contemplated (existence). a. Subject to change, for better or for worse. 2. It is…
The dew that fell in the desert to cushion the monn is the same [type of?] dew that will revive the dead. Likkutei Torah parshas Eikev.
Here the Alter Rebbe explains that life on Earth in a material body is a temporary thing. The main purpose of the soul is to be united with the Infinite. Source: Likkutei Torah, Parshas Chukas, D.H. Oz Yoshir Yisroel.