Browsed by
Tag: alter rebbe

Iggeres HaT’shuva: Chapter Nine, Tammuz 25, 5775

Iggeres HaT’shuva: Chapter Nine, Tammuz 25, 5775

Here the Alter Rebbe explains that higher level t’shuva (t’shuva ilaa) is a result of fixing things at their root. For example: the sin associated with young men “nicks” the mind, the correction and the t’shuva is to become engrossed in learning Torah (which comes from Chochma of Aztilus) and to double the quantity. Like kissing, where the breath of one united with the other, when we learn, our minds think G-d’s thoughts, our mouths speak G-d’s words etc. The…

Read More Read More

Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Eight, Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Menachem Ov, Tammuz 24, 5775

Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter Eight, Shabbos Mevorchim Chodesh Menachem Ov, Tammuz 24, 5775

Previously, the Alter Rebbe explained to us how t’shuva tattoh (lower level t’shuva) is done. Now that the t’shuva tattoh is done and the clouds have been cleared,” we can engage in t’shuva i’la’ah (higher level t’shuva). This happens through becoming emotionally engaged in learning Torah, which is a woundrous union between G-d and Jew. The this emotional state during intimacy with G-d is a result of binah (analysis and contemplation) and is also results in the return of the…

Read More Read More

Fear (Yir’a)

Fear (Yir’a)

Fear means simply: “to be afraid of rebelling against the King.” That is a quote from the beginning of Tanya chapter 41. This definition includes the most primitive fear (fear of punishment, yiras onesh) and the most advanced fear (fear with bashfulness, y’rei boshes). Fear in chassidus is a result of love inasmuch as one is afraid to lose what one has, i.e., we don’t want to lose our positive relationship with G-d or a friend or spouse, for that…

Read More Read More

Lower Fear (Yira Tattoh, Yira Chitzonis)

Lower Fear (Yira Tattoh, Yira Chitzonis)

Lower level fear is defined by the Alter Rebbe in the introduction to Tikkun Chatzos in his siddur as follows: Yira chitzonis is a result of being afraid as one would be in the presence of a physical king, who, because of the extent of his sovereignty, inspires fear. As a result of his malchus, sovereignty, on fears, i.e., it is primitive, perhaps immature. The same applies to G-d. The lower fear would be as a result of thinking about…

Read More Read More

Higher/ Internal Fear (Yira Ilaa, Yirei Boshes, Yira Pnimis)

Higher/ Internal Fear (Yira Ilaa, Yirei Boshes, Yira Pnimis)

In the Alter Rebbe’s siddur, Torah Ohr, in his introduction to Tikkun Chatzos, defines yirei boshes as follows: Yirei boshes is for example, the internal feeling of shame one feels in the presence of  a great man in one’s generation, a tzaddik, etc. The fear is from motivated from within himself: this is called yira ilaa, to become shy in the presence of the Light of the Endless One Boruch Hu, who integrates Himself into the Chochma of Atzilus… before…

Read More Read More

Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter 7, Tammuz 22, 5775

Iggeres HaT’shuva: End of Chapter 7, Tammuz 22, 5775

So imagine you never did any aveira worthy of death from beis din or being cut-off…The little things we ignore in our relationship to Hashem add up. The little fibers of the 613 strand rope connecting us with G-d become severed weakening the experience. Realizing that we have distanced ourselves from Hashem will motivate to move forward.

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

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

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…

Read More Read More

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

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

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.

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmuna: Beginning of Chapter Twelve, Tammuz 5, 5775

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmuna: Beginning of Chapter Twelve, Tammuz 5, 5775

Letters are the means by which G-dly energy enlivens existence. Not only the words and the font of the letters in Loshon HaKodesh, but also the ideas behind them.  That means that, “May there be a sky,” includes all the details of what makes up a sky. Those particular ideas, which are subcategories of the general idea, are made of letters too. For example: the storehouse of snow, the grinders of mann for the tzaddikim, etc.

Y’hi Hashem Elokeinu Imonu: Part Four; Understanding the Language, Shedding Light on a Deeper Reality

Y’hi Hashem Elokeinu Imonu: Part Four; Understanding the Language, Shedding Light on a Deeper Reality

Part Four: Understanding the Language, Shedding Light on a Deeper Reality Translation and Integrated Translation of the Ma’amer ד) דְּהִנֵה לָשׁוֹן ״עִם״ שַׁיָיךְ כְּשְׁיֵשׁ דִמְיוֹן בֵּין שְׁנֵי הַדְבָרִים. כְּדְרָשַׁת רַבֹּתֵנוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, עֲל הַפָּסוּק וְהִתְיַצְּבוּ שָׁם עִמָּךְ, עִמָּךְ בְּדוֹמִין לָךְ The use of the word “with” is relevant only when there is a relationship between the different elements at play. For example, on the verse where G-d tells Moshe Rabeinu (BeHa’alos’cho, 11:16), “…And have them [the seventy elders] stand there…

Read More Read More