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…
If I’m able to make up a missed mitzvah, why do I need to do mitzvos every day? Open parts one, two, three, and four in a new tab. Download the PDF here. Shifting Our Gaze The purpose of Torah and mitzvos is to refine and cleanse the material world. ח) אַךְ הָעִנְיָן הוּא, דְהִנֵה יָדוּעַ שְׁהַתַּכְלִית דְתּוֹרָה וּמִצְווֹת הוּא לִפְעוֹל בִּירוּר וְזִיכוּךְ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶה הַגַשְׁמִי. Most people live a lifestyle —or want to live a lifestyle—based on their…
Handle With Care What is the role of human effort? Can my life relate to G-d’s? This is part four of a series on the Rebbe’s ma’amer, V’Avrohom Zokein, 5738 (1977), from Parshas Chayei Sara. Open part one, two and part three in a new tab. View and download the PDF here. ו) וְיֵשׁ לוֹמַר בְּדֶרֶךְ אֶפְשָׁר דְהַגַם שְׁהִזְדַכְּכוּת הַתּוֹרָה וּמִצְווֹת וְהַעֲלָאתָן לְמַעֲלָה נַעֲשָׂה עַל יְדֵי הַמַלְאָכִים, מִכָּל מָקוֹם, מִכֵּיוָן שְׁתַּכְלִית הַשְׁלֵימוּת דְכָל עִנְיָן הוּא כַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא נַעֲשֶׂה עֲל יְדֵי עַבוֹדַת הָאָדָם (וְלָכֵן…
On the Shoulders of Giants How far does human effort reach? Is it even possible for a person to communicate with the infinite G-d? The ultimate self-made man is limited by his efforts to succeed—then what is effort for? This is part three of a series on the Rebbe’s ma’amer, V’Avrohom Zokein, 5738 (1977), from Parshas Chayei Sara. Open part one and two in a new tab. View and download the PDF here (for iPhone, here). ד) וְהִנֵה מְצַד הַהִתְלַבְּשׁוּת דְתּוֹרָה…
Why should we be consistent? What difference does it make if I do or don’t do mitzvos? I won’t be the first and I won’t be the last? Summary of part one: This ma’amer is based on the verse “And Avraham became old, advanced in age (bo bayomim).” “Bo bayomim,” literally means, “entered into days,” meaning that all of Avraham’s days were complete and full. The Zohar explains that Avraham entered into the “supernal days,” meaning that his time became holy. Time—like anything…
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 –…
Does learning Torah require personal understanding? Or does it require the absence of ego? Download the PDF here. בְּסִיּיַתָּא דִשְׁמַיָא. יוֹם שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה ה’תשכ”ג* “תּוֹרָה צִוָּה לָנוּ משֶׁה מוֹרָשָׁה קְהִלַּת יַעֲקֹב,” (1) “The Torah that Moses commanded us is a legacy for the congregation of Jacob.” Rain and Dew ג) ״יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי תִּזַּל כַּטַּל אִמְרָתִי,”(15) “My lesson will drip like rain; my word will flow like dew; like storm winds on vegetation and like raindrops on grass.” דְמָּטָר בָּא מֵהָעַנָנִים שְׁנַעֲשִׂים…
Who can contain G-d if He is infinite in all ways? Why would He create a world of darkness? Why us? Download PDF ״וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶם וּבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁכֶם וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת עַל עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְעַל זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיכֶם וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹקֵיכֶם אֲנִי ה׳ אֱלֹקֵיכֶם:״ ״On the days of your rejoicing, on your festivals and on your new-moon celebrations, you shall blow on the trumpets for your ascent-offerings and your peace sacrifices, and it shall be a remembrance before your G-d; I…
What happens when we accept someone exactly as they are? What if there’s something wrong with them? Won’t our acceptance be confused with approval? The Rebbe answers this and other questions in his ma’amer Ani L’dodi of 5726 (1966). This is the final installment of this ma’amer. Read the previous installments here: Part One: Elul — Being Proactive Part Two: He Doesn’t Wake You, He Waits For You Part Three: He Awaits you, Wherever You Are Part Four: Not Just What You Do, But Who…
Moshe Rabbeinu said the book of Devorim from his own accord to the Jewish people. Our Rabbis tell us, that this book is, “mipi atzmo,” from Moshe himself. Moshe Rabbeinu internalized Hashem’s transmission so well, that the Torah he gave over was also Torah and included in the Five Books of Moses. From the second portion of the parsha, we see that Moshe Rabbeinu attributed the appointment of leader and judges to himself. However, in parshas Yisro, we see that it was Yisro’s…