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Roots, Sources, and Hishtalshelus

Roots, Sources, and Hishtalshelus

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There is a general principle regarding roots, sources and their place in existence. The lower something finds itself on the Hishtalshelus hierarchy, the higher its source before Hishtalshelus, that is, in Tohu and the like. For example: someone maybe the the student and another the teacher and although in our experience of things, the teacher is higher ranking, the student’s source is higher which is why the teacher gains more than the student. Another example is when Chassidus peaks about…

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Eternal Love, Ahavas Olam

Eternal Love, Ahavas Olam

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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…

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If There’s Anyone Whose Opinion We Can Trust, It’s Moshe Rabbeinu

If There’s Anyone Whose Opinion We Can Trust, It’s Moshe Rabbeinu

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Likkutei Sichos, vol. 19, page 42 “And the man Moshe was extremely humble, more than any person on the face of the earth.” Beha’alos’cha, 12:3 If the prerequisite to learning Torah properly is humility, and Moshe was the most humble of all men, then Moshe Rabbeinu learned the Torah the best. So, when Moshe Rabbeinu transmitted the Torah to us a second time from himself (“mipi atzmo”), not as a direct transmission from G-d, we know that his understanding and his…

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Sefer Devorim

Sefer Devorim

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Our Rabbis tell us that Moshe Rabeinu gave us the previous four parts of the Torah, “mipi hagvura,” from G-d’s mouth, and the fifth and final part of the Torah, “mipi atzmo,” from himself. The meaning of this is as follows: From G-d’s mouth, so to speak, means that G-d transmitted the information to Moshe Rabeinu and Moshe Rabeinu put it in writing. The writing was free of any of Moshe Rabeinu’s perspective, it was a direct transmission. From Moshe Rabeinu…

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Just Passing Through

Just Passing Through

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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.

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

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

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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…

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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

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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…

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Fear (Yir’a)

Fear (Yir’a)

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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…

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Lower Fear (Yira Tattoh, Yira Chitzonis)

Lower Fear (Yira Tattoh, Yira Chitzonis)

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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…

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

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

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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…

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