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Tag: chassidus in english

12-13 Tammuz, Chag HaGeula: A Sicha in Three Parts; Part One

12-13 Tammuz, Chag HaGeula: A Sicha in Three Parts; Part One

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I. What is a leader? Simply put, a Jewish leader, the leader of the generation is a neshoma klollis, which means that the majority of his life is dedicated to his non-personal life— he’s life is dedicated to his mekushorim. When the Frierdiker Rebbe wanted to have a sefer Torah written to greet Moshiach, he wanted all Jews to partake in his endeavor. He said that although he could afford the parchment, the ink and the writing, he wanted every…

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Rethinking Evil

Rethinking Evil

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Likkutei Torah: Parshas Chukas VaYa’as Moshe Part 1 Concept Background to the Ma’amer: I. The verse: See for yourself in the preceding verse: Rashi writes that one had to gaze intently at the copper snake for the healing to work. Rashi: Moshe Rabbeinu wasn’t told to make it out of copper, but since Hashem called it a “nochosh” (“snake,” in Hebrew) he made it out of “nechoshes” (“copper”). (Bereishis Rabbah 19:31:8) II. Love and Fear. These are the two extremes…

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Y’hi Hashem Elokeinu Imonu: Part Two; The Possuk, Its Meaning, Hashem’s Relationship “With” Us

Y’hi Hashem Elokeinu Imonu: Part Two; The Possuk, Its Meaning, Hashem’s Relationship “With” Us

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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…

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Focus: the Lost Art of Concentration

Focus: the Lost Art of Concentration

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How do we regain control of our scattered minds and lives? How can we grab the reins of something as intangible as our minds and hearts? How can we focus our attention without focusing our attention on focusing our attention? Words are thrown around constantly to describe the benefits of technological advances; efficiency, streamlining, logistics, communications, etc., etc., etc., how easy do these things really make our life? In our culture we have our fair share of words to describe…

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Z’eir Anpin (Z”a)

Z’eir Anpin (Z”a)

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Z’eir anpin literally means “small face,” and refers to the six emotions. That is, after the intellectual attributes: chochma, binah and da’as, there are six emotions until malchus. They are chessed (loving kindness), g’vura (severity, discipline, strength), tiferes (beauty, compassion, sensitivity), netzach (victory, perseverance) hod (glory, loyalty), and yesod (foundation, attraction). The first three or higher emotions (chagas) are pure emotions and are the motivators behind the second/lower three (nehi). The lower three are more concerned with practical application and…

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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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