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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Chapter Two; Tammuz 9, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Chapter Two; Tammuz 9, 5775

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Earlier the Alter Rebbe explained that there is a difference between t’shuva and forgiveness/atonement. Today, the Alter Rebbe explains the need for fasting on top of the t’shuva and the forgiveness. If one wronged a king, for that matter, “sorry,” wouldn’t suffice. 1. There’s the t’shuva, which includes a resolution and verbal admission. 2. There’s the forgiveness, because G-d loves Jews. 3. Appeasement. Just because we were forgiven doesn’t mean we see eye to eye yet. This is where fasting comes in: In the…

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Atzilus

Atzilus

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Atzilus. This definition truly won’t do it justice. This is the world where the vessels are literally the same material as the G-dly energy which creates them. Think, “maximum revelation,” that if there was any more light, or if the vessels where any less light, the whole thing wouldn’t be. The Alter Rebbe was known to not be able to finish writing the aleph and tzaddik of the word before falling into trance.  

Malchus

Malchus

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Malchus is the lowest sefira in any context. She is the universal recipient of any expression of any other (by definition higher) sefira: in the language of kabbala, “it has nothing to call its own.” Malchus manifests as the mouth, or speech, because the mouth expresses all of ones thoughts and emotions; speech, because words are little boxes (“teiva” means “word” in Loshon HaKodesh) to carry thoughts and emotions. Malchus manifests as earth and the womb since, like speech, they take a small…

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Tikkun / Seder Hishtalshelus

Tikkun / Seder Hishtalshelus

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A characteristic of Tikkun, is Hishtalshelus. Hishtalshelus is related to the word, “shalsheles,” or “chain.” This refers to the process of organization, distribution and hierarchy of revelation of G-dly Light. The process of cause and effect; one spiritual rung leading into the lower and thereby becoming more and more limited and coarse (on the surface). When you see “Hishtalshelus,” think, “limitation,” “order,”“Tikkun,” “memale kol almin,” and the like.

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

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There are three kinds of atonement and they each involve t’shuva (return). We return to Hashem and we fix our mistakes. Call it accountability, responsibility, love, duty, etc. Here we will be discussing atonement and forgiveness. There are two types of mitzvos (proactive and refraining), but when it comes to t’shuva, there are three ways to go wrong (which require fixing): 1. Refraining mitzvos (mitzvos lo sa’asei) which one has transgressed. We crossed the line. a. Krisus u’misos beis din…

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

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

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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.

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah: End of Chaptr Eleven, 4th of Tammuz

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah: End of Chaptr Eleven, 4th of Tammuz

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Letters are channels. At the beginning of this chapter we explained that life-force comes from G-d in the form of letters. Compared to Hashem’s middos, we can call them letters; but from our end we have to realize that these are 22 different types of expression from on High. The font of these is related to the way they channel the life-force (will be explained later on).

Tzimtzum

Tzimtzum

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The translation of tzimtzum is, “to make small, minimize.” The description of tzimtzum throughout chassidus is, “ma’ale umastir,” “hellem,” “seiser,” etc. These are all terms that mean concealment and filtration yet they all have different connotations. Whenever “vessels (keilim),” “hishtaleshelus,” “quality (b’china),” degree (gedder),” etc. are mentioned i.e., limitation, it means that the underlying system is tzimtzum. Additionally, whenever “revelation (giluy)” (even if makkif), “expression/giving (hashpo’ah),” “experience (pnimius),” etc. or any other term that has to do with receiving or accepting…

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