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. The answer to these questions: As a Rebbe he…
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…
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 love have a limit? What if I’m just not inspired? If I force myself to do mitzvos I’ll run out of energy…I’ll just keep the minimum requirements. How can I have a genuine love for G-d? In the Rebbe’s ma’amer, Shuva Yisroel, he answers these questions and more. This ma’amer was said on the 6th of Tishrei 5737 (1976) and is the first of two ma’amorim in a series. In this ma’amer, the Rebbe explains the meaning of the verse, “Shuva Yisroel,” from the…
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…
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…
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…