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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beggining of Chapter Three; Tammuz 10, 5775

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beggining of Chapter Three; Tammuz 10, 5775

Previously, the Alter Rebbe established what fasting is for. Now he explains that there is a set number of fasts for every sin. If we did a sin that requires 84 fasts, but we did the sin ten or twenty times, we still only fast 84 x 3. Not because we’re lenient, but because after three times, the damage has spread to the furthest reaches.

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

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

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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Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

Iggeres HaT’Shuva: Beginning of Chapter One

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

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

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).

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah: Beginning of Chapter Eleven, 3rd of Tammuz

Sha’ar HaYichud VeHaEmunah: Beginning of Chapter Eleven, 3rd of Tammuz

Here the Alter Rebbe explains that creative energy that Hashem creates the world with is channelled through “letters.” Just as an idea is expressed by limiting one’s thought and fitting it into words, so too, infinitely more so when it comes to Hashem. In order to reveal, there must be some form of concealment.    

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: End of Chapter Nine; Rosh Chodesh, 30th of Sivan

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: End of Chapter Nine; Rosh Chodesh, 30th of Sivan

The Alter Rebbe explains in the note, that it’s because of the tzimtzum that there can be qualities and descriptions to Hashem. Since Hashem is beyond infinite (and even that description doesn’t cut it), the only way for there to be parts or descriptions, is the tzimtzum. How Hashem is one with His qualities, sefiros, etc., is belief. It is beyond human comprehension how He can be one with things that are separate entities,  

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: Middle of Chapter Nine 29th of Sivan

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: Middle of Chapter Nine 29th of Sivan

You can’t understand Hashem. Period. If a person says they can’t touch an deep idea with their hand would be laughed at; because you can’t touch ideas. Infinitely more so when it comes to Hashem’s qualities (which aren’t even Hashem!). Hashem is called “wise,” “kind,” “merciful,” etc. How? Because He is the source of these qualities (that are themselves infinitely greater than physicality).

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: Beginning of Chapter Nine 28th of Sivan

Sha’ar HaYichud V’HaEmuna: Beginning of Chapter Nine 28th of Sivan

Chochma, loosely translated as “wisdom,” is the loftiest capability and power in a person. Yet in the possuk, “Kulom b’chochma osisa,” (You made all of them with wisdom) we see that Hashem creates the world with Chochma. The concept: Just as the action is the lowest, most external capability of a person, Chochma is a lowly and external capability of Hashem, so to speak. So, the life-force in our physical action is nothing compared to the life-force of our chochma and our chochma…

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