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Tag: the long short way

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

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

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II. G’ula The Frierdiker Rebbe’s redemption on the 12th and 13th of Tammuz came about as a result of being imprisoned. A redemption happens only when there is first some form of imprisonment—and even in his imprisonment, the Frierdiker Rebbe had everyone in mind. The Frierdiker Rebbe incarcerated in the stead of others. In fact, his imprisonment wasn’t because of some personal reason— he was put in jail for spreading Torah and protecting mitzvos. Every Jew in that time a…

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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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We Daven to Transform Evil

We Daven to Transform Evil

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Likkutei Torah: Parshas Chukas VaYa’as Moshe: Part 2 We Daven to Transform Evil. What Is Evil? ,וְהִנֵה מְבוּאָר בְּזֹהַר The Zohar  tells us, מַאן דְלֹא מְהַפֵּךְ מְרִירוּ לְמִתְקָא, לֵית לֵיהּ חוּלְקָא בְּהַאי עַלְמַא כְּלוּם (עַיֵין בְּזֹהַר בְּרֵאשִׁית דַף ד’ עָמוּד א׳ וּבְּפִּירוּשׁ הַרַמַ”ז שָׁם “One who hasn’t transformed bitterness into sweetness has no portion in this world [the world to come].” כְּי זֶה כָּל הָאָדָם לֹא נִבְרא אֶלָא בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה, שֶׁהַרֵי בְּבַּית רִאשׁוֹן לֹא הָיוּ מִתְפַּלְלִין כְּלַל גַּם בְּבַּית שֵׁנִי…

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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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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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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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Love,

Love,

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This is an explanation from the Rebbe in this week’s parsha in the sixth aliyah. The first possuk was, “Sh’ma Yisroel…”  arguably the most important possuk in the entirety of Torah, Jews, monotheism, etc. The second possuk is, “VeOhavto es Hashem Elokecho…(And you shall love Hashem, your personal G-d).” The Rashi explains that a person who serves their teacher/master out of awe does so in a stressed out way: he’ll bring whatever his teacher/master wants and departs immediately. The Rebbe explains further, adding that the…

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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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