A common complaint about delving into the study of Gemara and Halacha is that it is dry and at times tedious. Some erroneously believe that someone can be a sincere Jew and minimize study in these areas, even misquoting the Baal Shem Tov and other chassidic sages, rachmana litzlan. Learning Keser Shem Tov, it isContinue reading “The Wonders of Learning Nigleh”
Tag Archives: Chassidut
Parshas VaYera 5781
A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas VaYera. One of the defining aspects of the parsha is the Akeidas Yitzchok (Binding of Isaac). While this incident may appear quite troubling according to a simple reading, there is far more to be uncovered and understood learning it according to Kabbalah. In the Zohar HaKodoshContinue reading “Parshas VaYera 5781”
The Power of Waking Up Early
In the Zohar, Parshas Beshalach, we learn how important it is to learn after Chatzos (midnight), before Alos HaShachar (first rays of the sun, still dark). It says there that one who wakes up and joins together the night and day through davening to Hashem accomplishes a huge unification of the Feminine and Masculine aspectsContinue reading “The Power of Waking Up Early”
Personal Torah Secrets
In Tzavaas HaRivash, it is brought in the name of the Baal Shem Tov that there are three main things that bring a person to d’veikus: due to seclusion from people, because of writing secrets of the Torah, and through performing the Yichudim of the Ari z’l; and at the time these Yichudim are doneContinue reading “Personal Torah Secrets”
Elevating our Prayers: Motzei Shabbos Parshas Noach 5781
A gitte voch! There’s another interesting sod we can learn from this week’s parsha that has to do with tefillah (prayer) from Parshas Noach .It says in the third aliyah that the waters caused the ark to float up. As explained previously, the word for the “ark” is the same as that for “word.” WeContinue reading “Elevating our Prayers: Motzei Shabbos Parshas Noach 5781”
Parshas B’reishis 5781
A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas B’reishis, the first parsha in the Torah. This parsha is packed with many Sodos HaTorah (Secrets of the Torah). It is said as a general warning in Chazal (Chagigah 11b) that one who investigates what is above, what is below, what was before Creation and whatContinue reading “Parshas B’reishis 5781”
Isru Chag Sukkos/Shemini Atzeres
Today is Isru Chag from Sukkos/Shemini Atzeres. There are many interesting inyonim related to these two Yomim Tovim. I do not have wifi in my sukkah, otherwise I’d have written about them at the time, but seeing as there is still an element of the previous Chag that carries over into Isru Chag, now wouldContinue reading “Isru Chag Sukkos/Shemini Atzeres”
Erev Shabbos-Sukkos 5781
A gitten erev Shabbos v’Yom Tov! We’re getting closer to Sukkos as the clock ticks by, to the time known as “Z’man Simchoseinu,” the Time of our Joy. It would be easy to ask why we should be happy to leave our houses and go live in a (likely poorly constructed) hut for a week.Continue reading “Erev Shabbos-Sukkos 5781”
Parshas Ha’azinu 5781: The Song of Torah
A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas Ha’azinu, it is also Shabbos Shuva, the Shabbos before Yom Kippur in which we must focus on making t’shuva and returning to Hashem. One interesting part of this parsha is that the Torah is referred to as a שירה (song) consistently, as it is referred toContinue reading “Parshas Ha’azinu 5781: The Song of Torah”
Derech HaBaal Shem Tov: Sadness and Happiness
Between a few particular sections in Tzaavas HaRivash and Keser Shem Tov, we can learn a wonderful path in avodas Hashem. Of course both of those seforim and the entirety of our mesorah contains advice in these areas, but specifically in regards to avodas Hashem b’derech haChassidus, these are wonderful. The Baal Shem Tov teachesContinue reading “Derech HaBaal Shem Tov: Sadness and Happiness”
Yismach Lev 