Chassidus Explained

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי shows how פורים is all about the infinite אור reaching and transforming the תחתון. Answering the questions from the beginning of the מאמר, this is the reason for the emphasis on the גוף's מסירות נפש, as is highlighted in the פורים story, and this is the beautiful connection to מרדכי teaching the children. This פורים, appreciate the גשמיות - and transform it!

Continuing in the discussion of the three components of מתן תורה (the עליון, the תחתון, and the בלי גבול that connects the two opposites), the רבי now shows these ideas within תורה learning and within תורה itself. What emerges from this discussion is that the ultimate בלי גבול power of תורה is expressed when a איד learns תורה לשמה, and that was the accomplishment of מתן תורה! What does this have t...

The רבי explains the three elements within the accomplishment of מתן תורה: 1) This physical world ("תחתון"), 2) the spiritual energy descending into the world ("עליון"), and 3) the infinite G-dly energy that allows for this integration of עליון and תחתון to take place. The רבי then proceeds to display these three elements within מצות - both on the practical level of fulfillment of מצות, as well as...

As we begin this מאמר for פורים, the רבי analyzes the פריערדיקער רבי's historic מאמר explaining the power of the אידן in the time of המן's decree over the אידן in the time of מתן תורה. In two words, the answer is מסירות נפש. What is so special about מסירות נפש? Stay tuned...

How could it be that the apex of יעקב's life was specifically the 17 years he lived in מצרים?! Hashem desires to have a home in the spiritually lowest of places. Globally, that is מצרים. Psychologically, within every person, that is one's emotions. When יעקב refined מצרים, he had the ultimate completion of his life. When we refine our emotions, we reveal Hashem's Presence throughout the entirety o...

The רבי explains the fundamental war between the Greeks and the Jews in the חנוכה story: While the Greeks appreciated rational religion, and even a rational commitment to the superrational, the Jews fought for their staunch commitment to Hashem's תורה and מצות stemming from a place of His רצון. While we indeed fulfill מצות with געשמאק (like משפטים), it comes from a place of irrational commitment (...

The רבי shows two ways how the abstract נקודה of יראת שמים becomes the fuel for the specific actions throughout our day. Through revealing our יראת שמים in the separate actions, we uncover a deeper essence of our נשמה, and this is the answer to the question we had on the פזר-פרז word play. The connection that every איד has with a fellow איד comes from this deep level as well.

Our dispersion in גלות, both physical and spiritual, is analyzed in this מאמר (based on the statement of רבי אושעיא in the גמרא) to be an act of צדקה by Hashem. How? To understand that, we delve into the spiritual significance of "ירושלים", and as the פריערדיקער רבי explains it to be the core יראה that every איד has.

The רבי uncovers a third way of understanding the (ביטול) relationship between משפיע and מקבל, wherein the מקבל becomes greater than the משפיע. With us and Hashem as well, this level brings out the core of our relationship, wherein אידן are one with Hashem! With this understanding, we answer the question from the beginning of the מאמר, appreciating how our עבודה of ביטול can connect us with the hi...

In this מאמר, the רבי explores the accomplishment of ביטול. In the relationship between a משפיע and a מקבל, the רבי uncovers that, in addition to the ביטול of ראש חודש - the מקבל receiving from the משפיע, there is also the "ויאמר לו יהונתן מחר חודש" - the מקבל becoming a מקבל from the משפיע.

Finishing the מאמר, we use the new understanding of שמחה and ביטול to explain the זהר on the פסוק of שרה's life: The reason why שרה was able to own her life was because she was an embodiment of true שמחה as it comes from ביטול. This is the lesson - and the empowerment! - to us all: Through ביטול, we can express our joy, we can feel our joy, and we can enjoy our joy, always connected to Hashem!

How do joy and humility work together? Well, what is humility? Only through getting unstuck from one's own self can one experience - yes, experience! - true joy. That was the uniqueness of שרה's life, and with that she fixed the problem of experienced joy that חוה and נח got stuck in.

In this מאמר - the רבי's fundamental מאמר on joy - we begin by introducing שרה אמנו's unique quality of being able to elevate this world without being effected by it. Being our matriarch, her life empowers ours. In what way? We begin exploring joy, and why it is crucial. How could joy come with - and from - humility. Stay tuned...

In this historic מאמר, said two days after the heart attack of שמיני עצרת in 5738 (1977), the רבי explains the core power of שמחת תורה, specifically as it follows the theme of יום כיפור and all of תשרי: less of celebrating the intellectual elements of תורה learning, and more of celebrating the oneness of אידן as they supersede סדר השתלתשות. In the beginning of the שיעור, we talk about the fascinat...

In this 1-week מאמר, we learn how the רבי uncovers the depth(s) of תשובה: Through uncovering one's inner Essence and discovering a new way of living life one reaches the very Essence of all existence.

In this special שיעור, given in Congregation Tzeirei Anash of Crown Heights, we explore the אלטער רבי's well-known משל of המלך בשדה. Join us as we travel through the historical development of this משל, and appreciate the nuances of the אלטער רבי's words, as analyzed and revolutionized by our רבי.

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the "greatness of the lower level" theme as it pertains to the תשובה of אלול vs. the תשובה of ראש השנה. Using the idea of the core עצמות connection of the אידן with Hashem expressed in a non-מצוה, the רבי answers the original question of the מאמר how the "ודודי לי" of תשרי is really a part of the "אני לדודי" of אלול.

Completing the process of advancing from אלול and יראה תתאה to ראש השנה and יראה עילאה, we bring in the discussion of אהבה and explain its importance. This brings us to the רבי's חידוש in this מאמר, explaining how the יראה תתאה of אלול is greater than the יראה עילאה of ראש השנה! With this, we answer the question on the מאמר of the צמח צדק from the beginning of our מאמר.

What is the עבודה of אלול? How can one develop feelings of יראה toward Hashem? In this שיעור, we delve into the differences of יראה תתאה and יראה עילאה, understanding how אלול prepares us for ראש השנה.

Welcome back to year #3 of the מאמרים, and it is אלול! We explore the interesting development of the אלטער רבי's משל of המלך בשדה as it was revolutionized by the פריערדיקער רבי in 5700 (1940), thereby gaining an appreciation of the אהבה expressed during אלול. So, what are the feelings of יראה for?

With this understanding of "the nature of miracles", the רבי answers the questions on the מדרש from the beginning of the מאמר: There are indeed two perspectives on what to focus on in miracles, and שלמה is teaching us to focus on the source of these two perspectives - עצמות - and to express this connection to עצמות within our world. How is that done? Through תורה. Hence the three steps in the מדרש...

In this מאמר, the רבי explores the interplay between miracles and nature. The word "נס" means "elevation", meaning that the main point of a miracle is not to remain aloof from nature, but to elevate it. By categorizing three levels of miracles and their respective effects on nature, we appreciate the different ways that שם הוי-ה is revealed within our world.

Applying the concept of Hashem's Essential and consistent bond with the world, and the איד's ability and responsibility to learn תורה with that mindset, the רבי finishes the מאמר with practical lessons and instructions on how to enter the יום טוב of מתן תורה, applying this perspective. Don't just go through "another" שבועות! Tap into the renewed energy of עצמות, express it in your learning, and th...

What is the most powerful way how Hashem could have introduced Himself in the עשרת הדברות? Seemingly with "I am Hashem who created heavens and earth!" Yet, Hashem says, "I am Hashem who took you out of מצרים!" Why does Hashem feel that this accomplishment is more important for the אידן to know as they get the תורה? Because, the רבי answers, the entire creation and the entire תורה is here for a איד...

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי demonstrates how the explanation of why the תנאים praised רשב"י is hinted in how they praised him as well - "שבת" and "פני האדון ה": These are incomparably great levels, yet they connect to - and need to connect to - the lowest of levels. This is the idea of ספירת העומר and ל"ג בעומר as well, emphasizing the connection of this holy day to this holy, G-dly person, רשב"י.