Shivchei & Sichot Haran

Rabeinu speaks about the dangers of relying on doctors, medicine…

Rabeinu speaks about the dangers of relying on doctors, medicine…

49: Rabeinu discusses the incident of Mishael Chananiah and Azarya in connection with dying for the sake of sanctifying HASHEM’s Name. 50: Rabeinu discusses the subject of doctors, medicine, and healing…

One needs to be mentally strong to serve G-d; one can’t allow themselves to be discouraged by descents in serving G-d. A person must be willing to serve G-d and to yearn for him, whether in descent or ascent. It’s very important to take on the habit of starting over/beginning anew, even many times in a single day. Rabeinu used to do to this as a child. Rabeinu said, it’s impossible to be a genuine...

It requires great merit to compose your mind enough to reflect on your actions for an hour in your lifetime, yet alone an hour a day! Rabeinu explains that if we were to have a settled mind, we’d realize that the desires of this world are absolutely worthless, especially the desire for honor and pride. One must make sure to run away from positions of leadership, to ensure that your divine service...

44: A person’s name tells us everything about him. Rabeinu had the ability to explain the essence of every individual and this person’s level just by the combination of letters of this person’s name. When Rabeinu uses letter permutations in his lessons, it’s a sign that the lesson is even loftier... 45: True broken-heartedness is always followed by happiness 46: A person must guard his mind/though...

41: Being broken hearted and depressed are not the same thing AT ALL! Broken-heartedness comes from the heart, while depression stems for the spleen. 42: Rabeinu explains the difference between depression and broken-heartedness. 43: One forgets his own name through depression and gloom… A person must happy all the time, even the furthest Jew. For at least an hour a day, one must seclude himself wi...

Rabeinu discusses the dangers of studying books of philosophy, even those philosophical works written by Jewish sages. The answers brought in those books are very weak in comparison to the questions raised over there. The portion of the Jewish people is in total simplicity. Rabeinu also delves into G-d’s creation of the world… We explain how the dreidel we spin on Chanukah parallels the way G-d cr...

Rabeinu discusses the dangers of studying books of philosophy, even those philosophical works written by Jewish sages. The answers brought in those books are very weak in comparison to the questions raised over there. The portion of the Jewish people is in total simplicity. Rabeinu also delves into G-d’s creation of the world… We explain how the dreidel we spin on Chanukah parallels the way G-d cr...

Rabeinu discusses the dangers of studying books of philosophy, even those philosophical works written by Jewish sages. The answers brought in those books are very weak in comparison to the questions raised over there. The portion of the Jewish people is in total simplicity. Rabeinu also delves into G-d’s creation of the world…

Rashi explains atheism to be a burden, as is hinted to in the words of Moshe Rabeinu. Rabeinu explains that by traveling to the tzadik, one throws the burden of atheism off himself, because just taking the journey to the tzadik is in itself faith, the opposite of heresy. 38: Rabeinu explains that atheism has allowed people to speak against the true Tzadikim and those who fear G-d. This sort of ath...

34: Emunah is considered like charity in G-d’s eyes. We see this from Avraham avinu… 35: Rabeinu gives a beautiful speech about how one must reinforce himself in faith, especially at the end of times. Rabeinu said that great atheism is coming down to the world, and this will be the main test before the coming of the Mashiach! Rabeinu says that the fact that he and the prophets are informing us abo...

32: Rabeinu continues discussing the subject of faith, giving us a parable to explain how the philosophical questions a person might have aren’t even questions at all…the question is in itself the answer! 33: Rabeinu says that the world doesn’t put enough emphasis on the subject of faith. They don’t consider it something important. For Rabeinu, emunah/faith is the essential!

31: One shouldn’t delay tefilla/prayer. We have to pray as early as possible! 32: One must reinforce himself with faith and faith alone! Through faith we can attain a level of Ratzon/will, desire for G-d that has no bounds or limits! We must walk in the pathways of our ancestors who’ve emphasized having simple faith in G-d, and not falling into skepticism or philosophy. “There’s a philosopher in e...

Rabeinu ridiculed those who used to spend extra time in the bathroom trying to cleanse themselves for prayer, even when they didn’t need to use the restroom. Rabeinu warns us not to nullify precious time with stringencies that are worthless! The main thing is to pray immediately when you wake up. If you need to go to the bathroom, then go, if not then no!

27: Rabeinu teaches us not to panic when we study books and see how we should be serving G-d. The main thing is to go slowly, in proper measure, and to constantly yearn for G-d! 28: One should study all the books of our holy Torah. In the world to come, G-d will grant him the ability to remember everything he studied, and this person will be able to boast about all the holy books he studied in his...

The world sees forgetting as a big drawback, but Rabeinu Hakadosh sees it an awesome and great thing! Rabeinu explains why forgetting is crucial in serving G-d and how it enables us to not be distracted by our dark past when we come to serve G-d in the present moment! Forgetting one’s Torah is also very good for it renews one’s love and passion for the Torah one has already studied. All the Torah...

24: Rabeinu gives us a very beautiful parable describing the love between a father and his son. He then goes on to explain how giving tzedaka/charity to the tzadik actually draws the father (G-d) and the son (The Tzadik) to draw close to each other. Happy is the person who merits to give charity to the tzadik. 25: Thoughts, and how they exist in one’s mind, is one of G-d’s great wonders! Rabeinu d...

21: Rabeinu gives us a few pieces of advice on how we should conduct ourselves on the Day of Judgment, Rosh Hashana: thinking good thoughts, crying, being happy, and speaking very little on the first day. 22: One who holds himself close to a true tzadik will save himself in the time to come, when “the wicked will be shaken off the ends of the earth.” 23: People have pity on others in this world, b...

18: Rabeinu speaks about how printing presses were becoming more common in their country and how many holy books were becoming available… 19: The importance of Torah study is indescribable. It has the ability to help a person escape his sinful ways, and even those sins he’s being doing for a long time. Rabeinu also discusses the subjects of simplicity and happiness. 20: One can ONLY attain true jo...

15: One needs great wisdom and craft to make himself like an animal! Rabeinu elaborates… 16: Rabeinu teaches us how one can scream without anyone listening, through screaming in a “still small voice.” The best way to do this is to imagine screaming in your mind… 17: Rabeinu rebuked one of his followers, urging him to study Torah diligently!

12: Rabeinu explains why it’s incumbent on each and every Jew to try his best to pray or do any act of holy devotion, regardless of whether he does it to his ultimate liking or not. Just the effort in itself is immense and extremely precious before G-d. All this effort is considered like a sacrifice! 13: The confusions of upright Jews that come as a result of a lack of livelihood are good. Some ve...

8: We must not delve too deeply in our studies with regard to subjects of tragedy. 9: One should never gift a knife to a friend… 10: Rabeinu explains a deep secret with regard to regrets of the wicked, and how their actions actually prove they feel regret. 11: We must be grateful that G-d chose us to be part of the sanctity of the Jewish People. We must do our best to finish as many acts of holine...

6: Rabeinu gives us a parable to help us better understand how the Yetzer Hara works! He teaches us how the desires of this world are a complete facade and are totally worthless! 7: One must pour out their heart before G-d like a child complains before his father. No matter what, we must always try and draw close to G-d even if it seems if G-d is rejecting us.

Rabeinu emphasizes the importance of avoiding philosophical works that go against the faith of our holy Torah, including philosophical books written by Tzadikim! Rabeinu also teaches us how scientific inventions or discoveries come into existence, as well as Torah novelties. Rabeinu teaches us that the main thing is fear of G-d, and starting to serve G-d with fear of punishment!