SoulWords- Full Library

Day 329: Positive Commandment 174; Negative Commandment 312, 313, 314

Learn about the connection between the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Purim gathering in Brooklyn in 1953 and Stalin's sudden demise in Moscow. Rabbi Shais Taub meticulously maps out the historical timeline, providing compelling visual aids to illustrate the extraordinary sequence of events.

Day 328: Positive Commandment 180

Day 327: Negative Commandment 285

Day 326: Negative Commandment 287

Explore the paradoxical mission of the soul, torn between the intense desire to transcend the body and the necessity to return in order to make a dwelling place for Hashem in this world. Based on Chapter 50 of Tanya.

Day 325: Negative Commandment 286

Day 324: Negative Commandment 288

As we conclude the maamar with the study of the ninth and final chapter, we delve even more deeply into the true nature of Hashem's relationship with the Jewish people. Even at the loftiest levels where there is no compelling reason for Hashem to choose one way or another, the Jewish people are essential to Him. For our part, we mirror Hashem's choice by devoting ourselves to Hashem in ways that transcend logic.

Day 323: Negative Commandment 291

Day 322: Positive Commandment 179

Day 321: Negative Commandment 317; Positive Commandment 178

Day 320: Negative Commandment 315, 281, 316

Day 319: Negative Commandment 280; Positive Commandment 177; Negative Commandment 276, 274

Day 318: Negative Commandment 279, 277, 275, 278, 273

In order to make space within Himself for us, Hashem "contracts" His Infinity, so to speak. When we contemplate on the fact that this is all done in order to create the possibility of a relationship with Him, it will trigger within us reciprocal feelings of wanting to "contract" ourselves for Him, ie. to prioritize His will even at the cost of our personal desires. Based on Chapters 48-49 of Tanya.

Based on what we have learned so far, we understand that the randomness of a lottery allows for the possibility of Haman's wicked plot succeeding. We now explain why it didn't actually work by introducing a new way of understanding G-d's "choice" in choosing the Jewish people. Chapter 8 of the discourse.

Day 317: Negative Commandment 294, 290

Day 316: Negative Commandment 310; Positive Commandment 224; Negative Commandment 300

Day 316: Negative Commandment 310; Positive Commandment 224; Negative Commandment 300

Day 315: Positive Commandment 226, 227, 230, 231; Negative Commandment 66

Day 314: Negative Commandment 282, 283; Positive Commandment 229, 228

Embodiment may be considered both a prison for the soul as well as its path to spiritual freedom. Continuing the theme introduced in Ch. 46 of Tanya which explains the reflective nature of the heart, Ch. 47 asks how we can feel G-d's love for us that He exhibited when taking us out from Egypt when it happened so long ago. The answer is that we can view every moment as "Egypt" and whenever we connect to Him through Torah and mitzvos, this is our "Exodus."

Having left off with the question of why Haman's evil plot was unsuccessful, the maamar now turns its focus to King Achashverosh. We learn that the level of divinity symbolized by Achashverosh refers to a transcendent plane where the categories of ends and beginnings lack any practical distinction. Consequently, the rule of Achashverosh was characterized by a time of seeming divine indifference, where evil appeared to have been allowed to prevail without incurring G-d's immediate judgment. Why then did Haman still feel the need to cast a lottery to carry out his plan? Chapters 6 and 7 of the maamar.

Day 313: Positive Commandment 176; Negative Commandment 284; Positive Commandment 175

Day 312: Positive Commandment 248

Day 311: Positive Commandment 248

Day 310: Positive Commandment 248

Day 309: Positive Commandment 246, 248

Day 308: Positive Commandment 246

Day 307: Positive Commandment 246

In Chapter 46 of Tanya, we learn about a mechanism by which we can automatically trigger intense feelings of love for our Creator. This is based on the Solomon's wisdom that "As water reflects a face, so does one heart reflect another heart."

Day 306: Positive Commandment 246

Day 305: Positive Commandment 246

Day 304: Positive Commandment 246

Day 303: Positive Commandment 198

Day 302: Negative Commandment 237

Day 301: Negative Commandment 236

Day 300: Negative Commandment 235

Day 299: Negative Commandment 241, 242

The idea of a lottery represents a level of reality that transcends not only intellect but even will. This is the level of G-dliness known as "Ba'al HaRatzon" which means the master of the will. On that level, atonement for violation of G-d's will is possible. After understanding this, however, we are left with the question why Haman would have attempted to invoke such a concept that facilitates atonement for the Jewish people. The answer is that within the system of creation, Haman knew that he could not defeat the Jews. However, if he could access the level of randomness, there was at least a possibility that his plan would succeed. Chapters 3-5 of the discourse.

Day 298: Positive Commandment 199; Negative Commandment 240

What is the proper way to memorialize a loved one who has passed? How do we as Jews comfort those who have suffered a loss? This lecture was delivered at the Levi Yitzchak Library in Cedarhurst, NY which is named for Levi Yitzchak Wolowik a"h who suddenly and tragically passed away in his sleep at the age of nine. PLEASE PLEDGE A MITZVAH IN LEVI'S HONOR AT: https://mitzvosforlevi.com/

Day 297: Negative Commandment 239

When one meditates on the idea of the soul's descent into a body, this should arouse our sense of compassion for its plight. This then can activate our feelings of love of G-d described by the kabbalists as "kissing" and "hugging." Based on Ch. 45 of Tanya.

Day 296: Positive Commandment 142

Day 295: Positive Commandment 197; Negative Commandment 234

Day 294: Positive Commandment 242

Day 293: Positive Commandment 244

Day 292: Negative Commandment 219; Positive Commandment 244