18th of Teveth
The gateway to the first week of Shovavim (Parashat Shemot)
💡 Hayom Yom (Keter)
18th of Teveth
Customs: The one called for the last aliya of a Book of the Chumash, as well as the congregation, says "Chazak chazak venit'chazeik." On Saturday night, repeat the verse orech yamim in Viyhi Noam, but do not do so at Shabbat Shacharit.
A Story of Life: When the Tzemach Tzedek was a boy, he asked his grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, how Yaakov’s best years could have been in the corrupt land of Egypt. The Alter Rebbe explained that because Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead to establish a house of study (Goshen), the presence of Torah allowed him to truly "live" (Vay'chi) even in exile. Torah study brings a person closer to the Almighty, regardless of their physical surroundings.
🪜 The 15 Steps to the Sanctuary
🧠 Chochma & Bina (Wisdom & Integration)
1. Alef-Bet Combination: Tonight is Day 1 (Alef) of 22-Day Cycle 6 (Kaf and Lamed). The combination is Alef with Kaf (forming the words Ach and Koh).
Acrostic Verse (Psalm 112): אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֖ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה; "Praiseworthy is the man who fears the Lord."
2. Sefirah (Inner Refinement): Day 6 of Week 16 (Yesod shebeGevurah [shebeTiferet]).
❤️ Chesed (Expansive Love)
3. Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov:
The Revealed Master: After witnessing the Besht's secret holiness, Rabbi David of Kolomaya became a frequent disciple. He often defended his brother-in-law, Rabbi Gershon, against his own skepticism.
Silent Protest: The Besht insisted on praying by the eastern wall, typically reserved for the elite, to be near the Ark and protest the exclusion of the "simple" folk. He masked his profound Kabbalistic actions (like not wearing tefillin on Chol HaMoed) behind a guise of simple ignorance.
4. Jewish Spiritual Practices (Greetings & Kindness):
Judging Favorably: True love for a neighbor is impossible without judging them favorably. The Besht taught that if you see a fault in another, it is a mirror of a fault within yourself provided by God to spark your own repentance.
Negating Grudges: The Torah’s prohibition against revenge and bearing a grudge requires returning good for evil. True humility means "passing over one's measures" and seeking ways to benefit those who have caused us trouble.
⚔️ Gevurah (Strength & Discipline)
5. Talmud (33 Tractates): Megillah (2a - 4b).
Summary: Explains the flexibility of the Purim calendar (11th-15th of Adar) and the hierarchy of duties, where "Publicizing the Miracle" overrides even Temple service. It also notes that the prophets established the final forms of letters (Mantzepakh).
6. Tanach Study (2 Chapters): Jeremiah 8 & 9.
Summary: Jeremiah laments the irrationality of Judah's refusal to repent. God warns that man should not boast in wisdom, strength, or riches, but only in knowing and understanding God’s kindness and justice.
⚖️ Tiferet (Harmony & Beauty)
7. Tosefta: Yevamos (4 - 7).
Summary: Discusses resolving identity confusion in betrothals, the collision between the laws of Yibbum and incest, and the biological waiting periods required to ensure paternity.
8. 13 Attribute Combination (Divine Mercy): Day 7 of 13-Day Cycle 9.
yashuv yerachamanu — He shall again have mercy on us.
vetashlich bimtzolet yam kol chatotam — Casts our sins into the depths of the sea.
🏹 Netzach (Victory & Ambition)
9. 41-Day Combination: Day 29 of 41-Day Cycle 3. Understanding the 8th Commandment (against Stealing) on the First, Spiritual level (Chayah, World of Atzilut).
10. Living Likutei Moharan (Torah 111):
Summary: Connects the word "Rebbe" to Rosh Bnei Yisrael (Head of Israel). This ties to the yahrzeit of the Bnei Yissachar, a leader from the tribe of Yissachar—the scholars and heads of the Sanhedrin.
🕯️ Hod (Submission & Sincerity)
11. M’Ein Ganim:
Summary: Seclusion (Hitbodedut) is the ultimate proof of faith. Prayer from the heart, in one's own words, is the essence of Kavanah (intention). Rabbi Nathan noted that any deficiency in life is linked to a lack of prayer.
12. Shulchan Arukh: Reviewing laws in Orach HaChayim 221 and 222.
Summary: Covers the laws of Blessings for Rain and responding to Good and Bad News. We are obligated to bless God for the "bad" (Dayan HaEmet) with the same wholeheartedness as for the "good."
🤝 Yesod (Foundation & Connection)
13. Zohar Study: Vayechi, Folios 245 and 246.
Summary: * The Seal of Love: Israel's love for God is compared to the parting of the soul from the body—absolute and intense. This love is kindled by the Left hand (Gevurah) and sustained by the Right (Chesed).
The Mystery of the King's Son: The soul is like a King's son sent to a "village" (this world) for education. At death, the Matron (Shekhinah) brings the soul home to the Palace.
Arousing the Upper Waters: The yearning of the righteous on earth stirs the Shekhinah to meet the "upper waters." Through the Zaddik, blessings flow from the Future World to transform the "bread of poverty" into "royal dainties."
Asher and the Bread of Luxury: The name Asher signifies the Future World. From the "heavens" (the letter Vau), bread rains down to nourish the Tree of Life. On Shabbat, this "celestial bread" joins with "earthly bread" to become Double Bread, transforming poverty into royal luxury.
Naphtali and the Unity of Voice: Naphtali is the "hind let loose," representing the Utterance that is guided by the Voice. The Zohar explains that Thought, Understanding, Voice, and Utterance are all one, illustrating that "The Lord is one and His Name is One."
Joseph and the Standards: Joseph represents the Male Principle (Zaddik). Because the standards of the Shekhinah are female in nature, Joseph was replaced by Ephraim on the West, while Joseph remains the "fruitful bough" both above and below, joining the Kingdom with the Patriarchs.
14. Shovavim (Parasha Shemot): Day 4 (Esther / Fasting) of Parasha 1 (Moshe / Torah) of Cycle 3 (Mordechai / Tzedakah-Mesirat Nefesh).
🌍 Malchut (Actualization)
15. The Parasha Study (Shemot): Culminating with the study of the new book and the teachings of the Tanya (Chapter 12).
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