The gateway to the first week of Shovavim (Parashat Shemot)
💡 Hayom Yom (Keter)
The Power of Two: The Mitteler Rebbe taught that when two people study together, there are two Divine souls against one natural soul. Because the Divine soul is selfless and desires the spiritual welfare of others, the two Neshamot join forces. Conversely, the natural soul is self-centered and only hinders the individual, making collaborative study a spiritual advantage.
🪜 The 15 Steps to the Sanctuary
🧠 Chochma & Bina (Wisdom & Integration)
1. Alef-Bet Combination: Tonight is Day 3 (Gimmel) of 22-Day Cycle 6 (Kaf and Lamed). The combination is Gimmel with Kaf.
Acrostic Verse (Psalm 112): גִּבּ֣וֹר בָּאָרֶץ יִֽהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ ("His seed will be mighty in the land").
2. Sefirah (Inner Refinement): Day 1 of Week 17 (Chesed shebeTiferet [shebeTiferet]).
Song of the Day (Perek Shirah): The Bee-eater says, "I will whistle to them and gather them, for I have redeemed them..." (Zechariah 10:8).
❤️ Chesed (Expansive Love)
3. Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov:
The Heart’s Sigh: After having his Zohar taken by a critic, the Besht sighed so deeply during prayer that Rabbi Moshe of Kitov noticed. The Besht explained that the loss of the holy book deeply troubled his heart; the Rabbi returned it and blessed him with a peaceful journey.
Exorcising the Dybbuk: A possessed woman in Kitov identified the spiritual status of everyone, calling the Besht "Rabbi Israel." Despite having vowed not to use Divine Names, the Besht threatened to convene a court to release him from his vow to cast the spirit out. Under pressure from the city's pious, he eventually agreed to the exorcism.
4. Jewish Spiritual Practices:
Love for Others: True kindness stems from a "soft Jewish heart" that hears the cry of the lowly. Practice meditations on loving one's neighbor upon awakening and before sleep.
The Table as an Altar: Since the Temple’s destruction, a person’s dining table acts as the Altar of atonement. To eat in holiness is to transform a mundane meal into a sacrificial offering before God.
⚔️ Gevurah (Strength & Discipline)
5. Talmud (33 Tractates): Megillah (8a - 10b)
Ritual Purity: Discusses the levels of the Zav and the different purification rites for quarantined vs. confirmed lepers.
The Septuagint: Recounts the miracle of the 72 Elders who independently made 15 "strategic changes" to the Greek translation of the Torah to prevent King Ptolemy from misinterpreting Jewish monotheism.
Greek Language: Greek is the only other language permitted for a Torah scroll because of its beauty (Yofi), fulfilling Noah’s blessing that the beauty of Japheth should dwell in the tents of Shem.
High Priesthood: Establishes the rule that one "elevates in sanctity and does not downgrade"—a substitute High Priest remains "retired" in his high status.
The Physics of the Ark: A tradition states the Ark in the Holy of Holies was "above measurement," occupying no physical space in the room.
6. Tanach Study: Jeremiah 12 & 13
The Prosperous Wicked: Jeremiah questions why the treacherous find peace. God responds that if the "footmen" (current trials) weary him, he cannot compete with the "horses" (coming judgments).
The Linen Girdle: God commands Jeremiah to hide a linen girdle in a rock. When retrieved, it is rotten and useless—symbolizing how Israel, which once clung to God, has become useless through idolatry and pride.
⚖️ Tiferet (Harmony & Beauty)
7. Mishna: Chagigah (Chapters 1–2)
Obligation of Appearance: All are obligated to appear in the Temple during the Festivals except for those physically or mentally unable. Beit Hillel defines a minor as a child unable to hold his father’s hand and walk.
Financial Minimums: Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel disagree on the minimum values for Festival offerings.
Torah Disciplines: Some laws (like dissolution of vows) have little scriptural support, while others (Shabbat, Festivals) are like "mountains suspended by a hair."
Esoteric Study: Restrictions are placed on teaching the secrets of Creation (Bereshit) and the Divine Chariot (Merkavah) to those who are not already wise and understanding.
8. 13 Attribute Combination (Divine Mercy): Day 9 of 13-Day Cycle 9.
וְתַשְׁלִיךְ בִּמְצֻלוֹת יָם כָּל חַטֹּאותָם / vetashlich bimtzolet yam kol chatotam — You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea (x2).
🏹 Netzach (Victory & Ambition)
9. 41-Day Combination: Day 31 of 41-Day Cycle 3.
Focus: The 8th Commandment (Against Stealing) on the Third, Emotional level (Nefesh, World of Yetzirah).
Practical Mivtzah: Connect this emotional guarding to filling the home with Torah books (Kislev/Teveth), creating an environment that protects against spiritual "theft" of the heart.
10. Living Likutei Moharan (Torah 113):
Judgment with Consent: In the name of the Baal Shem Tov, it is taught that before a decree is passed, the individual is asked for their agreement—without knowing they are judging themselves.
Rambam’s Yahrzeit (20th of Teveth): This mirrors the Rambam’s teaching: the world is judged by the "Knowing God." A person must view themselves and the world as perfectly balanced; one single Mitzvah can tip the entire world toward merit.
🕯️ Hod (Submission & Sincerity)
11. M’Ein Ganim: Hitbodedut (Self-Seclusion)
Vessels of Abundance: Prayers are the "sacks" that contain the Shefa (Divine Abundance). Without the vessel of prayer, there is nowhere for God's goodness to land.
Proactive Awakening: Hitbodedut allows a person to nullify suffering before it arrives. It is superior to reactive suffering because it is a voluntary spiritual awakening.
12. Shulchan Arukh: Reviewing Orach HaChayim 225–226
Seeing a Friend: One blesses Shehecheyanu after thirty days and Mechayeh Metim after twelve months.
Diverse Creations: Upon seeing exceptionally unique-looking people or animals like elephants and monkeys, one blesses Meshaneh HaBriyot (Who varies the creatures).
Birkat Ha’ilanot (Siman 226): One who goes out during the month of Nisan and sees fruit trees in bloom blesses God for creating good trees for people to benefit from.
🤝 Yesod (Foundation & Connection)
13. Zohar Study: Vayechi, Folios 249 and 250
The Error of Solomon: Solomon questioned the need for Chesed (the "Right Hand"), leading to a punishment where he became a beggar, causing the Sun to part from the Moon and leading to exile.
The Cup of Blessing: The cup represents the Shekhinah. It is held in both hands but lifted by the right to prioritize Mercy.
Burial of the Tzaddikim: Joseph is described with a double Yod (vayisem), signifying his soul’s union with both the earthly and celestial Arks due to his guarded purity.
14. Shovavim (Parasha Shemot): Day 6
Cycle Tracking: Day 6 (Arizal / Mikvah / Heh (ה): Hatznei'a — Walking Discreetly) of Parasha 1 (Moshe / Torah / Shiviti — Constant G-dly Presence) of Cycle 3 (Mordechai / Tzedakah-Mesirat Nefesh / B'chol — Knowing Him in all ways).
The Acronym of TESHUVA (תשובה):
Tav (ת) - Tamim (Sincerity): Wholeheartedness (Eliyahu/Moshiach).
Shin (ש) - Shiviti (Presence): "I set the Lord before me" (Moshe Rabbeinu).
Vav (ו) - V’ahavta (Love): Love of fellow Jew (Aharon HaKohen).
Bet (ב) - B’chol (Knowing Him): Finding God in the natural world (Mordechai/Esther).
Heh (ה) - Hatznei’a (Discretion): Walking humbly/secretly (Rashbi/Arizal).
🌍 Malchut (Actualization)
15. The Parasha Study (Shemot) & Mesilat Yesharim
Mesilat Yesharim (Chapter 6): Alacrity (Zerizut): The passionate readiness to perform Mitzvot.
Shemot Connection: Moses’ response at the Burning Bush illustrates how Zerizut catalyzes the transition from the darkness of Egypt to the light of redemption.
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