(Work in progress)
Chapter 97:1 (Kneged Devarim; Tanya 43)
וְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין מִן הַד' ה', הָעִנְיָן הוּא כָּךְ: דְּהִנֵּה כְּתִיב (תהילים ס׳:ט׳): לִי גִלְעָד וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי., הַפֵּרוּשׁ הוּא כָּךְ. כִּי קֹדֶם בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם, הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִדֵּן וְקִשֵּׁט אֶת עַצְמוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתָן וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁצָּפָה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁלָּהֶם יִמְשְׁלוּ בִּתְפִלָּתָם, וְיִפְעֲלוּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצוּ, עַל דֶּרֶךְ: צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹקִים (שמואל ב כ״ג:ג׳).
How do we turn the dalet into a heh? The matter is as follows: Behold, it is written (Psalms 60:9), “Gilead is mine, and Menasheh is mine; Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Yehudah my rulers.” This is the explanation: Prior to the creation of the world, the Blessed One delighted in and adorned Himself with <Israel’s> prayers and the good deeds of the righteous. He foresaw that there would be tzaddikim who, by virtue of their good deeds, would rule through their prayers and accomplish whatever they want to, in accordance with: “The tzaddik rules with the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3) .
Zohar Bechukotai: Once a man was very fond of a friend of his and said to him: "I am so fond of you that I am going to stay with you. Said the other: How do I know that you will stay with me? So he took all his most precious belongings and brought them to him, saying: "Here is a pledge to you that I shall never leave you. And although the Holy One, blessed be He, has departed from us, He has left his pledge in our hands, and we keep that treasure of His, so that if He wants His pledge He must come and abide with us. (Zohar, Bechukotai, 114a)
Noam Elimelech, Bamidbar - Counting as a way for the Jews to realize how they can be a Merkavah in all the worlds; how counting is ok when we are doing Hashem's will. (from Noam Elimelech) The Jewish people's encampments parallels that of the angels, and that is why we wanted flags as well.
Chapter 97:1 (Kneged Devarim; Tanya 43)
וְכֵיצַד עוֹשִׂין מִן הַד' ה', הָעִנְיָן הוּא כָּךְ: דְּהִנֵּה כְּתִיב (תהילים ס׳:ט׳): לִי גִלְעָד וְלִי מְנַשֶּׁה אֶפְרַיִם מָעוֹז רֹאשִׁי יְהוּדָה מְחוֹקְקִי., הַפֵּרוּשׁ הוּא כָּךְ. כִּי קֹדֶם בְּרִיאַת הָעוֹלָם, הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִדֵּן וְקִשֵּׁט אֶת עַצְמוֹ בִּתְפִלָּתָן וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁצָּפָה שֶׁיִּהְיוּ צַדִּיקִים, שֶׁעַל־יְדֵי מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים שֶׁלָּהֶם יִמְשְׁלוּ בִּתְפִלָּתָם, וְיִפְעֲלוּ כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצוּ, עַל דֶּרֶךְ: צַדִּיק מוֹשֵׁל יִרְאַת אֱלֹקִים (שמואל ב כ״ג:ג׳).
How do we turn the dalet into a heh? The matter is as follows: Behold, it is written (Psalms 60:9), “Gilead is mine, and Menasheh is mine; Ephraim is the stronghold of my head; Yehudah my rulers.” This is the explanation: Prior to the creation of the world, the Blessed One delighted in and adorned Himself with <Israel’s> prayers and the good deeds of the righteous. He foresaw that there would be tzaddikim who, by virtue of their good deeds, would rule through their prayers and accomplish whatever they want to, in accordance with: “The tzaddik rules with the fear of God” (2 Samuel 23:3) .
Behar: "... and this is called, "the Sabbath of the Land." Truly there is freedom and rest in it; as the Sabbath is rest for all, so the Sabbatical year is rest for all, for the spirit and the body." (Zohar, Behar, 108a)
Tanya, Chapter 31 is about how focusing on one's sins in order to break timtum halev should not lead to the klippah of depression is one does it correctly. Broken-heartedness is not Atzvut and should lead to Simcha. Using the very weapon of the Yetzer HaRah can have a very positive effect (from the forest itself comes the handle for the axe).
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 83: 6 "Pehs" in Alef-Beit, related to klippah, and the way to fight the klippah is through tzedakah
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Noam Elimelech, Bechukosai: The essence of our service is to bind together this world with the upper worlds, and in this way mercy over judgement prevails. Then we can be very happy, even within the physical world.
Tanya, Chapter 32: Ve'Ahavtah is accomplished through looking at people spiritually, at the Root, because Hashem is the Father of us all, all neshamot are from the same source.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 84: The way to reach high spiritual levels is through love.
Derech Hashem 2.2 - Man in the World: "We know that [the process of individual judgement] ultimately revolves around one basic principle, namely the assembling of a Perfected Community fit to exist in an eternal state of intimacy with G-d."
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Tanya: Chapter 33 is regarding additional ways of finding happiness. The Alter Rebbe speaks of the idea of contemplating on how Hashem's glory fills the word and transcends it, and how the whole world is nullified to Him. This contemplation alone brings closeness to G-d and should bring a person tremendous joy. Rejoicing over the inheritance we received from our forefathers.
He actually brings the verse, "Tzadik B'Emunatoh Yichyeh." (Verse of the deer of week 36, of Shavuot). It is a tremendous kindness that lowly creatures like ourselves can be close to the King of Kings.
Likutei Moharan: Chapter 85: in order to establish Malchut [Hashem's presence in the world], one must tap in to the Netzach, Hod, Yesod of Ze'er Anpin. One does so by tapping into the Mochin, Chochma, Binah, Chesed [Avraham] and Gevurah [Yitzchak], which is enclosed in the Netzach-Hod-Yesod of Binah. In other words, it is intellectual contemplation that brings to the building up of Malchut. This is the secret of the 3-branched Shin and the 4-branched Shin. [Building up Malchut - appears also related to Yom Yerushalayim.]
Derech Hashem 2.4 - On Israel and the Nations: We became differentiated through Avraham.
Zohar Bamidbar - The world was not established until Avraham, until Yitzchak, until Yaakov, until the Tribes, until the Mishkan... Entire page about rejeoicing with Jerusalem.
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Noam Elimelech, Nasso - some souls the Tzadik can elevate directly; others, the more simple ones, he must first connect to the Avot, and only then to higher worlds. Different kinds of Tzadikim - Kehot, Gershon and Merari; kneged Tzaru'im, Zavim, and Tamei Nefesh, who needed to leave the camp. (from Noam Elimelech)
Tanya: Chapter 34 - The Patriarchs had such nullification to Hashem that they were on the level of a Merkavah. The prophets were nullified at their level, until Moshe came, who was the highest, in that the Shechinah spoke from his throat. The Jewish people were not at that level, even at Har Sinai, as their souls expired when experiencing G-d. (Clearly connected to Sivan and Shavuot!) That is why the mitzvah of building the Mishkan came immediately afterwards, so that the Shechinah could dwell among them. After the Temple was destroyed, what was left was for the Shechinah to dwell in the 4 Amot of Halachah. Every Jew should learn at his level, even if only a chapter in the evening and one in the morning, and that should make him happy.
Likutei Moharan: Chapter 86: the days of the week are primarily connected to unholy forces, while Shabat is connected to the holy. Shabat is connected to walking. (Similar to the concept of Merkavah) Still, even on Shabat, they were only able to take "light steps" (p'siah ketanah). To strengthen oneself in holiness, one needs to connect oneself to truth (the third leg) and tzedakah of Shabat, which is connected to Olam HaBah.
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Noam Elimelech, Beha'alotcha: This Parasha is primarily about the lighting of the Menorah. The Kohen Gadol would begin (and finish) by lighting the Menorah from the Ner Ma'aravi (the Westernmost candle). This candle is a reference to the Shechinah. The Tzadik must always be in a high state of Deveikus, cleaving tightly to Hashem. He is constantly attached to the Shechinah. The Talmid Chacham is called Shabbos, and all days of the week shall be rectified so that they shine together with Shabbos as one light.
Tanya: Chapter 35 - To understand the purpose of the Beinoni, and why he must constantly struggle and still be unable to defeat or even weaken his evil inclination, one must understand the statement of the Yenukah in the Zohar, that the wise has his eyes in his head. His head here is a reference to the Shechinah. For the fire of the Shechinah to be upon a person's head, there must be oil (for the candle). The oil here is a reference to good deeds, Mitzvot. Even a perfect tzadik still has a sense of self and is not completely nullified to Hashem's will. Mitzvot, however, represent complete nullification to G-d; they are G-d's will. The actions of a Beinoni bring down the Shechinah upon his very body, and even hovers over the animal soul, that is forced into a state of sleep and exile during the performance of Mitzvot.
Likutei Moharan: Chapter 87: We see that a when a person wants to walk on a straight path, he encounters judgments (Dinim). Why is that? One first has to understand that there are two types of Yirah (fear). Yirat HaOnesh (fear of punishment), which is called Tzedek (justice) and Yirat HaRomemut (fear / awe of the exaltedness [of G-d]), which is called Emunah (faith). It is impossible to reach Emunah if one does not first have Yirat HaOnesh. It is through fear of punishment that one comes to appreciate Hashem's power and ability to do anything. When a person resolves to go on a straight path, he must have Yirah, which is Tzedek, and that leads to judgements. Once he reaches Emet (truth), which is the level of Yirah connected to Emunah, then the judgements are sweetened. That's how you go from Titen Emet L'Yaakov to Chesed L'Avraham. Once truth is connected to Tzedek, one reaches Emunah, which is where all the good and the fire/light is.
(Again, Likutei Moharan seems to focus on the same topic from a different angle. To reach the fire, one must connect to Tzedek and Emet, and then Emunah. The Alter Rebbe seems to focus on the Mitzvah)
Derech Hashem 2:6: Heavenly Tribunal; judgements by accusing forces
Zohar, Beha'alotcha: Heavenly Tribunal, judgement by accusing forces on Passover; Incense and Oil
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Noam Elimelech, Shelach: a person must think of his own lowliness and of Hashem's exaltedness. Furthermore, it is important to realize that the Tzadik has the power to easily sweeten the judgements.
Chapter 36 of Tanya begins as follows: In a well-known statement, our Rabbis declare that the purpose for which this world was created is that the Holy One, blessed be He, desired to have an abode in the lower realms. [Shelach is primarily about the spies' failure to realize that the whole purpose of Creation is to make a dwelling place for G-d in the lower realms.]
The chapter further explains the need for the Hishtalshelut, the different levels of intensity and refinement in which the the Divine Presence fills the world. The Alter Rebbe further writes:
For this purpose, the Holy One, blessed be He, gave to Israel the Torah which is called "might" and "strength," as the Rabbis, of blessed memory, have said, that the Almighty puts strength into the righteous in order that they may receive their reward in the hereafter, without being nullified in their very existence, in the Divine light that will be revealed to them in the hereafter without any cloak, as is written, "No longer shall thy Teacher hide Himself (literally: He will not conceal Himself from thee with robe and garment) ... but thine eyes shall see thy Teacher." It is also written, "For they shall see eye to eye,.. ." and, "The sun shall be no more thy light by day ..., but the Lord shall be thine everlasting light...."
This, again, appears to be the theme of Likutei Moharan 87, mentioned last week:
It is impossible to reach Emunah if one does not first have Yirat HaOnesh. It is through fear of punishment that one comes to appreciate Hashem's power and ability to do anything. When a person resolves to go on a straight path, he must have Yirah, which is Tzedek, and that leads to judgements. Once he reaches Emet (truth), which is the level of Yirah connected to Emunah, then the judgements are sweetened. That's how you go from Titen Emet L'Yaakov to Chesed L'Avraham. Once truth is connected to Tzedek, one reaches Emunah , which is where all the good and the fire/light is.
Derech Hashem 2:7 - Divine intervention overpowers the Mazalot (the power of the stars); Israel in particular is above the power of the stars.
Zohar: Caleb saw that Yehoshua had heavenly support by virtue of Moshe's blessing in order to be saved from the evil counsel of the spies. He did not have that blessing, and therefore prayed by the graves of the Patriarchs in order to be saved from the fate of the spies.
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Noam Elimelech for Korach talks about how Hashem creates Reshayim to decrease the kitrug. It is also about how the main dwelling of the person must be in the upper worlds, and how sins separate a person for this reality.
Tanya Chapter 37 appears to be primarily about mitzvot and their great value, unless done by means of a sin... it then describes how the Jewish people is divided into 600,000 souls, all holy and how each will perform all 613 commandments...
Likutei Moharan 88 applies to Korach. It talks about how when a tzadik becomes well known it is good that there are people that argue with him and say bad things about him because that reduces the kitrugim, a Machloket LeShem Shamayim is Leshem the Tzadik, which is called "Shamayim."
Likutei Moharan 89 and 90 is very similar to the above theme of Chapter 37 of Tanya, about how a Chisaron of an individual is a chisaron of the Shechinah, which is formed of the 600,000 souls of the Jewish people. This very much parallels what is says in chapter 37 of Tanya:
"For the community of Israel, comprising 600,000 particular souls, is the [source of] life for the world as a whole, which was created for their sake. And each one of them contains and is related to the vitality of one part in 600,000 of the totality of the world, which [part] depends on his vital soul for its elevation to G-d through its own [the soul's] elevation, by virtue of the individual's partaking of this world for the needs of his body and vital soul in the service of G-d, viz., eating, drinking, and the like, [his] dwelling and all his utensils.
Yet these 600,000 particular souls are roots, and each root subdivides into 600,000 sparks, each spark being one neshamah; and so with the nefesh and ruach in each of the four worlds— Atzilut, Beriah, Yetzirah, Asiyah.
And each spark descended into this world— although it is indeed a profound descent and a state of true exile, for even if one be a perfectly righteous person, serving G-d with fear and a great love of delights, he cannot attain to the degree of attachment to G-d, in fear and love, as before it came down to this gross world, not a fraction of it, and there is no comparison or similarity between them at all, as is clear to every intelligent person, for the body cannot endure,... nevertheless [each spark] descended into this world, to be clothed in a body and vital soul, for the sole purpose of mending them and separating them from the evil of the three impure kelipot, through the observance of the 365 prohibitions and their offshoots, and in order to elevate his vital soul together with its portion that belongs to it of the totality of the world, so as to join and unite them with the light of the blessed En Sof, which the person draws into them through fulfilling all the 248 positive precepts through the agency of the vital soul, the very one that fulfils all the active commandments, as has been explained above. It has also been stated in (Etz Chayim, Portal 26) that the soul itself[neshamah] needs no tikun (mending) at all ... and there is no necessity for it to be embodied in this world ... except in order to bring down the light to mend them ... and this is exactly similar to the esoteric exile of the Shechinah for the purpose of elevating the sparks...."
http://www.chabad.org/library/tanya/tanya_cdo/aid/1029047/jewish/Chapter-37.htm
Derech Hashem 2:8 - judgement is tempered by mercy, and when necessary, Hashem sometimes can "suspend the rule of justice completely, and operate with mercy alone." (p. 169)
Zohar: Korach (Crown of Priesthood) - the importance of giving prominence to the right.
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Chapter 38 of Tanya is about the interaction between the tahor G-dly soul that comes to this world for the sole purpose of a tikun for the lowly animal soul. This is done through mitzvot and their kavannah. The Alter Rebbe also writes, וכל מדותיו, שהן יראתו מדברים המזיקים אותו ואהבתו לדברים הנאהבים אצלו, הן רק טבעיים אצלו, ולא מבינתו ודעתו; ultimately, mitzvot are above intellect, and the connection (for most of us) is above our limited understanding. [Chukat is about the interaction between the tahor kohen who temporarily becomes tameh, and someone who is tameh that through the interaction with the kohen, receives a tikkun and becomes tahor. How this works is above our limited understanding.]
Likutei Moharan 91 - Tumah is in the yadayim. By washing one's hands in the morning, Mayim represents the Sechel, that's also why when you wash your hands, you raise your hands to the head. But in order to do so, one must have Emunah (which is above the intellect).
Again, Rebbe Nachman is going from down to bottom. By having emunah in one's hands (paralleling the animal soul/physicality), one can reach sechel, "Shemesh," the level of intelect. The more Emunah one has, the more intellect one can obtain. Rebbe Nachman's Torah also appears related to the idea of sprinkling the ashes of the Parah Adumah...
Derech Hashem 3:1 - This chapter is about the interaction between the nefesh (soul) and guf (body), the higher soul and the animal soul.
Zohar: "For all the lower judgements, and all that come from the side of uncleanness, when it sucks from the "other side" sitting in judgement bestir themselves and haunt the world, but when all this ceremony of the heifer is performed on earth, and cedar wood, etc., is thrown into it, then their strength is enfeebled and wherever they are they are they are crushed and weakened, since their power also appears to them in this form (of an ox), and they no longer stay with a man, and he is purified." (p. 244, 245)
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Noam Elimelech, Balak:
שיהא תפילת הצדיק עולה עד למקום שורשה
כי האדם לפי מדרגתו שעובד כך ממשיך עליו, ואותן שעבדו מיראה המשיכו על עצמם יראה מלמעלה והיו אימתם מוטלת על שונאיהם, ולכך "ויגר מואב מפני העם". "ויקוצו מפני בני ישראל" אותם המרומזין בחינת "ישראל", והם הצדיקים גדולים העובדים מאהבה המשיכו על עצמם אהבה גדולה, ולכך קצו מואב בחייהם כי זה בלתי אפשרי לרשע לקבל אהבה בלבו, לכן קצו בחייהם ע"י האהבה שלא יוכלו לקבל.
Chapter 39 of Tanya is about animals and angels (service of G-d through emotions) and how man/a tzadik is different, because his love and fear derives from intellect. On a higher level still are the Patriarchs who are totally nullified and a chariot of G-d. The chapter finishes with a discussion of mitzvot that are "Lo Lishma,” which ultimately are elevated. From Chapter 39:
This inability of one’s divine service to ascend to the Sefirot applies not only where one’s motive for engaging in Torah and mitzvot is actually shelo lishmah (“not for its own sake”), i.e., for some ulterior motive, heaven forbid, in which case one is actually serving himself, not G‑d, and his service surely cannot ascend “to stand before G‑d."
[Balak is primarily about an animal and an angel, as well as about Bilaam, who, even though he follows G-d's command, does it "Lo Lishmah." Balak and Bilaam's plans fail because of the merit of the Avot. At the end,. Bilaam’s actions are ultimately elevated by Hashem forcing him to bless the Jewish people, praising then for their modesty and good behavior, and causing a great Kiddush Hashem.]
Likutei Moharan 92 - Through a person's pacing in their house, he can resurrect the dead. [People move, while angels and animals are stationary.] Elisha brought the son of the Shunamite woman back to life by pacing. Jacob is truth, truth is Torah, and the 5 books of the Torah are the 5 parts of the lungs. Joseph is the heart, hiddeness. The fire of the heart can burn up the entire body. Through the lungs going back and forth (pacing), they cool off the heat of the heart. Jacob was about to settle down, but then the "heat" of Joseph came upon him. [To be a live human being, a person needs this kind of warmth of the heart related to love and fear.] The human being is a Sefer Torah, and through his paces, he can cool off the fire, which is dinim, and bring back the dead.
The pacing back and forth is reminiscent of Bilaam pacing back and forth on his mule, to the point where the mule speaks (it is given a higher level of “life”). Bilaam is also extremely angry and irritable, ready to kill the mule, and it is only the appearance of the angel that cools him off.
Likutei Moharan 93 is about the Kiddush Hashem of being honest in business. Through the Jewish people, G-d is sanctified in the eyes of the nations, and it leads to proper intellect and prayer.
The pacing back and forth is reminiscent of Bilaam pacing back and forth on his mule, to the point where the mule speaks (it is given a higher level of “life”). Bilaam is also extremely angry and irritable, ready to kill the mule, and it is only the appearance of the angel that cools him off.
Likutei Moharan 93 is about the Kiddush Hashem of being honest in business. Through the Jewish people, G-d is sanctified in the eyes of the nations, and it leads to proper intellect and prayer.
Derech Hashem 3:2 - Transforming the physical through spiritual means, nullifying the limitations of physical laws. The chapter discusses the uses of G-d's names, and also, l'havdil, sorcery.
Zohar - Balak's sorcery and Bilaam's enchantments.
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Chapter 40 of Tanya also continues the theme of the previous chapter, and then focuses primarily on the concept of Ahavah and Yirah, and how both together are like the wings of a bird. You need both.
Likutei Moharan 94: There are times when Hashem cannot be Mashpiah Chesed. The sins of the Jewish people cause G-d great pain. Therefore, there needs to be “holy Tzim-Tzum” to counteract the pure kindness, to be believe that “for me the world was created,” in order for that person to fix ir. And so it was with Pinchas, who took it upon himself to fix the situation created out of pure Chesed.
Derech Hashem 3:3 -
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Matot has as a major theme the importance of the father/husband (yirah) to have a say in the actions/nedarim (vows) of the daughter/wife (ahavah), in order not to profane one's words. The need to destroy the females of Midian is also about the need of Yirah over misplaced Ahavah.
Chapter 41 of Tanya emphasizes the importance of Yirah (fear) even regarding Aseh Tov (positive mitzvot) associated primarily with Ahava (love), in order not to rebel against the King of Kings in the slightest.
Likutei Moharan 94: Only with the combination of Emunah and Chochmah can the Hashpa'ah of Chesed come to the world. Words are in exile, and in order to fix the words one needs to infuse them with the Chochma of the Fathers.
Massei is about the 42 journeys in the desert, "training ground" for the Jewish people to learn proper Emunah and Yirat Shamayim, in order to elevate them and be able to enter the Land. The Land is apportioned by Yehoshua, Moshe's successor, and the leaders of each tribe.
Chapter 42 of Tanya is also about Yirah, and how it comes from Moshe and the leaders of Israel in every generation. It also talks about how to acquire this Yirah: by seeking it like someone "digging for a treasure buried in the depths of the earth..." One first acquired Yirah in thought and then one translates it into action. (This similar to the idea of conquering and working the Land)
The end of Likutei Moharan 94 is about elevating the sparks of the words. It is known that the journeys in the desert were in order to elevate the sparks. Rebbe Nachman also talks about the sages/leaders of the community, who are called the “eyes of the congregation,” which is related to the appointment of Yehoshua as the eyes/shepherd of Hashem’s flock.
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Devarim contains primarily words of rebuke, and an account of the various sins that took place in the desert, particularly the sin of the spies. It comes right before Tisha B’Av.
Chapter 43 of Tanya describes two levels of fear (Yirah), and words of rebuke are meant to inspire Yirah (Tanya D’Oraisa). Moshe was the very embodiment of Koach Mah described in Chapter 43 of Tanya, as he said about himself, "Nachnu Mah?"
Likutei Moharan 95 and 96: If the leader of the Jewish people becomes haughty, Hashem establishes people to argue with him in order to get him back to his state of humility. A leader is only appointed if he has a "can of worms" behind him, which is connected to the quality of “Mah,” humility. Again, Rebbe Nachman seems to be working backwards - focusing on what brings humility/Yirah to the leader).
Chapter 96 is about all kinds of extraneous thoughts that fall upon a tzadik due to others, some due to arguments on other tzadikim - all this is very parallel to the sins of the Jewish people in the desert, particularly the sin of the spies.
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Va'etchanan is about how Moshe prays to Hashem and makes a request for a gift, not because of his merits. He very much wants to enter the Land of Israel but ultimately does not merit to do so. Yehoshua is the one that will lead the people into the Land. Va'etchanan also includes the Ten Commandments (and how the Jewish people couldn't handle receiving all 10, because the experience was too overpowering), and the first paragraph of the Shemah, which is about loving Hashem with all one's heart, soul and might.
Chapter 44 is about how every Jew is like Moshe and the love he has for Hashem is a gift, an inheritance from the Avot. Chapter 44, towards the end, is also about the need for each person to do his utmost to know G-d and connect to His greatness, each at his/her level.
Likutei Moharan 97, 98, and 99: Chapter 97 is about how precious to Hashem is the prayer of the Tzadik, which comes from a place of not thinking he deserves anything due to past merits, but as a gift.
Chapter 98 is about how when a tzadik looks into a person and sees/shows about far a person sin goes in blemishing his connection with Hashem, it's a very overwhelming experience. (This parallels the Ten Commandments)
Chapter 99's title is the first line of Va'etchanan, which is about praying consistently, at whatever level you are at the moment (Ba'Et HaHi)
Chapter 45 is about "Middat Yaakov," and the Parsha is "Ekev"! Parashat Eikev, the heal, is about taking an approach to life that is not based on "Kochi v'Otzem Yadi"... it's about maintaining our humility, remembering our flaws and mistakes, and yet, despite it all, Hashem is still on our side.
Chapter 45 is about connecting to the middah of rachamim, mercy, taking pity upon our soul, which had to go from the highest heights to the lowest lows.
Chapter 45 is about connecting to the middah of rachamim, mercy, taking pity upon our soul, which had to go from the highest heights to the lowest lows.
Likutei Moharan 100: there are Tzadikim that are able to have mercy and patience with the masses, and there are those that get angry at them. The Tzadik whose deeds match his Torah knowledge is settled and has patience with the people, but a Tzadik whose Torah knowledge are much greater than his deeds has Torah burning inside of him to such an extent that he becomes unsatisfied with the people.
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Re'eh is about seeing clearly that the choice of a path before each person: one (following the Torah and mitzvot) leads to life and blessing and one that leads to the opposite. The parasha is also about being seen (mentioned at the end of the Parashah).
Chapter 46 focuses on a path to reach a love of Hashem that is very close, which can easily be perceived through introspection:
There is yet another good way for a man, which is suitable for all and "very nigh" indeed, to arouse and kindle the light of the love that is implanted and concealed in his heart, that it may shine forth with its intense light, like a burning fire, in the consciousness of the heart and mind, to surrender his soul to G-d, together with his body and [material] possessions, with all his heart, and all his soul and all his might, from the depth of the heart, in absolute truth, especially at the time of the recital of the Shema and its blessings, as will be explained.
This [way] is: to take to heart the meaning of the verse: "As in water, face answereth to face, so does the heart of man to man." This means that as [in the case of] the likeness and features of the face which a man presents to the water, the same identical nice is reflected back to him from the water, so indeed is also the heart of a man who is loyal in his affection for another person, for this love awakens a loving response for him in the heart of his friend also, cementing their mutual love and loyalty for each other, especially as each sees his friend's love for him. This is Elul! Ani L'Dodi veDodi Li! Reciprocity.
Likutei Moharan 101 begins with a statement of how the Torah is the source of the world, and that there is also a choice each person needs to make: Torah can be a potion of life or one of the opposite. What defines a Jew as Adam is his/her connection to the Torah.
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Shoftim is about creating a society that is free from the corruption and the problematic ways of Egypt, the Canaanites, and others societies.
Chapter 47: "In every generation and every day a person is obliged to regard himself as if he had that day come out of Egypt."
Likutei Moharan 101 continues by stating that each gentile nation has a bad quality that one becomes subsumed by if he/or she fails to connect properly to the Torah. By accepting the yoke of Torah, one is liberated from the yoke of gentile nations and their negative quality.
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Ki Tetzeh is about bedieved situations. War, encountering a beautiful idol worshipper, deal with two wives, one of which is hated, the rebellious son, someone deserving of a death penalty...
Chapter 48 of Tanya is about how G-d contracts His light all the way down to reach the most mundane of places.
Likutei Moharan 101 continues by describing how a Jew overcomes the darkness of the gentile nations, the bad qualities engrained deep within him, by connecting to the Torah in a way that he “kills” himself over it, completely nullifying himself to it.
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Ki Tavoh is ultimately about the need to be grateful to G-d. It starts with the Bikurim and later discusses the curses, which took place because we did not serve G-d with happiness and a happy heart.
Chapter 49 of Tanya is about how our love for Him comes from an appreciation and reflection of all that G-d does for us; His tremendous love for us.
The end of Likutei Moharan 101 is about how ultimately man is defined by his intellect, Chochma/Bina/Da’at (Chabad), the “yadayim” that allow him to be called Adam and escape the darkness.
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Nitzavim is about Gevurah; standing strong to fulfill the Torah. (and choose life)
Chapter 50 of Tanya is also about the love of G-d that comes from Gevurah, fire; which derives from intellectual comprehension, related to Binah Ila'ah (Week 51) of G-d's greatness.
And this is the interpretation of the text: "Come, my beloved," and so on. From this will be understood the adage of the Rabbis: "Despite thyself thou livest, and despite thyself...." As for what shall one's will be indeed? The answer will be found elsewhere in the lengthy explanation of this Mishnah: "Despite thyself thou livest"— with the aid of the blessed Life of life.
Likutei Moharan 102: When Hashem blesses us that brings Him glory. The way to receive the blessing is through Yirah (fear) [which is the root of Gevurah]. There are two levels of Yirah.
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Vayelech
Chapter 51 of Tanya is about how Hashem is everywhere, yet the Shechinah is more concentrated in certain parts of the body, like the head:
It is with reference to the flow of all the 613 kinds of powers and vitalities from the concealment of the soul into the body in the process of animating it, that it has been said that the principal dwelling place and abode of this flow of life and of this manifestation is situated entirely in the brains of the head. Therefore they first receive the power and vitality appropriate to them acccording to their disposition and character, namely, ChaBaD (chochmah, binah, da'at) and the faculty of thought, and all that pertains to the brains; and not only this, but also the sum-total of all the streams of vitality flowing to the other organs is also contained and is clothed in the brain that is in the head. It is there that the core and root of the said manifest flow of the light and vitality of the whole soul are to be found. From there a radiation is diffused to all the other organs, each of which receives the power and vitality appropriate to it in accordance with its disposition and character: the faculty of sight reveals itself in the eye, and the faculty of hearing manifests itself in the ear, and so forth. But all the powers flow from the brain, as is known, for therein is located the principal dwelling-place of the whole soul, in its manifest aspect, since the sum-total of the vitality that is diffused from it is revealed there. Only, the [individual] powers of the said general vitality shine forth and are radiated from there into all the organs of the body, much in the same manner as light radiates from the sun and penetrates rooms within rooms. (Even the heart receives vitality from the brain; hence the brain has an intrinsic supremacy over it, as has been explained above. )
In a truly like manner, figuratively speaking, does the blessed En Sof fill all worlds and animate them. And in each world there are creatures without limit or end, myriads upon myriads of various grades of angels and souls,... and so, too, is the abundance of the worlds without end or limit, one higher than the other....
Likutei Moharan 102
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Haazinu is a summary of the entire Torah. It is also a summary of history itself. How Hashem showed us mercy, but eventually we became corrupt. We are punished and He "hides His face" from us, but then we redeem ourselves again.
Chapter 52 also appears to be a summary of all of Tanya. About how the way to serve G-d is to be enclothed in His Torah and Mitzvot, primarly through the service of the intellect.
Likutei Moharan 103
The last portion of the Torah, VeZot HaBrachah is a blessing to all the Tribes. It is also about Moshe's ascent to Har Nebo (seeing the Land of Israel), reaching the 50th level. It's about Moshe's passing and how he broke the Tablets in from of fall of Israel.
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Chapter 53 of Tanya describes the Tablets:
At the time the First Temple stood, in which the Ark and Tables [of the Decalogue] were housed in the Holy of Holies, the Shechinah, i.e. Malchut d'Atzilut, that is, the aspect of the "revealed" light of the blessed En Sof, dwelled there and was clothed in the Ten Commandments, far higher and stronger, and with a greater and mightier revelation, than its revelation in the shrines of the Holy of Holies above in the upper worlds. For the Ten Commandments are the "All-embracing principles of the whole Torah," which comes from the Higher Wisdom, that is far higher than the world of manifestation. In order to engrave them on material tablets of stone it (the Shechinah) did not descend degree by degree, parallel to the order of descent of the worlds down to this material world. For this material world functions through the garment of material nature, while the Tables [of the Decalogue] are "The work of G-d, and the writing is the writing of G-d," beyond the nature of this material world which is derived from the effulgence of the Shechinah in the shrine of the Holy of Holies of Asiyah("Action"), whence issues light and vitality to the world of Asiyah, in which this our world also is contained.
It also talks about the combination of the Torah given at Sinai with the mitzvot of the rabbis is what produces the Keter, the Divine Will:
The 613 commandments of the Torah, together with the seven commandments of our Rabbis, combine to total the numerical equivalent of כתר ("crown") which is the blessed Ratzon Elyon (the "Supernal Will"), which is clothed in His blessed Wisdom, and they are united with the light of the blessed En Sof in a perfect union. "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth," which refers to the Oral Law that is derived from the Higher Wisdom, as is written in the Zohar, "The Father [chochmah] begat the daughter [i.e. Malchut, the Oral Law]."
The Tanya also ends with the idea of the beinonim eliciting "female waters," and thereby drawing the light of the Shechinah. This is parallel to the blessings given by Moshe, which are elicited from the behavior and characteristics of each one of the Tribes:
For as a result of the transformation of the animal soul, originating from the kelipat nogah, [a transformation] from darkness to light, and so forth, there is brought about toe so-called "ascent of the feminine waters" to draw the light of theShechinah, i.e. the category of the "revealed" light of the blessed En Sof— over one's divine soul [principally dwelling] in the brain of the head.
Likutei Moharan 104
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The Alter Rebbe writes that Tanya is like a Neshamah Klali, able to answer the question of every kind of Jew. Copies of the Tanya get corrupted, so it is necessary to (get rid of the manuscripts) and publish an authoritative version.
Likutei Moharan, beginning of Chapter 52 is about the Creation of the world, and how apostates make the mistake of thinking that the world has exists/or must have existed forever (Mechuyav B'Metziut). This is similar to the mistakes made in the generation of Enoch and so forth. He then explains that all the worlds are Nichlalim within the souls of Israel. Once the souls of Israel were introduced, then Hashem was "forced," so to speak, to create the worlds.
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Noach is about the Tzadik, the foundation of the world. It is also about the yetzer harah that totally dominated the remaining people at that time who were reshayim.The first chapter of Tanya is about understanding the nature of the Tzadik, the rasha, and the beinoni. How in the Tzadik, the bad is mevutal to the good, and how in the rasha, the good is mevutal to the bad. The Tzadik gamur has no longer any bad at all.
Likutei Moharan, second part of Chapter 52 is about how to become a Tzadik and have the whole world dependent on you, and that is through hitbodedut, particularly at night. This way, you break the bad, making it mevutal to the good, until it is "mevutal legamreh."
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Lech Lecha is about Avraham, the first Jew.
The second chapter of Tanya is about the G-dly soul, which is part of G-d Himself. It describes how the soul of a Jew comes from the essence of G-d, and how a son comes from the head of the father.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 53, is about how Da'at is connected to Zerah.
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Chayei Sarah is about the effect of the life of Sarah, even though it describes her passing away in the very beginning. Nevertheless, everything that happens in the parashah is related to her.
The fourth chapter of Tanya is about the levushim of the soul. Even though it is not the soul itself, the garments are the expression of it in this world, through thought, speech, and deed. (The parasha also has many examples of thought, speech, and deed - particularly that of Eliezer, who expresses Avraham and Sarah's will.)
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 54, is about the importance of memory, particularly memory of the World to Come. This is related to remembering Sarah, and the fulfillment of her will even after she was no longer physically in this world.
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Toldot is about the struggle between Yaakov and Eisav. Yaakov is from Tikkun and Eisav is from Tohu. Yaakov is pnimi while Eisav is from sovev - he cannot properly absorb Kedushah.
The fifth chapter of Tanya is about grasping Torah concepts and being enclothed in G-dliness, in a process that is similar to digestion.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 55, is about the downfall of the wicked, which is accomplished to connecting to the holiness of the Land of Israel, through the merit of the patriarchs, remembering the covenant with Yaakov.
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Vayeitzei is about the Yaakov going to Lavan's house to elevate the sparks there.
The sixth chapter of Tanya is about klippah.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 56, is about developing the aspect of Malchut, establishing it in one's household. It also discusses the opposing force of Malchut of evil, which acquires holy sparks through the acquisition of wealth. By taking that wealth out of impurity and bringing it to the side of holiness, we elevate it, and Torah is "made" from it.
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Vayeshev is about Joseph's imprisonment.
The sixth chapter of Tanya is about how an issur literally imprisons the sparks of holiness.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 57, is about overcoming of Issurim, which is seen as a form of imprisonment. The chapter also makes reference to peace and the power of speech, and how Joseph's brothers could not speak to him. The end of the chapter discusses the severity of disgracing a Talmid Chacham.
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Miketz is about Joseph's interaction with Pharaoh, becoming the head, and elevating all of Egypt.
The seventh chapter of Tanya is about the face-off between the G-dly soul and the animal soul, and how ultimately the G-dly soul is able to influence the animal soul to serve G-d.
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 58, discusses the power of the patriarchs, and also that of Yosef, becoming Mishneh.
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Vayigash is about Yehudah and Yosef
Chapter 8 of Tanya is about two kinds of Tzadikim
Likutei Moharan, Chapter 59, is about how someone approaching others to bring them close to Torah has to be careful about not being affected by the klipot. Yehudah was careful in his approach to the viceroy of Egypt. It discusses words that come from the depth of the heart of a kosher person, and how it impacts the hearts of others and makes them return to Hashem.
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Vayechi: a quasi-messianic era, the best years of Yaakov's life is, paradoxically, when he is dwelling outside Israel, where all of Egypt is under the dominion of Yosef.
Chapter 9 of Tanya: the dwelling place of the animal soul and the dwelling place of the G-dly soul, and the ultimate transformation of the animal soul into the dominion of the G-dly soul.
Likutei Moharan Chapter 60 begins with a discussion about how, in order to acquire certain levels, one needs to be extremely rich [like Joseph in Egypt]. This richness comes from the attribute of old age [like Yaakov]. This, in turn, is obtained through Yirah, fear of one's teacher, father, and mother [which Yosef arguably did not sufficient demonstrate], which is obtained to making the barren give birth [Rachel, who was barren], which is obtained by awakening men from their sleep [Yosef came to Jacob's bed, but it was Jacob that was awakening Joseph], and that is done by enclothing Torah in stories [as Jacob did as he was telling him about what happened to Rachel], and one must stay away from bad students [hence the need for Jacob to be buried in the Land of Israel]
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Shemot - Moshe
12
Vaera
13
62 - Emunah
Bo - Circumcision, Korban Pesach
14
63-64 - Circumcision, "Bo el Paroh"
Beshalach
15
65 - Garden
Yitro
16
66 - Soul leaving the body
Mishpatim
17
67 - Kavod
Terumah
- Noam Elimelech: service of Tzadikim through the study of Torah in elevating judgments and sweetening them.
- Tanya, Chapter 18: acquiring love for G-d through meditation or the innate love given to us as an inheritance
- Likutei Moharan Chapters 68-69: lust for money; source of money is very high; staying away from anger; the severity of stealing money; tzedakah as a remedy.
Tetzaveh: Moshe/Aharon, Oil to Light the Menorah
- Noam Elimelech: Shaking/Moving (Mitna'ane'ah) the Source Above
- Tanya, Chapter 19: The Neshamah is a a flickering (Mitna'ane'ah) candle; just like the fire of the candle wants to return to its elemental source in heaven, so too the Neshamah wants to return to Hashem.
- Likutei Moharan Chapter 70: power of the Tzadik; just like gravity on earth, people gravitate towards the Tzadik, who is the aspect of dust (humility), dust of gold.
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