Date: November 10/11, 2025 (20th of Cheshvan, 5786) – Monday Night / Tuesday Day
Focus: Hod shebeChesed shebeGevurah (Splendor/Awe in Kindness within Discipline). Day 54 of the 364-Day Yearly Cycle.
15 Steps to the Sanctuary
1. Hayom Yom (Daily Lesson)
The 20th of Cheshvan is the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab (R. Shalom Dovber) in the year 5621, which the Tzemach Tzedek termed Kitra ("crown"). The lesson is that on one's birthday, one should say Chassidus (Torah lessons), emphasizing kindness and mercy.
2. Alef-Bet Combination
Tonight is Day Yud (10) of Cycle 3. The combination is Yud with Heh. The letter Heh is female, representing Binah (understanding) and Malchut (kingship). Its shape (a Dalet with a Yud inside) connects it to pregnancy and a rectified feminine aspect. The letter Yud represents pure spirituality and wisdom, symbolizing the pintele yid. The associated verse is: "Fear the Lord, His holy ones; for there is no want to those who fear Him" (Psalm 34:10).
3. Sefirah (Inner Refinement)
Tonight begins Day 5 of Week 8: Hod shebeChesed shebeGevurah (Splendor or Awe in Kindness within Discipline). The inner quality being refined is Hod (Gratitude/Nullification, represented by Aaron) which is expressed through Chesed (Kindness, Abraham) within the overall framework of Gevurah (Discipline, Isaac).
4. Kabbalah of Time Books 1 -7 Weekly Focus
The weekly focus is yearning for spirituality in exile, expressing the soul's feeling of being "sick for His love." Jamin (Yemin—Right Hand/Kindness) is the soul from the 70 who descended to Egypt, reflecting the need to rely on kindness in exile.
SONG OF SONGS: The verses (5-7) express the soul's "lovesickness" in exile, yearning for G-d. The verse: "His left hand was under my head, and his right hand would embrace me" (Verse 6), refers to the Kindness (Right Hand) G-d showed in the desert alongside the Discipline (Left Hand), reflecting the week's theme: Chesed shebeGevurah. The eighth of the 70 souls that descended to Egypt is Jamin ("Yemin" - Right Hand), emphasizing reliance on God's kindness.
5. Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov & Jewish Spiritual Practices
The Besht taught that the sigh of a Jew at a fellow Jew's distress shatters heavenly accusers. For Kavvanah (concentration) in prayer, the Gartel (belt) creates a necessary separation between the lower body and the heart/brain, while the Tallit shields one from outside distractions.
6. Tanach: Melachim I, Chapters 7 and 8 (Temple Construction)
Chapter 7 details the copper works cast by Hiram of Tyre for the Temple, including the two great pillars in the porch: Jachin (right) and Boaz (left). Chapter 8 covers Solomon’s dedication prayer, acknowledging the paradox that the heavens cannot contain G-d, much less the Temple built below.
7. Mishna: Tractate Shabbat
Mishnah Shabbat 4 and 5 focuses on laws of heat and burdens on Shabbat. One may not insulate food in materials that spontaneously generate heat (e.g., manure, salt, lime). Animals may not go out into the public domain bearing a burden, but may go out with objects essential for their protection or restraint.
8. Talmud: Tractate Shekalim, Daf 19-20 (Temple Dedication)
The Mishnah and Gemara discuss the allocation of funds in the Temple. Coins found between two funds (e.g., Sheqalim and voluntary gifts) are assigned by proximity; if found in the middle, the stringent fund is chosen. Found Meat: Meat found in the Temple courtyard is categorized as sacrifices; meat found in the countryside is governed by majority rules.
9. 13 Attribute Combination (Divine Patience)
Tonight is Day 2 of 13-Day Cycle 5. The combination highlights:
2nd Attribute: נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן (noseh avon — who bears iniquity).
5th Attribute: לֹא הֶחֱזִיק לָעַד אַפּוֹ (lo hechzik le’ad apoh — He does not retain His anger forever).
10. 41-Day Combination (Practical Purity)
Tonight is Day 13 of 41-Day Cycle 2. The focus is on understanding the Fourth Commandment (Shabbat) on the first, spiritual level, connected to the World of Atzilut and the soul-level of Chaya. This cycle is connected to the Mivtzah of Kashrut.
11. Living Likutei Moharan: Torah 55 Summary (Memory and Joy)
Torah 55 teaches that the ability to see the downfall of the wicked comes through the aspect of the Land of Israel (linked to Benjamin). The Tzadik is protected from the evil eye by finding merit in the wicked person. The lesson connects prayer to the Red Heifer—prayer can nullify a person's corporeality—and warns against the dangers of secular philosophy when combined with sexual immorality.
12. Mishna Berurah (Kavvanah in Prayer)
Halachic rulings (Simanim 107-108) detail the Laws of Tashlumin (Make-up Prayer). The required current prayer (Chovat$ Sha'ah) must always precede the make-up prayer. If in doubt, one prays with a conditional Tenai to ensure the prayer is either an obligation or a voluntary offering (Nedavah).
13. Zohar: Chayei Sara Summary (Unity and Redemption)
The Zohar (121-122) states that the soul is judged nightly, where future good deeds are weighed mercifully. Sarah is unique because she "never attached herself to the serpent" (impurity), obtaining eternal life. The verse emphasizes profound humility: "Happy is he who makes himself small in the world."
14. Shovavim Cycles and The Paths of Teshuva
The daily focus is Day 3 (Bet) of Parasha 5 (Yud) of Cycle 1 (Shin).
Day's Focus (Bet): Focuses on Tzedakah and Mesirat Nefesh (Self-Sacrifice) and the commandment $\mathbf{B}'et$ - B'chol Drachecha De'eoh — "In all your ways, know Him" (Proverbs 3:6), connected to Mordechai.
Parasha Focus (Yud): The cycle involves Tikkun Klali and Tikkun Leah, alongside the sincerity required by Tamim ("Be sincere with the Eternal your G-d"), connected to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Moshiach.
Cycle Focus (Shin): The overall cycle involves Torah study and the constant consciousness of Shiviti ("I have set G-d before me always"), connected to Moshe Rabbeinu.
15. Parashat Chayei Sara: The Unity of Sarah's Life (100 Blessings)
The Noam Elimelech explains that the unity of Sarah's life (all equally good) is connected to the daily practice of reciting 100 blessings. The root of a person's service is found in profound humility, viewing oneself as "mah" (nothing). The Tzadik must draw down blessing for the entirety of Israel.
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