The gateway to the third week of Shovavim (Parashat Bo)
Day 124 of the Yearly Cycle
💡 Hayom Yom (Keter)
The "Frum" Va'eira: My father related that the maamar (discourse) on the verse "I appeared... but by My name Hashem I was not known," discussing how "none shall be repelled" from God, was known as "the Frum Va'eira."
Constant Renewal: The Alter Rebbe repeated this discourse every three years almost verbatim. The Tzemach Tzedek noted: "Each time there was a new light (Or)." My father added: "The light is always the same, but the Luminary (Maor) is always like something new."
The Lesson: Spiritual study should stir self-introspection and Teshuva, leading one to become more God-fearing (Frum).
🪜 The 15 Steps to the Sanctuary
🧠 Chochma & Bina (Wisdom & Integration)
1. Alef-Bet Combination: Tonight is Day 14 (Nun) of Cycle 6. The combination is Nun with Kaf, forming the word כן (Ken - "Yes/So").
Acrostic Verse (Psalm 112:7): נָ֘כ֥וֹן לִ֜בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּֽיהֹוָֽה ("His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord").
2. Sefirah (Inner Refinement): Day 5 of Week 18 (Hod shebeNetzach [shebeTiferet]).
Song of the Day: "With the arm of Your greatness may they become as still as a stone, until Your people cross over, O Lord."
❤️ Chesed (Expansive Love)
3. Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov:
Shrinking the Fear: The Besht encountered a spirit appearing as a giant Cossack. As he approached, it grew smaller and vanished, showing that evil's power is often an illusion fueled by our fear.
The Source of Healing: Even as his fame grew for miracles and amulets, he insisted: "Everything is in God’s hands; He puts the miraculous powers in medicinal herbs."
Preparation: His travels gave him "intimate knowledge" of the difficult conditions of fellow Jews, preparing him to lead and act on their behalf.
4. Jewish Spiritual Practices: The Holy Meal
Delaying Desire: Rabbi Mordechai of Neshkiz taught his son to pause before drinking. He warned: "Now you are little and you lust for this; what will happen when you grow up and lust for something else?"
Sisters of Lust: Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen explains that eating and sexual desire are "sisters"; fixing the first facilitates fixing the second.
Bridging with Holiness: By interrupting a meal for Psalm 23 or Torah, the "material side" of eating is absorbed into the spiritual, turning a physical act into a "holy meal."
⚔️ Gevurah (Strength & Discipline)
5. Talmud: Menachos & Moed Katan
Presence of the Master (Menachos): The Gemara rules that "Most Holy" offerings are eaten in the Courtyard, not the Sanctuary, because one does not usually eat in the presence of their Master.
The Right Hand: Since the Torah specifically identifies the "left hand" for a leper's oil, we derive that every other "hand" mentioned in the Torah strictly means the right hand.
Labor on Chol HaMoed (Moed Katan): Creative labor is prohibited unless it prevents a "Significant Loss" (Davar HaAved).
Mourner's Restrictions: A mourner is stricter than the holiday; they generally cannot work to avoid loss unless they are the only person with that specific skill or provide a vital public service.
6. Tanach Study: Jeremiah 34-35
The Re-Enslavement: During the Babylonian siege, King Zedekiah and the people made a covenant to free all Hebrew slaves. However, when the army temporarily withdrew, they forcibly took the slaves back—profaning God’s Name.
The Rechabites: This family lived in tents and drank no wine for generations to honor their ancestor Jonadab's command. God used their unwavering discipline to rebuke Judah, who ignored their Divine Father despite constant warnings.
⚖️ Tiferet (Harmony & Beauty)
7. Mishna: Yevamot 16 & Ketubot 1
The Agunah (Yevamot): To prevent a woman from being "chained," the Sages allowed "One Witness" and "Hearsay" to establish death—a major legal revolution for the sake of mercy.
Timing of Weddings (Ketubot): Virgins were married on Wednesdays so legal claims could be brought to the Court on Thursday while the evidence was "fresh."
8. 13 Attribute Combination: Day 7 of Cycle 10.
יָשׁוּב יְרַחֲמֵנוּ (yashuv yerachamanu) — He shall again have mercy on us.
תִּתֵּן אֱמֶת לְיַעֲקֹב (titein emet le’Yaakov) — You grant truth to Jacob.
🏹 Netzach (Victory & Ambition)
9. 41-Day Combination: Day 1 of Cycle 4.
1st Commandment: "I am the Lord Your God" on the level of Chaya. Connect this to the mission of Education (the life mission of the 6th Rebbe and Mordechai).
10. Living Likutei Moharan (Torah 124):
Winning the Argument: Hashem provides us with the words to "win" Him over in prayer. Today is the Yahrzeit of Reb Zusha of Anipoli, who embodied directing every need to Hashem with "victorious" simplicity.
🕯️ Hod (Submission & Sincerity)
11. M’Ein Ganim: Hitbodedut in the Field
"Know that when a person prays in the field, all the grasses come into the prayer and give him strength." An hour of daily isolation with God changes how one's entire life is perceived.
12. Guardrails of Action and Speech: Mishnah Berurah & Chofetz Chaim
The 3-Day Rule (MB 247-248): Do not board a ship for personal reasons within three days of Shabbat to preserve Oneg Shabbat.
Contracting Labor: Sending letters via a non-Jew on Friday is permitted if a flat fee (Katzatz) is set.
Miriam's Warning (Chofetz Chaim): Remember Miriam "on the way." Even with good intent, her speech led to public isolation. Ignorance of history doubles the sin.
🤝 Yesod (Foundation & Connection)
13. Zohar Study: Parashat Vaera (Folios 30-31)
The Frog's Noise: Frogs entered Pharaoh’s bed-chamber as a punishment for his obsession with Sarah and for burdening the Jews who praise God day and night.
Midnight Study: At midnight, those who rise for Torah study awaken Divine affection and participate in the union of the King and the Shekhinah.
Anagrams: Deber (Murrain) and Barad (Hail) share the same letters. Lack of repentance turned a gentle death into a violent fury.
14. Shovavim Tracking (Parasha Bo): Day 3
Cycle Tracking: Day 3 (Mordechai / Tzedakah / B'chol - "In all your ways, know Him") of Parasha 3 (Bo) of Cycle 3.
🌍 Malchut (Actualization)
15. Parasha Bo: Entering the Heart of the Benoni (Tanya 14)
"Come (Bo) to Pharaoh": Just as Moses is told to "come" to the heart of Pharaoh, the Benoni is tasked with entering the struggle of their own heart. The "Pharaoh" (the Animal Soul) is still alive and active, but through the power of the mind, the Benoni "conquers" the king of Egypt within.
The Strategy of Self-Mastery: Being a Tzaddik is a gift, but being a Benoni is the command of "Bo"—it is within everyone's reach. We have total freedom to control the three garments (Thought, Speech, and Action).
The Oath & Second Nature: We swear to "Be Not Wicked" (the Benoni's control). By consistently acting with discipline and meditating on the "Hidden Love" inherited from the Patriarchs, we make this victory a "second nature."
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