Loading the player… Like most of the components of Iggeret HaKodesh, this pastoral letter too was addressed to the chassidic community as a whole. Why, then, echoing the words first addressed to Daniel (“To enlighten you with understanding”),1 does the Alter Rebbe open it in the singular? In this letter the Alter Rebbe demands spiritual […]

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Loading the player… The Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain how a Jew can achieve a total lack of yearning for the physicality of things, even things that are essential. According to the explanation that follows, it will be seen that one can go beyond this, and even not be pained by their absence. […]

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Loading the player… וכשיתבונן האדם בעומק הבנתו Now when a man will contemplate in the depths of his understanding ויצייר בדעתו הווייתו יש מאין בכל רגע ורגע ממש and will [moreover] picture in his mind how he comes into being ex nihilo at every single moment, so that he is affected at every moment of […]

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Loading the player… ומי שמתעצב ומתאונן But he who is grieved and laments מראה בעצמו שיש לו מעט רע ויסורין demonstrates29 that he is undergoing some hardship and suffering, וחסר לו איזה טובה and lacks some goodness; והרי זה ככופר, חס ושלום he is (heaven forfend) like a heretic, who denies G‑d’s omnipresence. For if […]

Loading the player… והיה מעשה הצדקה שלום, ועבודת הצדקה השקט ובטח עד עולם “And [the reward for] the act of tzedakah will be peace, and [the reward for] the service of tzedakah [will be] quietness and surety forever.”1 Some commentaries explain that “act” (מעשה) and “service” (עבודה) are one and the same; the verse merely […]

Loading the player… והיה מעשה הצדקה שלום, ועבודת הצדקה השקט ובטח עד עולם “And [the reward for] the act of tzedakah will be peace, and [the reward for] the service of tzedakah [will be] quietness and surety forever.”1 Some commentaries explain that “act” (מעשה) and “service” (עבודה) are one and the same; the verse merely […]