However, the following must be understood: Since the Divine illumination must inevitably result from G‑d’s attribute of kindness and His tzedakah, why is man’s service necessary at all? The Alter Rebbe answers this question by explaining that parallel to the above attribute, there also exists a Divine attribute of severity and contraction, that seeks to […]

However, the following must be understood: Since the Divine illumination must inevitably result from G‑d’s attribute of kindness and His tzedakah, why is man’s service necessary at all? The Alter Rebbe answers this question by explaining that parallel to the above attribute, there also exists a Divine attribute of severity and contraction, that seeks to […]

This leaves us with an apparent disproportion — that the practice of tzedakah before one’s prayers should result in the vastly superior revelation of teshuvah ilaah during prayer. אך הענין הוא, על דרך משל, כמו שזורעין זרעים או נוטעין גרעין The above concept, however, can be understood by the analogy of sowing seeds of grain […]

This leaves us with an apparent disproportion — that the practice of tzedakah before one’s prayers should result in the vastly superior revelation of teshuvah ilaah during prayer. אך הענין הוא, על דרך משל, כמו שזורעין זרעים או נוטעין גרעין The above concept, however, can be understood by the analogy of sowing seeds of grain […]

וככה ממש, על דרך משל, כל מעשה הצדקה שעושין ישראל Now precisely like this, metaphorically speaking, every act of charity that Jews perform עולה למעלה בבחינת העלאת מ״נ, לשורש נשמותיהן למעלה ascends, like an “elevation of mayin nukvin,” to the Root of their souls Above, Just as in the analogy, planting a seed will unveil […]

וככה ממש, על דרך משל, כל מעשה הצדקה שעושין ישראל Now precisely like this, metaphorically speaking, every act of charity that Jews perform עולה למעלה בבחינת העלאת מ״נ, לשורש נשמותיהן למעלה ascends, like an “elevation of mayin nukvin,” to the Root of their souls Above, Just as in the analogy, planting a seed will unveil […]

Like the preceding Epistle, the present one too centers on the theme of tzedakah. If it is to be performed properly, tzedakah ought to be given unstintingly, and not only after all one’s own needs and desires have been satisfied. Ideally, it should be given in the spirit of an aphorism that was current among […]

Like the preceding Epistle, the present one too centers on the theme of tzedakah. If it is to be performed properly, tzedakah ought to be given unstintingly, and not only after all one’s own needs and desires have been satisfied. Ideally, it should be given in the spirit of an aphorism that was current among […]

אך בזאת יאות לנו Rather, this [approach] shall be befitting us — להיות כל עסקינו במילי דעלמא לא לגרמייהו that19 all our involvement with mundane affairs should be [conducted] not for its own sake, כי אם להחיות נפשות, חלקי אלוה but in order to animate souls, (i.e., to provide sustenance for fellow Jews, whose souls […]

אך בזאת יאות לנו Rather, this [approach] shall be befitting us — להיות כל עסקינו במילי דעלמא לא לגרמייהו that19 all our involvement with mundane affairs should be [conducted] not for its own sake, כי אם להחיות נפשות, חלקי אלוה but in order to animate souls, (i.e., to provide sustenance for fellow Jews, whose souls […]