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Hakitzu VeRanenu #19: The Relationship between Body and Soul in the Nation and their Unification (Part Two)
This is the great power of the Toras HaSod which crowns Hashem in all of the worlds and demonstrates clearly that there is literally nothing but Him and that He fills and surrounds all worlds; “Your Sovereignty is the sovereignty of all the worlds (Tehillim 145:13), “The entire earth is filled with Your Glory.” (Yeshayahu…
Read MoreGeulah
My eyes are openMy soul reawakens Everything holding me backHas transformed into a limitless launch The pain I held in for yearsMy silent, heavy, seemed-as-directionless tears Were rising all alongRaising the world in bitter-sea songשירה מריםMy name – my essence One tear closerOne moment forwardOne day closer Geulah “Redeem me!”I screamedI’ve been through enough swimming…
Read MoreHakitzu VeRanenu #19: The Relationship between Body and Soul in the Nation and their Unification (Part One)
The fact that Zechirah is the point of holiness which stands as the foundation of all stages of redemption – both the stage of Pekidah, the rectification of the “body”, as well as the stage of the revelation of Zechirah, the appearance of Neshama with a proliferation of consciousness – teaches us an important principle…
Read MoreHakitzu VeRanenu #18: The Journey from Pekidah to Zechirah
It is expressly stated in the Ramchal that the energy of Pekidah is momentary, merely to grant the Shechinah strength to stand up from the dust of exile, after which it becomes hidden once more. After this will come an exhaustion, a vacuum of spirit, for indeed – that great light became hidden and concealed.…
Read MoreThe Blessing of Authenticity
One of the most magical moments in the parental relationship occurs when the veil of authority lifts, and father and daughter, mother and son can sit with each other as equals – on the floor working on a puzzle in the younger years or over steaming cups of coffee at a café table a decade…
Read MoreThe Secret of Shovavim
(Transcribed from the Rav’s shiur by Rav Shlomo Katz, edited by R’ Yaakov Klein) The Zman of Shovavim At the end of times, Hashem Yisborach brought down to us the inyan of “Shuvu Banim Shovavim.” People often ask many questions regarding Shovavim. Most of the Sefardishe tzaddikim like the Rashash paid heed to this topic.…
Read MoreThe Eternal Victory of Chanukah
One, less than serious, answer to the question of why we eat an abundance of fried foods during the glorious days of Chanukah is that we do so to counter the Greeks and their worldview. Because the villains of the Chanukah story exalted the human body and the beauty of its form, we eat particularly…
Read MoreAnd One for Your Friend
I’m still smiling as I recall this short, but super sweet episode that happened earlier this evening. I went to treat myself to some ice cream (self-care activity.) I was on my way to the second ice cream store, having not been able to decide what to get in the first. I thought maybe walking…
Read MoreHakitzu VeRanenu #17: The Supernal Source of “Pekidah” and “Zechirah”
In the early days of the stage of Pekidah, there was a strong sense of nationalism; personal sacrifice to return to the Land and rebuild it, to erect the world that had been destroyed. In truth, these feelings were – at their root – awesomely elevated, for the flowed forth from the future stages of…
Read MoreGrowing Up
You should see the way his eyes sparkle when he lovingly holds his brand new kippa in his small hands. You should see the smile, wide as the heavens above, that spreads across his face when he kisses his choo-choo-train emblazoned tzitzis that proudly declare in green lettering, “Ani Ben Shalosh!” It’s finally coming, his…
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