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Articles by Eliyahu Touger
What is Ruach Hakodesh?
“Ruach hakodesh” (רוח הקודש), literally translated as the "Spirit of Holiness," is an important part of Jewish tradition. While the term is often translated as "the Holy Spirit," it is completely distinct from the similarly named concept found in other faiths; in Judaism, it represents the specific mechanism through which the Infinite communicates with the finite.
Study Likkutei Sichot - Likkutei Sichot is the most authoritative collection of both the scope and the core of the Rebbe’s teachings
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memeory, is widely recognized as one of the foremost Jewish thinkers of the 20th century. His teachings include ideas in Jewish philosophy and theology, commentary on biblical, Talmudical and kabbalistic texts, perspectives on world events, and moral and practical directives.
V'Zot HaBerachah: The Last Lesson That Moshe Sought to Teach - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 24, V'Zot HaBerachah 1
Introduction Moshe knew that this was to be the last day of his life. For more than a month, he had been speaking to the Jewish people, communicating his farewell message. He had appointed Yehoshua as his successor and, together with him, taught the people the song, Haazinu. He had blessed the people, tribe by tribe, offering them guidance for posterity.
V'Zot HaBerachah: The Torah: Our Inheritance and Our Bond With G-d - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 4, V'Zot HaBerachah 1
Introduction Parshas Vezos HaBerachah is read on Simchas Torah, the holiday celebrated by spirited dancing, rejoicing with the Torah in a manner that knows no bounds. These celebrations are not highlighted by Torah study but rather by dancing with the Torah as it is closed, wrapped in its sash and mantle. Why do our celebrations take this form? Because, fundamentally, the Torah is not a body of intellectual knowledge.
V'Zot HaBerachah: The Most Appropriate Conclusion for the Torah - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 34, V'Zot HaBerachah 1
Introduction Our Sages teach, “Everything follows the conclusion.” It follows that if we want to understand the fundamental message of the Torah, we should look to its conclusion. Rashi interprets the final words of the Torah as referring to the shattering of the Tablets of the Ten Commandments. What is the message such an act communicates and how is it a fitting conclusion for the entire Torah?
Haazinu: Can Man Stand in G-d’s Way? - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 19, Haazinu 2
Introduction He was not the typical chassid. A well-mannered, refined English gentleman who for many years did not wear a full beard, Reb Zalmon Jaffe did not fit the conventional image of a chassid. Nevertheless, as documented in his memoirs (http://www.zalmonjaffeencounters.com), he enjoyed a unique personal relationship with the Rebbe and the Rebbetzin, sharing a degree of personal friendship experienced by few others.
Chassidic Texts - The soul of Judaism
ב"ה The soul of Judaism Works that probe the essence of life and reveal the soul of Judaism, from classic Chassidic discourses to essays, anthologies and aphorisms 1,023 items in this section Show all The Classic Primary Text of Chassidic Thought Written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), the founder of Chabad. The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
Korach: Making G‑d’s Dwelling Luminous - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 4, Korach
Introduction Leadership is a crucial issue throughout society today. In all walks of life – be it business, politics, or social relations – we are looking for leaders, people of vision who can motivate others to focus their energies on a goal and work to attain it. Who is a leader and what type of leadership he promises is the core of the issue that motivated the rebellion which Korach fomented against Moshe described in our Torah reading.
Mattos: Understanding G‑d’s Ultimate Intent - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 8, Mattos 2
Introduction We all know people who by nature are intellectually and/or spiritually inclined. They are somewhat different from others. They do not mind being alone. They spend a lot of time studying, meditating, or praying, and do not mind not being involved in many of the activities in which others invest themselves. Nevertheless, these people also realize that something is lacking in the life they are leading.
Maasei: Led by a Unique Divine Intent - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Maasei 1
Introduction In our morning blessings, we praise G‑d for “preparing the steps of man,” for there is a specific Divine intent leading us wherever we go. This reflects a pattern beginning with our people’s origin as a nation, when G‑d led our people through the desert with a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. As related in this week’s Torah reading, there were 42 stages in the journey of our ancestors as they proceeded from Egypt to Eretz Yisrael.
Maasei: Where the Kohen Gadol Lodged - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 28, Maasei
Introduction It is not a particularly flattering fact of Jewish history: During the era of the Second Beis HaMikdash, the chamber of the Kohen Gadol was called “the Chamber of Parhedrin.” Instead of using the Hebrew for “High Priest,” the Sages referred to the chamber using a Greek term that meant “officer of the king” and specifically referred to an official who would serve in this capacity for only one year. Why was the chamber given this name?
Pinchas: Catalysts for Lasting Change - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Pinchas 3
Introduction One of the most ancient building tools – still in use today – is the lever. When desiring to lift a heavy object, a sturdy article is used as a fulcrum. One end of a rigid rod is leaned against it and the other end is placed under the object to be lifted. When pressure is applied to the upper end of the rod, the lower end of the rod is raised and, together with it, the object under which it was placed.
Mattos Maasei: The Strength Gained Through Our Journeys - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Mattos Maasei
Introduction Among the recurring themes in the Rebbe’s sichos are the following three: a) The name of the weekly Torah reading reveals the fundamental theme of the entire parshah, providing an inclusive lesson that encompasses all its details. b) When two parshiyos are combined, they are not considered as two separate readings, but are treated as an organic whole. c) The weekly parshiyos (Torah readings) share a connection with the time of year when they are read.
Pinchas: Our True Inheritance - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 28, Pinchas 1
Introduction Parshas Pinchas mentions the concept of inheritance in two different contexts: a) the designation of Eretz Yisrael as the eternal inheritance of the Jewish people; and b) the request of the daughters of Tzelofchad to inherit their father’s portion of the land, which is followed by the detailed laws of inheritance that G‑d outlined to Moshe in response to their request.
Pinchas: When Initiative Is Called For - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 2, Pinchas
Introduction There are people who freeze in times of danger. If they feel a threat to themselves, their families, or anyone they really care about, they’re at a loss. They do not know what to do and often end up doing little or nothing at all. And then there are others who always spring into action in times of challenge. Their adrenaline flows and they act decisively, often going above and beyond the call of duty.
Balak: Looking Through a Different Lens - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Balak 4
Introduction One of the followers of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Binyamin Kletzker, was both a very successful timber merchant in Russia and a mystic known to meditate for hours on end.
Balak: From an Individual Redemption To the Ultimate Redemption - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 38, Balak 2
Introduction Chassidic thought speaks of a geulah k’lalis, an “encompassing redemption,” meaning the redemption of the Jewish people and humanity as a whole, and of a geulah p’rotis, an “individual redemption,” through which we will experience a foretaste of the Ultimate Redemption that will enable us to live our lives with the awareness of G‑d that will characterize that future era. In the sichah to follow, the Rebbe connects these two concepts.
Balak: Defining the Identity of Mashiach - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Balak 2
Introduction During one of his visits to the city of Vitebsk, the Jews of the city approached the Alter Rebbe with a heartfelt question, “Rebbe, when will Mashiach come?” The Alter Rebbe answered, “The Mashiach that the world at large wants will never come. The true Mashiach, no one wants.
Korach: The Way G‑d Knows - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Korach 2
Introduction The manner in which Hashgachah Pratis, Divine Providence, operates is a multifaceted subject that has been discussed by philosophers and mystics throughout the generations. Among the issues raised is the following: On one hand, since it is G‑d’s world, it would seem that His control of all that unfolds should be overtly evident.
Chukas: Where Death Has No Dominion - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 18, Chukas 1
Introduction The terms “secret” and “mystery” are often used regarding mystical knowledge. The implication is that even when some measure of understanding can be gained, the essential concept remains fundamentally beyond the realm of human understanding. There is a great temptation to use such terms when describing the Torah as a whole, because although the Torah speaks about concepts that we can understand, its inner truth far surpasses the capacity of our human intellect.
Chukas: To Emerge from the Shadow of Death - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 4, Chukas
Introduction Would you ever do something that you do not at all understand and for which you – or others – cannot find a good reason? This question lies at the core of our relationship with the category of mitzvos described as chukim. There are mitzvos that make sense – those which our own minds dictate should be fulfilled (the mishpatim). Others (the eidus) commemorate historical events and we can recognize the value in such remembrances.
Shelach: Becoming More Than Oneself - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 23, Shelach 1
Introduction In Judaism, there is a dynamic interplay between making a commitment to G‑d and His commandments that transcends reason and serving Him with our minds and using them to guide our conduct. At times, the emphasis is on faith and following His laws with absolute trust, no matter what our minds dictate. At other times, the emphasis is on using our own powers of discernment to determine which choices are best. Each approach has its own distinct advantage.
Shelach: Why Remain in the Desert? - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 4, Shelach
Introduction There is a classic Jewish adage: It took one moment to take the Jews out of Egypt but 40 years to take Egypt out of the Jews. Developing a free man’s mentality takes time. The story of the spies sent by Moshe to survey the Land of Israel shows how true this is. The spies reported, “We cannot ascend… we saw the giants… the descendants of the giants….
Vayechi: For Darkness to Become a Candle - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 10, Vayechi 1
Introduction Koheles 2:13 states: “I saw an advantage to wisdom over foolishness like the advantage of the light over darkness.” The simple meaning of the verse is that just as light dispels darkness effortlessly, so too does wisdom dispel foolishness as a matter of course. Chassidusexpands the meaning of the phrase by giving two interpretations: a) The place of darkness is illuminated by light. The greater the darkness, the more the power of the light becomes evident.
Vayigash: When Tears Are Not Enough - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 10, Vayigash, Sicha 1
Introduction Once, Reb Yechezkel Feigin, affectionately known among his fellow chassidim as Chatshe, was holding a farbrengen with yeshivah students in a cellar in Communist Russia. Needless to say, such a gathering was dangerous, and two of the students were charged with the task of waiting upstairs to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. Without any thought of the risk involved, Reb Chatshe farbrenged from the heart.
Vayishlach: Why Mashiach Will Ride a Donkey - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 1, Vayishlach
Introduction The prophecy of Zechariah,that Mashiach will appear as “a poor man, riding on a donkey,” is an image frequently depicted and referred to in Jewish art and literature.
Vayeitzei: In Search of Real Profits: The Divine Service of Zevulun - Likkutei Sichos, Volume 30, Sicha 2
Introduction The Yissachar-Zevulun relationship is a frequently highlighted theme in Torah literature. As our Sages commented on the verse, “Rejoice, Zevulun, in your excursions and Yissachar in your tents,” these two tribes established a partnership. The members of the tribe of Zevulun would be involved in commercial activity, profiting from maritime ventures.
Learn About the Holy Temple in Depth - Texts and Classes Describing the Holy Temple
Why Learn About the Holy Temple? Ezekiel said: “Master of the World, why are You telling me to go and tell Israel the form of the House . . . They are now in exile in the land of our enemies. Is there anything they can do [about it]? Let them be until they return from exile. Then, I will go and inform them.” G‑d answered: “Should the construction of My House be ignored because My children are in exile? “The study of the Torah's [design of the Holy Temple] can be equated to its construction.
Learn About the Holy Temple in Depth - Texts and Classes Describing the Holy Temple
Why Learn About the Holy Temple? Ezekiel said: “Master of the World, why are You telling me to go and tell Israel the form of the House . . . They are now in exile in the land of our enemies. Is there anything they can do [about it]? Let them be until they return from exile. Then, I will go and inform them.” G‑d answered: “Should the construction of My House be ignored because My children are in exile? “The study of the Torah's [design of the Holy Temple] can be equated to its construction.
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 11
1 In the future, the Messianic king will arise and renew the Davidic dynasty, restoring it to its initial sovereignty. He will build the Temple and gather the dispersed of Israel. Then, in his days, the observance of all the statutes will return to their previous state. We will offer sacrifices, observe the Sabbatical and Jubilee years according to all their particulars as described by the Torah.
Melachim uMilchamot - Chapter 12
1 Do not presume that in the Messianic age any facet of the world's nature will change or there will be innovations in the work of creation. Rather, the world will continue according to its pattern. Although Isaiah 11:6 states: 'The wolf will dwell with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the young goat,' these words are a metaphor and a parable.
Matnot Aniyim - Chapter 10
1 We are obligated to be careful with regard to the mitzvah of charity to a greater extent than all [other] positive commandments, because charity is an identifying mark for a righteous person, a descendant of Abraham, our patriarch, as [Genesis 18:19] states: "I have known him, because he commands his children...
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