(This is continuing from the previous essay.) In addition to the specific kind of wicked deed that each of the negative emotions entices one to commit, all negative emotions seek to make the Jew susceptible to sin in general, for, as our sages say “A person does not sins unless possessed by a spirit of craziness. Read More »

Everyone possesses both good and bad middos, emotional traits; some exist innately, from birth, while others are learnt from others, whether by direct inculcation, or by example.“Hashem made this one opposite this one”[1]—not only do both kinds of emotions exist, but they parallel one another. Read More »

(The following post was continued from an earlier post on this topic here .) When the Jew channels all his desires to serving Hashem, he becomes a vessel for G–dliness to enter him. Moreover, he also becomes a vessel for material prosperity, which also comes only from Hashem’s blessings. As our sages say, “An empty vessel holds. Read More »

Tefillah: “Gluing” our inner selves to Hashem What is the fundamental purpose of Tefillah, prayer? The word Tefillah is etymologically related to the word tofel, “gluing” and bonding,[1] for the fundamental purpose of Tefillah is to reach Hiskashrus, a deep inner bonding of the Neshamah with G–dliness. Read More »

What is the positive aspect of the exile? That it brings the Jewish people in proximity to non-Jews, enabling us to fulfill our mission to influence them, which was far less attainable when we lived separately from them, in our own Land. In the Rebbe’s words: On[1] the Tenth of Teves “The king of Babylonia besieged Jerusalem. Read More »

(This post comes in continuation to the posts here , here , and here .) How did the Maccabees respond to the influence of the Greeks, who desired to entice them to sin? To preface, our sages say, “Dovid and Shlomo were anointed with a horn, and their kingdom continued. Read More »

(See my article concerning Hei Teves here .) (This post comes in continuation to the posts here and here .) This also sheds light on the Greeks’ demand of the Jewish people: “Write for yourselves on the horn of an ox that you have no portion in the G–d of Israel. Read More »

Pure Torah study prevents assimilation Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver As long as the Jewish people remain in exile, “in every generation, they [the gentile nations] rise up against us to destroy us.”[1] In some ages, our enemies sought to destroy us by slaying the Jewish body, G–d forbid. Read More »

(This post comes into continuation to the previous post post.)The same was true of the Greeks’ approach to Mitzvos: They sought “to lead them astray from the Chukim of Your will.”[1] Now, there are three kinds of Mitzvos: · Eidos: Mitzvos that were established to commemorate a specific event, e.g., Shabbos, Pesach, or Sukkos. Read More »

Countering The Greeks’ Agenda to Secularize Torah, G–d forbid Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver The Greeks sought “to bring them [Jewish people] to forget Your Torah. Read More »

Chanukah: A titanic conflict of wisdoms Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver Oil represents wisdom,[1] and so the oil of the Holy Temple represents the wisdom of Torah, while the Greeks’ efforts to contaminate this oil represents their efforts to bring secular wisdom to be dominant. Read More »

The source of Jewish souls in the letters of Torah Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver (This is a continuation of the posts here , here , and here .) The Jewish souls’ origin in Torah is also related to the letters in a Sefer Torah , which also number 600,000. Thus, the name “ישראל” is an acronym[1] for “יש ששים רבוא אותיות לתורה. Read More »

More on subdivisions in Torah and Neshamos Rabbi Yehoishophot Oliver As mentioned, each of the four sections of Torah contains 600,000 interpretations on every aspect of Torah. Read More »

When it comes to some issues, Hashem spells out how we should act in the Torah, which comes from the word hora’ah, instruction, for it was given in order to guide us in our daily lives. But often we face sitations in which the desired course of action is not spelled out. Read More »

See my article concerning Rosh Chodesh Kislev   here , and my articles concerning the Mumbai massacres, Hy”d  here . Read More »

(This article is a continuation of this earlier article.)Now, the Jewish soul stems from Torah.[1] And so just as there are 600,000 root Jewish souls, so are there 600,000 explanations for every verse in the Written Torah. Likewise, so is it for each of the four sections of Torah, called “ pardes ” (lit. Read More »

No matter how low the level of the person who has sunken into sin, one must speak with him in a soft, gentle manner.The Tanya[1] speaks of a “ kal shebekalim ,” a person who lives a sinful, corrupt lifestyle. When we view him, we might jump to judge and condemn him for his revolting behavior. Read More »

The Neshamah : The Jew’s true inner self Rabbi Yeshoishophot Oliver The Rambam discusses[1] a case of a husband who refuses to give his wife a get when the Beis Din (Jewish court) require it. Read More »

On the subdivision of souls Rabbi Yehoishophot OliverOn the highest level, all Jewish souls exist as one undifferentiated singularity. They are first divided into seven,[1] corresponding to the seven branches of the Menorah in the Beis HaMikdash. Each of the branches corresponds to one of the seven emotional Sephiros (divine attributes—sing. Read More »

The very first thing that a Jew does in the day is to recite Modeh ani : “ I gratefully thank You, living and eternal King, for You have returned my soul within me with compassion—abundant is Your faithfulness! ”Although the word Modeh can mean thank, it can also mean acknowledge. When a Jew declares Modeh ani , he acknowledges Hashem. Read More »