Class One. Based on the Alter Rebbe’s Ma’amar in Likutei Torah, This class, which is the first of two is dominated by what appears to be the Rebbe’s questioning the Alter Rebbe: The Alter Rebbe explains that after Mattan Torah (some part of) the Jewish Neshama is revealed. He goes as far as explaining this…

15 Menachem av is opposite Tisha Bi’Av; Ahavas Yisroel is opposite Sinas Chinom and brings the Geula. This Ma’amar focuses singularly on loving a fellow Jew (very powerful).

וה’ פקד את שרה תשמ”ג Class one. Mazal is the source for Children, health, and Parnassa. In the case of Jewish people, this is the level of אין which is interpreted to be the deepest level possible. We reach and affect the מזל through an עבודה on the level of בכל מאדיך which is the…

This discussion took place in Beth Rivkah seminary as part of our Tanya class. We explore the classic idea of Teshuva in contrast to the changes the Rebbe introduced to how we should do Teshuvah.

Class One. Simcha is explored in this class: Joy allows for complete Avodas Hashem; It involves great humility. It needs to be constrained so that it not result in something unholy. < strong>Class Two. The issue of Murgash (external and demonstrative passion) that was described as undesirable in the last class, is the Avoda of:…

Class One. Chayey Sara, Chava Noach and Sara shared the Avoda of bringing Bittul into Murgash [as opposed to Adam and Avrohom whose task was in the realm of the Bilti Murgash]. Noach tried a bittul of Chochma (wine, pinimyus Bina is Chochma) and failed; Sara tried a Bittul of malchus and succeeded because she…

Class One. Emuna is discussed in this class. The Ma’amar explains that a Goy has Emuna only on the level of Mimalei Kol Almin. He explains that even on this level there is a difference between Knowledge and Emuna. By Yidden there are three levels of Emuna: 1) From Mimalei, (here also the Yid’s Emuna…

Tanya, a holy book written by a holy man that embraces the Yezter Hara. This class given at Beth Rivkah Seminary on 24 teves 5775. In this class it is underscored that the Tanya is a most encouraging (rather than discouraging) book, as it accepts the struggle of the ordinary person. Ideally it empowers one…

A religion of ritual. [A class on a Ma’amar that has a broader ramification] The class involved a Mashal amd a Nimshal. The Mashal: The idea that Yiddishkiet is (called) a religion of ritual. What bothers people about that and why is it right? The Nimshal: Although creation is based on divine concealment, but there…

This talk focuses on aspects of chinuch (education) including: how to make a connection with young students, reinforcing a child’s natural belief in Hashem, and teaching good middos (behavior). Rabbi Paltiel gave this talk in 2004 at the teacher’s appreciation dinner at the end of the school year for B’nos Menachem in Brooklyn.