To get to the Essence you must go in order and start from the very Bottom. Osiyos before Ohr in Torah, Mitzvos Maasoyos before any Kavana. Bas Tzion.

This Ma’amar is a Chanuka Ma’amar, because it has at its foundation the idea of ירידה צורך עלי’ה. In this class the Rebbe uses the language of פרצת כל הגדרים. The level of בת ציון is the the lowest level and is connected to action, of Mitzvos, but it reaches higher than אחותי and אמי.

Class One. To understand the מנורה of חנוכה we first discuss the מנורה that lit in the בית המקדש. The מנורה’s seven branches are the seven מדות, and there is זה לעומת זה and לאום מלאום יאמץ between the seven of נפש האלקוית and the seven מדות of the נפש הבהמית. To guarantee that קדושה…

Three types of candles exist: 1) The Menora in the Beis Hamikdash, 2) Shabbos Candles, 3) Chanuka Candles. The first two are lighted by day as they are Aharon’s lighting up the Jewish Souls “in the place of light”, while Chanuka Candles light up the Jewish Soul “in the place of darkness’. This Maamar includes…

Class One. Peace exists on two levels: 1) You fight and win resoundingly, 2) there is no fight in the first place, the enemy is automatically vanquished. In Vayeshev, Yaakov is aspiring to the higher peace but gets instead the lower one: In golus Mitzrayim he has tranquility. Class Two. The Chanuka miracles are like…

The oldest text that deal with Chanuka DO tell the story of the miracle of finding the jug of oil. Part One. Part Two.

The prayer said in Shmona esrei and bentching (in “Hodaa”) its meaning (in part) and where we recite it and why. This class is based on source material. Some of the thoughts however are (semi)original and each person will judge for himself. First Version. (5668). Second Version. (5669).

Three personalities, three Galus perspectives: 1) Yaakov, he was not in the Galus at all. 2) The Shvatim, they are a part of the Galus and only survive it by being in (relative) isolation, as Shepherds. 3) Yosef, he is in the Galus and very much at it’s epicenter, but it makes no difference on…