The name Tzvaos in BY”A- an idea that originates with the Alter Rebbe and not from before. It refers to the idea that there is Godliness also in the lowest worlds. The meaning of the Tzivos Hashem in Chumash are the sparks the Jewish people took with them from Egypt, the Jews themselves are ‘Al…

There are four levels: 1) World, where divisions of time are not real 2) When Hashem “Chose” His world. Adding this choice makes the world of value to Him, but He puts His essence into it so the value is real. 3) the (theoretical) idea that will (one day be) Ya’akov and his children. 4)…

(פרשת החודש) Class One. This class begins with a lengthy introduction about the Rebbe’s unique contribution to מאמרי חסידות. One of the Rebbe’s big new ideas is the idea of the אלקות of חושך וצמצום עצמו. This class explains the aforementioned idea by explaining why the Torah begins with (darkness) בראשית ברא אלוקים which must…

This Ma’amar discusses the idea of one being a seminal point which matures when it develops all ten aspects. It interprets the word בעשור (as opposed to בעשירי) as meaning all ten, meaning, that each later day includes all the preceding ones until ten. Ten is the completion of one’s personal wholeness; of קשוט עצמך….

Why one would think the Torah should begin with החודש- which is the directly holy involvement of the צדיק, ישכר, תורה ותפילה but in the end the תורה begins with בראשית because in the connection of the תורה to the נותן התורה action, בעל תשובה, זבולן is actually primary.

Paro was the reason we entered Golus in the first place. He therefore sends us off when the task has been completed.

What does the snake miracle that precedes the ten מכות mean and represent? All the מכות are not only to get Yidden out of Egypt, but also for the elevation of sparks, עבודת הבירורים. The snake sets this all up, and particularly the fact that it goes from stick to snake and back again and…

This מאמר explains the basic idea of this Possuk. The idea that הוי was only revealed because of מתן תורה, and the transcendence of הוי versus all the other שמות. We must do the עבודה of the אבות as well as our own, This explains the ד’ לשונות של גאולה that represent both levels.

Class One. The first half of this Ma’amar discusses the dual expression in the Possuk Aharon UMoshe and Moshe ViAharon. It is explained this on four levels: 1) Each does a different task- Aharon does Yetzias Mitzrayim and Moshe the bittul of the Pharaoh, 2) Each needs the others assistance, but the primary player in…

Two levels are described in the first P’sukim of our Parsha. Avos had Sheim Shakai, and Moshe was given (for Yidden) Sheim Havaya. 1) VaAira el HaAvos, how much we got from the Avos as a ‘sign’ from them to us which is not only a sign but a provision of power to achieve, in…