Kreplach and a jug of wine. This class starts out with two stories that deepen the explanation of the Baal Shem Tov’s view of hashgacha pratis (specific Divine providence). This background provides the tools to further clarify why the Yom Tov of Purim is named after a lottery intended to destroy the Jewish people. Then…

The fast of Esther. This class begins with a short and clear discussion of the concept in Chassidus of tzimtzum (G-d “removes Himself” and yet is revealed at the core level). Then Rabbi Paltiel brings to life the situation of Mordechai and Esther after Haman’s evil plot was hatched. The sicha continues with a discussion…

An Inner Need for Teshuva. This class takes us into the choice of Mordechai and Esther To do teshuva personally (to repent) and to urge the Jewish people to Teshuva as a strategy to overcome the evil decree. The sicha then addresses how the behavior of the jews of Shushan led them into difficulty spiritually….

You can not Withdraw From An Empty Account. The class focuses on how important spiritual health is even when we are not the least bit aware of it. The section of the sicha discussed includes a moving analogy regarding the state of our accounts with Hashem (G-d). The class ends with a story about an…

The Purim- Yom Kippur connection. There is a short summary at the beginning of the class of the entire series up to this point. The class then moves into a fascinating explanation of the connection between Purim and Yom Kippur. Understanding this connection gives new meaning to the entire Jewish calender.

The message of a miracle. This class begins with a short summary of the Purim- Yom Kippur connection. The main topic of this class is miracles. Specifically a comparison of the two different types of miracles discussed in Chassidus- those that break the natural order versus those that occur within nature.

The highest unity. The discussion of miracles continues and expands into an exploration of the great miracle of Purim. The key to answering the questions raised in the beginning of the series turns out to be the hidden nature of the Purim miracle.

Is everything a miracle? This class jumps right into the Sicha. At the halfway point, a student asks, “Given this logic, isn’t everything a miracle?” This leads to a philosophical clarification about miracles/Divine providence (hashgacha pratis) and an inspirational version of “Hashem is here Hashem is there’. The end of the class moves us into…

Hashem goes into exile with us. This class addresses the difficult topic of how to view hardship in the world that is entirely under G-d’s control. Then goes into a discussion of names in general and names of Hashem. Finally we come to the Gemara’s question “Where is Esther’s name in the Torah?”. This leads…

Uncovering Nature. A final new idea is introduced- the three concepts of revelation. First there is the obvious light of Hashem that comes from outside the natural order – such as the miracles of Pesach. The implication of this Sicha is that there is a second intermediate level of revelation in which Hashem’s light is…