This class moves right into studying the Shaar Blaat (Title Page), Haskomos (Approbations), and Hakdama (Introduction) to the Tanya. Some of the topics covered include: why Haskamas were written, the practical function of Haskamas, who wrote them, and stories associated with this period in Chabad history. Rabbi Paltiel explains his view on the role of…

מלכות (Class Two). מלכות is the lowest ספירה so it has the highest source. Two ideas: A The רוממות of מלכות and it’s טבע להיות נמשך אל השפל must be from the deepest in עצומ”ה where the זולת is also included. B. קבלת עול מלכות שמים is rooted in עצמות, because only from there will…

מלכות. It’s inner dimension is רוממות and it’s outer dimension is עשי’ה. Explanation.

נה”י continued. נצח and הוד fight with an opponent. יסוד does what needs to be done and has no opposition. The idea that the lower the level of the נפש the higher it’s source and in this case it is the idea that נה”י are connected to the עצם הנשמה more than חב”ד וחג”ת. This…

This class explored נה”י. Here too, נצח is outer, הוד deeper, and יסוד deeper still. A) נצח is aggression and taking on an enemy by being forward thus: it is קו הימין. B) הוד is stubbornness, hunkering down against all comers without giving an inch, but it is passive not aggressive. C) יסוד is drawing…

מדות חג”ת נה”י והחושים. This Perek addresses all ten כחות, but he only explains the three מוחין חב”ד. The seven emotions חג”ת נהי”ם and the five חושים which are ראי’, שמיעה, ריח, טעם, מישוש. We will attempt to explain all these things over the next several classes. In general the emotions in קבלה are only…

התבוננות (Class Four). This class discuses the idea of self honesty when it comes to life in general and עבודה פנימית in particular. There are three levels in התבוננות and one caviot. 1) ממלא כל עלמין; כי הוא חייך the contemplation that starts with us and that He sustains US. 2) סובב כל עלמין; הכל…

התבוננות (Class Three). The point of the התבוננותו is וידעת היום so that it should bring to the והשבות אל לבבך. The Mitteler Rebbe writes that התבוננות must be in details so it should truly arouse the heart. Ironically the mind and heart contradict each other (unless one is on the level of פנימיות המוח…

התבוננות (Class Two). In order to engage one’s mind there must be the אסורה מכאן להתקרב לשם in order to engage with Hashem they need a lot of time to get away from regular life in order to engage with and Daven to Him. התבוננות is not meditation. [I believe that התבודדות which is practiced…

Bina cont. התבוננות (Class One). Emotions (אהבה ויראה) that come from the “father and mother” combination of Chochma and Bina. The idea of using the mind to arouse the heart. The רמב”ם בהלכות מלכים, about not being afraid on the war front by not thinking. This is the explanation found in Chassidus to explain the…