Rabbi Sholom DovBer; Translated by Eliyahu Touger Schneerson

Worlds in Transition It is a world which none of us has ever seen. And in truth, it would be difficult for many of us even to picture what it was like. For when we speak of the shtetl, we mean far more than the actual physical environment. In the shtetl, ...

Behold [the expression] “the Tree of Life” refers to P’nimiyus HaTorah, the inner dimension of the Torah, as stated in [the passage from] the Raya Mehemna, Parshas Naso, [cited above]: “Since in the future, the Jews will taste the Tree of Life which is th...

[The paradigm explained above with regard to the Divine service of yichuda tata’ah also applies with regard to the study of the Oral Law.] With regard to the Divine service of yichuda tata’ah, it was explained that although [yichuda tata’ah] also involves...

It was explained above with regard to yichuda ila’ah and yichuda tata’ah, that yichuda tata’ah must also include [a taste of] yichuda ila’ah. If not, [yichuda tata’ah] is considered as “the place of death,” because the external forces have a hold [from wh...

On this basis, [we can understand] the passage from the Zohar (Parshas Chukas) cited previously (ch. 6): One who takes the potion of death alone, to him can be applied the phrase: Koheles 1:3. “In all of his labor which he will perform beneath the sun.” W...

On this basis, [we can understand] the practice of the inhabitants of Jericho who would connect [the verses of] the Shema, [See Pesachim 55b-56a which explains that the inhabitants of Jericho would read the Shema in prayer as it is stated in the Torah, i....

[In order to experience such a taste of yichuda ila’ah,] we were commanded to observe the mitzvah of reciting the Shema twice daily, in the morning and in the evening. The fundamental [requirement] is [that a person focus his] concentration during the rec...

Divine service stemming from the approach of yichuda tata’ah is “the measure of all men.” For the Divine service of most of the souls of the present era centers on the bittul of yichuda tata’ah. This is the goal to which their efforts must be devoted, and...

The [above difficulties can be resolved] based on the following statements quoted from the Zohar, Vol. III, Parshas Chukas, p. 182b: Rabbi Shimon said: “Certainly, one who takes the potion of death alone (see the comments of the Zohar [Vol. III] at the be...

The Torah is the true remedy for the above sickness, not only weakening it and diminishing its strength, but also removing it and causing it to depart entirely. For it is in the power of the Torah to transform the essence and the nature of the animal soul...