Classes 1 to 18. The Mem Gimmel Class series includes a full year of study at a relatively advanced level. The classes delve into an important area of the chassidus of Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn (Rashab, the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch). The first 18 classes in this series cover a discourse from 5657 (1897)...

Introduction to year ACHDUS HASHEM (AHAVAS YISROEL) emuna pshuta, pshitus of chakira, Adam Haelyon. Do not be discouraged by the sound quality of this first class. It gets better from here onwards. We have worked on this file with audio processing to make it as clear and easy to listen to as possible.

ACHDUS (some stories). Hashem Hu HaElokim according to ZOHAR. 3 levels in Hashem’s names.

INTRODUCTION to the division of the maamar. The maamar is divided as follows: first is the posuk and three questions: how is the posuk related to leaving Mitzraim and entering Eretz Yisroel and how can it be explained that Havaye and Elokim are kula chad (one). Next comes the havamina that Havaye and Elokim are...

OROS and KEILIM- two opposite systems. Atzilus is the light of Hashem revealed. Here the Oros and kelim come together. There are 4 basic characteristics of each. The Ohr is 1) bli gvul (unlimited) 2) giluy (reveals its source) 3) Devekus (attached to its source) and 4) pshitus (plain not divided). The Kelim are the...

Hava Amina Teretz and refutation. (revealing through hiding). Elokim brings Havaye to us by blocking most of Havaye so the underlying chitzonius ohr can be seen. Moshol of white light that divides into a rainbow. Moshol of the Neshama as it is above vs the neshama in a guf with its differentiated powers. The Rebbe...

Etzem vs. Giluyi. The etzem CAN NOT be revealed. If something is revealed it is NOT the etzem. Ohr vs. Ha’arah. Each Tzimtzum is two tzimtzumim. The neshama as it is l’myla has one koach, whereas the neshama in the guf has 613. The 613 are also present when the neshama is l’myla (above) but...

Words reveal and conceal. Sanhedrin would deliberate all night in capital cases so as not to lose the etzem of their lines of reasoning. Hillel’s teva is chessed while Shammai’s teva is gevura. Both brought valid arguments and posukim to uphold their positions. KLAL GADOL: Etzem can NOT be revealed.

Tzimtzum HaRishon – siluk (removal) of ohr, kav breaks through. Tzimtzum in seder hishtalshelus – quantitative diminution of light. Parsa – qualitative change in the Ohr. The light is called Ohr Ein Sof down to malchus of Atzilus and Ohr haneshama from there on down.

Malachim are nivdal (separate) with a self identity. Sefiros are netiyos, lights of Hashem with no self identity, but are bittul to the Aibishter. Havaye and Elokim like right and left hand of a person. A Moshol M’chuvan is an exact moshol from the Torah chosen by the Rebbeim that conforms to the nimshal in...

Koach HaMaskel includes koach to create new ideas and also koach to limit the ideas. Any line of reasoning taken to its extreme is wrong. Need balance. To pasken shailos – limit all pertaining ideas, then weigh them.

What is Chassidus? 1) Haskala the point of which is ACHDUS of whole creation with Hashem and 2)Avoda the point of which is Ahavas Yisroel. – how we are one. The whole point is to live the achdus. What is the proof that Elokim blocks the infinite Havaye? We exist. Yarmulka: limitation must be imposed...

Havaye is Atzmus Ein Sof as much as Elokim is Atzmus Ein Sof. Proof that Elokim blocks Havaye is that we are here. But it is not 2 forces. It is only one thing so it is not a real blockage. 3 answers in the maamar. 1) Elokim blocks Havaye but not really (hand on...

1st moshol 1st teretz.: Mashpia – mekabel moshol. A rav can’t give over his entire breadth and depth of his knowledge to the talmid because it will overwhelm him and he will get nothing. 3 rules of giluyi (revelation). 1) to a zulas. 2) Zulas gets it. 3) zulas determines what to learn. Ohr vs...

A point of Torah consists of omek (depth) the etzem of the point, Orach (length) how the point comes down to lower levels, and Rochav (breadth) how the point relates to other points and the rest of the Torah with the pnimius still intact. The Rogachover sees the whole Torah as 10 points. The Rebbe as...

Rav must use words very carefully to keep the pnimius and all the links intact. Rabbenu haKodesh wrote the Mishna very carefully with links and hints for future students intact. He saw the material as Ohr Yashor. The Amoraim that came after must work to see all the links. For them it is a light...

Avoda: Intro to TESTS. Adam and Chava had one job – to eat fruit (do mitzvas). Originally Gan Eden was on the first floor and all bad kelipas in the basement. With the chet etz hadaas assiya fell down and klipa became mixed b’taaruvim in the world. Now there are 3 jobs to do. 1)...

TESTS: absolute darkness. The Akeida. Rabbi Akiba. Mesiras Nefesh of Frierdiker Rebbe. Withstanding a test breaks the darkness and allows a higher revelation of light in the world. Story with wounded soldiers coming to visit the Rebbe. When faced with a TEST: STOP thinking and just DO.

Avoda: Parnassa. Hashem will bless you in all that you DO. One needs to do – to make a keli on the one hand and to have emuna that everything comes from Hashem on the other. Hashem set the world up in a way that we get things through a memutza. They bring Hashem closer...