Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla Class One. Introduction:The tradition of simple faith was supplanted by philosophical questioning and the גדולי ישראל answered with a Jewish version of Philosophy.In short: the idea that דברה תורה בלשון בני אדם and הכל משל ומליצה resolved the questions of anthropomorphism.When Kabbala came along and turned in the other direction, not...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla Perek 2, Class 5.The Tzemach Tzedek begins the issue of להפשיט הדברים מגשמיותן to settle the difficulty of limbs, faculties and moods (כלפי מעלה).The first idea is not to understand the Anthropomorphic forms as anything but a Mashal. Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla Perek 2, Class 6.The second idea of להוציא דברים...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla Perek 3, Class 10.The entire Perek was read inside, and relying on much that was explained in Perek 2, we finished this Perek in this one class.The issue: how is G-dliness both not Hashem at all (התפשטות) and absolutely Him (ממש) at the same time.In other words: what is G-dliness and...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla Perek 4, Class 11.Today we read the entire Perek inside: Why bother with שמות if it’s עצמות and why does the Torah use these names in this way?The answer: the נפעל what the world gets through the Sfiros IS changed even if what is before the כלים (and perhaps also what...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 5, Class 13.We learned Perek 5 inside and suggested that here the Tzemach Tzedek does indicate שם הפעולה and not only שם הנפעל.Then a discussion developed where the basic ideas of these Perakim was revisited (it is really worthwhile.)

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 6, Class 14.Inside Perek 6, the change is only inasmuch as the Ohr goes into Keli, and even then, it is only to us. However, it affects how we call HIM.To Him, even as the Ohr that enters the Keli is Poshut. Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 6, Class 15.Sorry...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 7, Class 16.Inside.3 Midrashim 1) אליו ולא למדותיו and 2) הדבק במדותיו and 3) יודעים לכוין בשםHe is above a name, but the Name isn’t the Sefira as He goes into the Middos, and we are calling (הדבק and מכונים בשם) Him through the מדות and this is אליו ולא...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 8, Class 24.The Rebbe quotes the שאלות ותשובות הריב”ש סימן קנ”זThere are two questions, but only one answer.We read the entire quote: the question and the answer about a King and the right officers; and the second question about אני מתפלל לדעת זה התינוק which will be addressed (really) in...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 9, Class 26.The unanswered question in the שו”ת הריב”ש from ר’ שמשון דקינון ז”ל: even if Kabalah and Kabalah meditations are true and consistent with halacha- why bother with it if we can be “simple” with G-d?The answer lies in the idea of שבחים (of Hashem and Tzadikim). The concept...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 10, Class 31.Beginning of Perek 10, YichudimStory of the Ba’al Shem Tov (the letter to Reb Gershon Kitiver) about Moshiach’s coming depending on two things: 1) Yichudim, 2) כשיפוצו מעינותיך חוצה.The Ba’al Shem Tov’s tears and the Alter Rebbe and Reb Boruch of Mezibuzh.Ta’amei HaMitzvos:1) מדות טובות2) דיעות נכונות3) יחודיםto...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 11, Class 40.The question of אלקות that comes after the צמצום and that goes into כלים דאצילות vs. אוא”ס as it is by itself.The basic answer is that all levels of אלקות are אלקות due to the principles of אור מעין המאור and חזר והאיר etc.We began explaining it more,...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 12, Class 51.The first and second Parsha of Krias Shma are (also) Ratzoi and Shov:1st Parsha: מ”ב is gevura or Ratzoi2nd Parsha: ע”ב is Chessed or ShovQuestion of אור וכלי and that each of the two פרשיות has a חסד aspect and a גבורה aspect. Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 14- 15, Class 61.Notes:0:00-13:41 :  Story of Alter Rebbe,  Mottel Schusterman (Rabbi Paltiel’s wife’s grandfather) came to the US and was a shamash. All the European new immigrants (greeners) worked as shamashim for a tiny wage – like indentured servants – and they set a rule that they could not...

Mitzvas Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefilla, Perek 16- 17, Class 71.This class (opens Chapter 16 by) summarizes and reviews the ideas discussed in the maamar up to this point. In sum, we have a reasonable relationship with Hashem and we also have a relationship with Hashem which is above reason. The first paragraph of “Kriyas Shema” (שמע...