ViAvrohom Zakain 5738, Class One. Why does a Jew (who is a חלק אלוק ממעל) need Torah and Mitzvos?Answer: The Neshamah is אלקות שנעשה נברא (G-dliness that has become a creation (worldliness) whose connection is hidden (דביקות בלתי ניכר בכלים).This requires Torah and Mitzvos to change and reveal it’s G-dliness.They (Torah and Mitzvos) are in…

Lech Lecha 5738.There are two journeys:1) From higher to lower; this is the journey of Avrohom to engage with the world; it is the journey of every Neshama as it descends from heaven to earth.This is also linked to the idea of ViYaakov Halach Lidarko after Tishrei.2) From lower to higher, from Avoda Zara to…

Mayim Rabim 5738.This single class ma’amar introduces revolutionary ideas about teshuva.  The Alter Rebbe says that the “real reason” for the Neshama’s decent into this world is for Teshuva.In addition to understanding this basically (doing Teshuva after an error) there is the deeper idea: the very departure and return of the Neshama is a journey…

Breishis 5738.Two ideas:1) Don’t be afraid.2) Ohr Chadash. now the details: This Ma’amar goes on the (Possuk as interpreted by) the Midrash that addresses the question of why the Torah begins with the creation account rather than the Torah and Mitzvos.In short: Torah and Mitzvos reveal the light from before Tzimtzum, but Birurim reveals “Ohr…

Lihavin Inyan Simchas Torah 5738This Ma’amar is a Hemshech to the last one.The idea of “Achas” is continued here. The Rebbe adds that “Achas” is brought forward through Teshuva, which is above all limitations, including the limitations of time. After Tishrei the “Achas” comes down into our daily actions, not only Torah and Mitzvos but…

Basukos Tashvu 5738, Class Three.Achas according to Kabbalah is higher than any association (directly or indirectly) to the world.Above the Tzimtzum, above the idea of Makom Hacholol, even above the idea of הוא ושמו בלבד, in other words Atzmus Himself is Achas.And every Jew even ordinary ones have access to “Achas” as we are rooted…

Basukos Tashvu 5738, Class One.This Ma’amar was edited by the Rebbe at the time he said it in 5738, and was made public on Hoshana Rabba 5738, hours before the infamous heart attack he suffered then. This first class has three areas of questions:1) Understanding the Sukka2) Understanding the ד’ מינים the four kinds used…

Shuva Yisroel 5738, Class One.This ma’amar is the second part of a hemshech (series) of threeincluding the Rosh Hashana maamar “Min HaMeitzer” (Out of Narrowness),“Shuva” (Return) on Parshas Ha’azinu (Kinehser).The essence of the Ma’amar is the need for Hashem to show us mercy, because we don’t know the extent of our own deficiency because we…

Kinesher Yair Kino 5738, Class One.This is a המשך to the two Ma’amarim before it.All three share the presumption that Jews are on a very high level and still have much to do to the extent that it is a big “רחמנות” on them; meaning compared to where they should be the situation they’re in…

Min Hameitzar 5738, Class 1:  This introduction to the ma’amar covers the Rebbe’s array ofquestions, essentially asking, “If life of every Yid going inot Rosh Hashana is so good (as ChaZaL say) how is it possible for a person to cry ‘Min Ha Meitzar’ (from a place of narrowness and being squeezed)?” A person cries…