Vayishlach Patriarchs (24) Likutei Sichos – Vol 35 p 150-155 Dina’s leaving home ended in disaster, but that does not mean that what she intended on doing was wrong. She was social like her mother and that was very good, it allowed the two of them to influence others to be better people.

Toldos VaYeitze Patriarchs (22) Likutei Sichos – Vol 35 p 113 ff Supplement, a Maamar from the Alter Rebbe about our Galus Edom (Aisav) lasting so long! Overt and covert enemies, Aisav as an outright evil is dealt with, while the devious Lavan took twenty years to subdue. In our Galus it is Aisav that…

Vayera Patriarchs (10) Likutei Sichos – Vol 35 pp 76-81 After all is said and done and Avrohom shows infinite loyalty to Hashem, he begins protesting. In this Sicha the Rebbe shows (in Rashi’s view at least) that Avrohom was never questioning God, but the fact that maybe Hashem thought he was somehow unworthy of…

Shoftim This Sicha focuses primarily on the third Raia from Arai Miklat (Halacha 2) and explains the need for this third proof (and in a second Halacha) because it links Moshiach to a Mitzvah which must be literal and physical and impossible to change. He explains that the three proofs have three ideas each with…

Elul The idea that in the very beginning there is the end shows itself in the idea that ‘the blowing for practice’ on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Elul is connected to Yom Kippur!

Bo Likutei Sichos – Vol 31 p 46 ff Exile and Redemption (105) מכת חושך is compared to Golus as it relates to the Yidden (as we’ll see in the next class on this Sicha) accordingly we discuss how this מכה was a Golus (of sorts) for the Egyptians.

VaEra Exile and Redemption (091) In contrast to the convention that there are two successive stages to the Pharaoh’s stubbornness; one where he is stubborn on his own and another where Hashem makes him stubborn. The Rebbe proves that: 1) The two levels of the Pharaoh’s stubbornness are simultaneous and last for the duration of…

VaEra Exile and Redemption (084) Moshe complains (and he is right). But Hashem explains that it is the only way to get הוי’ה on the level above all constraints.

Shemos Exile and Redemption (072) Loshon HaRa is the only thing that prevents a nation from being formed, even if God is the Creator. Idolatry isn’t as negative as disunity.

Vayechi The Tribes (60) Likutei Sichos – Vol 30 p 249 ff Yosef’s death marks the end of Braishis because the substance of Shmos- exile, to conquer the world, must be inspired and initiated by the Avos. Yosef’s death and Golus empower those who follow after him.