Talks classes

What's the difference between Emuna and Bitachon? Faith is like the air we breath, we must have it and it is basic to our existence. Trust is a choice under trying times to טראכט גוט וועט זיין גוט. There is an ill unique to our generation where people have Bitachon and not Emuna.

4 Marcheshvan 5720, Dor Haflaga Lesson

Class One: You survive a holocaust, rebuild correctly and not selfishly. The lesson from this for Chinuch.

Class Two: The cities and towers must be of Torah and they are forever and you "even" get fame as a secondary reward.

Perek 1, Class 1. This class introduces the Ma'amar and explores the Chinuch, the Gemara and the Arizal's suggestion that everyone say each day (in the morning) הריני מקבל עלי מצות עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך We further explored the Kabbalah that says that all Souls are parts of the Neshama of Adam HaRishon and that this is the basis for the idea of ערבות (Guarantor-ship).

Perek 1, Class Two: Introductory class. Explaining "אדם העליון" and the idea of אצילות and התכללות as opposed to תהו and תערבות. The משל is from the רבינו בחיי and he is referencing the idea of כח ההמרה, which is the idea of cellular regeneration. This order and finitude adds up to אין סוף not because it's infinite but because its order is infinite. Living forever is a Mashal for Atzilus.

Perek 1, Class Three: Introduction continued. Atzilus really works because of M"A- a deeper sense of purpose. M"A comes from the forehead (while revelation comes from אח"פ and עינים- the orifices in the "face of א"ק"), which is a great concealment on the one hand and an expression of the ("face") essence on the other.

Perek 1, Class Four: a little inside. Adam HaRishon's general Soul includes us all.

Perek 1, Class 5: We read inside. Adam includes all Neshamos as one, but then they manifest and separate. Ahavas Yisroel is that even as they are manifest they (can be) are one because of the source, M"A.

Perek 1, Class 6: The Hiskalelus is rooted in the fact that in Adam we were all one actually and because of the interconnection between each of us and all of us, we can continue being one even down here.' The Rebbe proposes that this has to do with the fact that on the (Ohr) Neshama level we are still one. We added that in later Ma'amarim (especially in עין בית) the Rebbe explains that it is really because of the body and the Keli and that is really where the extra Bittul presides.

Perek 1, Class 7: Continued from class 5, why and how we are all connected. However I would like to explore Gilgul Neshamos and the idea that all Neshamos in "Guf" are born before Moshiach comes.

Perek 1, Class 8: תמים יהי' לרצון Davening is like a Korban and like a Korban it must be whole so I mustn't hate any Yid, because if I did I'd hate and dis-include part of myself from my "Korban".

Story Telling The place of telling stories in our culture. When is telling stories that didn't happen exactly as told education and when is it lying. A story that is true, even when it isn't, is educational. What about negativity and sadness, and learning about the hardships of "the real world".

Perek 2, Class 9 The idea of loving and not hating, and not even thinking hateful thoughts. Tanya Iggeres HaKodesh 23 נא ונא וכו' ואיש את רעת רעיהו אל תחשבו וכו' כמחשבת עבודה זרה ממש Rambam does say it positive (הלכות דיעות פרק ו' הלכה ד) but Hillel and Chassidus see a point in the indirect form.

Perek 2, Class 10. Inside. Why is the Gemara indirect (or negative): what you don't want done to you don't do to your fellow, rather than positive DO onto others what you want done to you (as it is in רמב"ם הלכות דיעות םרק ז' הלכה ד)? Answer because it is hinting also to thought: don't think of another badly, as per אגרת הקדש כ"ב at the end. This doesn't mean you don't see the fault, it is מקיף, part of the entire person., as we see our own faults. Example court of law.

Perek 2, Class 11. In Tanya Chapter 32 two reasons are given why Ahavas Yisroel is the entire Torah: 1) To raise the Neshama up, (which was discussed at length until now) 2) To bring Hashem down (which really means דירה בתחתונים) and that depends on Ahavas (and Achdus) Yisroel, as through our unity He rests (as per אגרת הקדש סימן ל"א).

Perek 2, Class 12. Introduction, the Rebbe explains the expression ופירש הבעל שם טוב ז"ל (In Shaar Hayichud VihaEmuna Perek 1) to mean to spread out and reveal (though it has a source in מדרש תהילים) Similarly when הלל says ואידך פירושרא הוא (according to the second point in Ahavas Yisroel- to bring G-dliness down) that when there is the Ahava, Hashem is brought down through one of the Mitzvos. Example: Talis, Malchus, Bittul, Yirah.

This short class enlightens the מנהג ישראל תורה היא, the Jewish custom, about waiting three years to cut a little boy's hair. Many ideas are touched on here. This class is accompanied by a PDF that Rabbi Paltiel prepared for the Upsherin of one of his own sons. It includes Chassidus from two Chabad Admorim about this subject with commentary and more.

1) Bringing a Korban vs. building a Beis HaMikdash

These classes were given to the Bochurim of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati after the Passing of their beloved teacher הרב חיים שניאור זלמן בן הרב שלום שמעון יעקב שליט"א Baras.

Class One: A talk on how Jewish people approach mourning. 1) Tzadok Hadin, we accept that we cannot understand 2) Sometimes you just cry 3) We don't make Hashem right, but we accept, "no questions on Hashem". 4) what about the Rebbe's Bracha לאנגע גיזונטע חסידישע יארען? 5) אמונה Faith is like the air we breathe, בטחון is a choice of how we approach the challenge.

Kosher an overview. This class includes many stories and inspirational anecdotes from the Rebbe and others to support keeping kosher not only to the letter of the law but also to its spirit. We touch on לא תאכל כל תועבה that what is not Kosher is abominable. The Rebbe introduced the two Mivtzoim Kosher and Taharas Hamishpacha at the same farbrengen and explained that these Mitzvos done in private determine the lasting adherence of Jews (including young ones, "the next generation") into the future. Kosher heals and prevents illness. Eating only "our own" is the real basis for this idea. The issues of חלב עכו"ם, בישול עכו"ם and פת עכו"ם. The idea that there should be a separation between Jews and non-Jews, and that food brings us closer together. What the Torah says about that. Kosher and Moshiach.

In the first class of our new Kashrus series, Rabbi Paltiel addresses the question, "Why do we eat kosher food?". He draws on Rashi, Sforno, Rasag, and Rambam and clearly lays out the stark contrasts between these great commentators. This class is packed with information and presents a substantial taste of the original language from these sources. A truly motivational class both in terms of the avoda of kashrus as well as the avoda of Torah study. We will prepare study guides with all the texts to go along with this series - with Hashem's help. Great listening for the long hours of cleaning, kashering and kosher cooking ahead!

The Current Situation (Class One)
We don't inderstand the ways of Hashem
When not sure say positive and not negative; only actual Neviim are "forced" to rebuke, the rest of can "afford" to be positive and "not judge"
The RaMbaM says that if we don't see tragedy as message it is מדרך האכזריות- a gigantic insensitivity, so there's a message for growth; but let's criticize only ourselves.
Suggestion: good actions with the people it (both) easiest and hardest to be kind to: those closest to us את העני עמך.

The Current Situation (and 28 Nissan) (Class Two)
1) The need to compete with ourselves to get up in the morning have a real working day and going to sleep on time, IOW to be Mentchen. This is Messianic because after Moshiach comes there will also be a situation of no jealousy and competition.
2) Hashem spared the children this time (thankfully) it is reminiscent of וטפחם אשר אמרתם לבז יהי' המה חבואו שמה והם אתננה והם ירושה Hashrm is announcing "I trust the young. We are all young כי נער ישראל ואוהבו.
3) Alter Rebbe to granddaughter about trust.
4) בדד of our Parsha Moshiach, our בדידות may mean that we are all the חיוורי דבי' רבי who is חסיד גמור וסובל תחלואים and once we heal the skin deep ill, the בדד is over and than is Moshiach.
5) איכה ישבה בדד and הוי' בדד ינחנו ואין עמו א-ל ניכר.
6) 28 Nissan in short.

(The Current Situation and) 28 Nissan (Class Three)
1) The need to compete with ourselves to get up in the morning have a real working day and going to sleep on time,
2) Hashem spared the children this time (thankfully) .
3) בדד of our Parsha Moshiach, our בדידות may mean that we are all the חיוורי דבי' רבי who is חסיד גמור וסובל תחלואים and once we heal the skin deep ill, the בדד is over and than is Moshiach.
4) איכה ישבה בדד and הוי' בדד ינחנו ואין עמו א-ל ניכר.
5) 28 Nissan, the Rebbe didn't give up he just made sure we got the point.
Muiracles and miracles and this bomb-shell, the message: WE must bring Moshiach
It begins with understanding him and WANTING him.
A world where we all do the will of G-d.

Class One. 1) Moshe gives instructions the day after Yom Kippur about correcting the sin of the Golden Calf. This requires total Bitul of the Avoda Zara idea on all levels. This is achieved by a totally indifferent attitude toward Parnassa, which makes Parnassa something we do only because we MUST and accordingly one does it with great Mesiras Nefesh יגיע כפיך כי תאכל אשריך וטוב לך.

Class Two. 2) Just as Parnassa is done so indifferently that it ends up being a chore, so too קבלת עול מלכות שמים on the highest level is where the person has no personal interest, only what  Hashem wants. This also overturns the sin of עגל which is עבודה זרה.

Class Three. 3)  This is the end of the Ma'amar explaining the Pesukim-- Vayakheil, to gather all aspects of all Yidden and the world in general, and join them together in the effort of making a דירה לו יתברך בתחתונים. This is through work ששת ימים תעשה מלאכה, so we can have משיח, which is שבת שבתון that is earned through indifferent involvement in מלאכה, as indicated in the very same words: ששת ימים תיעשה מלאכה.

Class One Hundred and Thirty one, Shabbos (before Mattan Torah) and the Manna.
A very important but often overlooked aspect of Parshas Bishalach is the fact that Yidden received some Mitzvos at Mara, including Shabbos (Para Aduma and Dinim).
The idea of Mitzvos before Mattan Torah is explored here, using the model of "organized religion" vs "personal religion".
Mattan Torah adds the following two ideas:
1) It adds the אנכי to (an otherwise entirely logical) Torah
2) It organizes Yidden and Yiddishkeit, it mandates that we DO the Mitzvos.
Before it was "Personal" and a choice and is understood in two ways:
A. It is less than the Mitzvos we have, it is only reason and logic (and subject to change).
B. It is more than our Mitzvos, it is the idea of mesiras nefesh.
Example: The Bris Mila we do now we still call להכניסו בבריתו של אברהם אבינו.
In the case of Shabbos, it's being given before speaks to the idea that it is above the order of commandments, it goes to our core, זכר למעשה בראשית which (from one point of view) is higher than זכר ליציאת מצרים.
Keeping Shabbos is being a Jew.