September 11, 2011
by Digital Maggid
ושמחת בכל הטוב
v’samachta b’khol ha-tov . . .
and you shall rejoice with all the good
(D’varim 26:11)
כל השערים ננעלים חוץ משערי דמעות — ווען זיי פארשליסען זיך ווי אלע אנדערע טויערען וואָלטען די טרערן ניט געגרייכט אין הימל ארײַן. ווייל טרערן זײַנען דער אויסדרוק עצבות דארום וואָלט זיי שווער געווען דורכצולעכערן א פארשלאָסענעם טויער. דורך שמחה אבער, קען מען דורכלעכערען און צעשפּאלטען די פארריגלסטע פארשלאָסענסטע טויערן אין הימל.
All gates are locked except the gates of tears — When they lock themselves like all other gates, the tears would not reach into heaven. Tears are the expression of sadness, so it would be difficult for them to penetrate a locked gate. Through joy, however, one can penetrate and split the bolted, locked gates into heaven. (Rebbe Nachman)
This seems to be a reference to Baba Mezi’a 59a, where it is written:
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Posted in Ki Tavo, Master of the Week, Musar, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov |
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September 11, 2011
by Digital Maggid
Rebbe Nachman
The legendary great grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, Rebbe Nachman is known by numerous variations of the name of his primary community, Breslov, Ukraine. He is sometimes called the Breslover or Bratslover, Nachman of Breslov or Nachman of Bratslov. Occasionally he is even referred to as Nachman of Uman (the name of the town he moved to and later died in, and where he is buried).
Nachman was a mere 38 years of age when he died of tuberculosis in 1810. He was, however, one of the more influential (as well as controversial) rabbis of the Hasidic world, and was the founder of Breslov Hasidism, which is alive and well in the world today. He emphasized the cultivation of an intimate, personal relationship with Hashem and a balanced approach to the study of Torah text and mystical practices. His main work is known as Likutei Moharan, (likutei means “collected teachings of” and Moharan stands for Moreinu HaRebbe Nachman or Our Teacher, the Rebbe Nachman) which was compiled by his chief disciple, Reb Nosson. Another popular work attributed to Nachman is Sippurei Ma’asiyot, the Tales of R’ Nachman, some of which have been translated on this blog already (see the Rebbe Nachman section under the Mayses tab above), and Gd-willing, there will be more to follow.
Abundant biographical information is available online about Rebbe Nachman, and I encourage everyone to make a little time to read up on this important teacher from our tradition.
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Posted in Master of the Week, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov |
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September 4, 2011
by Digital Maggid
The Maggid of Mezeritsh
Rabbi Dov Ber
Below is an overview of an article on Dov Ber. The article in its entirety can be found here.
Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch (דוב בער ממזריטש) (1700/1704/1710(?) – 4 December 1772) was a disciple of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, the founder ofHasidic Judaism, and was chosen as his successor to lead the early movement. Rabbi Dov Ber is regarded as the first systematic exponent of the mystical philosophy underlying the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, and through his teaching and leadership, the main architect of the movement. He established his base in Mezhirichi (in Volynia), which moved the centre of Hasidism from the Baal Shem Tov’s Medzhybizh (in Podolia), where he focused his attention on raising a close circle of great disciples to spread the movement. After his passing, avoiding the unified leadership of the first two generations, this third generation of leadership took their different interpretations and disseminated across appointed regions of Eastern Europe. Under the inspiration of their teacher, this rapidly spread Hasidism beyond the Ukraine, to Poland, Galicia and Russia.
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Posted in Master of the Week, R' Dov Ber | Maggid of Mezertich |
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August 28, 2011
by Digital Maggid
Mishmeret Itamar
Mishmeret Itamar is the title of the most prominent work by R’ Itamar ben Israel of Konskowola, and the name by which he is commonly known. The following bio is from Virtual Judaica:
R. Itamar ben Israel Wohlgelerenter of Konskowola (d. 1831) was a student of R. Jacob Isaac of ha-Hozeh of Lublin (1745–1815), R. Israel ha-Maggid of Kosnitz, and R. Jacob Isaac ben Asher Przysucha (Pshiskhah, ha-Yehudi ha-Kadosh, 1766–1814). R. Ithamar was known as a prodigious scholar. Many hassidic stories recount how he gave charity even in difficult times and about the depth and fervor of his prayers.
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August 14, 2011
by Digital Maggid
כי לא על הלחם לנדו יחיה האדם
ki lo al ha-lechem l’vado yichyeh ha-adam
… that not by bread alone does man live
(D’varim 8:3)
אל תתן לחית נפש תורך — דו זאָלסט נישט אוועקגעבען „תורך“ דײַן תורה צוליב חית נפש, צוליב פּרנסה. (ר’ זושא האניפּאָליער)
“Al-titein lichayat nefesh torecha” (Do not deliver the soul of thy turtledove unto the wild beast. Psalms 74:19) — you should not give away “torecha” (your turtle dove) your Torah because of the animal soul, [nor] for the sake of [your] livelihood. (R’ Zusha Hanipolier)
I believe the master is using the psalm as a proof text to give us a remez (a teaching based on a hint or subtle indication in the text).
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Posted in Deuteronomy | D'varim, Eikev, Master of the Week, R' Zusha Hanipolier, Right Action, The Parshas (Torah portions) |
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August 14, 2011
by Digital Maggid
R’ Zusha Hanipolier
This bio is from Nekudotchen.com
Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli
Born: Galicia, Southeast Poland, 1718
Died: Hanipol, 1800
Popularly known as Reb Zusha.
One of the most cherished of the chasidic masters, Rabbi Meshulam Zusha was the younger brother of the famous Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, the Noam Elimelech. The two brothers joined the circle of disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. R’ Zisha soon excelled in his studies and gained the admiration of his fellow students for his deep piety. Rabbi Shnuer Zalman of Liadi, said about him: “His prayers were uttered with an intensity and awe that is beyond compare.” He combined a self-effacing devotion and attachment to God with an ardent love for the Jewish people, sharing their joys, bearing their burdens. The people reciprocated, flocking to him in large masses. They saw in him a tzaddik and a guide, but above all a champion and a defender. He was the rebbe who recognized only goodness. In his final years he suffered from a protracted illness, but he never complained. “Whatever comes from God is good,” he would say. The final resting place of this beloved chasidic rebbe is beside the grave of his mentor, the Maggid of Mezritch.
Rabbi Zusha did not write any books. His reflections and commentaries, which are scattered among the works of his students, were compiled under the title Menorat Zahav. He was succeeded by his son Rabbi Tzvi Menachem Mendel.
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August 7, 2011
by Digital Maggid
וָאֶתְחַנַּן אֶל ה’ בָּעֵת הַהִוא
And I beseeched the Lord at that time …
(D’varim 3:23)
די תורה זאגט ניט וועלכע צײַט דאָס איז געווען, איז פון דאנען א רמז אז א איד זאל קיינמאל ניט זאגען איצט האָב איך קײַן צײַט, איין געדולד, קיין הרחבת־הרעת, גאר צו יעדער צײַט, אויף יעדען פלאץ און ווען מען דארף זאל ער דאווענען. (ר’ נפתלי ראָפּשיצער)
The Torah doesn’t say what time that was, which is an indication that a Jew should never say I don’t have time, or I don’t have patience, or I’m not in the mood — whatever the time or place — to pray. (R’ Naftali Ropshitzer)
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Posted in Master of the Week, R' Naftali Tzvi Ropshitzer, Va'etchanan |
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August 7, 2011
by Digital Maggid
Naftali Tzvi Ropshitzer (1760-1827)
The first Ropshitzer Rebbe, in his early years he studied under the famous R’ Meshulam Igra. As a young adult, he became a chasid and went to study with R’ Elimelech of Lizhensk. The Ropshitzer was a major figure in the development of Galacian Hasidism. He emphasized Torah study over mystic practices for younger people, and advocated the development of a strong prayer practice, saying one should always be able to pray at any time and under any circumstance. He was known for his wisdom, wit, musical talents and his love of Sukkos.
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July 31, 2011
by Digital Maggid
אֵלֶה הַדְּבַרִים אְַשֶר דִבֶר מֹשה
Eileh hadvarim asher diber Mosheh
These are the words that Moshe spoke (Deuteronomy 1:1)
ווען השי”ת האָט געשיקת משנ’ן ארויסצונעמען די אידען פון מצרים, האָט משה גע’טענה’ט, „לא איש דברים אנכי,“ אָפּזײַנדיג אזא צייט מנהיג ביי אידען, האָבן זיי מיט זייערע האנדלונגען, מחלוקת’ן, און שטענדיגען מורמלען, געמאכט אים פאר אן איש דברים, ווי די תורה זאגט עדות, „אלה הדברים אשר דבר משה.“ (קוזשניץער מגיד)
When Hashem Yisboroch (The Holy Blessed One) sent Moshe to remove the Jews from Egypt, Moshe argued, “Lo ish d’varim anochi” (I am not a man of words – Exodus 4:10). The entire time Moshe led the Jews, through their actions, controversies and incessant murmuring, they made him into an ish d’varim (man of words). As the Torah testifies, “Eileh hadvarim asher diber Mosheh” (These are the words that Moshe spoke). (Kozhnitzer Magid)
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Posted in Biblical Figures, D'varim, Kozhnitzer Maggid, Kvetching, Master of the Week, Moshe | Moses |
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July 31, 2011
by Digital Maggid
The Kozhnitzer Maggid
Rebbe Yisroel Hopsztajn (1733 – 1814) was the founder of the Kozhnitz Hasidic Dynasty in Kozienice (in Yiddish: קוזשעניץ, קוזשיניץ, or קוזשניץ), Poland.
He studied primarily under Elimelech of Lizhensk, whom, as you will recall, was a disciple of Dov Ber (The Maggid of Mezeritch), who was the disciple of the Ba’al Shem Tov. The Maggid of Mezeritch himself was also a significant teacher of the Kozhnitzer.
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Digital Maggid
