Haftora: Vayishlach Ach'av

Shabbat 22 Adar I 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Ki Tissa, Shvi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 106-107. Tanya: Ch. 31. Even if (p. 139)...rejoicing of the heart. (p. 145).

My father writes in one of his Maamarim: "Regarding S'uda Shlishit (the third Shabbat meal): The allusion to the verse, "today you will not find it" (the manna, i.e., Shabbat bread) etc., [1] means only that bread is not required at that meal, but we must partake of some food. R. Yosi did say, may my lot be with those who partake of three Shabbat meals. [2]

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The Alter Rebbe taught, shortly after he came to Lyozna: One must always (L'Olam) be scrupulous (Zahir) about the Mincha davening. [3]

The special quality of Mincha over Shacharit and Maariv is that it comes in the middle of the day, when people are occupied and busy with their personal affairs, yet they interrupt to Daven Mincha.

Therefore, L'Olam ("always," or more literally: "for the world"), man's Avoda in This World is... ...Y'hei Adam (lit. "man must be," but the Hebrew words also imply "be a man" i.e. that) his intellect [4] illuminate and affect his emotions. ...Zahir (lit. "scrupulous," but also:) "luminous," i.e., that form (the spiritual) [5] "illuminate" or have dominance over the material.

This becomes evident through the Mincha Davening.

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Sh'mot 16:25.

2. (Back to text) Shabbat 118a.

3. (Back to text) Brachot 6b.

4. (Back to text) See Elul 4.; "Adam" refers to intellectual man.

5. (Back to text) See Kislev 7.

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Monday Adar Sheini 22 5703
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Sh'mini, Sheini with Rashi. Tehillim: 106-107. Tanya: Nevertheless, it has (p. 181)...of all living. (p. 181).

Birkat Kohanim (p. 268) elicits Divine Intellect.

The "raising of the hands" (by the Kohanim) is the elevation of the emotive attributes (Midot).

Their blessing of Israel, "children of kings," [1] signifies Malchut.

Thus we have the full configuration of the Ten Sefirot. [2]

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Compare Shabbat 67a.

2. (Back to text) The Ten Sefirot, G-d's ten attributes, are brought within range of man's apprehending by Torah and mitzvot.

   Each mitzva has its role, and here the Rebbe describes the effect of the Kohanim - blessing found in today's Chumash lesson.