This text-based class, the second in a series, is on a Maamar, a Chassidic discourse, presented by the Lubavitcher Rebbe at a Farbrengen, on Sunday, Purim 5716, February 26, 1956. The class was taught by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Thursday, Parshas Pekudei, 4 Adar II, 5784, March 14, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

“When you don’t know how beautiful you are:” our decline begins with the absence of self-respect and self-love. The class explores the uniqueness of Purim by explaining two states of life of the Jewish people and of every Jew, represented by the two names Rachel and Esther. The first is when I am rooted and anchored in my soul, the second is when I am unaware of my own inner Divine beauty and dignity.

The maamar explains two forms of spiritual beauty, "toar" and "mareh," physique and face, representing the positive and negative mitzvos, and the beauty that comes from integration, when every mitzvah is interlinked to every other mitzvah. When you touch the Divinity of a mitzvah, you are not stuck in your comfort zone, and in your ego, but connected to the Divine who transcends structure.