CHANUKAH SAMEACH! 
HAPPY CHANUKAH!

Here are the sources referred to in this week's episode:

The start of the parsha:
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.41?lang=bi&aliyot=0

The brothers fear that Joseph and his descendants will lead the Jewish People to idolatry:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.84.14?lang=bi

Brothers departed from brotherhood and sought religious / legal pretexts against Joseph, to justify killing him:
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.37.17?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en

Jacob tells his sons to take down to Egypt a strange present – small delicacies from the Land of Israel, things that people sing about
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.43.11?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.43.11.2&lang2=bi

Rebbe Nachman says he was actually telling them to take with them a melody of the Land of Israel. He goes on to explain that melodies stimulate plants / food to grow, and they also have a profound effect on the human spirit, helping us to grow in important ways (if the melody is suitable).
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan%2C_Part_II.63.1?lang=bi

We say Hallel all eight days of Chanukah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.683.1?lang=bi

Hallel is associated with Joseph / Yosef , and Hoda'ah (Thanksgiving) with Judah / Yehudah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Sefat_Emet%2C_Genesis%2C_For_Chanuka.23.6?vhe=Sefat_emet,_Piotrk%C3%B3w,_1905-1908&lang=bi

Our Chanukah prayer, Al HaNissim, brings both together:
https://www.sefaria.org/Birkat_Hamazon%2C_Birkat_Hamazon%2C_Blessing_on_the_Land.3?lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

We've arrived at one of the best stories ever written, about Joseph and his brothers, and our mystics have a lot to say about the power of stories...

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

Vayeshev: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.37.3?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Kabbalah teaches that the "real" Torah is actually the Infinite Name of the Infinite Creator.
Just as the infinite, eternal Torah (which is beyond narrative) was "condensed down" into stories about our ancestors, so too it must be revealed in the stories of every generation.
Our own stories are also full of Torah, which serve to guide us on the path of our lives.
Some folks are more uplifted by stories than by Torah.
We should always be speaking about leaving Mitzrayim / Constricted Consciousness:
https://www.sefaria.org/Me'or_Einayim%2C_Vayeshev?lang=bi

Rebbe Nachman: The world says stories are for putting people to sleep, but I say they are for waking people up!
https://www.sefaria.org/Chayei_Moharan.25.1?vhe=OYW&lang=bi

Joseph / The Tzadik (Righteous Person) wants to awaken people to the truth. This can't be done directly, has to be done through dreams, interpretations of dreams, stories, tricks, accusations, tests...
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Theft.3.7?lang=en

Stories create us, give birth to us, and the generations before and after us – we're links in a chain connected by stories:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.60.6?lang=bi

It's best not to reveal what the mysteries in the stories mean, then the stories can be most powerful:
https://www.sefaria.org/Sichot_HaRan.151.15?vhe=rabenubook&lang=bi

People sometimes need their "medicine" to be garbed in everyday speech or stories:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.164.1.2?vhe=Likutei_Moharan_-_rabenubook.com&lang=bi

To awaken people (including ourselves!) from spiritual sleep / not being awake to reality, when regular Torah doesn't work, we can use stories.
The person needs to begin to rouse themselves first, there must be an arousal from below – like Besht said, we can't help folks to return who don't want to:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Moharan.60.6?lang=

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

In this week's episode on Toldot, we explore how the Ba'al Shem Tov and his students took the long-running rivalry and dualism of Jacob and Esau and offered a refreshingly optimistic and holistic perspective on apparent opposites such as good and evil, body and soul.

The teaching shows the development from the classical Kabbalah of the Zohar to the new interpretation of Kabbalah pioneered by the early Chasidic masters, and has profound implications for how we today address our highly polarized societies.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

Start of the parsha:
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.32.5?lang=bi&aliyot=0

We are all - individually and collectively - composed of "substance" and "form" (for example, soul and body, leaders and followers etc) and our work is to integrate these two.

If we want to effect change, we need to ourselves make Teshuvah (return, repair or fix what is broken), rather than simply making demands of others.

And then when we do communicate with others, we include ourselves in our words, meaning we acknowledge that we are also working on whatever the matter in question is, rather than being hostile or condescending:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayishlach.7?lang=bi

Lovingly unite ourselves with others in order to effect change:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayishlach.8.1?lang=bi

Leaders affect the rest of us, and vice versa:
https://www.sefaria.org/Arakhin.17a.3?lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

Happy Moon! Chodesh Tov! In this week's episode we'll explore Jacob's dream of the ladder, which is an absolute centerpiece of Jewish spirituality.

Below are some of the life lessons we can learn from it, according to our spiritual teachers.

Start of the parsha: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.28.10-32.3?lang=bi&aliyot=0

When we unify ourselves with the "lowest level of existence" then our consciousness can expand infinitely: https://www.sefaria.org/Toldot_Yaakov_Yosef%2C_Vayetzei.17?vhe=Eichen_edition._Jerusalem,_2011&lang=bi

When we engage with worldly and material matters, let our consciousness be connected to the infinite heavens: https://www.sefaria.org/Ben_Porat_Yosef%2C_Vayetzei.257?vhe=Eichen_edition._Jerusalem,_2011&lang=bi

To grow, we have to face steeper opposition than we ever have before, and to fail / fall. Awareness (Da'at) will help us realize that an apparent fall is really just a part of the process of growth. Just like the angels, rising and falling is a part of our service.
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Gifting.4.12?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Choshen_Mishpat_2&lang=bi

Hashem is everywhere, even in the places of our shame / suffering etc
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_for_Afternoon_Prayer.7.90?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_2&lang=bi

Life is going to be full of ups and downs, it's natural - try to expect this, and to cultivate equanimity around it:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Yoreh_Deah%2C_Laws_of_Sending_Away_the_Mother_Bird.5.10.1?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Yoreh_Deah_2&lang=bi

A powerful way to embody the ladder, which is rooted in the ground and reaches to infinity, is to speak the truth. The voice is created by our humble and physical human body, yet when we speak the truth, it reaches infinite heights, and can bring us up with it.

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

In this episode, we explore a foundational idea in Kabbalah. The Sefirot (qualities, emanations or characteristics) of the Divine which make up the Tree of Life are said to correspond to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How do we see this in the Torah, and through the commentaries of the Ba'al Shem Tov and his students?

Here's the parsha: https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.25.19?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Firstly, we learn from the Patriarchs that everyone has to find their own unique path of Divine service:

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayetzei.6.1?lang=bi

Abraham, corresponding to Chesed (Overflowing Lovingkindness, Generosity, Oneness) fathers Isaac, corresponding to Gevurah (Contraction / Severity / Lack / Concealment).

Why? Chesed needs Gevurah to manifest in the world; there has to be a lack or need for giving to be possible.

Hence it is through Gevurah (corresponding to Isaac) that Chesed (corresponding to Abraham) can actually come into the world and affect it.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Toldot.1.1?lang=bi

Jacob was simple / perfect (tam) and “dwelt in tents.” (Gen. 25:27) 

Jacob embodies the quality of Tiferet (Beauty, Truth, Compassion or Harmony, which connects the micro to the macro, the specific detail to the universal).

Through learning Torah, which is a microcosm of reality, and also relates to the quality of Tiferet, Jacob raised up sparks / fixed reality in many different places.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Lech_Lecha.22.1?lang=bi

This quality is illustrated by the land folding up under him.

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayetzei.8?lang=bi

How did Jacob find his way to becoming the archetype of Tiferet?

The same way that Tiferet / Rachamim (Compassion) comes to be a dominant force in our Universe...

https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Vayetzei.7.1?lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

In this episode, we'll be exploring Reb Noson / Rav Natan of Breslov's Chasidic interpretations of the Torah, Kabbalah and Midrash, centered on this week's Torah portion.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

Opening of the parsha with Rashi:

https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.23.1?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.23.1&lang2=bi

We need to constantly begin anew, seeing ourselves as if we have not even yet begun our journeys, constantly adding sanctity and vitality each and every day – that is the real meaning of “long life”:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.38?lang=bi

The cave was called Machpeilah or “double” because righteous people, such as those buried there, are constantly re-doubling in sanctity and vitality, and they are constantly making “Teshuvah on Teshuvah” - that is returning to, and re-integrating, the previous steps on their journey into their constantly growing self:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.39.1?lang=bi

It's not possible to acquire sanctity without effort. Therefore Avraham rejected the idea of receiving the cave as a free gift, and instead paid 400 shekel for it, corresponding to the “400 Worlds of Desire” (Zohar):

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Gifting.4.11?lang=bi

Desire, will, Ratzon, is essential to our path:

https://www.sefaria.org/Sichot_HaRan.259?vhe=rabenubook&lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

Reb Noson / Rav Natan of Breslov's Chasidic interpretations of the Torah, Kabbalah and Midrash are deeply resonant for me at the moment, and also providing so much guidance that translates into actual practice in our daily lives.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The amazing teaching from Reb Noson's masterpiece, Likutei Halachot, that this week's entire episode is based on, which says that eating is our ultimate spiritual practice, and which ties together all the sources below:
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Meals.5.49?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_1&lang=bi

Opening of the parsha:
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.18?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Uzza and Azael mentioned in the Talmud:
https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.67b?vhe=William_Davidson_Edition_-_Vocalized_Aramaic&lang=bi

Fuller version of the story of the fallen angels:
https://www.sefaria.org/Zohar%2C_Bereshit.20?vhe=Vocalized_Zohar,_Israel_2013&lang=bi

Moses ascends to heaven to receive the Torah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Shemot_Rabbah.28?lang=bi

The angels appear to be eating:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.48?lang=bi

We can't survive without the Torah:
https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.119.92?lang=bi

Many centuries later, shortly before the birth of Samson/Shimson...the angel refuses food, and the angel's ascent is described as a wonder, like our bodily functions:
https://www.sefaria.org/Judges.13?lang=bi

Resources for the blessing "Asher Yatzar" (to be said after going to the bathroom):
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/how-to-say-the-asher-yatzar-blessing/
https://breslev.com/1076092/

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

Kabbalah teaches that our lives are a quest. How do we keep going in the right direction, one step at a time?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The Infinite one tells Avram to "go forth" or "go to yourself" or "go for your own benefit" -
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.12.1?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en

Also Rashi (on "the land that I will show you"): Hashem didn't tell Avram where he was going, in order to make the place more beloved to him.

"The Land of Israel" (both the actual place and the corresponding spiritual state) is a place of great desire, intimacy and awe. To attain it, we must learn how to appreciate it, which happens through us journeying step by step, overcoming challenge by challenge.
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Washing_One's_Hands_for_a_Meal.6.106?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Orach_Chaim_1&lang=bi

Hashem's telling Avram to "Go forth!" or "Go to yourself!" is a message to every one of us to re-turn to our own highest self, our spiritual root, our soul (Neshamah), which requires many ups and downs.
Wherever we are going, whatever is happening, we need to intend / direct (lekaven) ourselves to our deepest soul-root, and ignore the many distractions and confusions we may encounter from our family, our homeland, our culture or civilization, etc -
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_the_Sabbath.7.75?lang=bi

This journey can also be described a journey to our deepest inner truth, which in other teachings (see the Breishit episode) Reb Noson points out correlates to Rachamim (Compassion). We can cultivate truthfulness / compassion by speaking our truth to our Creator, thereby bringing these qualities into our consciousness and our lives -
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Theft.5.6.1?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Choshen_Mishpat_2&lang=bi

Before every successful step forward, there is some kind of confusion. We need to seek and search relentlessly, trusting in the infinite compassion of the Creator -
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Tachanun.5.8.1?lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

Rashi, the great French medieval commentator on the Torah, comments on the opening of our weekly Torah portion in a very provocative manner.

Through bringing multiple perspectives on the righteousness of Noach, he challenges us to consider: What does it mean to be a righteous person (Tzadik)?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

The Torah calls Noach a Tzadik (Righteous Person).
How is that discerned?
Is it innate, or is it relative to one's context?
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.6.9?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.6.9&lang2=bi

The Tzadik turns the quality of Judgement/Severity to Compassion:
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.73.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

The Righteous fall but keep getting up - seven times:
https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.24.16?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Joseph *just* passes his test to become a Tzadik: https://www.sefaria.org/Sotah.36b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

This is what makes him a Tzadik, and enables him to be a channel for life to flow through him:
https://www.sefaria.org/Zohar%2C_Miketz.4.35?vhe=Vocalized_Zohar,_Israel_2013&lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

The Righteous One is the foundation of the world:
https://www.sefaria.org/Proverbs.10.25?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

All of us are righteous:
https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Sanhedrin.10.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

A Tzadik is someone who enjoys serving G!d:
https://www.sefaria.org/Ba'al_Shem_Tov%2C_Noach.1.1?vhe=Sefer_Baal_Shem_Tov._Lodz,_1938&lang=bi

We're all potential Tzadikim and the world needs multiple Tzadikim to each do their bit: https://www.sefaria.org/Me'or_Einayim%2C_Yitro.30?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate

On Simchat Torah, we conclude our year-long reading of the entire Torah, and then immediately begin it once again.

What is the kabbalistic meaning of this endless circle of Torah?

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

When we've learned the entire Torah, then we understand that we actually don't know anything at all.  
https://www.sefaria.org/Me'or_Einayim%2C_Bereshit.48?vhe=Me%27or_Einayim_--_OYW&lang=bi

Creation could not endure unless Compassion (Rachamim, aka Emet and Tiferet) preceded Judgement (Din) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.1.1?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.1.1&lang2=bi

The greatest thing Moses did was breaking the tablets! - 
https://www.sefaria.org/Deuteronomy.34.12?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Deuteronomy.34.12.3&lang2=bi

The beginning of Hashem's Word (Torah) is Truth (Emet) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Psalms.119.160?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Truth (Emet is Hashem's seal, i.e. identifying mark -
https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.55a.12?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Before Creation, Truth says don't create humanity because they will be full of lies, and Hashem "throws Truth to the ground" (Daniel 8:12), but when the angels protested that Truth is Hashem's own seal (i.e. identifying mark), Hashem relented and said "Let Truth sprout from the earth" (Psalms 85:12) -
https://www.sefaria.org/Bereshit_Rabbah.8.5?lang=bi

The real nature of Truth is to bring close, and not to distance;
The last letters of the first three words of the Torah spell "Emet", and as soon as we end the Torah (with the breaking of the tablets), we begin it again, which demonstrates that we don't know anything at all, and we must never let ourselves be distanced or pushed away by what seems to be the Truth, rather that we have to begin again in every moment because the actual, real, deepest Truth is that Hashem's Compassion knows no limits, and so we should always begin once again to pray - 
https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Yoreh_Deah%2C_Laws_of_Interest.5.27?vhe=Likutei_Halachot:_Yoreh_Deah_1&lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

Your support makes these podcasts possible.
To support future episodes of this podcast, please click here: https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/donate