left the Jewish people with generational PTSD. In addition to the trauma every society carries from generations of war, poverty, and survival, which already gives all of humanity a baseline of inherited PTSD. And on...
“I give closeness first, and then I hope this person chooses me.” That matters because not every part of us thinks like an adult. Some parts of the nervous system are more like a two-year-old. They learn from repeated...
Choni Hamagol [known for miracles through prayer]: “Either companionship or death” (Taanis 23a) "Life is not worth living if one’s colleagues do not treat him with the respect to which he is accustomed" - Rashi.
It is also about learning to recognize when I have already eaten enough. For example: “I ate enough protein by 9:00 p.m. I don’t need to keep eating just because I still have the urge to eat.
[World to Come belief explained in a linked post at the end.] If darkness [selfish desire] were much weaker, human nature itself would have to be different. Why?
Chassidus explains why. The goal of spiritual growth is not only to know the truth. It is to improve your personality so you can reveal more goodness in the world.
taught that the nigun “The Beinoni” should be learned and sung repeatedly because it can train the way a person responds to inner struggle. The nigun carries a feeling of struggle, effort, and return.
The Creator wants our relationship with Him to include belief because belief makes a stronger kind of intimacy possible. Deep intimacy requires trust. Trust means remaining connected even when everything is not fully...
They are how intimacy with the Creator grows. Rabbi Avira taught that the ministering angels asked the Creator: “How can You show special favor to the Jewish people?
The Shema teaches the mind what to notice so the nervous system can begin to feel awe, pleasure, and love. “Listen, Israel: G-d [The Creator] is our Lord, G-d is one.” According to Chassidus, belief in one Creator...
Moses gives two reasons for G-d's choice of Yisrael: He found them worthy of His love, and because of His oath to their Patriarchs. The reason for His love is not given, but it may be because He knew Yisrael's...
It is fear of building in public. Building in public means other people will see your mistakes. 1. They will see your first version before it is your best version.
Chassidus explains its purpose. Together, they explain why healing has always been humanity's greatest responsibility. Humanity has needed more than 5,000 years to begin learning how to explain that the Creator needs us.
Humility means seeing yourself and other people honestly, then practicing compassionate boundaries that respect both your needs and theirs. People-pleasing means making another person’s emotional comfort your...
It is what kind of cause makes the most sense. Some people believe the source of existence is ultimately blind, without intelligence, free choice, or purpose. Others believe the source of existence is an infinite...
A question I’m often asked is, “What is a soulmate?” My answer is simple: whoever you marry is your soulmate. Chabad Chassidus teaches that even something as small as the color of the clothing you wear is not random...
That means no experience, emotion, or idea can fully contain Him. So how can human beings have a relationship with Someone who is beyond every description? By relating to what He continually gives.
A person notices the wisdom in creation, the way life is continually given, the importance of human choices, and the deeper patterns found in Torah and experience. These patterns help the mind recognize that the...
That may help explain why I have noticed that Gen Z Jews from many different backgrounds seem more open than previous generations to the idea that the Lubavitcher Rebbe is the Nasi HaDor: the leader of the generation...
Often they are choosing the only form of comfort they can still feel. When a person has learned to survive through fear, shame, or emotional numbness, physical comfort may feel much more real than a relationship with...
Instead, He created a world where humanity slowly becomes trustworthy enough to receive more of it. As we grow in humility, curiosity, compassion, responsibility, and healthy boundaries, we become more capable of...
“In a deeper sense, they exiled themselves.” - Zohar They did not yet know how to live in relationship with a Being whose giving was more vulnerable than theirs. The Creator gave them existence, life, pleasure...
It is believing you are treasured, that your life has meaning, and that your choices matter. That belief is strengthened every time you notice yourself choosing honesty, responsibility, kindness, courage, or healthy...
Author: Binyamin Rutstein
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