Bo
באThe Exodus
103 translated essays · 103 total
תרל"א(1870)
Blessing for a Son· Essay 1
“A remembrance for my son, Chanokh Chayim, may he live.” This line appears as a dedicatory note, invoking blessing and life for Chanokh Chayim. It functions as an introduction rather than part of the main teaching.
Plagues Uncovering Divine Speech· Essay 2
My revered grandfather, may his memory be a blessing, taught that the reason ten plagues were necessary… The Sefat Emet begins by citing his grandfather: the ten plagues served a deep spiritual purpose. …was to remove the shell and concealm…
Concealment as Hidden Help· Essay 3
In the Midrash on the verse “For I have hardened…” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash that comments on God's declaration that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. It explains that the Holy One hardened Pharaoh’s heart in order to provide a…
Circumcision Beyond Natural Order· Essay 4
“In the Midrash: ‘Man and beast…’ and ‘At eight days old he shall be circumcised.’” The Sefat Emet opens by citing the Midrash that links the categories of ‘man and beast’ with the command that circumcision occurs on the eighth day. “So tha…
Renewal Through Inner Faith· Essay 5
“This month shall be for you.” The Sefat Emet teaches that this verse refers to the redemption from Egypt. This matter relates to the Exodus from Egypt. Redemption restores a spiritual dynamic that had been missing during exile. For in exil…
Bo תרל"א 5631· Essay 5631
תרל”א זכר של בני חנוך חיים שיחי’ אא”ז מו”ר זצלה”ה הגיד כי מה שהי’ צורך לעשר מכות. להסיר הקליפה והסתר מעשרה מאמרות לעשותן עשרת הדברות עכ”ד ז”ל. The Chidushei Harm explained that the reaso…
תרל"ב(1871)
Revealing God Within Nature· Essay 1
In the Midrash: “A heavy stone… and the anger of a fool…” The Sefat Emet opens by citing a Midrash about heaviness and foolish anger as metaphors for spiritual resistance. My honored grandfather said that after the Exodus, the Ten Utterance…
Constant Renewal from Redemption· Essay 2
“And in the Midrash on ‘This month shall be for you,’ the Holy One said: You have no greater renewal than this.” The Sefat Emet begins by emphasizing that the essential renewal granted to Israel is bound up with this commandment of the new …
Hardened Heart as Redemptive Counsel· Essay 3
“In the Midrash: ‘For I have hardened [his heart].’” The Sefat Emet cites the Midrash, which explains the divine statement about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart. “This means that it was a counsel from the Holy One to harden his heart, so that…
Choosing Submission Despite Hardened Heart· Essay 4
“Until when will you refuse to humble yourself?” This challenges Pharaoh directly: his resistance is not merely political but a spiritual refusal to accept humility before God. “For the Lord had hardened his heart.” The Sefat Emet notes tha…
Oral Torah Within the Mundane· Essay 5
“So that the Torah of God will be in your mouth…” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that the purpose of the Exodus was to enable the Torah to be fully internalized and expressed through a person’s very speech. For the redemption from Egyp…
Bo 5632 תרל"ב
במדרש כובד אבן כו’ וכעם אויל כו’. The Medrash (Shmot Rabba 13:1) Mishlei 27:3): כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ A stone has weight, sand is heavy, But a fool’s vexation outwei…
תרל"ד(1873)
Repairing Creation Through Exodus· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone... and the anger of a fool who provokes before Me with empty words…’” The Sefat Emet begins by citing a Midrash that contrasts true substance with the empty provocations of foolishness, preparing the …
Divine Providence in All Existence· Essay 2
“For I have hardened… and in order that you recount… and you shall know that I am the Lord.” The Sefat Emet explains that the purpose of the wonders in Egypt, including the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, was to bring Israel to a deep knowled…
Drawing Power from the Yetzer· Essay 3
“Completely He will surely drive out.” The Sefat Emet begins by interpreting the verse as indicating a full and decisive expulsion. One may explain that after the labor in Egypt, the Children of Israel were extremely exhausted. This sets th…
Ten Utterances and Ascending Stages· Essay 4
“In the Midrash regarding the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart.” The Sefat Emet introduces the Midrash that asks why Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of divine measure-for-measure. “If one deals with scof…
Bo 5634 תרל"ד
תרל”ד 1 במדרש כובד אבן כו’ וכעס אויל שמכעיס לפני בדברים בטלים כו’. ד”א כ”א ונטל החול אלו ישראל. Medrash (Shemot Rabba 13:1 on the pasuk in Mishlei 27:3) כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כ…
תרל"ה(1874)
Fearless Before the Yetzer· Essay 1
“Come, etc., for I have hardened, etc.” The verse teaches that God Himself hardened Pharaoh’s heart. To make known to every Jew, to strengthen his heart not to fear the great power of the evil inclination and the many concealments surroundi…
Evil Inclination Forcing Redemption· Essay 2
Further in the Midrash: “The anger of a fool is heavy; were it not for the fury of the enemy I would fear,” etc. The Sefat Emet begins by citing a Midrash that frames Pharaoh’s stubbornness as divinely intensified. This means that God harde…
Concealing the Earthly Eye· Essay 3
“And it covered… the eye of the land, and it could not see.” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the plague (of locusts) blocked the ‘eye of the land,’ meaning the ordinary mode of physical perception was obstructed. As Rashi says: “The on…
Knowing God Through Retelling· Essay 4
“So that you may tell … and you shall know that I am the Lord …” The Sefat Emet hints that this verse teaches a direct link between recounting the Exodus and attaining knowledge of God. This verse alludes that through telling the story of t…
Binding Wisdom to the Body· Essay 5
The Maggid wrote regarding why we do not put on tefillin on Shabbat: the Rashbam explained “totafot” literally, like “write them on the tablet of your heart,” to remember His unity and the Exodus always. The Sefat Emet cites the Maggid’s te…
Bo 5635 תרל"ה
תרל”ה 1 בא כו’ כי אני הכבדתי כו’. Come to Paroh…for I have hardened his heart (Shmot 10:1) להודיע לכל איש ישראל לחזק לבו שלא לירא מגודל כחו של היצה”ר ורוב הסתרות שיש לכל דבר שבקדושה כי גם זה רק מהשי”…
תרל"ו(1875)
Strength Granted to Opposition· Essay 1
“Come… for I have hardened… in order that I may set My signs… and in order that you may recount…” The Sefat Emet begins by reading the verse as describing God’s deliberate hardening of Pharaoh, so that Israel would gain strength of heart an…
Refining the Final Point· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘Not a hoof shall remain… from it we shall take to serve…’.” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that Israel insists nothing be left behind in Egypt, because everything must ultimately be elevated to divine service. “The mean…
Uprooting Evil at Its Source· Essay 3
“In the verse ‘To Him who struck Egypt through their firstborn,’ these are acts of kindness.” The Sefat Emet begins by asserting that the plague of the firstborn was itself a great kindness. It seems that striking their firstborn was a grea…
Bo 5636 תרל"ו
תרל”ו 1 בא א”פ כו’ כי אני הכבדתי כו’ למען שתי אותותי כו’ ולמען תספר כו’. (Shmot 10:1-2): וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בֹּ֖א אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֑ה כִּֽי־אֲנִ֞י הִכְבַּ֤דְתִּי אֶת־לִבּוֹ֙ וְאֶת־לֵ֣ב עֲבָדָ֔…
תרל"ז(1876)
Israel Revealing Divine Kingship· Essay 1
In the Midrash: “The weight of a stone… the anger of a fool,” meaning that they provoke before Me with empty matters. The Sefat Emet opens by citing the Midrash to illustrate how folly and meaningless provocations veil divine truth. Know th…
Greatness Hidden by Exile· Essay 2
The generation of the Egyptian exile appears to have been composed of great people. The Sefat Emet opens by asserting that, in their essence, the Israelites in Egypt were spiritually elevated. As we see, in a short moment they turned around…
Extracting Holy Sparks from Egypt· Essay 3
“In the verse: ‘Please speak… and they shall ask…’” The Sefat Emet begins by focusing on God’s instruction to ask the Egyptians for their wealth before the Exodus. “Our Sages taught: This was so that that righteous one (Abraham) should not …
Exodus Purifying Torah Study· Essay 4
“And it shall be for a sign… and for a remembrance… so that the Torah of the Lord shall be in your mouth…” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that this verse teaches the purpose of the signs and remembrance: to bring a person to a state in…
Bo 5637 תרל"ז
במדרש כובד אבן כו’ כעס אויל שמכעיסין לפני בדברים בטלים כו’. Medrash (Shemot Rabba 13:1 on the pasuk in Mishlei 27:3) כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ A stone has weight, sand is heav…
תרל"ח(1877)
Free Will as Creation's Wonder· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone… and it is not labor.’” The Sefat Emet opens with the Midrash that contrasts true labor with something that only appears heavy but involves no real exertion. “In what shall I toil? In those who provok…
Redemption Widening the Inner Self· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘So that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth.’” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the verse frames the purpose of the mitzvah as enabling God’s Torah to be expressed through one’s mouth. “Scripture makes the Torah depe…
Bo 5638 תרל"ח
במדרש כובד אבן כו’ ואינו יגיעה. במה אני ייגע במי שמכעיס לפני בד”ב כו’. The Midrash quotes the pasuk in Mishlei: כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ A stone has weight, sand is hea…
תרל"ט(1878)
Concealment Serving Divine Glory· Essay 1
In the Midrash: “For I have hardened [his heart], He said to him.” The Sefat Emet begins by invoking the Midrash that comments on God’s declaration that He hardened Pharaoh’s heart. “The weight of a stone… the anger of a fool is heavier…” T…
From Utterances to Commandments· Essay 2
“In the name of my honored grandfather, of blessed memory: the Ten Utterances, the Ten Plagues, and the Ten Commandments are all one.” The Sefat Emet conveys a teaching from his grandfather, the Chiddushei HaRim, that these three sets of “t…
Israel's Unchanging Inner Love· Essay 3
In the Midrash: “Withdraw your hands from idolatry,” for it was difficult for them to separate from idolatry. The Sefat Emet opens by explaining that Israel’s attachment to idolatry in Egypt was a real struggle, and the command to pull away…
Bo 5639 תרל"ט
במדרש כי אני הכבדתי א”ל. כובד אבן כו’ כעס אויל כבד כו’. The Midrash quotes the pasuk in Mishlei: כֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ A stone has weight, sand is heavy, But a…
תר"מ(1879)
Torah Letters Within Creation· Essay 1
“In the verse ‘so that I may set these My signs.’” The Sefat Emet begins by focusing on the phrasing of the verse introducing the purpose of the plagues. Rashi explains that “I will set” is a future‑tense expression. Rashi highlights that G…
Divine Power Within Opposition· Essay 2
“And in the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone…’” The Sefat Emet cites a Midrashic phrase that introduces the theme of great and wondrous Divine strength. “This means that this is an exceedingly wondrous strength.” He explains that the idea be…
Mitzvos Refining the Body· Essay 3
“In the verse: ‘And it shall be for a sign upon your hand… so that the Torah of Hashem shall be in your mouth.’” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the verse frames tefillin as a ‘sign’ whose purpose is to place the Torah of Hashem into a…
Bo 5640 תר"מ
בפסוק למען שתי אותותי אלה. פירש”י שאשית לשון עתיד. Rashi on the words למען שתי (Shemot10:1) explains that it is future tense. “(Come to Paroh) So that I may place my wonders on Paroh”. ויש לפרש נמי בלשון עבר כי כל אלה המעש…
תרמ"א(1880)
Sustaining Creation Through Testimony· Essay 1
“Come… so that I may place My signs… and so that you may recount… and you will know that I am the Lord.” The verse teaches that the purpose of the signs and the recounting of them is to lead to knowledge of God. These two reasons follow the…
Renewing the World Through Israel· Essay 2
“Regarding the verse: ‘This month shall be for you…’” The Sefat Emet opens by focusing on the commandment of sanctifying the new month. “And the Sages taught that the Torah should have begun from here.” The first mitzvah given to Israel is …
Unity Lifting the Lowly· Essay 3
In the Midrash on the verse “And you shall take a bundle of hyssop.” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash on the command to take a bundle of hyssop for the Passover rite. This teaches that even though they were lowly, as it is writte…
Remembering the Sacred Beginning· Essay 4
In the verse “Sanctify to Me every firstborn…,” and Moses said “Remember… with a strong hand He brought [you out]… and chametz shall not be eaten… in the month of Aviv.” The Sefat Emet notes that these phrases form a continuous flow: the co…
Bo 5641 תרמ"א
1 בא א”פ כו’ למען שתי אותותי כו’ ולמען תספר כו’ וידעתם כי אני ה’. “Come to Paroh… so that I can place my wonders on him, …and so that you shall tell your children…” (Shemot 10:1-2) ב’ הט…
תרמ"ב(1881)
Becoming Wholly Human First· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone… and the anger of a fool is heavier…’” The Sefat Emet begins by invoking a Midrash that contrasts the heaviness of physical objects with the even greater weight of foolish anger. He uses this as a con…
Joy in Accepting Mitzvos· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘Their kneading bowls were bound… upon their shoulders,’ they cherished the commandments.” The Sefat Emet explains that Israel’s act of carrying the dough demonstrated their love for the mitzvot. For this was the first comman…
Bo 5642 תרמ"ב
במדרש כובד אבן כו’ וכעס אויל כבד כו’. כי הנה עיקר הבריאה. האדם. היינו איש ישראל כמ”ש אתם קרוים אדם. והוא פנימיות הבריאה. והעשרה מאמרות הם קיום הבריאה בכלל לכן הם לדצח”מ. ועשרת הדברות שייכים רק לאדם כי תיקון וקיום האד…
תרמ"ג(1882)
Renewal Through Torah Revelation· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone…’—these are Israel.” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which identifies Israel with the ‘weight of a stone,’ meaning a people possessing spiritual substance capable of tipping the scales of…
Free Will of Righteous· Essay 2
In the Midrash: “If to the scoffers, He will scoff; but to the humble He gives grace.” The Sefat Emet introduces the principle that divine response mirrors a person’s inner state—mockery returns mockery, humility draws grace. The idea is th…
Elevating Holy Sparks Upward· Essay 3
“In the verse: ‘Speak, please… and they shall request… vessels of silver…’ and the Children of Israel acted according to the word of Moses.” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that Israel’s request for Egyptian vessels fulfilled a divine intent…
Bo 5643 תרמ"ג
במדרש כובד אבן כו’ אלו ישראל כו’. ע”פ המשנה בעשרה מאמרות נה”ע כו’ לתת שכר טוב לצדיקים כו’. והנה כ”ז הסדר נתקיים שהקב”ה ברא העולם בבחי’ הצימצום כמ”ש שאמר לעולמו די. וזה הי’ עב…
תרמ"ד(1883)
Israel as World's Foundation· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: Israel is called ‘even’ (stone) — the weighty stone.” The Sefat Emet introduces the Midrash that refers to Israel as a foundational ‘stone.’ “And He lifted the sand — Israel — that I lifted, etc.” This describes a second as…
Ancestral Roots of Deeds· Essay 2
In the verse: “And your houses will be filled… such as your fathers have never seen… until this day.” The Sefat Emet notes that this plague involved something unprecedented even for the ancestors, demanding explanation of what “your fathers…
Tefillin Revealing Inner Torah· Essay 3
“Concerning the commandment of tefillin… that they shall be for a sign… and for a remembrance… so that the Torah of Hashem shall be in your mouth.” The Sefat Emet opens by explaining the purpose of tefillin as creating a sign and remembranc…
Bo 5645 תרמ"ד
במדרש כובד אבן ישראל שנק’ אבן. ונטל החול ישראל שנטלתי כו’. פי’ שהם ב’ בחי’. אבן הוא היסוד שכל העולם נברא רק בשביל ישראל כמ”ש חז”ל בראשית בשביל ישראל שנק’ ראשית. והם יסוד של כל העולם לכן נקR…
תרמ"ה(1884)
Refining the Body First· Essay 1
“In the verse ‘This month shall be for you.’” The Sefat Emet begins by focusing on the verse that inaugurates Israel’s national sanctification through the commandments. “It is taught that the Torah should have begun only from ‘This month sh…
Purified Through Exile's Trials· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘He shall surely drive you out…’” The Sefat Emet begins by focusing on the phrase emphasizing complete removal. He explains: no trace of the impurity of exile was to remain in them, as we see that they immediately became call…
Binding Deeds Through Tefillin· Essay 3
Regarding the commandment of tefillin. The Sefat Emet opens by framing the entire teaching around the spiritual nature of tefillin. They serve as a sign upon your arm and as a remembrance between your eyes so that the Torah of God will be i…
Bo תרמ"ה 5645· Essay 5645
בפסוק החודש הזה לכם. דאיתא לא הי’ צריך התורה להתחיל רק מהחודש הזה. מ”ט פתח בבראשית. משום כח מעשיו הגיד כו’. פי’ בנ”י מיוחדין הם להתורה שהיא למעלה מן הטבע ושם יש התחדשות תמיד דכ’ א”כ חדש תחת השמש. למ…
Bo תרמ"ה
בפסוק החודש הזה לכם. דאיתא לא הי’ צריך התורה להתחיל רק מהחודש הזה. מ”ט פתח בבראשית. משום כח מעשיו הגיד כו’. פי’ בנ”י מיוחדין הם להתורה שהיא למעלה מן הטבע ושם יש התחדשות תמיד דכ’ א”כ חדש תחת השמש. למ…
תרמ"ו(1885)
תרמ"ז(1886)
Refining Good from Evil· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘The weight of a stone…’” The Sefat Emet opens by referencing a Midrash about the heaviness or weightiness of creation. “For behold, in the Exodus from Egypt there was a rectification of all the works of Creation.” The rede…
Inner Souls Beyond Garments· Essay 2
Rashi, citing the Mekhilta, brings that R. Meir ben Ḥarash expounded the verse “And I passed over you… your breasts were firm and your hair grown, and you were naked and bare.” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the Midrash interprets thi…
Sanctifying Body and Soul· Essay 3
“In the section ‘Sanctify to Me,’ etc., ‘and it shall be… as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, so that the Torah of the Lord shall be in your mouth.’” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the verse about tefillin, emphasiz…
תרמ"ח(1887)
תרמ"ט(1888)
Written and Oral Torah Roots· Essay 1
“In the verse: ‘Come… for I have hardened… so that I may place My signs within him, and so that you may recount… and you shall know…’” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that the Torah itself explains the dual purpose of the plagues: internal s…
Nature Changed for Israel· Essay 2
“In the verse: ‘This month shall be for you.’” The Sefat Emet opens by addressing the meaning of the verse that introduces the mitzvah of sanctifying the new month. For the Holy One, blessed be He, changed all of nature during the Exodus fo…
Shabbos Souls Like Angels· Essay 3
And regarding the verse: “And it shall be… as a sign upon your hand and for a remembrance between your eyes, so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth…” The Sefat Emet opens with the Torah’s description of tefillin as a sign and a rem…
Renewed Souls Through Redemption· Essay 4
“In the Midrash: ‘This renewal shall be for you — you have no other renewal,’ etc.” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash, which teaches that the renewal given at the Exodus is the essential and primary renewal for Israel. “For at the…
Israel as Sensing Heart· Essay 5
In the Midrash: “Any foreigner shall not eat of it,” as in the verse, “The heart knows the bitterness of its soul, and in its joy no stranger shall share.” The Sefat Emet begins by linking the Midrash to the verse about the heart’s inner ex…
Mitzvos Recalling the Exodus· Essay 6
“In the verse: ‘And it shall be… for a sign… and for a remembrance… that the Torah of the Lord may be in your mouth.’” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the Torah associates the commandments with the remembrance of the Exodus, emphasizin…
תרנ"א(1890)
Exile Refining Good from Evil· Essay 1
In the verse: “And also a mixed multitude...”. The Sefat Emet begins by referencing the Torah’s mention of the mixed multitude that left Egypt with Israel. For behold, the entire exile was meant to clarify the mixture of good and evil. Exil…
Tefillin Refining Thought Speech Action· Essay 2
The commandment of tefillin as a sign upon your hand. The Sefat Emet begins by framing tefillin as a divine sign placed upon a person’s physical actions. As a remembrance between your eyes. This expands the mitzvah to the realm of awareness…
תרנ"ב(1891)
תרנ"ג(1892)
Remembering Exodus Reveals Holiness· Essay 1
“In the section ‘Sanctify to Me every firstborn…’ and Moses said: ‘Remember…’ and ‘You shall keep… this statute…’” The Sefat Emet opens by noting the sequence of commands: sanctification of the firstborn, remembrance, and guarding. These in…
Pure Renewal of Redemption· Essay 2
“In the Midrash: ‘Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord.’” The Sefat Emet begins by citing the Midrash to frame Israel’s unique spiritual status as a nation directly connected to God. “When the Holy One chose His world, He established i…
תרנ"ד(1893)
Nissan as Inner Renewal· Essay 1
In the Midrash: “This month shall be for you”—once the Holy One chose Israel, He established for them a new moon of redemption. The Sefat Emet begins by stressing that the mitzvah of sanctifying the new month expresses Israel’s unique ident…
Tefillin Awakening Torah Within· Essay 2
In the verse, “And it shall be for a sign… so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth… with a strong hand God brought you out… and you shall keep… from days to days.” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that this verse links tefillin, Torah…
Freedom from Nature for Torah· Essay 3
“And the explanation of ‘so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth’—is there a Torah that is not from God?” The Sefat Emet asks why the verse emphasizes “Torat Hashem,” since all Torah is divine. “But the meaning is that everything th…
תרנ"ה(1894)
Illuminating Exile Through Renewal· Essay 1
“In the Midrash on ‘This month shall be for you,’ (it says) ‘Who is this that looks forth…’.” The Sefat Emet begins by citing a Midrash that links the verse about the new month to a vision of Israel shining forth. It interprets this regardi…
Becoming One Bundle Through Ancestors· Essay 2
“In the Midrash: ‘You shall take a bundle of hyssop’—I make you a bundle unto Myself, even though you are lowly like hyssop, in the merit of the Patriarchs…” The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that God binds Israel together as one unit thr…
Daily Redemption Renewing Torah· Essay 3
“In the section of ‘Kadesh’—‘Remember this day ... when you went out of Egypt ... and it shall be for a sign ... and for a remembrance ... so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth ... and you shall keep this statute ... from days to …
תרנ"ו(1895)
Exodus as Renewal of Creation· Essay 1
“In the Midrash: ‘A stone is heavy… and the anger of a fool is heavier…’” The Sefat Emet opens with a Midrash that contrasts physical heaviness with the destructive weight of foolish anger, preparing to explain how misuse of the world burde…
Sanctifying Time Through Speech· Essay 2
“This month shall be for you.” The Sefat Emet opens by noting that this verse initiates a new spiritual capacity granted to Israel. Our sages explained this regarding the sanctification of the new moon. The power to declare the new month is…
Each Jew a Living Torah· Essay 3
Concerning the commandment of tefillin, “so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth.” The Sefat Emet begins by linking tefillin to the purpose of internalizing Torah. It is taught that the entire Torah is compared to tefillin. This mea…
תרנ"ז(1896)
Drawing Torah Without Suffering· Essay 1
In the verse: “And it shall be for you as a sign… so that the Torah of the Lord shall be in your mouth.” The Sefat Emet opens by focusing on the purpose of the “sign,” linking tefillin with making the Torah present and alive within a person…
Protective and Glorious Spiritual Garments· Essay 2
“It is stated: ‘Your breasts are firm and your hair grows, and you were naked and bare.’” The Sefat Emet cites a verse describing spiritual states of preparedness and vulnerability, which he will interpret as metaphors for commandments and …
תרנ"ח(1897)
תרנ"ט(1898)
Longing That Imprints the Mitzvah· Essay 1
“In the verse: ‘Their kneading bowls were wrapped in their garments.’” The Sefat Emet opens by focusing on why the Torah emphasizes that the leftover dough was tied within their clothing. “The Mekhilta says: Did they not have animals? Rathe…
Garments Woven from Mitzvos· Essay 2
And in the Midrash on “Va’era,” the Holy One, blessed be He, is called the King of Glory. The Sefat Emet opens by citing the Midrash, which describes God as the “King of Glory,” a title emphasizing divine majesty and transcendence. A human …
Two Chambers of the Heart· Essay 3
In the Midrash: “This is the statute of the Passover.” The Sefat Emet opens by citing the Midrashic link between the concept of a statute and the laws of the Passover offering. “The heart knows the bitterness of its own soul…” This verse is…
Daily Renewal of Torah Letters· Essay 4
“In the verse: ‘And it shall be… for a sign… so that the Torah of God shall be in your mouth… and you shall keep the statute… from days to days.’” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the verse links the signs and statutes with the continua…
תרס"א(1900)
Israel Testifying to Divine Will· Essay 1
“In the verse: ‘For I have hardened… and in order that you recount…’.” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that God’s hardening of Pharaoh’s heart is linked to Israel’s mission of telling and revealing God’s acts. “And in the Midrash: ‘The weig…
Returning to the Patriarchs' Roots· Essay 2
“In the Midrash on ‘This month shall be for you,’ what is written? ‘And you shall take a bundle of hyssop,’ etc. This is the meaning of ‘From the tops of the rocks I see him,’ etc., and it concludes that the Patriarchs are the foundation of…
תרס"ב(1901)
Israel Set Apart Anew· Essay 1
“This month shall be for you…” Our Sages said that the Torah should have begun only from ‘This month,’ for it is the first commandment given to Israel. The Sefat Emet begins by explaining that the Torah’s true starting point should have bee…
Drawing Away and Drawing Close· Essay 2
“And in this first commandment all the commandments were included.” The Sefat Emet teaches that the initial commandment connected to the Exodus contains within it the root of the entire Torah, because it establishes the foundational spiritu…
תרס"ג(1902)
תרס"ד(1903)
Redemption of Body and Soul· Essay 1
“All the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” The Sefat Emet begins by noting that the exodus included every aspect of God’s “hosts,” implying a total, all‑encompassing liberation. “‘All’—to include the hosts above and below.…
Creation Through Twenty-Two Letters· Essay 2
The children of Israel were called the hosts of God. This means Israel is identified as the divine “army,” those who manifest God’s presence in the world. For it is written: “It is a sign in His army.” The word “sign” hints that Israel embo…