שפת אמת

Inyanim

Topics

The Sfas Emes returns again and again to a handful of luminous themes. Follow any one of them across the whole of his Torah — every parsha, festival, and year.

Shabbosשבת

The Shabbos within the week — rest, renewal, and the revelation of the inner point. The Sfas Emes on Shabbos.

625 essays

Torahתורה

Torah as the blueprint of creation and the light that sustains the world. The Sfas Emes on Torah and its study.

395 essays

Redemptionגאולה

Geulah — the redemption hidden within the exile, and the work of revealing it. The Sfas Emes on redemption.

333 essays

Bittulביטול

Self-nullification before Hashem — emptying the self so the Divine can be revealed. The Sfas Emes on bittul.

282 essays

Holinessקדושה

Kedushah — sanctity drawn into time, place, and the Jewish people. The Sfas Emes on holiness.

279 essays

Teshuvahתשובה

Return and repentance — the soul finding its way back to its Source. Teachings of the Sfas Emes on teshuvah.

272 essays

Exileגלות

Galus — concealment, descent, and the spark of light it conceals. The Sfas Emes on exile.

234 essays

The Inner Pointנקודה פנימית

The nekudah penimis — the hidden point of Divine vitality within every created thing, every moment, and every Jewish soul. The recurring heart of the Sfas Emes.

229 essays

Yaakov Avinuיעקב אבינו

The middah of emes and the bridge between worlds. The Sfas Emes on Yaakov Avinu.

210 essays

Mitzvosמצוות

The commandments as vessels for connection to Hashem. The Sfas Emes on mitzvos.

203 essays

Bris Milahברית מילה

The covenant of circumcision — the eternal sign of the bond between Yisrael and Hashem. The Sfas Emes on bris milah.

182 essays

Emunahאמונה

Faith and trust in Hashem — the foundation of avodah. The Sfas Emes on emunah.

180 essays

Avraham Avinuאברהם אבינו

The first of the Avos — chesed, the journey of faith, and the soul-root he planted in Yisrael. The Sfas Emes on Avraham.

177 essays

Yosef HaTzaddikיוסף

The tzaddik who guarded the covenant in exile. The Sfas Emes on Yosef.

177 essays

The Soulנשמה

The neshamah — the Divine spark within, and its longing to return. The Sfas Emes on the soul.

175 essays

Unityאחדות

Achdus — the oneness of Hashem reflected in the unity of Yisrael. The Sfas Emes on unity.

173 essays

The Mishkanמשכן

The Tabernacle — a dwelling place for Hashem built from the offerings of the heart. The Sfas Emes on the Mishkan.

144 essays

Lightאור

The hidden light of creation, drawn into the world through Torah and mitzvos. The Sfas Emes on Divine light.

140 essays

Bnei Yisraelבני ישראל

Klal Yisrael — the Jewish people as a single soul rooted in Hashem. The Sfas Emes on Bnei Yisrael.

136 essays

Moshe Rabbeinuמשה רבינו

The faithful shepherd who drew the Torah down to Yisrael. The Sfas Emes on Moshe Rabbeinu.

134 essays

The Shechinahשכינה

The indwelling Divine Presence among Yisrael. The Sfas Emes on the Shechinah.

132 essays

Avodahעבודה

Divine service — the daily labor of refining the self and serving Hashem. The Sfas Emes on avodas Hashem.

123 essays

The Tzaddikצדיק

The righteous one — the channel who draws light down to the world. The Sfas Emes on the tzaddik.

115 essays

Humilityענווה

Anavah — lowliness and the open vessel it creates. The Sfas Emes on humility.

111 essays

Amalekעמלק

The archetypal adversary of Yisrael — doubt, coldness, and the avodah of erasing it. The Sfas Emes on Amalek.

111 essays

Deveikusדביקות

Cleaving to Hashem — clinging to the Divine in thought, word, and deed. The Sfas Emes on deveikus.

110 essays

Blessingברכה

Brachah — the channel of Divine abundance into the world. The Sfas Emes on blessing.

110 essays

Renewalהתחדשות

Hischadshus — the constant renewal of creation and the soul. The Sfas Emes on renewal.

93 essays

Creationבריאה

The world as a continuous act of Divine speech, and the purpose hidden within it. The Sfas Emes on creation.

92 essays

The Yetzer Haraיצר הרע

The evil inclination — the inner adversary and the avodah of overcoming it. The Sfas Emes on the yetzer hara.

91 essays

Simchahשמחה

Joy in avodas Hashem — the simchah that opens the heart. The Sfas Emes on simchah.

89 essays

Tefillahתפילה

Prayer as the avodah of the heart. The Sfas Emes on tefillah.

88 essays

Chesedחסד

Loving-kindness — the outflow of Divine generosity into the world. The Sfas Emes on chesed.

78 essays

Truthאמת

Emes — the Language of Truth itself, the seal of Hashem and the thread of the inner point. The Sfas Emes on truth.

58 essays

Eretz Yisraelארץ ישראל

The holy land and its place in the inner life of Yisrael. The Sfas Emes on Eretz Yisrael.

47 essays

Yitzchak Avinuיצחק אבינו

The middah of gevurah and awe. The Sfas Emes on Yitzchak Avinu.

34 essays