Lishmah & Kavanah
לשמהPurity of intent — acting for its own sake, l'shem shomayim. The Sfas Emes on lishmah.
109 essays
Bereishit
Noach
Lech Lecha
Chayei Sarah
Toldot
Vayetzei
Vayishlach
Vayeshev
Chanukah
Beshalach
Yitro
Mishpatim
Shekalim
Terumah
Zachor
Ki Tisa
Vayakhel
Vayikra
- Much or little, the heart mattersVayikra · תרל"א · Essay 4
- Sincerity of heart outweighs quantityVayikra · תרל"ו · Essay 2
- Selfless intent draws down the highest holinessVayikra · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Sincere small offering over grand gestureVayikra · תרמ"ב · Essay 3
- Small aleph: Torah contracting into deedVayikra · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
Tzav
Shmini
Acharei Mot
Kedoshim
- Mitzvos draw down the soul's heavenly rootKedoshim · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Inner intent and outer deed in mitzvosKedoshim · תרל"ט · Essay 1
- Binding mitzvos to their supernal rootKedoshim · תרמ"ח · Essay 2
- Covenants of speech, deed, and thoughtKedoshim · תרנ"ד · Essay 2
- Drawing the inner point of holiness outwardKedoshim · תרנ"ט · Essay 1
Emor
Behar
Bechukotai
- Dispute for the sake of HeavenBechukotai · תרל"ה · Essay 4
- From the individual to the collectiveBechukotai · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Mitzvos perfect soul through thought, speech, deedBechukotai · תרמ"ט · Essay 2
- Receiving reward lishmah as avodahBechukotai · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- Torah learned to be lived draws inner light into deedsBechukotai · תרנ"ז · Essay 1
Bamidbar
- Bamidbar 3 תרל"אBamidbar · תרל"א
- Torah lishmah as total bittul of selfBamidbar · תרל"א · Essay 4
- Torah lishmah reveals Divine light in all thingsBamidbar · תרל"ב · Essay 3
- Torah lishmah as internalized Torah in deedBamidbar · תרל"ג · Essay 2
- Learning Torah lishmah opens its inner lightBamidbar · תרל"ד · Essay 5
- Torah lishmah awakens inner essenceBamidbar · תרל"ז · Essay 3
- Oral Torah revealed through toil lishmahBamidbar · תרס"ג · Essay 2
Shavuot
- Shavuot תרמ"ה 6Shavuot · תרמ"ה · Essay 6
- Achdus as the Preparation for the TorahShavuot · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 6
- Learning Torah lishmah sweetens its fire into chesedShavuot · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח - תרמ"ט · Essay 9
- Selfless avodah without seeking recognitionShavuot · תר"נ · Essay 5
- Torah Descends Through Gates Opened BelowShavuot · תרנ"ב · Essay 5
Naso
Beha'alotcha
- Aligning Your Will with HashemBeha'alotcha · תרל"א · Essay 3
- Holding fast to first inspirationBeha'alotcha · תרל"ה · Essay 1
- Matching deeds to one's true willBeha'alotcha · תרל"ו · Essay 3
- Hashem joins thought to deedBeha'alotcha · תרל"ז · Essay 1
- Serving purely for the sake of HeavenBeha'alotcha · תרנ"ה · Essay 2