The Shevatim & Degalim
שבטים ודגליםThe twelve tribes and their banners — each shevet a distinct path within one people. The Sfas Emes on the shevatim.
129 essays
Vayetzei
Vayeshev
- Vayeshev 3 תרל"אVayeshev · תרל"א
- Faith Amid SufferingVayeshev · תרל"ד · Essay 3
- Intent and Divine MeritVayeshev · תרל"ז · Essay 3
- Divine Providence in Joseph’s DescentVayeshev · תרל"ז · Essay 4
- Spiritual Purpose of the BrothersVayeshev · תר"מ · Essay 3
- Divine Purpose in Tribal ConflictVayeshev · תרמ"ו · Essay 1
- Self‑Nullification for Spiritual RepairVayeshev · תרמ"ו · Essay 2
- Esau’s Lost Light CollectedVayeshev · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Spiritual Refinement and Shabbat UnityVayeshev · תר"נ · Essay 1
- Unity vs. Division in HolinessVayeshev · תרנ"ב · Essay 1
- Limitless Mercy and LineageVayeshev · תרנ"ז · Essay 2
- Tribes and Joseph’s Spiritual RolesVayeshev · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
- Prophecy Beyond “Ko” and “Zeh”Vayeshev · תרס"ב - תרס"ג · Essay 3
- Teshuvah through self-nullificationVayeshev · תרס"ד · Essay 2
- Written Torah vs. Oral TorahVayeshev · תרס"ה · Essay 1
Mikeitz
Chanukah
- Unity of the TribesChanukah · תרל"ט · Essay 4
- Hanukkah and Final RedemptionChanukah · תרל"ט · Essay 5
- Tribal Gates of HolinessChanukah · תרמ"ב - תרמ"ג · Essay 11
- Hanukkah and Future RedemptionChanukah · תרמ"ו · Essay 4
- Hanukkah’s Eternal Spiritual StructureChanukah · תר"נ · Essay 7
- Gates of Holiness and ProtectionChanukah · תרנ"ג · Essay 4
- Eternal Light of the Chanukah OfferingChanukah · תרנ"ז · Essay 6
- Opening the Gates of GratitudeChanukah · תרס"ג · Essay 4
Vayigash
- Unity Through Joseph and the TribesVayigash · תרל"ה · Essay 3
- Repentance Through SufferingVayigash · תרל"ז · Essay 3
- Unity of Tribes and Divine SpeechVayigash · תרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Unity of Judah and JosephVayigash · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Unity Through Divine KnowledgeVayigash · תרמ"ז · Essay 2
- Unity of Israel’s RootsVayigash · תרנ"ג · Essay 1
- Unity of the TribesVayigash · תרנ"ו · Essay 1
- Unity Through Divine PurposeVayigash · תרס"ד · Essay 1
Vayechi
- Shabbat Sustenance and Divine FlowVayechi · תרל"ד · Essay 2
- Divine Channels of TorahVayechi · תרמ"ג · Essay 1
- Spiritual Unity and BlessingVayechi · תרמ"ד · Essay 3
- Vayechi תרמ"וVayechi · תרמ"ו
- Spiritual Role of the TribesVayechi · תרמ"ו · Essay 1
- Vayechi תרמ"זVayechi · תרמ"ז
- Unity of the Tribes’ Spiritual MissionVayechi · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Sanctifying Strength Through UnityVayechi · תרמ"ז · Essay 3
- Spiritual Ascent Beyond the TribesVayechi · תרמ"ט · Essay 3
- Unity of Yosef and YehudahVayechi · תרנ"ה · Essay 2
- Jacob Unifying Voice and SpeechVayechi · תרנ"ז · Essay 2
- Renewal Through TeshuvahVayechi · תרס"א · Essay 2
- Divine Will in the TribesVayechi · תרס"א · Essay 3
Shemot
- Inner Holiness Within ExileShemot · תרל"א · Essay 1
- Shmot תרל"א 5631Shemot · תרל"א · Essay 5631
- Tribes as Divine ConstellationsShemot · תרמ"ו · Essay 1
- Tribes as Stars of UnityShemot · תר"נ · Essay 1
- Eternal Souls of IsraelShemot · תרנ"ד · Essay 2
- Tribal Legacy and Eternal LightShemot · תרנ"ו · Essay 1
- Creation Rectified Through IsraelShemot · תרנ"ח · Essay 2
Vaeira
Beshalach
Tetzaveh
Tzav
Pesach
Emor
Bechukotai
Bamidbar
- Hashem's choice outweighs all human deedsBamidbar · תרל"א · Essay 3
- Uncovering the true inner point and honoring HashemBamidbar · תרל"ב · Essay 2
- Leaping to holiness through the AvosBamidbar · תרל"ד · Essay 2
- Yearning that binds one to HashemBamidbar · תרל"ד · Essay 4
- The banners and cleaving above one's levelBamidbar · תרל"ה · Essay 4
- Each Jew's unique name and rootBamidbar · תרל"ו · Essay 3
- Emptiness merits the form of TorahBamidbar · תרל"ז · Essay 2
- Rest and fulfillment through bittul and Hashem's salvationBamidbar · תרל"ח · Essay 1
- Each soul's root found through TorahBamidbar · תרל"ט · Essay 1
- The banners restore the baal teshuvah's grasp on his soul-rootBamidbar · תר"מ · Essay 2
- Bnei Yisrael join nature to its rootBamidbar · תרמ"א · Essay 1
- Holy Desire Awakens Hashem's LongingBamidbar · תרמ"ב · Essay 2
- Each Jew's unique mission under his bannerBamidbar · תרמ"ג · Essay 1
- Encompassing light and inner lightBamidbar · תרמ"ג · Essay 2
- Love for Hashem covers shortcomingsBamidbar · תרמ"ג · Essay 3
- Ascent through the levels of the soulBamidbar · תרמ"ד · Essay 1
- Heavenly assistance to rectify the worldBamidbar · תרמ"ה · Essay 1
- Completeness as gift versus effortBamidbar · תרמ"ו · Essay 1
- The Levi'im preserving Moshe's pathway of TorahBamidbar · תרמ"ו · Essay 2
- Intrinsic unquenchable longing for HashemBamidbar · תרמ"ו · Essay 3
- Four ascending levels of Bnei Yisrael in daily tefillahBamidbar · תרמ"ו · Essay 4
- Three soul-levels and three ShabbososBamidbar · תרמ"ז · Essay 1
- Bnei Yisrael's governance above natureBamidbar · תרמ"ז · Essay 2
- Hidden and revealed unite in YisraelBamidbar · תרמ"ח · Essay 1
- Concealed and revealed dimensions of YisraelBamidbar · תרמ"ח · Essay 2
- Nullifying one's will earns the heart's desiresBamidbar · תרמ"ח · Essay 3
- Inner and outer rectifications of the Avos and MosheBamidbar · תר"נ · Essay 2
- Firstborn and Leviim as partners in kedushahBamidbar · תר"נ · Essay 3
- Two paths of nearness and distanceBamidbar · תרנ"א · Essay 2
- The banners reveal each soul's root and missionBamidbar · תרנ"ג · Essay 1
- Each tribe a unique color revealing HashemBamidbar · תרנ"ד · Essay 1
- Bnei Yisrael reveal creation's hidden honorBamidbar · תרנ"ה · Essay 1
- Becoming Torah through self-effacement like the wildernessBamidbar · תרנ"ו · Essay 1
- Yearning for the source yet rooted in one's placeBamidbar · תרנ"ז · Essay 1
- Drawing out the soul's hidden longing for HashemBamidbar · תרנ"ז · Essay 3
- Bittul as the root of placeBamidbar · תרנ"ט · Essay 3
Shavuot
Naso
Beha'alotcha
- The Leviim chosen through bittul to the wholeBeha'alotcha · תרל"ו · Essay 2
- Youthful fervor guarded by elders' restraintBeha'alotcha · תרמ"ג · Essay 3
- The power of holy speech and songBeha'alotcha · תרמ"ה · Essay 1
- Song of the Levi'im and three modes of avodahBeha'alotcha · תרמ"ה · Essay 2
- Bnei Yisrael as the mouth of creationBeha'alotcha · תרמ"ז - תרמ"ח - תרנ"ב · Essay 4
- Levi'im, Time, and the Song of ShabbosBeha'alotcha · תרנ"ג · Essay 1
- Seven strings of song raise the worldBeha'alotcha · תרנ"ו · Essay 3
- Leviim hold holiness in their essenceBeha'alotcha · תרס"ב · Essay 1