HaChodesh

Finding renewal of holiness in every deed· Essay 2

It is written "Vayakhel (and he assembled)" before the mitzvah of Shabbos, because on Shabbos [all] unite in the secret of the One (raza de-echad). This is the essential matter of Shabbos: that all of a person's desires and powers be attach…

Renewal emerges from prior concealment· Essay 3

My grandfather of blessed memory related the episode of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, who went to a place of fine waters, was drawn after them, and forgot his learning, so that it was read concerning him "their heart became deaf." The Sefas Emes …

This month and the renewal of clarity· Essay 2

In the Midrash: "Wisdom has built her house..." (Mishlei 9:1). The Sefas Emes opens with the pasuk that the Midrash on the parsha expounds, reading "Chochmah" (Wisdom) as Hashem's wisdom that built the world through the seven days of Creati…

Renewal as revealing hidden inner vitality· Essay 3

In the Gemara, the incident of Rabbi Elazar ben Arach… "their heart was deaf [sealed]…" The Sefas Emes alludes to a teaching connected with Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, drawing on the image of a "deaf" or sealed heart — a heart that does not per…

Four parshiyos as stages of rectification· Essay 2

We have already written elsewhere the words of my grandfather, of blessed memory, that before the sin the Mishkan was mentioned before Shabbos, and afterward Shabbos before the Mishkan. The Chiddushei HaRim noted that in the Torah's account…

Drawing the eighth day into this world· Essay 2

In the Midrash: "Wisdom has built her house…" — there are three interpretations. One is about the creation of the world, after which they sinned. The Sefas Emes cites the Midrash on "Chochmah has built her house" (Mishlei 9:1), which it exp…

A point of truth that leaps over time· Essay 3

And in the Midrash on the verse "This month" (Shemos 12:2): The Sefas Emes turns to the Midrash on the mitzvah of "HaChodesh hazeh," the sanctification of the first month, given just before the redemption from Mitzrayim. "Behold, this one c…

Hashem's seeing versus knowing· Essay 4

On the verse: "And I will see the blood and pass over [you]…" (Shemos 12:13). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse describing how Hashem, seeing the blood on the doorposts in Mitzrayim, passed over the homes of Bnei Yisrael. And Rashi writes…

Sanctifying time and clarifying life-force· Essay 5

In the Midrash: that Bnei Yisrael count [their calendar] by the moon and the nations by the sun — "This month is for you." The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash on "HaChodesh hazeh lachem" (Shemos 12:2): Bnei Yisrael follow a lunar calendar…

Bnei Yisrael rise above nature· Essay 1

On the pasuk, "This month shall be for you…" The Sefas Emes opens with the first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisrael — sanctifying the new month — beginning the month of Nissan. For it is taught that on the first of Nissan is Rosh Hashanah for ki…

Bnei Yisrael awaken creation's renewal· Essay 2

In the Midrash: "Wisdom has built her house" — the days of Bereishis (creation), etc.; "she has sent out her maidens, she calls," etc. The Midrash applies the verses of "Chochmah built her house" to the work of creation, the seven days, and…

Nissan as new year of love· Essay 1

"This month shall be for you [the head of the months]" (Shemos 12:2). The Sefas Emes opens with the mitzvah of sanctifying Nissan as the first of months, emphasizing the word "lachem" (for you). For Nissan too is a Rosh Hashanah, and there …

Renewal of creation through the new month· Essay 1

"This month shall be for you." (Shemos 12:2) Hashem gives Bnei Yisrael the first mitzvah of sanctifying the new moon. The Sefas Emes reads "for you" as Hashem handing over a power that now belongs to Bnei Yisrael — the power of renewal. Thi…

Renewal Hidden Within Nature· Essay 1

תרס”ב ראשון לחדשי השנה. משמע שהשנה צריך להתחדשות של החדשים. “This month is the first of the months of the year”. This implies that the year needs a renewal of the months. (Besides for the renewal of the year of Rosh Hashana, there is …