Rabbi Gavriel Levin is a Mashpia and Maggid Shiur in Mesivta of Postville (Beis Sholom), renowned for his fascinating Shiurim, Q&A sessions, and the warm connection that he builds with his Bochurim. In this conversation, we discuss his project of gathering Tanya's answers to life's questions, and what he believes is the central point of Tanya. Along the way Rabbi Levin shares beautiful stories of Eltere Chassidim and learning Chassidus, and some relevant Mesholim that he uses for concepts in Chassidus, such as "Memalei" and "Sovev". Music in this podcast is used with the permission of חב"ד מיוזיק and Shmuel Allouche. https://youtu.be/V8uORRQd3iI?si=hP yakuyQJfSc9DL

Continuing along the theme of ירידת הנשמה למטה, the רבי uses the rule of "כל הגבוה ביותר יורד למטה יותר" - whatever has a higher source falls lower - to demonstrate how a נסיון requires the most strength from the person to overcome: Being that in a נסיון, the sparks of קדושה are the most concealed, they are on the lowest level, thus showing on the power of their source, and the power of the נשמה of the איד necessary to use against the נסיון. To explain that, the רבי takes us through the עבודות of: fulfilling מצות עשה, pushing away לא תעשה, transforming לא תעשה, and ultimately נסיונות, ultimately showing us how נסיונות is incomparably different than עבודת הבירורים - even that of a לא תעשה.

Rabbi Gershon Avtzon is the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati, as well as a noted lecturer and author. In this conversation, Rabbi Avtzon recalls his days in Yeshivas Lubavitch Toronto with Rabbi Akiva Wagner, and reflects on Rabbi Wagner's values that shaped Rabbi Avtzon's vision in his own subsequent opening of a Yeshiva. In this Farbrengen-style conversation, Rabbi Avtzon also shares some stories that gave him an appreciation for the power of Chassidus, and elaborates on the light of Chassidus that infuses the way we live. Music in this podcast is used with the permission of חב"ד מיוזיק and Shmuel Allouche. https://youtu.be/V8uORRQd3iI?si=hP yakuyQJfSc9DL

Continuing in the מאמר, the רבי fuses together the explanations of זהר and רש"י on "שני חיי שרה" in the opposite way as before - through "כולן שוין לטובה" one can reach "דילה הוו חיין": When the source of מלכות is revealed, not only do the other ספירות benefit from it, מלכות itself becomes redefined. Instead of selflessness (ביטול) in contradiction to expression, מלכות can now express itself selflessly. In our עבודה this means the ability to feel joy: not in contradiction to our selflessness to Hashem, but on the contrary - expressing it!

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי shows how the י"ג מדות הרחמים are uplifted and infused with עצמות energy when they do their job in expressing the עצמות connection of Hashem and אידן. This is connected with the חידוש earlier in the מאמר that המלך בשדה is for every איד, even those in the שדה of קליפה. The מאמר finishes with answering the opening question: אלול includes "ודודי לי" - the י"ג מדות הרחמים, but the point of it all is the "אני לדודי" - the איד's essential oneness with Hashem that is expressed through his עבודה.

Rabbi Aryeh Gurewitz is the Director of Curriculum and Student Progress at Tomchei Temimim Ocean Parkway, as well as a Chassidus-aligned success coach for Lubavitcher men. In this conversation, we talk about Rabbi Gurewitz's journey to Yiddishkeit and Chassidus, and his core beliefs of Frum Greatness - how Torah and Chassidus are the formula to the most successful life. We discussed the profound relevance of some concepts, such as Emunah, Bitachon, and Dirah B'tachtonim, in light of this perspective. Discover more about Rabbi Gurewitz's life-coaching perspectives: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KxGlT5tCkNMFT9wTTgMIX?si=b858904461d740fb Music in this podcast is used with the permission of חב"ד מיוזיק and Shmuel Allouche. https://youtu.be/V8uORRQd3iI?si=hP yakuyQJfSc9DL