Daily Tanya Tuesday 11th Menachem Av Igeres Hakodesh 4 Part 2: Spiritual Circumcision and Redemption

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11th Av

Divine and Human Roles in Spiritual Transformation

An awakening from above only comes in response to an awakening from below; individuals must first initiate the process of spiritual refinement, much like the symbolic act of the “feminine waters” rising before the “masculine waters” descend.

Removing the Foreskin of the Heart

Each person is responsible for the initial removal of their own “foreskin of the heart”—the coarse and subtle barriers that conceal pure love of G-d and keep it exiled among worldly desires.

Charity as Redemption

Giving charity, especially when it is difficult or earned through hard work, serves as a means of redeeming the innermost point of the heart from its captivity. This act redeems the soul from the “pit” by releasing it from the husks of coarse desire.

The Concept of “Prison” and Debt

The heart’s innermost point can be imprisoned by negative forces, much like being in debt. Charity and spiritual effort free the heart from these confines, fulfilling the idea that captives are redeemed through acts of righteousness.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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