Q: If you could help me, I have a question: in the book Tanya, Rav. Zalman Shnei-or from Liadi explains two kinds of fear/awe. An upper (fear of God) and a lower (fear to be seen). In fact the book has a lot of mentions to fear or awe as a way to access God. What does יראה עלאה mean? A: Hello, dear friend, Yir’ah Ila’ah יראה עילאה is Yir’at Ha-Romemut יראת הרוממות the reverence that comes from seeing how high the Source is. Rom רום means height, elevation. And this is what we call love: the heart drawn toward what is immeasurably above it. Reverence is quiet respect born from recognizing something greater than yourself. It is the moment when the heart becomes still and transparent before what is infinite. In reverence, the human being is not... Read More

Q: Maybe can open this verse Psalm 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: How does the knowing happens? Why happens to some and not to another? The other only sees the deeds or the acts? A:the verse is: יוֹדִיעַ דְּרָכָיו לְמֹשֶׁה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲלִילוֹתָיו׃ he will inform his ways to Moses and to sons of Israel his plots. It is happening by or through a conversation, for the language speaks and the language speaks by words. we have no clue of what is happening the happening introduces itself to us and informs us of what is happening. Language is not a tool (vessel) we use to describe a finished world, like a great cathedral located in the the middle of the city, language like a bird or a... Read More

Q: What Happens When Thoughts Are Attacking? In daily life, I can read a poem, write one, or even play a melody. But once that moment passes, another moment arrives, filled with attacking thoughts, regrets, accusations, hostility, hatred, and rivalry. It doesn’t stop. I feel like I’m locked under this tyranny for hours, unable to find any relief or calm. A: What you’re describing is the mechanism of the brain. As long as we remain empty, the flow of life moves through us effortlessly. But when there seems to be a pause, the brain kicks in with its own interpretation of life, broadcasting its daily news. What’s fascinating about this process is that the brain plays the same "movies" over and over again, without variation. The "you", John or Mary, or whatever identity you hold,... Read More

Q: In Genesis 20, we encounter a situation similar to the one in Genesis 12:17, where Sarah is taken by a foreign king. However, there is a notable difference in the language used. In Genesis 12, the phrase refers to "the word of Sarai," while in Genesis 20:18, it refers to "the word of Sarah" (עַל־ דְּבַר שָׂרָה). This shift from Sarai to Sarah raises the question: does the change in her name reflect a deeper transformation in her role or essence? Additionally, in Genesis 20, after Abraham prays, Abimelech and his family are healed, but in Genesis 12, there is no mention of healing taking place. What, then, is the significance of the healing in Genesis 20, and how might it relate to the change from Sarai to Sarah? Is there a fundamental difference between the essence... Read More

Q: we were watching a video about the date fruit (Tamar תמר). Interestingly, in the Torah, Tamar takes a long time before she conceives sons, just as the date tree takes time (8 to 12 years) to bear fruit. Also, as the tree that keeps bearing fruit for a long time (up to 70 years), Tamar gives birth to a long-lived generation, the branch of the Messiah. What is the relation between Tamar and the coming of the Messiah? A: The palm tree (Tamar) is unique among trees. Unlike an oak or an olive tree, it does not have growth rings that mark the passage of time. Instead, the palm consists of fibers, which means it does not exhibit the typical process of time that results in the formation of fruit in other trees. In this sense, the Tamar is not a tree in the conventional way we understand... Read More

Q: Why is this sentence in Genesis 1:26 written in the plural? "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness..." This seems strange because man wasn’t even created yet. Who is speaking? A: The use of the plural form in this verse is significant. It reflects a shift toward community. The phrase "Let us make" indicates a turning to the broader community or a consultation with all aspects of creation. This plural form is a form of humility from the source, showing that the act of creation is not self-centered or solitary. Instead, it acknowledges the interconnectedness of all creation. This "royal we" stands in contrast to a more self-centered perspective, where the individual might say, "I want" or "I command." The letter nun (נ) at the beginning of נעשה ("we shall make")... Read More

Q: What does it mean “his countenance fell”? וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו In Genesis 4:5, we find that Cain's reaction to the rejection of his offering was that "his face fell." What does this mean? On one level, it’s simply Cain’s biological reaction to God rejecting his offering - his face (the inner illumination) falls in disappointment or frustration. We see this in daily life: when someone is happy, their face and body posture are light and vital, and vice versa. That’s one level of understanding. But let’s dive deeper into another layer, looking at the Hebrew word פנים (panim), which not only means "face" but also refers to the "inner" or the "internal" - not just the external mask. This suggests that when the Torah says Cain's "face... Read More

Q: If i understood well, we’re saying that the holy spirit cannot dwell in ‘sadness’ … My question is about the meaning of the name Isaac (Gen 22:2) + the action asked by God to Abraham + the reaction of Abraham (being willing to sacrifice “IT”: accepting to (kill) he’s right to Isaac that is the access for joy, happiness, laughing, etc. Would have been so, could not the Holy Spirit dwell in Abraham left in mourning, sadness, Like for Jacob crying for Joseph ? A: That is an excellent question. What happens when someone stops laughing, smiling, and can’t express joy and happiness? They become heavy, sad, angry, and disconnected from life, from communication, and from relationships with the living. Sadness is felt inside as something solid, as a weight, as furniture, and... Read More