Tzvi Freeman, director of Ask The Rabbi for Chabad.org, is the author of two volumes of Bringing Heaven Down to Earth -- collections of meditations based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe -- a s well as numerous articles and essays on Jewish mysticism, philosophy and practice. He also writes Chabad.org's widely acclaimed Daily Dose of Wisdom mailed daily to tens of thousands of subscribers. Or subscribe to regular updates of Rabbi Freeman's writing with the Freeman Files subscription.
For more about Tzvi Freeman, visit his bio page.
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Discussion (14)
November 14, 2012
Thank you,Great food for the soul.
Anonymous australia
November 8, 2012
Love the Torah... don't like the prejudice.
It bothers me that you only "admitted" at the end that the Baal HaTanya received his teachings from the Baal Shem (by way of the Maggid.) The videos caption makes it out like the Tanya is the only one to do that, forget about the many other sforim written by different talmididim of the Besht directly, and their students students.
Why are only Chabad chassidim considered "chassidim."
And since when was the Ari's teaching only about out there? All the mashalim are based on a person's emotions and body, from the very names of the sfiros... this goes back to the Zohar. Even Christians were aware of this stuff, when they translated the Zohar into Latin in the 1400's.
And of course the worlds are "out there" just as much as they are in here. The fractal template remains the same, but it doesn't mean our consciousnesses has access to the higher fractal. And the rules and relationships change. We can't understand everything in this world. I feel coerced. I love the Torah, I'm staying "litvak"
Shmelke Jerusalem
July 1, 2011
Essence
This interview is the essence of Jewish mysticism. It's the next step where we're not even arrived yet, though advanced theory is with us now for a few hundred years, that is Shem Tov and Tanya. If we'd have more of this, written, spoken and taught, world would be a different place.
The story of Sefer Etz buried with R. Vital is symbolic. We need Kabbalah alive, in Shem Tov and Tanya wisdom, the way you teach it.
Miriam Watertown, MA
August 3, 2010
tanya interviews
in knowing through faith that G-D is INFINITE then i am most comfortable with the awareness of infinite possibilities of the work HE is doing with me and through me. thanks. i love my awareness being stretched. ...julia
Anonymous Toowoomba, qld australia
May 1, 2010
on the very essence of the one true G-D
Greek vs jewish concept is irrelevant! God is reality itself, that is alive and created all souls. The soul does not create, it merely reflects reality. Reality came first. It is the most primeval of elements: energy that souls are made of. Souls are important tools to get to know G-D, but one's soul is not G-D. G-D is one, souls are one. Soul's are the means to know G-D, but souls ought not to be identified with G-D. In the end the wise will realize, G-D is not a greek, or jewish concept. G_D is reality to be known. Reality does not need to know souls, for he knows everything. It is the rightous souls that ought to be G-D's son and seek after him.
john toronto, canada
February 12, 2010
to Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
i guess what im asking is... are your ways the only way to achive holyness? i wish to please God but i didnt even know what mitzva was until i found this website.
david russellville, AR/ USA
February 7, 2010
To David in Russelville
Did someone imply that in the interview? The Jewish People were chosen to be a holy people. But the Midrash says that any human being can attain holiness, if he strives towards it with all his heart.
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman
February 5, 2010
so you can only be holy if you are jew? what if my parents are central american not jew, how is that my fault?
david russellville, AR/usa
July 9, 2009
infinite and finite
I really enjoyed and can relate to the idea of getting on my knees to my children's levels. Would I give my life to save one of my children, absolutely! I love them, I couldn't bare any to perish if I could do something about it. Will the Messiah find faith when He comes? We have time. Very inspiring, thank you!
australia
Jerusalem
The story of Sefer Etz buried with R. Vital is symbolic. We need Kabbalah alive, in Shem Tov and Tanya wisdom, the way you teach it.
Watertown, MA
Toowoomba, qld australia
toronto, canada
russellville, AR/ USA
russellville, AR/usa
Will the Messiah find faith when He comes?
We have time.
Very inspiring, thank you!
NY, NY