More Than Stories

People think the Torah is all about laws and rituals and quaint stories, with a mystical side as well.

In truth, the Torah is entirely spiritual. But when you cannot perceive the spiritual, all you see are laws and rituals and quaint stories.

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Post-Sinai

Mystical & Practical

By Tzvi Freeman

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. Subscribe and get your dose daily. To order Rabbi Freeman’s latest book, Wisdom to Heal the Earth, click here.

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Bringing Heaven Down to Earth »

By Tzvi Freeman

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Rebbe means teacher. Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson is seventh in a prestigious line of chassidic rebbes. Even after his passing, he is known worldwide as simply "The Rebbe"- a Rebbe for any person in the world. This book offers every person a taste of the Rebbe's wisdom, condensed from over 50 years of letters, public talks, private conversations, and written works. Presented in an accessible format.

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18 Comments

Richard Ft. Laud. May 10, 2018

More Than Stories Short yet sweet lesson. Where do seekers look to find such to the point information which is both practical and profound? I have purchased books, but they don’t respond to questions. Thank you. Reply

Tzvi Freeman May 10, 2018

in response to Richard :

You can purchase these lessons compiled in book form on Amazon. There's currently two volumes, Bringing Heaven Down To Earth, and Be Within, Stay Above, both by Tzvi Freeman.

A third volume, Wisdom To Heal the Earth is being prepared for publication as I write. Reply

Richard Ft. Lauderdale May 13, 2018

in response to Tzvi Freeman:

Thank you Rabbi. I will go to Amazon. I truly enjoy your mental processes as displayed in your writing. The biggest stumbling block I encounter when it comes to matters of religion/spirit is faith in matters that cannot be proven. Yet, I see this beautiful planet, how it sustains all matter of life, and I ask myself, how could this not be the work of a supreme being? Then, I see suffering and torture of innocents and again I am doubtful. Thank you for your valuable time. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada November 19, 2013

The Forces Behind the Words In Genesis we read:
"In the begining G_d created the heaven and the earth":
G_d created two FORCES - "Heaven" - the altruistic spark like Him and "Earth" - egoistic desire. (Hebrew for "earth" is "eretz" from root word, "desire")
and:
"and the earth was unformed and void" - the desire to aspire to spirituality was not awakened.

In Genesis the multitude of egoistic desires/forces in our INNER world was created. We each have to correct them using the altruistic spark to attain the "names"(qualities) of the Creator until we totally refine our egoistic qualities to match His Name or quality of absolute mutual Love.

The rest of the "stories" describe how our sages, (like the RASHBI, Shimon Bar Yochai in the Zohar) using the altruistic spiritual spark, "waged war" WITHIN their self, against the ego desores/forces to reveal the Creator. Reply

Richard Ft. Lauderdale May 10, 2018

in response to Brenda:

Brenda, I find your comments very insightful. How did you learn to look beyond the written word and discover such meaning? In my young years, the readings were assigned us, young students, at once a week Hebrew class. The beautiful, spiritual essence was not touched upon. Since I lived in a traditional home but with very little religious practice, I tuned out. Reply

Brenda Toronto, Canada May 13, 2018

in response to Richard:

Roots Of The Words The Kabbalists reached high spiritual levels. They were able to perceive all the specific spiritual forces that are the essence of each material object that exists in our material world.
They refer to the 'forces' of the spiritual objects as the 'root'. Each root is reflected as a material object, they called the 'branch'.

It is written: "There is not a blade of grass below that has not a force above it that tells it how to grow." Even 'Richard' in the material world is connected to a force, your root, in the spiritual world that governs your actions!

The Torah does not speak one word that refers to objects in this world. Moses wrote the Torah in this kabbalistic language of 'roots and branches'.

Kabbalists through the ages and especially those of the 20th Century provided us the meaning of their spiritual impressions using specific words of our world to describe their connection with the Light as they progressed their spiritual path. Reply

Richard Ft. Lauderdale May 13, 2018

in response to Brenda:

Thank you Brenda. The manner in which you communicate these esoteric ideas is as clear as a sun filled day. Your spirit is bountiful. Reply

Anonymous June 7, 2011

What does Torah mean ? R T F June 6, 2011 Thank you for your reply.

As for having it out with the rabbi, no can do. It's a long story and borders on loshon hora. One example i will share is that i was speaking about the 8th level of Chesed to a friend. I think it is from Maimonides. The rabbi interrupted : " There are only seven ! "

Why do you think i come to Chabad.org ? It offers fabulous teachers and great forums.

The best advice i received came from sagacious contacts. i was told not to correct rabbis, but rather to be magnanimous. So that is what i try to be. It fits in with refining, so i like it. Better for some rabbis to be ignorant in their bliss, rather than feel their authority undermined. Later i assured my friend that there were 8 levels. I had given a Bat Mitzvah present to his daughter and wrote : may you live Chesed at the 8th level. He had asked me to explain. Wonderful girl. She is already at the 8th level. Just wanted her and her dad to be aware of it.

Happy Shavuos !

Reply

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman June 6, 2011

Re: What does Torah mean? Interesting: "Torah" translates as instruction, but "Mishna" translates as learning.

Have that one out with your rabbi. I'd like to hear what he says. Reply

Anonymous w June 6, 2011

What does Torah mean ? Part 2 ... By this i mean that by refining yourself, leads to great interpersonal connections with others, and with the world in general. By refining the world we fulfill our purpose of bringing about Moshiach and Hashem's Shechina to rest upon the Third Beit Hamikdash, " Bringing Heaven Down to Earth. "

Took me a while to get to that point of understanding. It may not work exactly that way for others, but it can't be too far off. It's hard to argue with trying to make the world a better place. Properly learned, Torah Study is interactive and positively fascinating, be it the Sefer Torah or Torah in general. Reply

Anonymous June 6, 2011

What does Torah mean ? Part 1 In the initial lesson to working through the entire Chumash this question was posed by the Chabad rabbi teacher. I guessed ' learning '. " No " was his reply. The word he was looking for was teaching, or instruction or blueprint. This may be the correct translation, but it is so passive and rote.

It has taken me about 5 years to come up with my definition. That is that Torah is an active journey through which you learn who you are, and what it takes to be the best you can be.

It is easy and mundane to learn/study Torah facts and figures as if you are preparing for a test. It is secondary to find out what you can in the Torah. It is primary for you to find out what the Torah reveals in you. The Torah may look like a book, but in reality and joy it should feel like Hashem, like you are before Hashem. In this definition, i refer not tightly to the Sefer Torah, but to all facets of Torah study. It is not to be confused with navel gazing, but rather refining one's self.

By this i mean that by refining yourself, leads to great interpersonal connections with others, and with the world in general. By refining the world we fulfill our purpose of bringing about Moshiach and Hashem's Shechina to rest upon the Third Beit Hamikdash, " Bringing Heaven Down to Earth. "

Took me a while to get to that point of understanding. It may not work exactly that way for others, but it can't be too far off. It's hard to argue with trying to make the world a better place. Properly learned, Torah Study is interactive and positively fascinating, be it the Sefer Torah or Torah in general. Reply

Norbert Natan Boston, Ma June 5, 2011

How? The concept of a spiritual Thora is beautiful. However, how do you see the spirituality if you did not grow up with it? Is it not necessary to spend much of your life studying Thora to see it's spirituality? If you dedicate your life to some things other than Thora, how do you learn enough and get involved in Thora enough to see it's spirituality? Reply

duru yahbaruk ogbonna nwayahweh hong kong, hong kong June 5, 2011

u are right shalom tada raba Reply

Andrew Crewe, UK June 5, 2011

More than stories Only one real comment to make really...Amien,Amien,Amien... Reply

Anonymous Forest Hills, NY/USA June 5, 2011

Few years ago I received the first time books from rabbi Riskin of Efrat. He used to be in the USA. He calls Genesis the book of love, life, and family. I never thought of it so but that was first time I learn talking, reading, listening to the rabbis really help me to understand. I read somewhere in Exodus they are not 10 commandments of rules and regulations but mitzvah of privilege and honor. I am just so excited about Shavuot coming even I can not hear the Torah like you do! Reply

Michelle DeVita Saint Cloud, FL October 2, 2008

when?? when do u see the spiritual side if you only see the physical side?

How you change the way you understand the text?

Does it happen over time or just a random revelation? Reply

Anonymous SA, USA March 22, 2008

Torah - Spiritual I like this one. Reply

Anonymous Ormond Beach , Fl. March 13, 2008

More than stories. usually I see the spirituality in Torah., But I do not understsnd how the violent part is spiritual. Reply

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