Themes of Featured Articles

inasmuch as our holy Torah "is longer than the earth and wider than the sea", only Moses had the power to receive it easily. But Moses had to transmit it to Joshua forcefully. Since Joshua transmitted to many people, force was not required, for amongst many people, one will remember most of what he learned, another most of what he learned.

But as the generations wore on, human intellect diminished, until even transmission from the many to the many required power. It is therefore stated that "the prophets transmitted it to the Men of the Great Assembly."

It is not intellectual understanding which motivates the performance of mitzvot, but emotional qualities of the heart. Only true love of G-d will prompt a person to fulfill His mitzvot, the 248 positive commandments. Similarly, reverence for Him will restrain him from doing anything against G-d's Will by transgressing the 365 prohibitions.

Those who have learned from the books of the Kabbalists how to use the holy Divine Names in order to perform supernatural occurrences have no share in the World to Come. If an individual requires a blessing for a certain salvation, he should seek out true Torah scholars, for G d will surely hear their prayers.

"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am for myself, what am I?"

The Baal Shem Tov taught that if one has negated his/her existence to G·d, then no foreign thoughts can distract them.

If one does not grasp hold of malchut, representing the authority of G-d, and accept upon oneself the Yoke of Heaven, what holiness is there in emulating any of the sefirot?