THEMES of Featured Chasidic Masters Articles

The Baal Shem Tov teaches that all our efforts should be for the honor the King of Kings.

From the teachings of Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polonoye

Righteous Jews strive to further the unity of G‑d's Holy Name in the world even in their worldly affairs. The average Jew's concern is denial of physical pleasures, but his actions don't herald the glory of the King. The wicked come under the seduction of the Evil Inclination, becoming mired in an abyss of vice and gluttony, eventually being consumed by them.

Hide and Go Seek

G-d's hiding of His face is actually a sign of love.

By Binyomin Adilman

"...this nation shall rise up and stray after the alien gods… I will then show my anger against them and abandon them. I will hide my face from them...."

The Baal Shem Tov teaches:
In reality there is no such thing as "Hester Panim". It is only an illusion, the objective of which is to examine how we relate to G-d's "hiding". The one who continues to strive to the utmost of his ability to search for G-d is rewarded in the end with a great closeness.

The Multiple Souls of Adam

Every Jew must perfect that portion of his own soul that corresponds to that of Moshiach.

From the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, translation and commentary by Rabbi Dr. Eliezer Shore

Moshiach's soul will be made up of all the 600,000 souls of the Congregation of Israel, as it was before Adam's sin. Every Jew must make ready that portion of his own soul that corresponds to that of Moshiach until the entire structure of the worlds is fixed and established.

Daniel Tragerman (age 4) of Blessed Memory

There are three primal fears: The Fear of the Snake (insanity), The Fear of the Lion (murder), and The Fear of the Wolf (rape).

By Yonatan Gordon

The sages say that Daniel is the closest of all Biblical figures to personifying Mashiach. The name Daniel means "judge of God," but Daniel came, in fact, from the tribe of Judah and from the royal lineage of King David. Daniel was thrown into the lion's den and emerged unscathed for he symbolizes the holy lion, the power to overcome the evil lion.

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