View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the experience of מקיף הרחוק - through משלים and the stories of תורה.

Specifically through the 'low' level stories of תורה and the 'simple' מעשה המצות we tap into the deepest level of the עצם and תענוג הפשוט - and that's the אוצר!

View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

To contrast מקיף הרחוק with מקיף הקרוב, the רבי quotes the אלטער רבי's משל of a house vs. garments, the צמח צדק's explanation of נעשה vs. נשמע, and the unique experience of מצות that can only be done unintentionally!

However, the רבי points out, all this shows on the experience of מקיף הרחוק - as the רבי מהר"ש points out about the shelter of a house.

How does that experience of מקיף הרחוק relate back to the teacher and the student?

Stay tuned...

View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Continuing through פרק ט"ז of the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמר, we are introduced to the משל of the רב and תלמיד, analyzing three levels of knowledge within that relationship: פנימי, מקיף הקרוב and מקיף הרחוק. The רבי sets out to explain how even מקיף הרחוק is an אור being imparted.

To understand that, we explore the topic of מקיף in the צמח צדק's מאמרים, using רצון as an example: Unlike each organ's individualized function and energy, רצון is a power that affects the entire body equally, remaining aloof and detached from any individual organ, even while having a powerful affect on all of them.

View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠here⁠.

Quoting the אלטער רבי, the רבי explains that the term "אור אין סוף" brings out the central idea of this פרק, that while we are not discussing Hashem Himself (מאור), this אור still has the infinite quality of being both מעלה and מטה.

This is referring to Hashem being "secret" even within Himself כביכול, as the רבי quotes from the מיטעלער רבי two ways to understand "סתימא על כל סתימין".

What does that mean? How can you have an אור - expression - that is inherently hidden?

Stay tuned...

View the PDF of the מאמר booklet here.

Following the yearly cycle of באתי לגני, in this מאמר the רבי is explaining פרק ט"ז of the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמר, discussing the line from זהר that "אור אין סוף למעלה עד אין קץ".

After catching us up in סעיף א, the רבי uncovers the חידוש of the פריערדיקער רבי about this line, that we are discussing two opposites within the אור itself, and not only where it goes. Also, this is אור, not יכולת.

We finish this שיעור with a question: How could the definition of unlimited אור be limited to מעלה and מטה?!

Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the connection between חנוכה and סוכות, specifically the 70 bulls of the קרבן מוסף:

With חנוכה being the celebration of יחידה, we see how יחידה is used, not only as a defense against darkness, but as the key for transforming the darkness, which is also the idea of the 70 bulls, corresponding to the 70 nations.

After explaining the argument of the Greeks last week, the מאמר now explains how to fight against them, and how we see this in the story of חנוכה.

Being that the Greeks defiled all the oil (-intellect), the only way to be victorious against them is by using the unbeatable power of the יחידה. Not only is there no struggle when it comes to יחידה; there is not even a discussion, because in the יחידה perspective, because there is no other option! In two words: מסירות נפש.

This is what we celebrate on חנוכה - a Judaism centered around, and based on, unwavering dedication to Hashem, not because it makes sense, but because this is the only reality, and we are ready to defend this reality at any cost!

(Link to JLI's video mentioned in the Shiur)

What exactly was bothering the Greeks about Judaism?

What is at the core of doing מצות? Does understanding a מצוה weaken, or strengthen, one's connection to Hashem?

We explore the perspective of the רמב"ם regarding מצות, and then the perspective of חסידות - uncovering that the Greeks had a problem, not (only) with illogical מצות, but with the Jewish approach of entirely disregarding logic.