ABSTRACT לקוטי שיחות
- תוכן הענינים מ לקו"ש השבועי -
נשמת אפרים לע"נ ר' אפרים ב"ר אברהם ע"ה האפמאן
▪ Resource to encourage the study of the Rebbe’s sichos ▪
Rochel עקרת הבית sacrificed her own personal benefit (to be buried with Yaacov, place of holiness) in order to assist her children (buried on the way even for those that sin); the different types of service of Rochel and Yaacov serve as prototypes of the basic service of women and men (see table below)
ואני בבאי מפדן מח ,ז
We Are Created To Serve Our Creator - Applies Equally to Women and to Men
WomenMenExempt from time-bound Mitzvos and learning Torah for its own sakeEngage in Torah, Prayer & fulfillment of Mitzvos, plus a livelihoodEngaged in the needs of the Homeבכל דרכיך דעהוSacrifices personal benefits for needs of othersכל מעשיך יהיו לשם שמיםDoes not distinguish between childrenSatisfy their ישותDetermines the essence of being JewishDetermine particular distinguishing factors (Cohen, Levi, Yisrael)Marriage is a vehicle to draw down holiness into one’s life. Yaacov was concerned about Yosef’s sons being brought up in Egypt (not a marital defect); Yosef showed him the notes he kept (שטר אירוסין) as a sign of their additional degree of holiness in Egypt *בזה מח ,ט
Connection between beginning of Sefer Bereshis and its end, and the beginning of Sefer Shmos: כח מעשיו הגיד לעמו Purpose of creation is to rectify the world לתת להם נחלת גוים for the Jews to make a dwelling place below; the preparation for Matan Torah occurs by the spiritual inheritance from the Avos and the power gained by the experience of the exile and of the subsequent redemption from Mitzraim ויישם בארון במצרים נ ,כו
Paroh’s tendency was to look down on Yosef as a fox, a lowly creature; Yaacov bowed to Yosef to strengthen his feeling of importance to help in the difficult task of obtaining Paroh’s permission to let Yaacov be buried in Eretz Yisrael; *וישתחו ישראל מז ,לא
A blessing draws down the holiness towards the world, and amen seals the deal, delivering with no more obstacles. Which is greater, the one making the blessing or the one answering amen? Does one go after the potential or the actual deed? אמן יש בה ג' דברים – שבועה קבלה אמונה סיום מס' נזיר להב
כל ישראל יש להם חלק לעולם הבא Jews exist within the world and operate within its confines, but in their essence are not bound by the world “Don’t talk in the middle of a meal” “Yaacov did not die” Actions of Torah & mitzvos are done within the confines of the world due to HaShem’s directives, though Torah is not bound by the world in its essence ויגוע מט ,לג
