Welcome to our archive of Torah essays and spiritual teachings. Each report is a deep exploration into the wisdom of Breslov Chassidut, examining the weekly parashah, fundamental principles of Jewish thought, and the transformative power of connecting with Hashem. From the spiritual mechanics of prayer and repentance to the hidden dimensions of Tanakh narratives, these essays invite you into a world where every word of Torah reveals pathways to healing, wholeness, and divine service. Whether you’re seeking clarity on timeless questions or practical guidance for your spiritual journey, these teachings are offered with the intention of bringing light, hope, and deeper understanding to your life and beyond.
What made Pinchas worthy of the eternal covenant of peace? This deep dive into Parashat Pinchas explores why Moshe couldn't stay, why Korach fell, and how true greatness lies not in rising—but in returning. Discover the mystery of the brit shalom and its relevance for our generation.
Why did some Israelites reject the manna and spend all day collecting and cooking it? The Zohar reveals this was more than a food complaint—it was a test of emunah. Discover the spiritual depth behind the manna and the true meaning of “eating to satisfy the soul."
How to Come Out from Under the Control of the Sitra Achra: Imagine a prison, a fairly standard prison – at least standard in the way that many prisons used to be. From sunrise to sunset, the prisoners are forced into hard labor. They don't get much time to rest
How Come Esav Didn't Do Teshuvah? Ya'akov Avinu had finally extricated himself from Lavan's control. He had crossed the Yarden, entered Eretz Cana'an and was preparing to meet his brother Esav. He sent messengers ahead of himself, whom Rashi tells us, based on Bereshit Rabbah 75:4, were מַלְאָכִים מַמָּשׁ (literally
How to Merit Seeing the Beit ha-Mikdash of Fire: With words of comfort and consolation, Yeshayah ha-Navi records a promise from Hashem that even though B'nei Yisrael will experience much suffering over the years, He will rebuild for them the Beit ha-Mikdash (Yeshayah 54:11-12): עֲנִיָּה סֹעֲרָה לֹא נֻחָמָה הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי
The Secret Kavanah of Brit Milah (Part 1) We accept the mitzvah of brit milah without question. Even some of the outwardly less-observant members of our nation, for example, those who desecrate the kedushah of Shabbat without even the slightest pang of conscience, would never imagine not performing brit milah
The Secret of the Erev Rav (Part 3) In the past two issues of The Shoemaker Report, we examined the origins and characteristics of the souls of the converts who accompanied the Jewish People when they left Egypt in the days of Moshe Rabbeinu. This group, known collectively as the
The Secret of the Erev Rav (Part 1) R' Yirmeyah ben Elazar taught (Eruvin 18b): כָּל אוֹתָן הַשָּׁנִים שֶׁהָיָה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּנִידּוּי הוֹלִיד רוּחִין וְשֵׁידִין וְלִילִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְחִי אָדָם שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמְאַת שָׁנָה וַיּוֹלֶד בִּדְמוּתוֹ כְּצַלְמוֹ״ מִכְּלָל דְּעַד הָאִידָּנָא לָאו כְּצַלְמוֹ אוֹלֵיד (All the years that Adam ha-Rishon was in [self-imposed]
A 'How-to' Guide for Likutei Moharan 21:2 In last week's article entitled They Found One Sealed Flask of Oil, we discussed the meaning of a rather cryptic statement in the Sifra di'Tzniuta (Zohar ha-Kadosh, Terumah 178a): עַתִּיקָא טָמִיר וסָתִים זְעֵירָא דְּאַנְפִּין אִתְגַּלְיָיא ולָא אִתְגַּלְיָיא (Atika is hidden and sealed; Ze'ir
In last week’s article, we reviewed the six main attributes of the parah adumah (disgraced, unblemished soul, occupied fully with Torah, a tzaddik who exhibits true shiflut, yet despised by the nation) and challenged the reader to see the connection between those attributes and the suffering servant of Yeshayah 52:13-53:12.
Part 3: The Lights of the Supernal Aleph (Likutei Moharan 6:5) This is the third article in our series focused on finding one’s zivug in today’s world. To recap, the first article explained that the root of the problem is related to the widespread difficulty that [young] men today have
Part 2: The Essence of Teshuvah (Likutei Moharan 6:2) In last week’s article, we examined the true reason behind the shidduch crisis in the orthodox Jewish world. With G-d’s help, we will now begin to lay out the path that a young man can take in order to cleanse his
