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.
The Secret Kavanah of Brit Milah (Part 2) In last week's article entitled Revealing a Tefach and Covering a Tefach, we began to explore a little bit of the hidden meaning of the mitzvah of brit milah. Guided by Likutei Moharan 63, we learned that the Torah has hidden the deeper kavanot of brit
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 2) In last week's article, The Erev Rav Also Went Up With Them, we learned a number of important points related to the Erev Rav and their relationship to B'nei Yisrael. First, the worship of the golden calf was instigated by a group
How the Mishkan Was Built In what is perhaps his most well-known lesson in Likutei Moharan, R' Nachman of Breslov explains the importance of looking for, and finding (!), the good points in every Jew, even in someone we might consider a rasha (see L.M. 282). He also teaches there
Building the Mishkan: from Descent to Ascent In the beginning of Parashat Terumah, Hashem tells Moshe Rabbeinu to instruct B'nei Yisrael to bring donations of various materials in order to construct a sanctuary for Him to dwell in (Shemot 25:8): וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם (And they shall make for
Likutei Moharan 190 and Moshe's Extra Day: In Parashat Yitro, we read the account of Matan Torah, the Giving of the Torah. In Parashat Va'etchanan which relates what took place forty years later, Moshe Rabbeinu adds some details that weren't mentioned in the original account in Shemot. Breaking into the
A 'Thought Journey' to Expand One's Awe of G-d In Parashat Beshalach, we read about the splitting of the Yam Suf, a miracle that demonstrated Hashem's powers probably more than any other miracle He ever performed. Granted, most of us have not personally witnessed miracles like that where the laws
Seeing the Points of Good in Each Jew The story is told of the Tanna Elisha ben Avuyah who abandoned the ways of Hashem and became the heretic whom they called 'Acher' ['Other']. We won't go into the details of how he became a heretic for those who are interested
A Practical Strategy to Survive the Darkness Let's be honest. No matter who we are or what we do, the war is taking its toll on us, sucking away our vitality. Many of us are sad or depressed. Grief, despair, worry, and sleepless nights are all on the rise. We
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
The Meaning Behind the Miracles of Chanukah Three kinds of intelligence [שֵּׂכֶל, seichel] are capable of illuminating the mind of man. The lowest level corresponds to what each and every one of us is capable of achieving on his own provided that he goes through a normal step by step
