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10/02/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

Before a person sits down to study he should understand that at the very moment he is learning, the Tzaddik in the Garden of Eden will be listening to his voice. He must therefore bind himself to the Tanna Mishnaic teacher or Tzaddik who first revealed the Torah teaching which he is studying in order that their two souls may `kiss' and be attached to one another. This brings great joy to the Tanna, and through this the student sitting learning will be able to return to God and put fresh life into all the days of his life that were spent in darkness.

But this can only come about when he studies Torah for its own sake with the intention of fulfilling God's commandment to study Torah which is equal to all the other commandments put together and to fulfill the Torah he learns. But when someone learns because he wants to be considered clever, etc.., he is worse than a carcass of a dead animal (which is forbidden to be eaten unless it was ritually slaughtered) and he will certainly not be able to attach himself to the spirit of the Tanna. He will never see the truth. He will turn into an enemy of the true Tzaddik and cause the exile of the Shechinah, because the oral Torah is in exile on the lips of this so-called Torah scholar.

Likutey Moharan I:12

28/01/2026

Tuesday night-Wednesday January 27-28 / 10 Shevat

Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shalom Sharabi, the "RaShaSh" (1720-77), author of Siddur HaKavvanot Kabbalistic prayerbook, and of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, the "Frierdiker (=previous) Rebbe" of Lubavitch (1880-1950). On 10 Shevat 1951 Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson of Lubavitch formally became Rebbe in succession to his father-in-law, the Friedriche Rebbe.

During the month of Shevat more than all of the rest of the year, one should strive to love peace and pursue peace between each person and his fellow and between each man and his wife"
(Mo-ed LeKol Chai)


Friday night-Saturday January 30-31 / 13 Shevat
Shabbat Parshat BESHALACH
SHABBAT SHIRAH

Torah Reading: BESHALACH (Exodus 13:17-17:16) telling the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, the Song (Shirah) sung by Israel after the miracle, their entry into the Wilderness, receiving the first commandments, the Manna and the war with Amalek. Haftara: Judges 4:4-5:31 Song of Debora.
One should pray with particular joy and song on this auspicious Shabbat. In the morning service, many communities sing the Song of the Sea together verse by verse. Some have the custom of eating cooked wheat or buckwheat kernels in memory of the Manna. Some have the custom of scattering breadcrumbs for the birds in reward for their singing.

"Even though Israel has no MAZAL (constellation), D'LI is Israel's Mazal!"

27/01/2026

TODAY!!!
On Tuesday of the week of Shabbat Beshallach, it is propitious for one's livelihood to read the Torah portion about the Giving of the Manna in the Wilderness (Exodus 16:4-36) twice in Hebrew and once in the Aramaic Targum (Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Riminov d. 1815). Those who do not know Aramaic may read the passage in their own native language vernacular.

TU BISHVAT, New Year of the Trees will be on Sunday night-Monday February 1-2. Don't forget to prepare a selection of fruits with which to celebrate Tu BiShvat through the recital of many blessings!!! In some communities it is customary to organize a collection to provide fruits for Tu Bishvat for those who cannot afford to buy their own.

26/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

The greatest barriers of all are those in the mind. The heart is slippery. People do not concentrate their entire heart and mind on the true importance of what they need to achieve. For example when someone wants to travel to the Tzaddik and starts experiencing difficulties, if he really concentrated his whole heart and mind on the fact that his entire life and being and that of all his descendants depend on his reaching his goal, nothing in the world could stop him. None of the barriers would be of any significance at all in his eyes. The main barrier is that people are not firm in their own minds. A person may have reached the Tzaddik in spite of all the obstacles. But if some little doubt then arises in his mind and his heart begins to falter as a result, this is the biggest obstacle of all. The same is true of prayer. There are many barriers to prayer. A person may succeed in overcoming all of them and praying as he should. But once doubts about God or about the Tzaddikim arise in the crookedness of his heart, this is the worst obstacle of all. The way to fight it is to cry out to God with a voice which rises from the very depths of the heart.

Likutey Moharan II:46

25/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

People who are obsessed with the idea of getting rich lack faith in God's power to send man his livelihood with little effort on his part. Instead they get involved in all kinds of complicated enterprises in the struggle for extra profit. Only after great toil and anxiety do they eat their daily bread. They are constantly worried and depressed. They have attached themselves to the `countenance of the forces of the Other Side' -- the domain of darkness, depression, idolatry and death.

It is completely different for those who go about their work in a spirit of faith and trust in God. Having decided to content themselves with what they have, they are happy with their portion regardless of what it may be. They know and believe with perfect faith that God alone is the source of man's wealth and income, except that He desires that man should make some small movement of his own to initiate the chain of events that will bring his income to him. People like this are attached to the light of God's countenance, which is the realm of radiance, life and joy.

Likutey Moharan I:23:1

20/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

Those with deep trust in God are the `organs of conception and birth,' as it were. Everything that is born in this world, all the blessings that flow into it, everything comes about through trust. The way to develop trust is through listening to the stories of the Tzaddikim. There are many people who sleep away their days. They need to be aroused, and the way to arouse them is by showing them the radiance of Torah. But because they are asleep, it could be damaging to expose them to the full light of Torah too suddenly. The Tzaddikim veil the wisdom of the Torah in stories which have the power to arouse those who are asleep. These people are literally like the dumb. They are totally incapable of uttering a single holy word. But when they are roused from their sleep, the power of speech is liberated. Then they begin to speak with tremendous force. Holy speech strengthens our trust in God. Those who were barren are able to give birth and attain true awe of Heaven

Likutey Moharan I:60

19/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

Be very careful not to listen to Torah lectures from scholars lacking in integrity. They are `Jewish demons' (cf. Zohar III, 253) who receive their Torah from the demons who are in possession of the fallen Torah. Their discussions may seem very remarkable and they are usually well received by the mass of people. Their style is florid and ornat e: they give elaborate examples and seemingly profound explanations. But there is nothing to be gained from them. Their Torah has no power to direct men on a good path. On the contrary, it leads people into doubts and disbelief and they end up despising those who are truly religious (Likutey Moharan I:28:1).

The remedy for this is to open the doors of your house to genuine Torah scholars and offer them hospitality. This is the way to develop true faith and lovingkindness and to nullify yourself before God, as it is written: `I am a worm and not a man' (Psalms 22:7). This will give you the strength to confront the opposition and banish the doubts and disbelief they foment. Then you will be able to sift out the good that is in their Torah and elevate it (Ibid. 3).

18/01/2026

Sunday January 18 / 29 Tevet
Yom Kippur Katan

Today is observed as Yom Kippur Katan, a "small Day of Atonement" -- a day for introspection and repentance in preparation for the coming Rosh Chodesh (New Moon). Some fast from dawn to nightfall and recite a special service.

Shevat is the eleventh month of Jewish year. Corresponding permutation of the Tetragrammaton: HYVH deriving from the initial Hebrew letters of Leviticus 27:33, Homer Yemirenu Vehayah Hu, "…if he shall surely change it, then it shall be…" Corresponding letter of Aleph-Beis: Tzadi; Constellation: D'li (Aquarius, the Water Carrier); Body part: Korkevan=Stomach (Sefer Yetzirah).
"Even though Israel has no MAZAL (constellation),
D'LI is Israel's Mazal!"

Sunday night-Monday January 18-19 / 1 Shevat
Rosh Chodesh SHEVAT

Add Ya'aleh Veyavo for Rosh Chodesh in evening, morning and afternoon prayers and in Grace after Meals. Following the morning Shacharit prayer, "half" Hallel is recited. Torah Reading for Rosh Chodesh: Numbers 28:9-15; After the Torah reading we recite the additional Musaf prayer for Rosh Chodesh. It is appropriate to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal.

The first day of Shevat is when Moses began his final discourses in Deuteronomy: "And in the fortieth year in the eleventh month on the first of the month Moses spoke to the children of Israel" (Deut. 1:3). The month of Shevat is therefore propitious for Torah study and understanding as signified by the sign of D'LI, a "bucket" pouring the waters of inspiration into the world.

According to the opinion of Beit Shammai, 1 Shevat is New Year of the Trees, although in practice we follow the opinion of Beit Hillel that this is observed on Tu BiShvat, 15 Shevat (Rosh Hashanah 2a). Start planning now for Tu Bishvat, which will be on Sunday night-Monday January 16-17!

Tuesday January 20 / 2 Shevat

On this day, some have the custom of observing Ta'anit Dibbur, a "fast from speaking", reading the book of Psalms and additional supplications.
Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Meshulam Zusya of Hanipoli (1718-1800), outstanding chassidic Tzaddik and student of the Maggid of Mezritch.

Wednesday night-Thursday January 21-22 / 4 Shevat

Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Avraham Kalisker (1741-1800), a student of the Gaon of Vilna who joined the Chassidic movement as a follower of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk and succeeded him as leader of the Chassidic community of Eretz Israel. After meeting R. Avraham Kalisker in Israel, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov declared that he had never seen a more perfect Tzaddik.
Today is also the Yahrzeit of the outstanding Tzaddik and Mekubal Rabbi Israel Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali (1890-1984).

Thursday night-Friday January 22-23 / 5 Shevat

Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter, the "Sfas Emes" (1847-1905), Rebbe of Ger. He said that study of the Torah portions about the Exodus from Egypt saves Israel from the strictures of the final redemption!

Friday night-Saturday January 23-24 / 6 Shevat
Shabbat Parshat BO

Torah Reading: BO Exodus 10:1-13:16 telling the story of the final plagues in Egypt, the Paschal sacrifice and the actual Exodus.
Haftara: Jeremiah 46:13-28

"Even though Israel has no MAZAL (constellation), D'LI is Israel's Mazal!

16/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

Mashiach will conquer the entire world without firing a single bullet.
Siach Sarfey Kodesh 1-67
* * *
Mashiach's main weapon is prayer!
Likutey Moharan I, 2
* * *
Mashiach will have a great task just to bring people to pray a Shmoneh Esrey clean of outside thoughts.
Siach Sarfey Kodesh 1-20
* * *
On the threshold of Mashiach , God runs the world with the utmost delicacy, like filigree work.
Siach Sarfey Kodesh 1-99

12/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

You must struggle until you are serving God with every drop of blood you possess. You must speak many words of Torah and prayer until all the blood within you is transformed into these holy words. Then you will find peace, and the spirit of strife and contention will be broken. For contention and rivalry have their source in the drops of blood with which a person has not yet served God.

Words of Torah and prayer have the power to raise up the fallen sparks and restore and renew all the fallen worlds. The one who speaks them is accounted as if he had created Heaven and Earth and all the worlds afresh. We must speak only words of holiness and nothing else. Then the sparks will be raised up, the worlds will be restored, and Mashiach will come. You must speak words of Torah and prayer to the point where your body becomes totally nullified, as if it literally did not exist. To achieve this you must develop true awe of Heaven. This will bring you peace and harmony, and the world will be filled with blessing.

Likutey Moharan I:75

11/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

Pride is a form of idol-worship - worshipping oneself! The way to crush it is by drawing closer to the Tzaddikim. To break one's pride is the foundation for attaining wisdom, long life and vitality. The severe face which God shows is sweetened, and one attains faith, joy, the understanding of Torah in its revealed and hidden aspects, and ruach hakodesh, the spirit of holiness.
Likutey Moharan I:10

A person who is arrogant cannot even open his mouth. He lacks the faculty of speech and is unable to speak words which radiate with light. When words of Torah pass across his lips, not only do the words themselves fail to radiate within him and draw him to improve, worse still, the Torah itself becomes coarsened and dimmed on his lips.
Likutey Moharan I:11

08/01/2026

Rabbi Nachman Thought For The Day

People who make fun of the words of the Sages are punished with boiling excrements (Gittin 56a) Stinking vapors rise up to their brains, leaving them twisted and confused. No matter how much they may study Torah, they will never be able to derive true guidance from it about the way to lead their lives. Their hearts are as filthy as a privy. They never have a clear idea how to live at all. This kind of cynicism leads in the end to severe decrees being passed against the Jewish people. They are expelled from the countries they were living in, and the end result of the upheavals is that whole areas of Torah wisdom become lost to us, notably the mystery of Ibbur, which underlies the structure of the Jewish calendar with its intercalated leap-years. The loss of this wisdom causes strife and factionalism.

Likutey Moharan I:61

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