The transition from the profane week to the holiness of Shabbat is so drastic, it requires some pretty heavy spiritual technology to make it happen.

The Talmud promises that one who has oneg Shabbes receives an inheritance without boundaries.  Rebbe Natan understands this literally – we inherit the capacity to go beyond the boundaries of time, space, and self, into a sea of bliss.  And how do you get there?  A little spinach.  Some fish.  A head of garlic.  Mix [...]

We can answer the question by trying to understand what the purpose of talking actually is.

Shabbat complains that it doesn’t have a mate, and Hashem says that the Jewish people are its mate.  This imagery is not sterile – there is intimate union on/with Shabbat that is worth exploring and understanding.

What does it mean that it is ‘all one’?  It is not as simple as saying the words – it is a process that requires transcending our limitations (which is a whole thing in itself).  But this can be too violent, where we leave ourselves behind to reach this ‘bliss state’.  But Rebbe Nachman offers [...]

After fighting with the angels of stasis, you have earned for yourself a little hut.  Small, but yours to do with as you please.  May I recommend making it place to actualize your new spiritual ideals?

Rosh Hashana is when we get a new head for the new year.  But it’s not so simple – this requires letting go of the old mind, the old rules, and the old story.  And may require a healthy bowl of Mr. T cereal.

Get back to where you once belonged – a chance to navigate the seemingly infinite task of teshuva – where are we getting back to?  How do we get there?  How will we know we are there?  What will it feel like?

likutei halachot bechukoteihem
If you really want to do teshuva,  you will find and uproot the false beliefs that lie at the root of all your transgressions, aggressions, regressions, and suppressions.   And you might get a haircut while you’re at it.

Through discussion of kashrut, we discover the spiritual source for this alchemical process.  When something is less than 1/60th of the larger mixture, it can be absorbed and not render the mixture unkosher.  Rebbe Natan of Brelsov finds this information astounding – how can you purposely eat something that is not kosher?!?  But through Rebbe [...]