Jewish Spiritual Growth: A Step-by-Step Guide by a Hasidic Master

Serving God with hitlahavut is the beginning of Hasidism. Hasidism without hitlahavut is impossible, because Hasidism proceeds in the path of the prophets, and to receive such an influence from above, our soul must be revealed.

when a person’s spirit acts, those actions are so mantled and clothed in some external, this-worldly manifestation that even the person performing these actions of his spirit doesn’t notice them.

when you are aflame you cannot contain this emotion, you cannot pray coldly even if you would want to.

we may know that the soul, which sees yet is not seen, is revealed through its actions.

The same holds true whether the soul is influencing the world or it is being influenced by the world: when we move something or learn something, the power of our might or the wisdom of our soul is revealed.

The actual performance of mitzvot and the words and letters of Torah and prayer are Divine Names, sefirot and holy angels from a level of supernal holiness.

our voice arouses our directed intent. This is because, by acting with vigor, we bring forth our soul, even against its will.

if the body and physical strength in which our soul is clothed do not join our soul in its work, then how can the heart of our soul be revealed through sustained hitlahavut?

when we dance vigorously and pray loudly and vigorously, then we will arouse our emotions.