Sublime

As Rabbi Kalonymos Shapiro taught, the mission of the Jew is to teach the world how to sing. This is the call of Nishmat on Shabbos morning. Nishmat pleads to “arouse the sleepers and awaken the slumberers,” drawing on the language of Psalms 146:7–

Perhaps the most striking expression of the relationship between the Torah and the people is the classical maxim by Rabbi Simeon ben Menasya, Palestinian Tanna of the second century, and contemporary of Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi, in his interpretation of Exodus 31:14, You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you. “The words ‘unto you,’”

inseparable, arrogance and bitachon are mutually

A man went looking for Rabbi Hillel and said to him, “I want to become a Jew. But only on the condition that you teach me the Torah, all of it, while I stand on one foot.” Hillel looked at this smart-aleck and said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow man. That is the entire Torah—all of it. The rest is commentary. Go and study.”

The days of the month of Nissan are days of repentance like those of Tishrei

It is a pious quality not to accept presents, but rather to trust in G-d that He will satisfy his needs, as it is written:51 “And one who loathes presents shall live.”52

the Knower, and the Known (as Rambam refers to Hashem), one can trust that all is for the ultimate good and live peacefully and without worry.

Someone who is himself happy can give heart to somebody else. It is a great thing to bring joy to the heart of your fellow Jews. Most people are full of pain and worry and all kinds of troubles, and they find it impossible to speak out what is in their hearts. Someone who comes with a smiling face can literally give them fresh life. This is a very

Niggunim convey both confidence and brokenness, quest as much as certainty.