What’s in a Name?

By Yehudis Golshevsky

Rebbe Nachman’s fourth daughter was born, he didn’t follow the common custom and name her at the next Torah-reading opportunity. Instead, days and days went by, and he had yet to provide his newest child with a name. T he Chassidim were confused by Rebbe Nachman’s strange practice, and people around Breslov began to whisper that something seemed to be wrong – the Rebbe was withholding his own daughter’s name! Reb Chaikel, one of Rebbe Nachman’s closest students, couldn’t hold back any longer. He went to visit his mentor at home to speak openly about people’s concerns. “Rebbe, if you don’t do something, people will begin to say that the Breslovers no longer name their children!” Reb Chaikel added that Rebbe Nachman already had a number of opponents who were looking for excuses to vilify his followers. Would the Rebbe himself provide his enemies with ammunition? In later years, Reb Noson would say that Rebbe Nachman never made a fuss about something unless it was extremely important to him. Generally, if someone wanted him to do something and it didn’t violate a principle of his, he would accommodate himself to their will. Rebbe Nachman shrugged. “Nu, if you think so ... Let her name among the Jewish people be Chayah!” Reb Chaikel ran out to the synagogue to spread the news. But later that day, unexpected news arrived from Mezhibuzh. Rebbe Nachman’s mother, Feiga, had passed away. Now it all was clear! The Rebbe had only been waiting for the news to reach Breslov before he named his daughter after his beloved mother. Even if he knew by ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration) that his mother was gone, he couldn’t possibly give the name until the news reached Breslov by natural means. Reb Chaikel was beside himself. What had he done? After a time, Rebbe Nachman had another daughter, and this time he gave the name Feiga right away. But the girl died in infancy. The Chassidim would say, “Perhaps had it been reversed, and had the first girl been named Feiga and the second one Chayah [literally, ‘life’], the second daughter might have lived, too.” Afterward Reb Chaikel lamented, “When, oh when, will I stop mixing into the Rebbe’s business?!” Based on Or HaOrot I, pp. 220-221

שבת שלום

Likutey Moharan I, 34:7). Rebbe Nachman thus teaches: The prophet foretells (Isaiah 11:9), “They shall neither destroy nor harm in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with Daat [Knowledge] of God as the waters cover the sea.” The attributes of compassion and kindness depend wholly on Daat, and in the Messianic Future, Daat will be very great. For this reason, when Mashiach comes, there will be no cruelty or desire to harm others. Compassion will spread far and wide. Nowadays, however, there are times when the forces of evil can suck nourishment from compassion... Then compassion becomes distorted. When compassion is distorted, it turns into cruelty, and Daat itself is blemished... When Daat is blemished, passions for illicit relations [such as adultery] are aroused. This is in keeping with what the Sages said (Sotah 3a): “No man sins unless a spirit of folly enters him [and distorts his Daat].” When, on the other hand, Daat is perfected, one is protected from these passions (Likutey Moharan II, 8:2).

Super Duper good song. I love it.
יונינה- שיר של בוקר | (Yonina- Shir Shel Boker (Morning Song

From Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

LIFE-CHANGING IDEA #38

Life is a journey, not a destination. We should constantly set ourselves new challenges that take us out of our comfort zone.
Life is growth.

Rebbe Nachman taught: It is important to elevate one’s livelihood to the level of the Lechem HaPanim [the shewbread of the Temple]... It was baked on Friday afternoon and miraculously remained fresh until the following Shabbat, nine days later. Thus, the shewbread signifies an easy livelihood, one that comes directly from God (similar to the manna). When a person can elevate his livelihood to this level of “the face” [panim], that is to say, when he has complete faith in God that He will provide, then through his livelihood he brings about forgiveness for sins and reveals Godliness in the world (Likutey Moharan I, 31:9).

I am actually tired after being on the computer all day. Yet, I am on my phone now. Can go at least 30 minutes. Lol

Mashiach corresponds both to prayer and to the nose (Likutey Moharan II, 1:12; see also above, Chapters 25 and 29). Scripture tells us that Mashiach’s exceptional power will stem from his nose, as in (Isaiah 11:3), “He will breathe the fear of God.” This means that his vitality will be obtained through his nose, with every breath he takes. In addition, our Sages teach (Sanhedrin 93b), “Mashiach will be able to ‘smell’ deceit and to adjudicate by his sense of smell.” As we have seen, prayer is compared to the nose; the main weapon which Mashiach will use to conquer the world and to administer true justice will be not the sword, artillery or any other physical weapon but prayer (Likutey Moharan I, 2:1). Rebbe Nachman tells us that everyone has a “nose and a sense of smell” which reflect, on a personal level, the “nose and sense of smell” of Mashiach. Thus, each person has within himself a tiny portion of Mashiach, and by engaging in sincere prayer, he can arouse and cultivate this portion, thereby hastening Mashiach’s arrival. This is yet another compelling reason for us to guard ourselves against immorality, for immoral thoughts and behavior lead to difficulty in prayer and thereby blemish one’s aspect of Mashiach (see also Mashiach: Who? What? Why? How? Where? and When?, Chapter 7, for a more detailed explanation).- Anatomy of the soul

Pinchas - Pathways