Project Likkutei Sichos Poems

  When a person is saved from a dangerous situation, Like crossing the ocean or desert, surviving an illness or prison, To express gratitude to Hashem it is only right, The Brocha of Hagomel he does recite. “Who bestows kindness on the culpable, And has bestowed kindness on me”, This implies that he has found fault in himself and feels guilty. For being in a dangerous prison, how can the Frierdiker Rebbe have felt blame, If Mesiras Nefesh to save Yidishkeit in Russia was his only aim? To answer this question, A Mashal is given, Of a person who is working outside of the palace to fulfill the orders of the king, He is busy running around getting everything. But when he comes into the palace and stands before the king, He must stand at attention and can't be distracted by anything. If he winks at someone or texts someone an emoji on his phone, His service is lacking because closer to the king he has grown. When Hashem sees a Tzadik or Tzadeikis who on their level have reached perfecti...

In Korach's Torah portion, Hashem gave priesthood to Aharon and his children. The Sifrei, Gemarah and the Rambam too, Discuss three crowns and who they belong to. The crown of priesthood belongs to Aharon's family alone, The crown of kingship belongs to Dovid's throne, But the crown of Torah belongs to every Jew, A precious inheritance for me and you. The Sifrei and Gemara teach this view, Yet bring no pesukim to prove it's true. The Rambam brings a source for each crown, Why in a book of law does he write them all down? The source for the Rambam is based on Avos D’Rebbi Nosson, it's true, But there are differences here too. Two of the Rambam's proofs are not the same, By choosing different proofs what does he gain?  Avos D'Rebbi Nosson says that crowns of priesthood and kingship can't be won, Even if one were to give all the gold and silver under the sun. The Rambam sees it in a positive light, Describing how these crowns were actively secured tight. An...

What was the spiritual status of the Meraglim When they went on their mission? Were they as righteous as could be, Or from the beginning was there a reason for Moshe to worry? When we look at Rashi's explanation, We see a contradiction. On the words “All of them were men of distinction,” Rashi does say, “At that hour they were righteous,” in every way. However on the words, “And Moshe called Hoshea the son of Nun, Yehoshua,” Rashi says, that on Yehoshua's behalf, Moshe said a Tefillah. “May Hashem save you from the counsel of the spies.” so that you shouldn't stray, This implies that Moshe sensed the wickedness of the spies right away. This is stated clearly, In Rashi's later commentary, On the words “They went and they came,” With evil intentions, their going and coming was the same. To resolve the contradiction, The commentaries give an explanation. At the hour that they were chosen they were as righteous as could be, But they became wicked as soon as they set out on ...

  If a person wasn't able to bring the Korban Pesach on time unfortunately, The Torah established a make-up offering on Pesach Sheini. All other makeups follow right away,  For Pesach Sheini why is there an entire month of delay? The whole reason that Pesach Sheini came about, Was because Mishael and Eltzafan didn't want to be left out. They became impure because their brothers they did bury, The eve of Pesach was the last day of their impurity. Why couldn't they have the opportunity, To make up their offering immediately, On the very next day, Or anytime during the Peasch holiday? According to Pnimiyus HaTorah this question, Is the foundation for the Tzemach Tzedek's explanation, That Pesach Sheini is tied inherently, To the spiritual theme of the month of Iyar specifically. In the month of Nissan the Divine service that is primary, Is to “turn away from evil” and flee Egypt's impurity, To break the grip of what enslaves, And leave behind destructive ways. In the m...

When the Yidden came to Yerushalayim for the Shalosh Rigalim, To bring sacrifices they had an obligation, But for everyone to bring their sacrifices on one day would be a great feat, So they were given a total of 7 catch up days so that this task they could complete. Since the Shalosh Regalim are listed together the Gemara does derive, That after Shavuos there are days five, That are Tashlumin - a festival catch up period, Therefore the Alter Rebbe rules that on these days Tachanun isn't recited. To Pesach and Sukkos how does Shavuos compare? There is a big difference it is clear, The catch up days for Pesach and Sukkos are holy, While the catch up days for Shavuos are on weekdays that are ordinary. There are two opinions about the Tashlumin, 1. The first day of Yom Tov is the primary obligation. All the Korbanos that are brought are to catch up for day one, If a boy is 12 on the first day of Pesach he is not obligated to bring a Korban. 2. The obligation applies to all seven days ...

Before the giving of the Torah, Moshe's schedule is discussed in the Gemara. Moshe went up and down the mountain on the first four days of Sivan, And on the fifth day he built a Mizbeach and he offered on it a Korban. But in the Torah we find that there is more that did transpire, After Moshe built an altar, To the youths he gave an instruction, To bring sacrifices called עולות and שלמים. Then he brought the Jews into a covenant with Hashem when they did declare, “Naaseh V'Nishma - we will do and we will hear.” Next Moshe took the book of the covenant and read it to the people, Then from the sacrifices that the youths did bring, blood Moshe did sprinkle. If the sages’ intention was to give an explanation, For why Moshe was too busy to ascend the mountain, Then the covenant which was time consuming should have been chosen, Especially since it is one of the most central elements in the preparation. On the other hand what makes a sacrifice on an altar so unique, That would overrid...