ב"ה
Building Blocks of Jewish Thought
A lexicon for dabblers and explorers alike
An ongoing project to provide a concise overview for some of the most vital theme-words and motifs of Jewish thought, as well as their practical application.
Each entry is sprinkled with links, branching out to the vast library of essays, audio and video at Chabad.org.
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The Underlying Reality
The most puzzling thing about G‑dliness is that it can be hidden from us. The true reality of everything that exists can be hidden from those very creatures that emerge from it.
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The Classic Jewish Answer in Clear Modern English
The Creator of all boundaries is unbounded by any definition. Otherwise, He too would require a creator.
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How G‑d got lost in translation
The other day I realized that I hadn't seen G-d in quite a while -- probably not since childhood... Where did I misplace Him?
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“G-d” is a relatively new European word of Proto-Germanic origin. In Hebrew, quite a few titles are used, each with a different meaning according to the circumstance.
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Judaism's sacred scroll and teachings
Torah refers to the Five Books of Moses, the entire Hebrew Bible, and the entire corpus of religious Jewish knowledge. Torah is how the Creator shares the purpose, intent, and desire behind all that exists.
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The State of Being Connected
The only way a Creator can connect with a creature is by a simple request.
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A Labor of the Heart
Not prayer, not worship, but an intimate sharing of heart and soul. A communion. Reaching deeper and yet deeper and finding there G‑d Himself.
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Elusive Yet Vital
Before we can understand what is spiritual, we first have to know what is physical.
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Teachings from the core essence
The Baal Shem Tov’s teachings are like a diamond of many different facets, and yet it is one glistening essence. And from that essence comes life.
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Do-It-Yourself Judaism
Chabad is a cognitive approach that has faith in the divine spark within each of us, and empowers us to find that spark and fan its flames. Not through coercion, not through guilt or tirades from the pulpit, nor by promises of instant enlightenment does Chabad reach the Jew, but by facilitating each one in his or her own path.
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Being human all the way
The tzaddik is a human being like all of us. Because, essentially, all of us are divine.
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Beyond Belief
We’re used to thinking of faith as a strategy for people who can’t think for themselves...
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Real Confidence
There are attitudes that are the outcome of experience, and experiences that are the outcome of attitude.
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An overview of fundamental Jewish beliefs concerning reward and the afterlife
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The Ultimate User Interaction
Hashgacha is a kind of two-way interplay between Creator and creation, whereby each one responds and interacts with the other.
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Creation Without Cause
The immediate implication of true creation is that nothing “must be.”
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And is it good or bad?
Chutzpah is a Hebrew word that has been adopted into Yiddish and then English. Chutzpah has been defined as audacity, insolence, impudence, gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible guts, presumption and arrogance. Yet something essential about chutzpah is missing from all these words.
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The Paradox of Choice and Divine Omniscience
The classical questions, the theological contradictions, the Kabbalistic foundations, the Chassidic interpretations... Insights, essays and stories on "Freedom of Choice"
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Traditionally, a baal teshuvah was someone who left the good path and has now returned. But then, we are all constantly returning. Or, at least, we should be.
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Pleasure is an abandonment of the awareness that you are here, that you exist.
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