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

Sha’arei Ha-Kedushah (ibid.) states that the “good side” of your Animal Soul’s four elements mirrors their “bad side” precisely. In place of arrogance and anger, the good side of your Animal Soul’s “fire”draws you to humility, leading you not to take things personally and get angry. Rather than seeking pleasure, the good side of “water” despises bo

Hashem’s main purpose in the creation of the world is chesed, but without gevurah, we would be robots or slaves. The relationship we have is not that of master and slave; it is of a parent and a child. We are meant, by our own free will, to serve the Holy One, much like a child who wants to give to or help their parents. Imagine a parent carrying a

Rabbi Harold Kushner notes, rather than suppressing our desires (like the folks who imprisoned the yetzer hara), or mindlessly indulging them, we can sanctify our desires with the mitzvot—elevating them and ensuring they’re in the service of something beyond mere bodily satisfaction.

Bitochon is not euphoric escapism; it does not absolve an individual of taking responsibility for his future, and acting accordingly. It means that as a person acts, he realizes that his efforts are dependent on G-d’s providence, and he relies on G-d and trusts Him totally.