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PODCAST · religion

Chassidus Explained

by Rabbi Shmuel Wagner

Chassidus that speaks your Language!Enjoy a weekly Shiur on a Maamar of Chassidus, with a focus on clarity and practical application. Some will be one-week Maamarim, while others will continue over three or four weeks, but each Shiur will contain in it a clear, complete, and concrete lesson, culling from the truth of Chassidus and carrying into our modern-day lives. Invigorate your week with a fresh infusion of Chassidus energy!

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Episodes

  1. Ani Ledodi 5746 אני לדודי תשמ"ו part 2/2 (end of Se'if 4-Se'if 8)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי answers the questions from סעיף ג, using the theme of the המלך בשדה as the "לב" of אלול to explain the connection of the אלול to פרשת ראה and to פרשת שופטים, while at the same time explaining why there is no פרשת שופטים in לקוטי תורה! The explanation is based on...

  2. Ani Ledodi 5746 אני לדודי תשמ"ו part 1/2 (Se'if 1-4)

    In this powerful מאמר, the רבי focuses us on the point of the אלטער רבי's משל of המלך בשדה, highlighting the beautiful connection of Hashem and the אידן made available during the month of אלול. The רבי explains this with a wonderful דיוק of the fact that the משל is printed on דף ל"ב - heart - of...

  3. Nosato Lirei'echo 5736 נתת ליראיך תשל"ו part 4/5 (Se'if 7-9)

    Continuing along the theme of ירידת הנשמה למטה, the רבי uses the rule of "כל הגבוה ביותר יורד למטה יותר" - whatever has a higher source falls lower - to demonstrate how a נסיון requires the most strength from the person to overcome: Being that in a נסיון, the sparks of קדושה are the most…

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  4. Nosato Lirei'echo 5736 נתת ליראיך תשל"ו part 3/5 (Se'if 5-6)

    Contrasting בירורים (even by מצות לא תעשה) with נסיונות, the רבי explains how נסיונות are not a true existence - as by the 'river' in the story of the עקידה - and that is how a איד passes tests - by remembering that they are only passing tests! This explains the עבודה of the פריערדיקער רבי in...

  5. Nosato Lirei'echo 5736 נתת ליראיך תשל"ו part 2/5 (Se'if 3-4)

    The רבי finishes the מאמר's opening part by showing how אברהם's עבודה of מסירות נפש came from his יחידה. This opens up the מאמר's discussion of the difference between the עבודה of בירורים and that of נסיונות: While בירורים means to work with the object, נסיונות is to distance oneself from it....

  6. Nosato Lirei'echo 5736 נתת ליראיך תשל"ו part 1/5 (Intro, Se'if 1-2)

    This שיעור begins with a lengthy introduction to the מאמר's history, specifically connecting it with the miracle of the Entebbe raid that happened the week that this מאמר was said. (We also delve into the history of how מאמרים מלוקט began.) The מאמר begins with the פסוק of "נתת ליראיך", and how...

  7. Atah Hareisa 5746 אתה הראת תשמ"ו part 2/2 (Se'if 4-10)

    Continuing to explain the theme of rain vs. dew in תורה, the רבי explains how rain is a reference to נגלה, while dew refers to פנימיות התורה. While the main גילוי of טל תורה is only when משיח comes (connected to the dew of תחיית המתים), we already received it by מתן תורה, including the ability to...

  8. Atah Hareisa 5746 אתה הראת תשמ"ו part 1/2 (Se'if 1-3)

    In this מאמר of שבועות, the רבי explains the concept of the "dew" of תורה that was used to revive the אידן by מתן תורה, and, based on the fundamental teaching of the בעל שם טוב, we experience anew on שבועות every year. It begins with understanding the difference between the concepts of rain -...

  9. Gal Einai 5737 גל עיני תשל"ז part 4/4 (Se'if 8-10)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the connection between ל"ג בעומר and "עד הגל הזה": The whole point of the barriers of סדר השתלשלות is for the איד through his עבודה (through the גילוי of פנימיות התורה beginning on ל"ג בעומר) to break those barriers, thus showing the true intent and reality of...

  10. Gal Einai 5737 גל עיני תשל"ז part 3/4 (Se'if 6-7)

    The רבי continues to show the theme of the מאמר - the "עליונים" being expressed from the "תחתונים" - within the כונות of מצות, as well as in Davening: No matter how high the כונת המצוה is in חסידות and קבלה, the ultimate goal is to show it from the simplest parts of תורה, as well as in the…

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  11. Gal Einai 5737 גל עיני תשל"ז part 2/4 (Se'if 4-5)

    The point of מתן תורה - and, by extension, the point of ל"ג בעומר - was not the גילוי מלמעלה as much as that the גילוי should be מלמטה ("getting down to the bottom of it"). Thus, the רבי explains the דיוק in the פסוק of "גל עיני" - it is about the person seeing the נפלאות of תורה. On a תורה…

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  12. Gal Einai 5737 גל עיני תשל"ז part 1/4 (Se'if 1-3)

    Beginning this ל"ג בעומר מאמר, the רבי quotes a מאמר from the רבי מהר"ש that explains the connection of ל"ג בעומר - the day celebrating רשב"י's revelation of פנימיות התורה - to this פסוק of גל עיני. We also bring from the צמח צדק who quotes the של"ה that "נפלאות מתורתך" means the כוונות of מצות,...

  13. Beyom Ashtei Asar Yom 5731 part 5/6 (Se'if 7)

    To better understand the wisdom of the one who chooses the King, the רבי analyzes a משל from the אלטער רבי about the various levels of people (and dogs) who benefit from the king's feast. What emerges from the רבי's דיוק is that the מדרש's משל of the ministers who are with the king do not only…

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  14. Beyom Ashtei Asar Yom 5731 part 4/6 (Se'if 5-6)

    Continuing with the 3rd step of explaining the wisdom of the אידן in their choosing קדושה over קליפה, the רבי explains how it is not about making a choice for a better return, it is rather about purely choosing the King! But not because it makes sense: the profundity of this choice, the רבי...

  15. Beyom Ashtei Asar Yom 5731 part 3/6 (Se'if 4-5)

    In this part of the מאמר, the רבי continues with the 2nd step of explaining the wisdom of the אידן in their choosing קדושה over קליפה: Choosing קדושה requires real sacrifice in commitment, ביטול, and sufficing with limited ROI. Whereas קליפה is a free-for-all, no commitment needed, offering a…

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  16. Beyom Ashtei Asar Yom 5731 part 2/6 (Se'if 3)

    What is the fundamental difference between עבודה זרה and, להבדיל, belief in Hashem? In this part of the מאמר, the רבי breaks it down by delving into the nuanced differences of שיתוף and עבודה זרה, thus uncovering the core mistake of עבודה זרה and how אידן know better. This is the 1st step in...

  17. Beyom Ashtei Asar Yom 5731 part 1/6 (Se'if 1-2)

    Beginning this landmark מאמר, the רבי seeks to understand the nature of us choosing Hashem and Hashem choosing us. The מדרש says that choosing the king over the ministers is wise, because only the king lasts forever. What is so wise about choosing the king, and what does that have to do with the...

  18. Al Kein Koru Layomim Ho'eileh Purim 5713 part 4/4 (Se'if 8-9)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains why we refer to the יום טוב's miracle as "פורים": When the truest בחירה of עצמות comes through the גורל, then Hashem's ultimate choice in the אידן is expressed even in סדר השתלשלות, and we see how the lottery was for our good the entire time!

  19. Al Kein Koru Layomim Ho'eileh Purim 5713 part 3/4 (Se'if 7)

    If אחשורוש is already a level above השתלשלות - where the גזירה can take effect - why did המן need the גורל? The רבי explains that while in the "אחשורוש" plane of above השתלשלות there are no differences of levels, there are still levels. Whereas on the "גורל" plane, there are no levels at all.…

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  20. Al Kein Koru Layomim Ho'eileh Purim 5713 part 2/4 (Se'if 5-6)

    If גורל is such a high level, what was המן thinking to use it against the אידן ח"ו?! The answer is, specifically from such a high level of סובב did המן think that his plot can take effect. Because within השתלשלות, even המן understood that he does not stand a chance against the אידן. This is...

  21. Al Kein Koru Layomim Ho'eileh Purim 5713 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-4)

    In this historically famous מאמר (in connection with Stalin ימח שמו's death - see videos below), the רבי begins by explaining the power of a גורל: Not only is a גורל higher than שכל, it is higher than - and controls - רצון as well, by connecting to the בעל הרצון. This explains the connection of...

  22. Basi Legani 5726 part 5/5 (Se'if 5-8)

    View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the experience of מקיף הרחוק - through משלים and the stories of תורה. Specifically through the 'low' level stories of תורה and the 'simple' מעשה המצות we tap into the deepest level of the עצם and תענוג הפשוט - and...

  23. Basi Legani 5726 part 4/5 (Se'if 4.2)

    View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. To contrast מקיף הרחוק with מקיף הקרוב, the רבי quotes the אלטער רבי's משל of a house vs. garments, the צמח צדק's explanation of נעשה vs. נשמע, and the unique experience of מצות that can only be done unintentionally! However, the רבי points out, all…

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  24. Basi Legani 5726 part 3/5 (Se'if 4.1)

    View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Continuing through פרק ט"ז of the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמר, we are introduced to the משל of the רב and תלמיד, analyzing three levels of knowledge within that relationship: פנימי, מקיף הקרוב and מקיף הרחוק. The רבי sets out to explain how even מקיף הרחוק is…

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  25. Basi Legani 5726 part 2/5 (Se'if 2-3)

    View the PDF of the מאמר booklet ⁠here⁠. Quoting the אלטער רבי, the רבי explains that the term "אור אין סוף" brings out the central idea of this פרק, that while we are not discussing Hashem Himself (מאור), this אור still has the infinite quality of being both מעלה and מטה. This is referring to...

  26. Basi Legani 5726 part 1/5 (Se'if 1-2)

    View the PDF of the מאמר booklet here. Following the yearly cycle of באתי לגני, in this מאמר the רבי is explaining פרק ט"ז of the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמר, discussing the line from זהר that "אור אין סוף למעלה עד אין קץ". After catching us up in סעיף א, the רבי uncovers the חידוש of the פריערדיקער…

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  27. Tanu Rabanan Mitzvas Ner Chanukah 5738 part 4/4 (Se'if 7-10)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the connection between חנוכה and סוכות, specifically the 70 bulls of the קרבן מוסף: With חנוכה being the celebration of יחידה, we see how יחידה is used, not only as a defense against darkness, but as the key for transforming the darkness, which is also the…

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  28. Tanu Rabanan Mitzvas Ner Chanukah 5738 part 3/4 (Se'if 5-6)

    After explaining the argument of the Greeks last week, the מאמר now explains how to fight against them, and how we see this in the story of חנוכה. Being that the Greeks defiled all the oil (-intellect), the only way to be victorious against them is by using the unbeatable power of the יחידה. Not...

  29. Tanu Rabanan Mitzvas Ner Chanukah 5738 part 2/4 (Se'if 3-4)

    What exactly was bothering the Greeks about Judaism? What is at the core of doing מצות? Does understanding a מצוה weaken, or strengthen, one's connection to Hashem? We explore the perspective of the רמב"ם regarding מצות, and then the perspective of חסידות - uncovering that the Greeks had a…

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  30. Tanu Rabanan Mitzvas Ner Chanukah 5738 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-2)

    What is the connection between חנוכה and סוכות? Why is חנוכה eight days? What makes חנוכה be higher than השתלשלות? Join us in this wonderful, fundamental מאמר on חנוכה, as we uncover the miraclous jug of oil and the powerful light therein - the powerful light of חנוכה!

  31. Vayihyu Chayei Sarah 5745 part 4/4 (Se'if 7-8)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי explains the underlying theme of the two interpretations of "דילה הוו חיין" - owning your life through תשובה מאהבה, and מלכות being able to express itself with ביטול: When the שרש is revealed, it brings about the unlimited power of being able to handle opposites…

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  32. Vayihyu Chayei Sarah 5745 part 3/4 (Se'if 4-6)

    Continuing in the מאמר, the רבי fuses together the explanations of זהר and רש"י on "שני חיי שרה" in the opposite way as before - through "כולן שוין לטובה" one can reach "דילה הוו חיין": When the source of מלכות is revealed, not only do the other ספירות benefit from it, מלכות itself becomes...

  33. Vayihyu Chayei Sarah 5745 part 2/4 (Se'if 3) Plus In-Depth Tanya Shiur about Beinoni

    Link to Text Sheet PDF here. In this extended שיעור, we continue the מאמר, where the רבי applies the lesson we learned from רש"י to answer a famous question in תניא. To better appreciate this answer, we present the background of this question, and the various answers posed prior to this מאמר,...

  34. Vayihyu Chayei Sarah 5745 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-2)

    Beginning a new מאמר, the רבי fuses together the explanations of רש"י and the זהר on the פסוק describing שרה's life, in the beginning of פרשת חיי שרה. Does תשובה really change me? How do I change my past that might not be so great? In learning a lesson from the life of שרה, the רבי shows us how…

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  35. Ani Ledodi 5726 part 4/4 (Se'if 7-8)

    Finishing the מאמר, the רבי shows how the י"ג מדות הרחמים are uplifted and infused with עצמות energy when they do their job in expressing the עצמות connection of Hashem and אידן. This is connected with the חידוש earlier in the מאמר that המלך בשדה is for every איד, even those in the שדה of קליפה....

  36. Ani Ledodi 5726 part 3/4 (Se'if 5-6)

    Continuing in the מאמר, the רבי analyzes the אלטער רבי's descriptions of the King's Presence in the field, uncovering Hashem's involvement during אלול in two ways: Reciprocal, and Core. How does that work together with what we know about אלול being about our עבודה?! This is the חידוש of the מאמר:...

  37. Ani Ledodi 5726 part 2/4 (Se'if 4)

    In this fascinating, stand-alone part of the מאמר, the רבי reveals a revolutionary depth to the idea of מלך בשדה. This idea is traced back through the אלטער רבי's and the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמרים, appreciating the רבי's חידוש as to the availability of the King in the field during אלול. This point...

  38. Ani Ledodi 5726 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-3)

    Jumping in to a new year with אני לדודי, the רבי invites us to a deeper understanding of אלול by asking about the "ודודי לי" part, which seems to be the opposite of what אלול is about - "אני לדודי". The משל of המלך בשדה brings out the paradox of אלול: On the one hand it is "המלך", the king is...

  39. Havaya Li Be'ozroi 5717 part 4/4 (Se'if 11-15)

    If חוקים, as was established in the מאמר, reaches the highest level of תורה; the way it is completely one with Hashem's רצון עצמי, why was דוד punished for expressing this?! The answer is, this is the highest level of תורה as תורה is itself. But in Hashem's Master Plan, the goal is to make a דירה...

  40. Havaya Li Be'ozroi 5717 part 3/4 (Se'if 8-10)

    Continuing in the explanation of חוקים, the רבי presents a fascinating difference between עדות and חוקים: While עדות is "רעותא דלבא" - the connection to Hashem from the deepest core of the person's self (his עצם הנשמה), חוקים is putting one's self on the side and serving Hashem with קבלת עול....

  41. Havaya Li Be'ozroi 5717 part 2/4 (Se'if 5-7)

    Understanding the difference between חוקים and משפטים (as they exist within every מצוה), we appreciate why דוד's praise of תורה in that it is greater than the world (זמירות) is emphasized specifically within חוקיך: Specifically by חוקים do we see how the details of the מצות - how they energize…

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  42. Havaya Li Be'ozroi 5717 part 1/4 (Se'if 1-4)

    Celebrating 30 years of the חג הגאולה, the רבי quotes two questions from the פריערדיקער רבי's מאמר, said on the day he was released, י"ב תמוז תרפ"ז: How can we say that there are helpers other than Hashem, and why would דוד המלך seek revenge from his enemies?! The רבי then analyzes the פסוק that...

  43. The Gift of Atzmus (Special Shiur)

    In this special Gimmel Tammuz שיעור, we explore עצמות through the lens of the רבי's תורה. How do we get over the 'ghost' of זלמן משה and appreciate the רבי placing עצמות front and center? What is the central quality of עצמות? What does עצמות look like in our lives? How do we access עצמות? Is…

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  44. Roni Vesimchi Bas Tzion 5727 part 2/2 (Se'if 4-6)

    Uncovering a depth in ביטול, the רבי shows how fulfilling a מצוה brings out a connection to Hashem even stronger than מסירות נפש! This explains why coming from the נעשה ונשמע euphoria of שבועות, the הפטורה of בהעלותך is רני ושמחי בת ציון, emphasizing the quality of the daughter-like commitment of...

  45. Roni Vesimchi Bas Tzion 5727 part 1/2 (Se'if 1-3)

    In this מאמר, said on the שבת following the miraculous victory of the six-day war, the רבי quotes the מדרש that uncovers our three-dimensional relationship with Hashem: "Daughter" - מצות, "Sister" - תורה, and "Mother" - מסירות נפש. Although it would seem that מסירות נפש is the highest form of...

  46. Shir Hama'alos Hinei Ma Tov 5722 part 3/3 (Se'if 5-8)

    Finishing the מאמר, we uncover the unique quality of רשב"י's תורה, and how it was able to make the world compatible to the miracle he affected. In one word? חסידות! We also see how אחדות ישראל is an integral part of feeling the אחדות between Hashem and אידן.

  47. Shir Hama'alos Hinei Ma Tov 5722 part 2/3 (Se'if 3-4)

    Continuing in the מאמר, we explore the difference between the effect on the world through davening vs. through a ברכה. Based on that, it seems that תורה learning contains both qualities, and this is seemingly the explanation of the miracles brought about by תלמידי חכמים through their power of…

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  48. Shir Hama'alos Hinei Ma Tov 5722 part 1/3 (Se'if 1-2)

    Beginning a מאמר for ל"ג בעומר, the רבי connects the dots between the אחדות of אידן with each other and their אחדות with Hashem (as well as how it manifests itself in a חתן and כלה). We set out to understand how רשב"י made it rain simply through תורה; without the need of the effort that is…

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  49. Ki Yisholcho Bincho 5738 part 4/4 (Se'if 7-11)

    Wrapping up the מאמר, we now understand the three-step process of how מצות bring Hashem's Presence into this world, in the order of עדות, חוקים, משפטים: Through עדות we connect to Hashem's עצמות, and through חוקים and משפטים, this connection is brought out in a tangible way. The חכם wants to know...

  50. Ki Yisholcho Bincho 5738 part 3/4 (Se'if 5-6)

    To further understand the quality of the עדות component within every מצוה, the רבי contrasts it with the חוקים element: Although חוקים - engravement - signifies כתר, Hashem's Desire on such a level is to negate human logic, and thus cannot be a representation of his Essential Desire. Specifically...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Chassidus that speaks your Language!Enjoy a weekly Shiur on a Maamar of Chassidus, with a focus on clarity and practical application. Some will be one-week Maamarim, while others will continue over three or four weeks, but each Shiur will contain in it a clear, complete, and concrete lesson, culling from the truth of Chassidus and carrying into our modern-day lives. Invigorate your week with a fresh infusion of Chassidus energy!

HOSTED BY

Rabbi Shmuel Wagner

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Chassidus Explained have?

Chassidus Explained currently has 134 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Chassidus Explained about?

Chassidus that speaks your Language!Enjoy a weekly Shiur on a Maamar of Chassidus, with a focus on clarity and practical application. Some will be one-week Maamarim, while others will continue over three or four weeks, but each Shiur will contain in it a clear, complete, and concrete lesson,...

How often does Chassidus Explained release new episodes?

Chassidus Explained publishes regularly with 134 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

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You can listen to Chassidus Explained on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Chassidus Explained?

Chassidus Explained is created and hosted by Rabbi Shmuel Wagner.
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