Explore every episode of the podcast Shivchei & Sichot Haran

In Rabeinu’s last conversation, he gives us very powerful advice on how to endure and flourish within the chaos and suffering of this world: from the pain we experience on a day to do basis, to the worries of earning a livelihood, etc…

Rabeinu is giving us this simple yet very profound advice on how to come out on top of the evil inclination and suppress those conversations/feelings of stress that stem from the side of evil.

Rabeinu teaches us the only way how to escape the suffering of the world!

In Rabeinu’s last conversation, he gives us very powerful advice on how to endure and flourish within the chaos and suffering of this world: from the pain we experience on a day to do basis, to the worries of earning a livelihood, etc…

Rabeinu is giving us this simple yet very profound advice on how to come out on top of the evil inclination and suppress those conversations/feelings of stress that stem from the side of evil.

Rabeinu teaches us the only way how to escape the suffering of the world!

In Rabeinu’s last conversation, he gives us very powerful advice on how to endure and flourish within the chaos and suffering of this world: from the pain we experience on a day to do basis, to the worries of earning a livelihood, etc…

Rabeinu is giving us this simple yet very profound advice on how to come out on top of the evil inclination and suppress those conversations/feelings of stress that stem from the side of evil.

Rabeinu teaches us the only way how to escape the suffering of the world!

In Rabeinu’s last conversation, he gives us very powerful advice on how to endure and flourish within the chaos and suffering of this world: from the pain we experience on a day to do basis, to the worries of earning a livelihood, etc…

Rabeinu is giving us this simple yet very profound advice on how to come out on top of the evil inclination and suppress those conversations/feelings of stress that stem from the side of evil.

In Rabeinu’s last conversation, he gives us very powerful advice on how to endure and flourish within the chaos and suffering of this world: from the pain we experience on a day to do basis, to the worries of earning a livelihood, etc…

Rabeinu is giving us this simple yet very profound advice on how to come out on top of the evil inclination and suppress those conversations/feelings of stress that stem from the side of evil.

Rabeinu introduces the last conversation of the book with the idea that G-d constantly governs the world with more and more beauty and kindness…

305: “What’s there for us to do?!”

306: Rabeinu explains how a word can encompass all the forms and images that the word itself represents. For example, the word “Adam” includes all the different forms of each and every individual in history.

302: The main thing is: “From the belly of hell I cried out” (Yona 2:3).

303-304: Rabeinu discusses how foolish the desire for lust is, explaining that even the simplest person can overcome this!

299: Rebbe Nachman speaks with Rebbe Nathan about happiness…

300: Everything in the world is for the sake of free will…

301: The main service of a Jew is in the winter: to get up at chatzot!

296: Rabeinu speaks about attaching our prayers to the true tzadikim of the generation, for only they know how to elevate the tefilla to its proper place.

297: Rabeinu advises us to take a lesson of his for 2-3 months and perform all one’s avodat HASHEM according to the advice mentioned in the lesson. One should do this moving from one lesson to the next all the days of one’s life.

298: From a story that took place just a few days before Rabeinu’s passing, we see that it’s important not to attribute our sicknesses to mitzvot but rather to sins.

293: Rabeinu explains how just like the voice awakens a person’s concentration, the opposite is true as well.

294: The extra time we spend praying and studying during the month of Elul creates great noise in the Heavens.

295: A person should receive great encouragement to pray specifically when he feels far from G-d. It is specifically the Jewish sinner that perfects the congregation’s prayers!

289: Rabeinu explains how we can fulfill the commandment to love G-d with all our “might” through business!

290: The words of the true tzadik apply to each and every Jew at every single level.

291: Because every generation develops new heretical and atheistic ideas, new sicknesses arise…

292: A story between Rabeinu and one of his biggest followers R’ Yudel.

284: Rabeinu continues on the subject of praying with emotion/passion. He also speaks about the evil inclination’s tricks.

285: Rabeinu speaks about the greatness of the Torah and its infinite secrets.

281: “A person must guard his money like the eye in his head…”

282: Separating from the true Tzadikim is like doing idol worship. Rabeinu explains how this is so using the words Echad and acher.

283: A person must not be discouraged in his prayers just because he felt as if he hadn’t properly sanctified himself in marital relations. We have the obligation to pray with joy!

277: Rabeinu never drank before tefilla, not even water! Rabeinu was very strict on not drinking coffee and other similar drinks before prayer.

278: Rabeinu explains the meaning of the words “Chaburah Kadma’ah/ First Edition, which comes across in sevreral places in the holy Zohar.

279: When things go bad, one must nullify themselves to G-d entirely. Rabeinu explains how…

280: The tzadikim wander around in order to rectify outcast souls.

275: Rabeinu explains how a person can do hitbodedut in any place, for ex. Under one’s tallit, looking into a book, under one’s bedsheets etc…

276: Rabeinu reprimands his students, telling them that they have to yearn to serve G-d at a higher level, a level fitting for HASHEM’s greatness! “If G-d was as small as me, then your avoda would be sufficient. But…”

273: Melody has a tremendous strength to draw a person’s heart close to G-d. Any person can play a melody to himself and revive his soul, even if he’s not gifted in the art of music.

Rabeinu connects this to the famous tale of the 7 beggars and specifically the story of the water castle…

274: A person should have a set room for himself to serve G-d, study Torah, and pray.

271: Rabeinu gives us a very practical analogy, explaining why it’s important to perform many mitzvot, for these mitzvot come to our aid in times of need.

272: Rabeinu explains why it’s worse to have pride in foolish things than it is to have pride in Torah. Rabeinu brings proof to this from the famous story of Rebbe Akiva’s imprisonment in the Gemara Brachot 61b.

268: One must recite the prayers and supplications of Tikkun chatzot with great emotion.

269: Just act and don’t be confused by your decisions, as long as the decision isn’t against the Torah or evil.

270: One should recite chapter 107 of Psalms and express himself to G-d with great awakening.

We must also be very joyous when saying the Kegavna prayer, especially when we get to the words…

265: In the name of the Baal Shem Tov, Rabeinu warns us not to eat raw onions under any circumstances.

266: Sometimes, being such a master in Torah and the holy books can get in the way of creating Torah novelties. One must constrict their mind when it comes to creating Torah chiddushim.

267: One can use his intellect to create Torah innovations, as long as one doesn’t change / create any halacha.

262: There’s a grace that helps a person know future events through dreams.

263: Rabeinu explains that it’s the work of the yetzer hara that’s causing young couples to fight and separate.

264: Rabeinu teaches us why it’s so important to give our wives the ultimate respect and honor.

In a manuscript from one of Rabeinu’s students, we find a beautiful lesson Rabeinu gave, connecting faith with humility, Shabbat, and other fundamental ideas.

Rabeinu also delves into the significance of G-d’s Names, the sun and the moon, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Chanukkah, wisdom, etc…

In a manuscript from one of Rabeinu’s students, we find a beautiful lesson Rabeinu gave, connecting faith with humility, Shabbat, and other fundamental ideas.

Rabeinu also delves into the significance of G-d’s Names, Chanukkah, wisdom, etc…

257: Rabeinu could see a person’s past and all the sins he committed. G-d’s eyes are to the tzadikim

258: Rabeinu rebuked his students and emphasized the importance of doing acts of kindness, collecting charity, etc…

259-260: Rabeinu talks about the importance of yearning and longing for G-d/serving Him. This is the essential delight of the World to Come!

254: Rabeinu gives us a parable comparing Shabbat and a wedding.

255: Happy is one who merits to give himself the proper advice and direction in life!

256: Rabeinu speaks about the greatness of the piyut/song known as “akdamut” that we sing on Shavuot!

250: Rabeinu explains why there’s no need to worry about parnasa!

251: Rabeinu advises us to recite all the 24 books of Tanach and other holy books from the month of Elul until Hoshana Raba.

252: We taste Gan Eden in drawing close to the true tzadik.

253: A beautiful story between Rabeinu and one of his students who couldn’t have children…

Rebbe Nathan tells us amazing story that occurred between Rabeinu and a certain Kabbalist from a nearby villagez

247: Rabeinu explains why the more honor or wealth a person has, the further away it is from this person.

We must place our efforts in the right place- to run after the Torah, Mitzvot, and Maasim Tovim/good actions.

248: We should designate for ourselves a secluded place where we can pray, study, and serve G-d truthfully…

245: Rabeinu teaches us that the revelation of original Torah ideas is a proof to G-d’s existence for we can literally see something which never previously existed be brought into existence and reality.

246: Rabeinu teaches us how to break the desire for eating by chewing solely with the teeth and not with the palate.

243: Rabeinu delves into the spiritual significance of the concept of the evil eye and how to protect oneself from this.

244: Rabeinu advises one of his followers who had a sick relative to wake up before daylight and recite the entirety of the Song of Songs!

245: Rabeinu encourages one of his holy followers, telling him that some people are shown their spiritual accomplishments only after their passing!

Rabeinu explains why it’s better to avoid being a school teacher…

238: Rabeinu speaks about praying to G-d with Kavana, especially when it comes to asking Him to remedy us with good counsel before Him.

Rabeinu also how he starts his day by relying on G-d…

239: G-d is not like a human being. For G-d, things become more precious to him the “older” they get…

236: Rabeinu teaches one of his students going through extreme health problems and excruciating pain that one single burn in Gehinam is worse than all the pain he’s felt for years…

237: We must be careful with the words we utter, and we must make sure that our words aren’t wicked, even if we’re joking…

Rabeinu discusses how as a child, he made the mistake of confusing himself with unnecessary stringencies in performing mitzvot. Rabeinu emphasizes that the main way to serve G-d is in simplicity and wholesomeness, without any unnecessary restrictions and stringencies whatsoever!

233: Rabeinu shocks Rebbe Nathan with a piece of advice: one must pray for everything, in spiritual and material, even for the smallest things, from the food you eat to the button on your jacket!

234: Rabeinu encourages us never to give up on the practice of hitbodedut. Even if we feel as if our words aren’t doing anything, we must believe and know that our words are making a great impression, just like consecutive drops of water on stone…

Speech/Prayer is the key to winning the war against the evil inclination. We must not be discouraged by the obstacles that present themselves before this holy task and we must reinforce ourselves with holy boldness to speak to G-d and the true Tzadikim as much as possible!

230: The heart of a Jew should be longing for G-d with awesome emotion in every single heartbeat!

231: Rabeinu describes the feeling of having a broken heart, which is extremely precious in G-d’s eyes.

227: It is best to do hitbodedut outside of the city in the field/forest.

228: There might be upright people that don’t have hitbodedut, but they are confused and confounded. When the Mashiach comes…

229: Rabeinu encourages a young man with the practice of hitbodedut, telling him that this is the essence of prayer!

225: Rabeinu teaches us about the greatness of the wisdom of the Kabbalah and its infinite depth, as opposed to the wisdom of philosophy which ends with the knowledge of the physical universe and even then is mistaken.

226: If a dead soul were to appear before a group of philosophers, it would be the end to all their teachings.

223: The students of Rabeinu have a discussion, describing the greatness of Rashi!

224: Rabeinu explains the saying of the sages that one must not investigate into that which is above, below, before, and after… (Chagiga 11b).

221: Rabeinu explains why we must solely put our trust in G-d and not in those who claim to know things which are constantly changing, like the weather, based on the word of G-d.

222: Rabeinu encouraged someone who was being tested in his faith saying that faith is the ultimate reason why G-d created the world.

Rabeinu teaches us that the great test of the final generations before the coming of the Mashiach will be the spread of atheism.

218: Rabeinu mocks the philosophers who say that there’s life on the moon.

219: Rabeinu’s focus during the last 2 years of his life was the subject of emunah, which is the foundation of the entire Torah and Mitzvot.

Rabeinu rejects the idea that one must know G-d through philosophy and explains why true knowledge of G-d starts with faith/emunah!

Rabeinu rejects the idea that one must know G-d through philosophy and explains why true knowledge of G-d starts with faith/emunah!

In this new section of Sichot Haran, we take a look at a several conversations Rabeinu had that emphasize the importance of distancing oneself from philosophical works!

Rabeinu emphasized Rosh Hashana more than any other holiday. He said: “my entire very essence is Rosh Hashana.”

We look at what Rabeinu said regarding the day of Judgement and the extent a person must go to in order to be with him for Rosh Hashana.

Rabeinu delves into the subject of strife and opposition!

Rabeinu gives multiple reasons why the claim from the mitnagdim that Rabeinu’s teachings are actually his grandfather’s is totally false.

208: Sometimes Rabeinu’s words will go from person to person until they have an effect on a very particular individual!

209: Rabeinu commands his students to speak about all the awesome things G-d has done with them to the future generations!

210: Everything Rabeinu did for the public/community was extremely difficult for him! To utter the first word of kiddush or a Torah lesson made him feel as if he was about to expire!