Introduction: The Aura of Torah
The World’s Aura: An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah
Genesis
B’reishit
[1] Genesis 1:1 Unfinished Business—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[2] Genesis 2:24 The Soul’s Mate—Yitzchak Mordechai ben Yisra’el Aharon Podvah
[3] Genesis 5:22,24 The Enoch Enigma—Yisra’el ben Eliezer, Ba’al Shem Tov
Noa?
[4] Genesis 6:13 Wisdom or Cleverness?—Hayyim of Krasna
[5] Genesis 8:15,20 Misplaced Anger—Zohar, Sitrei Torah
[6] Genesis 9:20–21 The Wine of Torah—Avraham ben Shmuel Abulafia
Lekh Lekha
[7] Genesis 12:1 “Go for Yourself”—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[8] Genesis 13:17 Going About for Wisdom—Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher ben Chlava
[9] Genesis 17:1 God Fills and Surrounds All Things—Mordechai of Chernobyl
Va-yera’
[10] Genesis 18:17 Lovingkindness in All That Happens—Yitzchak of Vorki
[11] Genesis 20:11 Fear of God—Pinchas of Koretz
[12] Genesis 21:17 Silent Screaming—Menachem Mendel of Vorki
?ayyei Sarah
[13] Genesis 24:1 For All—Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
[14] Genesis 24:44 Kindness and Compassion—Zevi Elimelech of Dinov
[15] Genesis 24:62 God Sees Me—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
Toledot
[16] Genesis 25:25–26 Falsehood and Truth—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
[17] Genesis 26:15,18,20–22 Digging Our Own Wells—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[18] Genesis 28:9 Positive from Negative—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
Va-yetse’
[19] Genesis 28:12 You Are a Ladder—Yishayah HaLevi Horowitz
[20] Genesis 29:17 “The Young Woman with No Eyes”—Naftali Hertz ben Ya’akov Elchanan Bacharach
[21] Genesis 31:40 Coming and Going in Thought—Uri of Strelisk
Va-yishla?
[22] Genesis 32:4 Prayers Are Messengers—Aharon (II) ben Asher of Karlin
[23] Genesis 33:17 Houses for the Soul—Shalom Rokeach of Belz
[24] Genesis 34:19 How to Love God—Hayyim ben Menachem Mendel of Kosov
Va-yeshev
[25] Genesis 37:2 Renewed Each Day—Aharon (II) ben Asher of Karlin
[26] Genesis 37:32 Rebound—Reuven Hoeschke, based on Zohar I, 144b
[27] Genesis 39:2 The Double Test—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
Mikkets
[28] Genesis 41:1 The Light of Consciousness—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[29] Genesis 42:1–2 Broken Torah—Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk
[30] Genesis 44:17 The Importance of Truth—Aryeh Leib, Shpole Zayde
Va-yiggash
[31] Genesis 44:18 Ways of Coming Closer—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[32] Genesis 45:16 The Voice of Prayer—Zohar I, 209b–210a
[33] Genesis 46:2 The Level of Israel, the Level of Jacob—Aharon (II) ben Asher of Karlin
Va-ye?i
[34] Genesis 47:28–29 Body and Soul—Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher ben Chlava
[35] Genesis 49:8 Being a Jew—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
[36] Genesis 49:28 The General and the Particular—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
Exodus
Shemot
[37] Exodus 1:7 Bodies of Holiness—Meir ben Chalifa Bikayam
[38] Exodus 3:5 Habits Get in the Way—Yosef ben Yechiel Michal of Yampole
[39] Exodus 5:22–23 Joining with the Pain of the Shechinah—Elimelech of Lyzhansk
Va-’era’
[40] Exodus 6:5 Service for Positive Reasons—Moshe ben Yisra’el Polier of Kobrin
[41] Exodus 7:9 Performing Signs—Shalom Rokeach of Belz
[42] Exodus 8:22 Sensitivity to Others—Mordechai of Neschiz
Bo’
[43] Exodus 10:22–23 Darkness between Us—Yitzchak and Menachem Mendel of Vorki
[44] Exodus 12:3 How to Eat—Moshe Cordovero
[45] Exodus 13:2 The Firstborn Thought—Yisra’el Friedman of Ruzhyn
Be-shalla?
[46] Exodus 13:18 Going Up—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[47] Exodus 14:15 Turn to Israel First—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[48] Exodus 17:16 The War against Amalek—Natan of (Nemirov) Breslov
Yitro
[49] Exodus 18:1 Reacting to Fear—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[50] Exodus 19:5 The Greatest Treasure—Moshe ben Yisra’el Polier of Kobrin
[51] Exodus 20:2–3 Your Physical Being, Your Spiritual Being—Mordechai of Chernobyl
Mishpatim
[52] Exodus 21:24 Whose Eye?—Menachem ben Binyamin Recanati
[53] Exodus 22:13–14 Soul on Loan—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[54] Exodus 24:7 “Who Is This Life Force?”—Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl
Terumah
[55] Exodus 25:1–2 Not Just Now—Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir
[56] Exodus 25:31 Becoming a Menorah—Mordechai of Neschiz
[57] Exodus 27:1 Your Body Is an Altar—Hayyim Yosef David Azulai
Tetsavveh
[58] Exodus 28:4 The Ideal Jew—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[59] Exodus 28:32 Everyone Is a Priest—Yishayah HaLevi Horowitz
[60] Exodus 29:46–47 God Is Still Our God—Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar
Ki Tissa’
[61] Exodus 30:12 Ransoming Yourself—Pinchas of Koretz
[62] Exodus 33:20 Seeing the Face of God—Mordechai of Chernobyl
[63] Exodus 34:17 The Danger of Generalizations—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
Va-yak’hel
[64] Exodus 35:3 Fiery Anger—Tikkunei HaZohar
[65] Exodus 35:30,31,33 Stone or Wood?—Yisra’el ben Shmuel of Modzhitz
[66] Exodus 38:8 Seeing Yourself in a Mirror—Ya’akov Yosef of Polonnoye
Pekudei
[67] Exodus 38:21 Submitting an Account—Mordechai of Chernobyl
[68] Exodus 39:42 Work or Service?—Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher ben Chlava
[69] Exodus 40:36 Removing the Cloud—Avraham Yissachar Ber HaCohen of Radomsk
Leviticus
Va-yikra’
[70] Leviticus 1:1 Going to Your Head?—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[71] Leviticus 2:13 A Union of Opposites—Efraim Shlomo ben Aharon of Luntshits
[72] Leviticus 5:17 Turning Good Deeds to Naught—Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
Tsav
[73] Leviticus 6:2 Harnessing Our Drives—Ya’akov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz, Seer of Lublin
[74] Leviticus 7:37 Torah Is What We Make of It—Yisra’el Friedman of Ruzhyn
[75] Leviticus 8:29 Sanctifying Sight—Yisra’el ben Shmuel of Modzhitz
Shemini
[76] Leviticus 9:6 It Depends on You—Ya’akov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz, Seer of Lublin
[77] Leviticus 10:1–2 Refining Your Plans—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[78] Leviticus 11:45 Dedicated to God—Yisra’el ben Eliezer, Ba’al Shem Tov
Tazria‘
[79] Leviticus 12:2 We All Receive—Yisra’el Friedman of Ruzhyn
[80] Leviticus 13:23 Spirituality: Moving or Stationary?—Ya’akov Zevi Yolles
[81] Leviticus 13:59 The Affliction of the Shechinah—Avraham Yissachar Ber HaCohen of Radomsk
Metsora‘
[82] Leviticus 14:4 Humility at the Wrong Time—Yitzchak Meir of Gur
[83] Leviticus 14:35 What Is Love?—Zevi Hirsh ben Shmuel Zanvil Minkovitz of Semyatitch
[84] Leviticus 15:31 Separation for the Sake of Cleansing—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
’A?arei Mot
[85] Leviticus 16:2 Charity Begins at Home?—Uri of Strelisk
[86] Leviticus 16:30 Self-Cleansing—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[87] Leviticus 18:5 Putting Life into the Commandments—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Kedoshim
[88] Leviticus 19:2 Infinite Progression—Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar
[89] Leviticus 19:36 An Honest “Yes” and “No”—Yehudah ben Shmuel HeHasid of Regensburg
[90] Leviticus 20:7 Always Be Prepared—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
’Emor
[91] Leviticus 21:1–2 Priests in Thought—Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir
[92] Leviticus 23:2 Keeping Festivals Holy—Yishayah HaLevi Horowitz
[93] Leviticus 24:19 It Will Come Back on You—Yisra’el ben Shmuel of Modzhitz
Be-har
[94] Leviticus 25:2 Trust Only in God—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[95] Leviticus 25:23 Only Passing Through—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
[96] Leviticus 25:35,36 Taking No Personal Interest—Elimelech of Lyzhansk
Be-?ukkotai
[97] Leviticus 26:3 Making God—Zohar III, 113a
[98] Leviticus 26:13 “Two Structures”—Mordechai of Chernobyl
[99] Leviticus 27:33 The Love of Inferior Things—Dov Ber, Maggid of Mezritch
Numbers
Be-midbar
[100] Numbers 1:1 The Spread of Torah—Naftali Zevi Horowitz of Ropshitz
[101] Numbers 2:2 Advice against Greatness—Avraham Yissachar Ber HaCohen of Radomsk
[102] Numbers 4:20 Cheap Imitations—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
Naso’
[103] Numbers 4:46–47 Joy Is Also a Mitzvah—Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher ben Chlava
[104] Numbers 6:26 A Gift from a King—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
[105] Numbers 7:9 Exertion Required—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Be-ha‘alotekha
[106] Numbers 8:3 Keeping It Fresh—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[107] Numbers 9:18 Moving On with the Help of God—Yishayah HaLevi Horowitz
[108] Numbers 12:3 Accepting Yourself—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
Shela?-Lekha
[109] Numbers 13:32 Beyond the Earthly—Ze’ev Wolf of Zhitomir
[110] Numbers 14:13–16 Why God Can Forgive—Moshe Leib of Sasov
[111] Numbers 15:39 Not Even If You Have a Good Heart—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
Kora?
[112] Numbers 16:1 The Ongoing Struggle—Ya’akov Zevi Yolles
[113] Numbers 16:22 The Spirit in Flesh—Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar
[114] Numbers 17:23 Producing Blossoms and Almonds—Simchah Bunam of Pshische
?ukkat
[115] Numbers 19:2 The Secret of the Red Heifer—Menachem Mendel of Vorki
[116] Numbers 20:14 Brothers on the Inside—Ya’akov Yosef of Polonnoye
[117] Numbers 21:17–18 Prayer as Meditation—Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher ben Chlava
Balak
[118] Numbers 22:23 The Soul Can See Everything—Uri of Strelisk
[119] Numbers 23:9 Turning Things Around—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
[120] Numbers 24:5 The Internal Takes Precedence—Avraham Noach HaLevi Heller of Dolina
Pin?as
[121] Numbers 25:12 Inner Conflict—Ya’akov Yosef of Polonnoye
[122] Numbers 27:16 Leaders: Military and Spiritual—Ya’akov Yosef of Polonnoye
[123] Numbers 28:2 Feeding God—Pinchas of Koretz
Mattot
[124] Numbers 31:2 Moses Never Has Left Us—Pinchas of Koretz
[125] Numbers 31:21 The War after War—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[126] Numbers 32:22–23 Becoming Pure before God—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
Mase‘ei
[127] Numbers 33:1–2 Journeys of Purification—Yisra’el ben Shabbetai Hapstein, Maggid of Koznitz
[128] Numbers 34:2 Conquering Evil Within—Elimelech of Lyzhansk
[129] Numbers 35:6–7 Repairing What We Have Damaged—Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta
Deuteronomy
Devarim
[130] Deuteronomy 1:17 Overcoming Doubt—Ya’akov Yosef of Polonnoye
[131] Deuteronomy 1:31 No Two the Same—Elazar ben Yehudah of Worms
[132] Deuteronomy 2:24 Concentration and Humility in Prayer—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
Va-’et?annan
[133] Deuteronomy 4:39 Nothing but God—Yishayah HaLevi Horowitz
[134] Deuteronomy 5:5 Ego Gets in the Way—Kalonymos Kalman HaLevi Epstein
[135] Deuteronomy 6:4 The Meaning of Divine Unity—Moshe Alsheich
‘Ekev
[136] Deuteronomy 8:3 The Spirituality of Eating—Hayyim Vital
[137] Deuteronomy 9:15–17 The Weight of the Law—Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar
[138] Deuteronomy 10:21 Prayer Is Divine—Pinchas of Koretz
Re’eh
[139] Deuteronomy 11:26 Today—Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
[140] Deuteronomy 13:4 Testing Times—Yisra’el ben Eliezer, Ba’al Shem Tov
[141] Deuteronomy 15:22 Why Eating Is Like Sleeping—Ya’akov Yitzchak HaLevi Horowitz, Seer of Lublin
Shofetim
[142] Deuteronomy 16:18 Judgment Within—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[143] Deuteronomy 18:13 Raising Love and Fear to God—Yisra’el ben Eliezer, Ba’al Shem Tov
[144] Deuteronomy 19:14 Making God Real—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
Ki Tetse’
[145] Deuteronomy 21:10 The War against Evil—Moshe Teitelbaum of Ujhely
[146] Deuteronomy 23:19 Praying without Desire—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[147] Deuteronomy 25:19 Blotting Out Amalek Within—Yisra’el ben Eliezer, Ba’al Shem Tov
Ki Tavo’
[148] Deuteronomy 26:11 How to Rejoice—Mordechai of Neschiz
[149] Deuteronomy 26:16 Timeless Prayer—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[150] Deuteronomy 28:31 Backward Curses—Pinchas of Koretz
Nitsavim
[151] Deuteronomy 29:9 Standing before God—Yisra’el Friedman of Ruzhyn
[152] Deuteronomy 29:28 The Hidden and the Revealed—Hayyim Vital
[153] Deuteronomy 30:11–12,14 The Shechinah in Our Mouths—Baruch ben Yechiel of Medzibodz
Va-yelekh
[154] Deuteronomy 31:1 Controlling Our Words—Elimelech ben Hayyim Meir Yechiel of Grodzhisk
[155] Deuteronomy 31:12 Fixing Holiness in Our Minds—Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Izbica
[156] Deuteronomy 31:18 When God Is in Hiding—Simchah Bunam of Otvotzk
Ha’azinu
[157] Deuteronomy 32:1 Without Knowing What We Say—Menachem Mendel of Rymanov
[158] Deuteronomy 32:18 Forgetting God—Menachem Mendel of Kotzk
[159] Deuteronomy 32:47 The Torah as Advice—Meshullam Feibush HaLevi Heller of Zbarazh
Ve-zo’t Ha-berakhah
[160] Deuteronomy 33:1 The Never-Recurring Now—Hayyim ben Menachem Mendel of Kosov
[161] Deuteronomy 33:18 Business and Study—Hayyim ben Moshe ibn Attar
[162] Deuteronomy 34:12 Returning to the Beginning—Moshe Hayyim Efraim of Sudylkov
Appendix 1: Original Texts
Appendix 2: The Teachers