Learning the Esh Kodesh in English

One of my faithful blog readers recently asked me, "Oh great Kabbalah u'Madda. What is the best way for me to learn the Esh Kodesh of the Piaseczno Rebbe in English?"

Here is my reply:

There are two books in English related to the Esh Kodesh: one is an English translation and the other analyzes the sefer.

The translation of the Esh Kodesh is called Sacred Fire: Torah from the Years of Fury 1939-1942 and is translated by J. Heschy Worch. The English is quite readable and there are no explanatory notes or comments. There are many powerful messages contained in the translated divrei Torah, but as you would expect it is difficult to appreciate the Rebbe's chiddushim without knowing the sources that he is quoting.

The analysis of the Esh Kodesh is called The Holy Fire: The Teachings of Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Rebbe of the Warsaw Ghetto by Nechemia Polen. He translates and analyzes portions of the divrei Torah and arranges them into categories.

I have used both books when teaching and I would recommend owning both of them if you can afford it. Both of them are available from Amazon.

Also, I know that R. Moshe Weinberger of the Aish Kodesh shul on Long Island has given shiurim on the Esh Kodesh and they can be purchased online.

Kol Tuv,

Reb Yaakov

ps - You can support Kabbalah u'Madda and purchase these books via the Amazon link at the bottom of the page!

Photo Credit - http://www.flickr.com/people/29096601@N00

Yom HaShoah – Too Many Yissurin

Yom HaShoah is coming and I wanted to mention a powerful idea by the Esh Kodesh. In Parshat Chaye Sarah (1940), the Esh Kodesh discusses the death of Sarah Imenu. He starts with Rashi’s comment that explains that the fact that Sarah’s death is recorded next to the Akeidah teaches us that Sarah died when she heard that Avraham was taking Yitzchak to Har HaMoriah.

The Esh Kodesh expands on this idea to teach us about the concept of Yissurin – difficult events. Chazal often talks about Yissurin shel Ahavah, that there are difficult events that come from a place of love in order to make us better people. However, the Esh Kodesh explains that there can also be too many Yissurin that can damage a person.

Yissurin can be compared to salt and food. Just as a small amount of salt enhances the flavor of food; so too, a small amount of Yissurin enhances a person. And just as too much salt ruins the flavor of food; so too, too many Yissurin can ruin a person. The Esh Kodesh concludes that if Sarah, who according to Chazal lived a life without sins, can die because of the overwhelming Yissurin that were connected with the Akeidah. Then certainly we can be damaged by too much suffering. For me, this is an appropriate message for Yom HaShoah.