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The series of chassidic discourses affectionately known as Samach Vov, from the year 5666 by the Fifth Chabad Rebbe, the Rebbe Rashab, are famous for their exceptionally comprehensive and deep nature. Join Dr. Yaakov Brawer for clear and profound elucidations of these discourses.
Based on 4 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Patient close reading connects the metaphysical vocabulary of Samach Vov to work, effort, ethical conduct and service to God.
Understanding Chassidus proceeds page by page through Samach Vov, with Dr. Yaakov Brawer pausing over difficult distinctions instead of smoothing them into general inspiration.
T'chila isn't qadim, and your margin notes may need their own margins.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A focused look at t'chila, qadim, and the hidden beginning of chachma.
It focuses on the tension between t'chila and qadim, with seif maisa b'machshav t'chila treated as the central concern. The path runs through creation at several levels, from rotzen goli to the move after tsimtsum, and then to chachma as the start of revelation of the self to…
A closing chapter that turns lofty Chassidus into lived responsibility.
This closing chapter of Samach Vav brings the mimer's core ideas into a practical frame. It asks what Hashem really wants and answers with a view of divinity made real in this world and in daily life, not left in the realm of lofty thought.
A dense Chassidic lesson on struggle, trust, and making work into avodah.
This episode keeps coming back to one hard idea: growth usually asks for resistance, effort, and some measure of self-emptying before anything new can take shape.
A patient Chassidic argument for why what is earned through self-exertion feels most precious.
This episode turns on a Chassidic claim that the eved poshet stands above the ben and the faithful servant because the deepest delight comes from what a person brings into being through his own effort.
Daily halacha, case by case.
Parsha questions carried into serious Torah argument.
Understanding Chassidus examines Samach Vav's account of Birur through the interaction of the Nefesh Elokis, Nefesh Habehamis, and Klippas Nogah.
The shiur reopens the question of what really counts as t'chila.
The episode opens on page tough mem tes.
The episode comes back to a hard idea: growth needs barriers.
The teaching returns to page Tof Lamed Gimel and takes up the Rebbe's claim that the milah of the eved poshet surpasses the ben and the eved neman.