Then the Reb Levi Yiztchak requested, to the shock of all those around him, go to one of the Yidden and get me some chametz. It's Pesach, Rebbe, where are we going to find chametz, asked the confused servant. Nonetheless, since the Rebbe asked, the faithful shamash began searching for chametz from the Yidden. Hours later he returned empty handed.

The Kedushas Levi called out, Ribbono shel Olam, look how easy it is to get contraband, despite the possibility of a terrible punishment from the government; but you commanded the Yidden to get rid of their chametz and none is to be found! HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the Yidden love and fear you so much!

Rav Moshe Weinberger said over that Rav Levi Yitzchok from Berditchev used to sing a song that went something like this: "The Russians say 'Hail to the Tzar' and the Germans say 'Hail to the Emperor' but I, Levi Yitzchok say 'Yisgadel Vyisgadesh Shmei Rabba'.

These four words, 'Yisgadel Vyisgadesh Shmei Rabba' are translated as: May the great name of God be exalted and sanctified.

This is the simple reason for which we were created. Not only the Jewish people; every single creature and creation that ever existed and ever will exist was created to glorify Hashem's name. In the end of time, His name will be glorified whether we contributed willingly or not.

Let's try together to work on thinking of the translation of these four words when the chazzan says them and answer Amen with that intention.

This simple avodah will be fulfilling our task as creations of Hashem and has the power to break many evil decrees.

You in?

from the holy brother Davy

Rebbe Nachman taught that the first letters of these words spell out Kashya - question. Meaning, that every question calls out from our depths and builds a desire for an answer. So that whenever there is a question we are waiting for an answer from Hashem.

Once at the Pesach seder of Reb Levi Yitzchak, when they reached the Rebbe's turn to ask the Four Question, he was silent. After everyone was waiting and waiting, the Kedushas Levi called out, "Four questions? Only four questions? I have a million questions!"

Kedushas Levi
Parshas Vayikra

"If a person will sin and will commit one of all the commandments of Hashem that may not be done... and is guilty..." (Vayikra 5:17)

It is known, that the more a person serves the Holy One, the more it should appear in his eyes as if that service is insignificant compared to the greatness of Hashem. But when a person does a mitzvah and he reasons that he is serving Hashem, that mitzvah is considered as nothing.

This is the explanation of the verse. "If a person will sin," what is the sin? "he did one of all the commandments of Hashem." "that may be not be done," that is to say, that this mitzvah is for him like nothing, but he reasons that he is serving Hashem properly and he "is guilty."

Kedushas Levi
Parsha Tetzaveh

The yetzer hara seduces a person with base desires and misplaced love; it seeks to separate a person from serving the Creator. The way break the yetzer hara and raise up all of your thoughts and desires to serve Hashem in holiness is this: A person should say to himself, "if I have a desire for something physical or intellectual, then even more so I should desire my Creator; if I have a fear of some'thing', then even more so I should have awe and fear before Hashem." In this way, that which is bad (contrary to spirituality) will become an instrument for the good.

This is why Hashem made it that a person is far from Him. Because if every person would serve the Creator always then Hashem would not receive any pleasure (from that service). Because continual pleasure is, (in fact,) not pleasure. But when there is distance (in the relationship) and afterwords a person breaks all the barriers and attaches oneself to the service of the Creator, then there will be a great pleasure to Hashem.

Kedushas Levi
Purim

"Remeber what Amalek did to you... when you were tired and weary" (Devarim 25:17-18)
Not only are the descendents of Israel commanded to destroy the descendents of Amalek but also every individual Jew must eliminate that bad part hidden within his heart which is called Amalek. The Midrash actually calls a person a "small world" so the entire time that a remnant of Amalek exists, there also exists a power of evil in each and every one of us. This (internal force of Amalek) is always awake causing us to sin. This is why the Torah comes with this reminder.

The power of a Jew is with Torah and Mitzvos and when a person has this power, and his heart is always burning for the Creator, then no evil can can control him. But when a person relinquishes this power then immediately he weakens and Amalek comes, and evil dwells within him. Nonetheless, when a person takes hold of Yiras Hashem, and fears transgressing the Mitzvos, then (even if he is weak in Torah and Mitzvos), he will not come to sin.

This is why the verse says "You were tired and weary", you are lacking the power of a Jew because you have weakened in serving Hashem. And it also says "You did not fear Hashem," you must always be careful to remember not to stumble because of the power of Amalek. So the Torah tells us "you will eliminate" from your heart the root of evil and subjugate (your heart) to the good.

"And you shall say it is a Passover offering to Hashem" (Shmos 12:27)
that is to say, when you want to bring an offering now, in this bitter exile, when we don't have (actual physical) offerings (to make), then the verse says "you shall say a Pesach offering to HaShem", (פה סח - the mouth speaks) you will speak in Torah and in prayer with a clear mind, and it will be only for Hashem.

It's brought down in the Biala siddur (from Reb Nosson Dovid of Shidlovtza, grandson of the Yid HaKodesh, father of the Divrei Binah), that a person should remember every morning to freely give his Torah learning and prayers to the Creator: Behold, I give all my Torah, Tefilah, Miztvos, and good deads that I do, as a gift to the Life of all worlds, Blessed is His Name.