In this episode, we'll be exploring Reb Noson / Rav Natan of Breslov's Chasidic interpretations of the Torah, Kabbalah and Midrash, centered on this week's Torah portion.

Here are the sources referred to in this episode:

Opening of the parsha with Rashi:

https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.23.1?lang=bi&aliyot=0&p2=Rashi_on_Genesis.23.1&lang2=bi

We need to constantly begin anew, seeing ourselves as if we have not even yet begun our journeys, constantly adding sanctity and vitality each and every day – that is the real meaning of “long life”:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.38?lang=bi

The cave was called Machpeilah or “double” because righteous people, such as those buried there, are constantly re-doubling in sanctity and vitality, and they are constantly making “Teshuvah on Teshuvah” - that is returning to, and re-integrating, the previous steps on their journey into their constantly growing self:

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Orach_Chaim%2C_Laws_of_Phylacteries.5.39.1?lang=bi

It's not possible to acquire sanctity without effort. Therefore Avraham rejected the idea of receiving the cave as a free gift, and instead paid 400 shekel for it, corresponding to the “400 Worlds of Desire” (Zohar):

https://www.sefaria.org/Likutei_Halakhot%2C_Choshen_Mishpat%2C_Laws_of_Gifting.4.11?lang=bi

Desire, will, Ratzon, is essential to our path:

https://www.sefaria.org/Sichot_HaRan.259?vhe=rabenubook&lang=bi

Thank you for listening to The Spirit of the Torah from Applied Jewish Spirituality (AJS) - https://www.appliedjewishspirituality.org/

In every episode, Rabbi Daniel Raphael Silverstein explores insights arising from the Hebrew calendar or our weekly Torah portion, and related practices that can help us to effect positive change in our lives.

The intro and outro music is Shiviti by Dreamers - https://linktr.ee/dreamersmusic

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