BT vs. RC

 BT: Hashem has immanence but his transcendence is beyond us.

RCVolzhin: Immanence is hidden, transcendence you get through Torah.

To me the 2nd is a bit cold like litvacks. That's why all they care about is Torah and don't seem to think about hashgacha pratis very much. I prefer the BT way. But I can see that we have to put limits on our estimation of our ability to see the immanence and there is transcendence to obtain through Torah. Both are right but I prefer the chassidish way.

YEHOSHUA MONDSHINE – A CRITICAL THINKER WITHIN CHABAD

 https://www.kotzkblog.com/2019/01/210-yehoshua-mondshine-critical-thinker.html

ORIGINS OF THE ZOHAR

 

from kotzk blog

Sunday, 3 July 2016

087) MYSTERIES BEHIND THE ORIGINS OF THE ZOHAR:

INTRODUCTION:

Who wrote the great kabbalistic work known as the Zohar?[1]

The short simple answer is: it was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai[2], who lived during the 2nd century.

 According to many, he wrote down the Zohar which had hitherto been an oral tradition dating back to the biblical period. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai thus redacted the Zohar at about the same time as Rabbi Yehudah haNasi redacted the Mishna.[3]

But there are many Torah scholars who take a different view.

THE CONTROVERSY:

The problem is that the first sections of the Zohar only emerged in Spain as late as the 1200’s.[4]

continue:

https://www.kotzkblog.com/2016/07/87-mysteries-behind-origins-of-zohar.html

need all 3

 the Rebbe on parshas Bo

angel of death passes over the homes

the lintel is torah, the left doorpost is tefillah, the right is good deeds

need all three, if overemphasize or underemphasize 1 or the other you limit Godliness

the willow

 

Three of the four species are required to be beautiful. But the willow only need grow near water. It does not have to look like anything. The esrog has taste and smell and represents those who do Torah and mitzvos. The hadassah has smell and no taste. The lulav has taste (via the date fruit) and no smell. The willow has neither taste nor smell. It represents the simple Jew who doesn't do either. This is not the one who goes against commandments, but the one who doesn't know about them. Tinuk S'nishbeh. When you interact with such a person, "Don't set conditions. I want you to have this or that characteristic." Even the simple Jew is inherently connected to God as long as he is of the right species that grows near water. He is one of the four species without which you cannot do the mitzvah. The lulav is the Torah student. It is not enough for him to study. He must be bound up with the other species. When you approach another person, you cannot come with demands and say I will only help him if he fulfills the commandments. Approach him with love. He is a child of Avr, Yitz, and Yaakov. 

The Rebbe said in response to a visitor who referred to ignorant Jews that his father in law would call them simple Jews. 

Lub. Rebbe, Living Torah Program 683

roadblock

 The Toldos zt'l and Reb Nachman of Horedenka zt'l once traveled to Mezhibuz to spend Shabbos with the Baal Shem Tov. They left early on Friday and planned to arrive well before Shabbos. However, a governor was traveling slowly in front of them, and the strange local laws did not allow anyone to pass the governor. 

After the Toldos expressed his concern that they might not arrive in time for Shabbos, Rebbe Nachman Horedenka told him that whenever he encounters a roadblock in life he works to raise his emunah that the roadblock is for his benefit. Not only that, but the roadblock will actually help him to reach his destination. 

Sure enough, the pair arrived at a city on its market day. Usually, the crowds make passage difficult, but the crowds cleared the road so the governor could pass. And since the Toldos and Rebbe Nachman Horedenka were right behind the governor, they were able to pass right through the city. They arrived in Mezhibuz well before Shabbos. 

The obstacle removed a bigger obstacle. I have seen this happen in my own life and am sure that you have seen it in yours.