Working Draft of Daily Spiritual Guide (17th of Cheshvan) (with a little help from Google Gemini)

 

📅 Kabbalah of Time: Daily Spiritual Guide

Date: November 7/8, 2025 (17th of Cheshvan, 5786) – Shabbat Parashat Vayeira

"Shabbat Shalom! Tonight marks the beginning of the 17th of Cheshvan, 5786. This date is Day 51 of the 364-Day Yearly Cycle. Today is highly significant as it is the traditional date when the Great Flood (Mabul) began in the time of Noah (according to Rabbi Eliezer). Our focus is on the sanctity of Time and the disciplined application of Kindness."

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Part 1: Cycles and Inner Refinement

1. Hayom Yom for the 17th of Cheshvan

Original Text (Yiddish/Hebrew)	English Translation	Link
מ'דארף היטען דעם זמן, מ'דארף מקבל זיין עולה של תורה. יעדער זמן, יעדער טאג וואס גייט אוועק, איז דאס ניט נאר א טאג נאר א ענין אין לעבען, די טעג גייען כמאמר [ירושלמי ברכות פ"א [פרק א'] ה"א [הלכה א']] יום נכנס ויום יוצא שבת נכנס כו' חדש כו' שנה כו'. דער טאטע האט געזאגט בשם רבינו הזקן: אזומערדיגער טאָג און אַוִוינטעֶרדִיגעֶ נאַכט אִיז אַ יאָהר.	Time must be guarded. It is urgent to "accept the yoke of Torah." Every bit of time, every day that passes, is not just a day but a life's concern. Days go by; as the Talmud says (Yerushalmi Berachot 1:1), "A day enters and a day departs, a week enters etc.,... a month etc.,... a year etc.,..." My father quoted the Alter Rebbe: A summer day and a winter night are a year.	chabad.org/dailystudy/hayomyom.asp?tdate=11/8/2025

Inner Work: The holiness of Shabbat is the perfect opportunity to internalize the need to "guard time." Every moment, especially the time dedicated to rest and spiritual pursuits, must be maximized for growth, recognizing that time utilized can equal "a year" of spiritual elevation.

2. Alef-Bet Combination (22-Day Cycle)

Cycle Details	Source Text	Link
Day 7 of Cycle 3 (Zayin with Vav) Combination: Zu (This)	The cycle moves from Heh & Vav into Zayin & Chet. Today is Day 7 (Zayin with Vav). Zayin represents Creation, struggle, and Shabbat ("Zayin" means weapon, but also implies "sustenance"). The combination "Zu" (this) points to the Divine revelation present in the material world, elevated on Shabbat.	kabbalahoftime.com/2013/10/third-set-of-22-days-heh-vav-desert.html

Combination Focus: Zayin with Vav. We focus on elevating the physical struggle (Zayin) of the week by connecting it with the sustaining, transforming flow (Vav) of the Divine. The spiritual focus of Shabbat allows us to point to our existence and declare it "Zu" (This) – a holy reality.

3. Sefirah Combination (Yearly Cycle / Inner Refinement)

• Tonight begins Day 2 of Week 8 (Gevurah shebeChesed)

Sefirah Focus	Source Text (The Seven Shepherds)	Link
Gevurah shebeChesed	Gevurah (Isaac) signifies strength, discipline, and self-control... and the ability to restrain oneself and not to give to another when such giving may cause harm to the receiver, or when the receiver is simply undeserving. Chesed (Abraham) is characterized by kindness and generosity.	kabbalahoftime.com/search?q=Sefirot

Inner Work: We refine Kindness (Chesed) with Discernment (Gevurah). Our goal is to ensure our boundless kindness (like Abraham's) is balanced with the wisdom and discipline (like Isaac's) to apply it appropriately and effectively.

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Part 2: Core Teachings and Cycles

4. Kabbalah of Time Weekly Song / Focus

Theme and Verse (Psalm 121:2)	Source Text / Quality	Link
Humility is Key (Week 8) Humility (Anavah)	The verse from Haazinu referencing the Flood is connected to the quality of Humility, exemplified by Moses (a tikkun for Noah). Humility is key to acquiring Torah, as it involves complete self-nullification before G-d.	kabbalahoftime.com/2013/10/week-8-book-2-humility-is-key.html

5. Keter Shem Tov / Tales of the Baal Shem Tov

Source Text Summary	Link
The Sacrifice of the Poor Man. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that God desires the heart. He tells a story of a poor man whose simple act of using his family's vegetables to lead a rich man's ox to the Temple was seen as preceding the rich man's grand offering. This stresses the value of simple faith and pure intention over external grandeur.	amazon.com/Light-Fire-Baal-Shem-Tov/dp/0826418880

Other topics to cover:

6. Tanach (First Two Chapters of Melachim I)

7. Mishna

8. Daf Yomi 

9. 13 Attribute Combination

10. 41-Day Combination

11. Likutei Moharan

12. Mishna Berurah

13. Zohar

14. Shovavim Cycles

15. Parasha 

Working Draft of Daily Spiritual Guide (16th of Cheshvan) (with a little help from Google Gemini)

📅 Kabbalah of Time: Daily Spiritual Guide

Date: November 6/7, 2025 (16th of Cheshvan, 5786)

"Shalom everyone! Tonight marks the beginning of the 16th of Cheshvan, 5786, which falls on Thursday night, November 6, 2025 and continuing into the day of November 7, 2025. This date is Day 50 of the 364-Day Yearly Cycle, marking the spiritual 'Shavuot of the Chesed Cycle.' We are focusing on maintaining spiritual focus amidst material concerns."

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Part 1: Cycles and Inner Refinement

1. Hayom Yom for the 16th of Cheshvan

Original Hebrew Text (מחשבה)	English Translation	Link
מחשבה היא לבוש ומשרת השכל והמדות. בשעה אשר אין לה שירות בשכל או במדות, גם אז פועלת פעולתה לחשוב ולהרהר, אבל פעולתה לא לבד שאינה תוכנית, אלא היא גם פרועה לשמצה... ומבואר כי סיבת המחשבות זרות או רעות הוא די פוסטקייט פון קאפ, דכאשר השכל עסוק אז יש להמחשבה מה לשרת ואין מקום למחשבות של שטות והבל שאין בהם ממש.	Thought is a garment and servant of the intellect and emotions. Even when it is not serving the intellect or emotions, it continues to function, thinking and meditating. However, this activity is then not only devoid of content, but also open to depravement... It is explained that alien or evil thoughts are caused by "emptiness of the head." For when the mind is occupied, the thought has something to serve, and there is no room for stupid and vain thoughts devoid of substance.	chabad.org/dailystudy/hayomyom.asp?tdate=11/7/2025

Inner Work: The core message is the necessity of constantly occupying the mind with substance (Torah, Mitzvot, G-dly thoughts) to prevent the spiritual garment of thought from being corrupted by vain and empty thoughts.

2. Alef-Bet Combination (22-Day Cycle)

Cycle Details	Source Text	Link
Day 6 of Cycle 3 (Heh & Vav)	Vav is male, and symbolizes the sefirah of Yesod (foundation) as well as all of Zeir Anpin... The shape of the Vav is a straight line, which is associated with male qualities, while female qualities are associated with round, curved shapes, like that of the Heh. Furthermore, the Vav, which literally means a "hook," grammatically is a letter that connects and transforms... The Heh therefore represents the time in the month of Cheshvan that stands for a "rectified" Malchut, when the initial spiritual void we encountered has already been somewhat filled with spirituality.	kabbalahoftime.com/2013/10/third-set-of-22-days-heh-vav-desert.html

Combination Focus: Vav with Heh. The Vav (connection) within the rectified vessel of Heh (Malchut). Our work is to ensure the sustained connection of spiritual light (Vav) within the daily physical world (Heh), actively correcting any spiritual void we sense.

3. Sefirah Combination (Yearly Cycle / Inner Refinement)

Cycle Details	Source Text (The Seven Shepherds)	Link
Tonight begins Day 1 of Week 8 (Chesed shebeChesed [shebeGevurah])	The Jewish People have three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. On the first night of Sukkot, the Jewish people have the honor of receiving Abraham. This patriarch is characterized by his tremendous kindness and generosity, represented by the sefirah of chesed... Abraham was extremely hospitable, always receiving guests at his home in an exceptional manner.	kabbalahoftime.com/search?q=Sefirot

Focus: Chesed shebeChesed. We are refining the quality of pure, unrestricted Kindness (Chesed) within itself. This means emulating Abraham's hospitality and generosity, ensuring our giving is absolute and unadulterated, and yet also connected to might / judgment.

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Part 2: Core Teachings and Cycles

4. Kabbalah of Time Weekly Song / Focus

Theme and Verse (Psalm 121:2)	Source Text	Link
Not to Lose Focus on our Spirituality and Relationship with G-d	In the eighth week of the year... the swift sings of its recognition that all help comes from G-d, Creator of Heaven and Earth (Psalm 121:2). The swift’s verse is closely connected with Cheshvan. As we go deeper into this month... we need Hashem’s help in order to keep us afloat, and not to lose focus on our spiritual objectives.	kabbalahoftime.com/2013/10/week-8-from-book-not-to-lose-focus-on.html

Pirkei Avot Connection: This week's teaching from Pirkei Avot (II:11) warns: "The evil eye, the evil inclination and hatred towards [G-d’s] creations take a person out of this world."

Other topics to cover:

5. Keter Shem Tov / Tales of the Baal Shem Tov

6. Tanach

7. Mishna

8. Daf Yomi 

9. 13 Attribute Combination

10. 41-Day Combination

11. Likutei Moharan

12. Mishna Berurah

13. Zohar

14. Shovavim Cycles

15. Parasha

Years 2047 and 2048

 B”H

As noted in a previous discussion, Avraham was born in the year 1948 and that Hashem commanded Avraham, “Lech Lecha” when he was 75, in the year 2023. In the year 2047, when Avraham was 99, Hashem gave him the Mitzvah of Brit Milah (circumcision), and a year later, in the year 2048, when he was 100, his son Yitzhak was born.

100 represents the fixing each of the 10 attributes within each 10 subdivisions. We as a people have much  to fix, but also much to look forward to.

Midnight Hammer

 B”H

Netanyahu and Trump have both mentioned just how appropriately named was Operatiom Midnight Hammer, which hammered Iran’s nuclear facilities on the night of June 22-23, 2025. On that historic day, I was supposed to be in Israel on vacation with family. My plans were changed last minute given the circumstances, and instead I found myself in Porto, Portugal. To my surprise, June 23, 2025 was also the day of the largest and most important Portuguese festival of the year: “Festa de S. João.” The festival has quite a unique custom, in which everyone hits each other over the head with plastic hammers awaiting the fireworks at midnight. For the Portuguese, Operation Midnight Hammer was also quite appropriately named… and timed.

75,000

B”H

Based on the latest reports from international organizations and health ministries, the estimated minimum number of people killed across the primary theaters of the Israel-Gaza conflict since October 7, 2023, is around 75,000, which appears to be straight out of the Purim story:

“And the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces assembled and protected themselves and had rest from their enemies and slew their foes, seventy-five thousand, but upon the spoil they did not lay their hands.” (Esther 9:16)

וּשְׁאָ֣ר הַיְּהוּדִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ בִּמְדִינ֨וֹת הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ נִקְהֲל֣וּ | וְעָמֹ֣ד עַל־נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְנ֨וֹחַ֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבֵיהֶ֔ם וְהָרוֹג֙ בְּשֹׂ֣נְאֵיהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וּבַ֨בִּזָּ֔ה לֹ֥א שָֽׁלְח֖וּ אֶת־יָדָֽם:

Netzach: Rebbe Nachman’s Yahrzeit

 B”H

It’s important to note that the ceasefire is taking effect on the 18th of Tishrei, Chai Tishrei, Rebbe Nachman’s Yahrzeit,

The spiritual guest (Ushpiz) of the Sukkah for today is Moshe Rabbeinu, who led the Jewish people out of Egyptian captivity. The Sefirah connected to Moshe is Netzach, which is also the Sefirah connected to Rebbe Nachman: Nitzachti v’Anatzeach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rR1y20sjI5s

היום אם בקולו תשמעו

בעת נעילת שער

כי פנה היום

פתח אליהו ואמר

זה לא הדף

זה היום.