Today is February 1, 2026 /
Today is February 1, 2026 /
Today’s online Torah study is dedicated by Yehuda Wurtzel l’ilui nishmas his dear mother Bernice bas Avraham ע”ה whose yahrzeit is on the 12th of Shevat.
To make a dedication, click HERE.
Podcast (shiurim): Download (Duration: 1:03:00 — 86.5MB)
Speaker: Rabbi Nasan Maimon. This halakha is based on Likutey Moharan 20.
00:00 – PARAGRAPH 6b (Beginning with the words “Ki c’mo sheHaAretz hi tachlis haGashmius”). The Names of Hashem give us a way to relate to Him.
06:50 – One of the main goals of a Jew in this world is to achieve [the spiritual level of] Eretz Yisrael.
09:00 – When a person passes away, one of the first things he’s asked is “Do you remember your name?” The custom of saying one’s own name after the Shemoneh Esrei.
11:00 – All the deeds of a person are inscribed in their name.
13:18 – The deep significance of a Jewish name.
*14:17 – Shemos HaTzaddikim. Just by mentioning the name of a tzaddik, we draw upon ourselves his holiness and his merit. This strengthens our ability to access holiness, purity, and supports our return to Hashem. Because everything about the tzaddik we mention is included in his name. For example, even the rivers of tears shed by the mother of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai z”l are included when his name is mentioned.
19:53 – Moshe Rabbeinu, Eliyahu Hanavi, and mentioning the avos in Shemoneh Esrei.
21:11 – QUESTION about a person who is not given a Jewish name.
21:50 – QUESTION about remembering one’s name after they pass away.
24:10 – Story of the Baal Shem Tov and the man with a bone disease. A person’s sins are etched into their bones.
26:38 – The Arizal could see a person’s deeds in their face.
29:15 – QUESTION about palm reading.
*31:03 – QUESTION: is there merit in mentioning the names of righteous women? RESPONSE: The Zohar HaKodesh explains that the masculine principle includes the feminine. Therefore, when we mention a tzaddik‘s name, this automatically includes the merits of his wife. For example, the merits of Sarah Imeinu are automatically included when we mention the name of Avraham Avinu.
32:25 – QUESTION about saying the full name of a tzaddik. RESPONSE: The word “sefer” (book) is begematria “shem” (name). Sometimes a tzaddik is called by the name of a sefer he authored.
33:31 – Account of Breslov gathering in Lublin, Poland before World War 2. Rav Meir Shapiro z”l.
34:52 – QUESTION: is there a merit in saying the full name of Rav Yehuda Meir Shapiro z”l?
35:36 – QUESTION about possukim for one’s name after the Shemoneh Esrei.
35:47 – QUESTION: how can many people have the same name? RESPONSE: the particular configuration is unique.
36:44 – QUESTION about giving the name at a bris milah (circumcision).
37:36 – QUESTION: why do we say Rabbeinu z”l or “the Rebbe” instead of saying “Rebbe Nachman”?
39:46 – Why is Rosh Hashanah called “Yom HaZikaron”?
42:21 – BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Reb Michel Dorfman z”l explained how viduy is done in Uman on Erev Rosh Hashanah. When tens of thousands want to say viduy in the presence of the Tzaddik, how can everyone be “present”? Reb Michel answered, “All a person has to do is say his own name when actually in sight of the kever. Then later, from a distance, he can add all the details of the viduy”.
45:05 – End of biographical note, return to text about Rosh Hashanah as Yom Hazikaron.
47:36 – Adam HaRishon gave a name to everything in creation, including Hashem.
52:18 – QUESTION: what if a person can’t travel to Uman to say viduy in the presence of the tzaddik? RESPONSE: The soul of the tzaddik fills the world. Reference to Likutey Tefilos 4 (which corresponds to Likutey Moharan 4).
53:49 – QUESTION about mentioning a child’s full name at least once a day. RESPONSE: Rabbi Rosenfeld z”l used English names at times. [Ed. note: Reb Michel Dorfman z”l encouraged parents to daven (pray) for each child by his or her full Hebrew name every day, and to mention each one’s good points in tefilah as well.]
55:13 – COMMENT from student about Rav Shmelke of Nikolsburg z”l.
*55:37 – QUESTION about Adam HaRishon giving a name to Hashem. RESPONSE: Why did Hashem give the job of naming things to Adam? This teaches us about the role of a Jew in the world: Hashem created the world for the sake of the People of Israel and invited us to be partners with Him in the ongoing renewal of creation.
58:23 – QUESTION about Eretz Yisrael and the Name of Hashem. RESPONSE: Reference to Likutey Moharan 4: אוַֽעֲנָוִ֥ים יִֽירְשׁוּ־אָ֑רֶץ “The humble shall inherit the Land…” (Tehillim/Psalms 37).
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