Hineni

Sources

Named. Not borrowed in the dark.

This guidebook stands on Torah, Chazal, and Chassidus. Where a line is exact, it is marked as such. Where it is the language of this book, that is said plainly.

  • Pesukim and Gemara are given as close to the wording as this guidebook needs, and always named.
  • Chassidic teachings that are not a word-for-word line from a sefer are marked paraphrase. They are faithful to the teaching, not a critical edition.
  • Stories without a documented historical source are marked as teaching stories written for this book. They are not attributed to a Rebbe as if they happened.
  • If a popular citation is wrong — even if it is widely repeated — this book uses the primary source.

Tanach

Quoted as written, with standard chapter and verse.

  • Bereishis 1:27

    Tzelem Elokim

    Verbatim idea of the verse.

  • Bereishis 18:27

    Dust and ashes

    Avraham's words, verbatim.

  • Bereishis 22:1

    Hineni

    Avraham at the Akeidah.

  • Shemos 3:4

    Moshe's Hineni

    At the burning bush.

  • Shemos 3:12

    Ki ehyeh imach

    Hashem's answer to Moshe.

  • Shemos 25:8

    Make Me a sanctuary — I will dwell in them

    The Mishkan is in them, not only in it.

  • Vayikra 6:6

    Eish tamid

    The constant fire on the altar.

  • Vayikra 19:18

    V'ahavta l'rei'acha

    Love your neighbor.

  • Devarim 4:4

    V'atem hadevekim

    Those who cleave are alive.

  • Devarim 4:24

    Consuming fire

    Cited inside Ketubot 111b.

  • Tehillim 16:8

    Shivisi…tamid

    The spine of this work.

  • Tehillim 34:19

    Close to the brokenhearted

    Verbatim.

  • Tehillim 42:3–4

    Thirst; tears as bread

    Verbatim.

  • Tehillim 130:1

    From the depths

    Verbatim.

  • Tehillim 136:1

    Hodu LaHashem ki tov

    In the daily ritual.

  • Tehillim 145:2

    Every day I will bless You

    Verbatim.

  • Mishlei 3:6

    In all your ways, know Him

    Verbatim.

Chazal

Named to the daf or midrash. Wording is translated, not invented.

  • Ta'anis 2a

    Avodah shebalev is prayer

    “What is the service of the heart? Prayer.”

  • Ketubot 111b / Sifrei Devarim 49

    Can one cleave to fire?

    Cling to sages and their students.

  • Bava Metzia 59a

    Gates of tears were not locked

    This is the primary source. Not Zohar II:165b.

  • Sanhedrin 4:5 (37a)

    The world was created for my sake

    Mishnah. Only one half of the two-pocket teaching.

  • Pirkei Avos 1:15

    Aseh torascha keva

    Shammai. Verbatim.

  • Sifra Kedoshim 4:12; Yerushalmi Nedarim 9:4

    Great principle of Torah

    Rabbi Akiva on Vayikra 19:18.

  • Bereishis Rabbah 44:1

    Mitzvos refine the person

    Primary midrash. Also Vayikra Rabbah 13:3.

Rishonim and halacha

Quoted or closely rendered, then named.

  • Rashi, Bereishis 22:1

    Hineni as humility and readiness

    Lashon anavah v'lashon zimun. Marked paraphrase of Rashi's wording.

  • Rama, Orach Chaim 1:1

    Shivisi is a great principle of Torah

    Close rendering of the opening gloss.

  • Rambam, Hilchos Deos 4:1

    Keeping the body whole is of the ways of Hashem

    Paraphrase. The mishkan includes the body.

Chassidus

Where the line is not word-for-word from the sefer, it is marked paraphrase.

  • Tanya, chapter 4

    Mitzvos as garments of the soul

    Paraphrase of levushim: thought, speech, deed.

  • Tanya, chapter 26

    Atzvus versus merirus

    Teaching summarized in the note. Not a forged quotation.

  • Tanya, chapter 41

    Hashem stands over you

    Close paraphrase of “Hashem nitzav alav… k'omed lifnei hamelech.”

  • Sefer Yetzirah 1:7

    A flame bound to a coal

    Verbatim image. Tanya uses it for the soul.

  • Tikkunei Zohar 57

    No place devoid of Him

    Leit atar panui mineih. Often taught in the name of the Baal Shem Tov.

  • Baal Shem Tov

    Hashem in every ordinary act; pause as space for light

    Paraphrase of his well-known avodah. Not a numbered sefer line.

  • Mittler Rebbe, on tefillah

    Prayer as dveikus and channel

    Paraphrase of his discourses on prayer (including Kuntres Inyan Tefillah). Not cited as a book called Sha'ar HaTefillah.

  • Lubavitcher Rebbe

    Preparation, consistency, ahavas Yisrael

    Paraphrase of recurring sichos. Not a single footnoted maamar.

  • R' Simcha Bunim of Peshischa

    Two notes in two pockets

    Joins Sanhedrin 4:5 and Bereishis 18:27. Traditional attribution.

Teaching stories

Written for this guidebook. In the spirit of Chassidus. Not historical claims.

  • The fire that was aimed wrong

    Chapter 4

    A teaching story on teshuvah. Not a documented Rebbe story.

  • How you spoke this morning

    Chapter 7

    A teaching story in the spirit of the Baal Shem Tov. Not a recorded incident.