Chovos Halvavos Daily

Don’t be a Beheima — Bechina 08

Chovos Halvavos asks a fundamental question: Are we actually obligated to study Hashem's creations and contemplate His wisdom? Rabbeinu Bachya begins proving this obligat

Variety in Creation — Bechina 07

Chovos Halvavos teaches us to examine the extraordinary variety of Hashem's creations, from the largest creatures to the tiniest insects. What could an enormous elephant

Rav Miller’s Prophetic Vision — Bechina 06

Chovos Halvavos begins Shaar HaBechinah by defining what it means to examine Hashem's creations: studying the signs of His wisdom in the world around us, each according t

Institute for the Blind — Bechina 05

Chovos Halvavos compares mankind to a group of blind patients in a hospital, surrounded by everything necessary for their healing. But instead of following the doctor's i

Chessed Hashem and Misfortune — Bechina 04

Chovos Halvavos introduces the third reason people fail to recognize Hashem's constant kindness. We become so focused on the difficulties, disappointments, and suffering

The Emancipated Prisoner — Bechina 03

Chovos Halvavos explains another reason why most people are blind to Hashem's kindness: we've been receiving His gifts for so long that we've stopped recognizing them as

Macy’s Water — Bechina 02

Chovos Halvavos teaches that Hashem is good to everyone — Tov Hashem la'kol. That includes every one of us. Yet Rabbeinu Bachya makes a startling observation: most of man

The Splendid Placemat — Bechina 01

Chovos Halvavos begins Shaar HaBechinah — discovering Hashem through the wonders of His creations. Rather than relying on complicated philosophical arguments, Rabbeinu Ba

The Final Gates — Hakdamah 29

Chovos Halvavos brings its Hakdamah to a close by explaining the final two Shaarim. Shaar HaPrishus teaches us to free our minds from excessive attachment to worldly plea

Principles of Hashem's Oneness — Hakdamah 28

Chovos Halvavos continues explaining how the ten Shaarim build upon one another. Once we recognize Hashem's absolute oneness, learn to see Him in the world around us, and

Serving Hashem and Bitachon — Hakdamah 27

Chovos Halvavos explains how the first four Shaarim build upon one another. First, we recognize Hashem's existence and absolute oneness (Shaar HaYichud). Then we learn to

Wood Teaches About Hashem — Hakdamah 26

Chovos Halvavos introduces the structure of the sefer, beginning with Shaar HaYichud, the foundation upon which everything else rests: recognizing the absolute oneness of

Simplicity; Not Jadal — Hakdamah 25

Chovos Halvavos explains how Rabbeinu Bachya finally decided to write his sefer — and why he deliberately chose simplicity over sophisticated rhetoric and debate. Rather

The Enemy Within — Hakdamah 24

Chovos Halvavos continues exploring the danger of excessive caution and perfectionism. If everyone waited until they were perfectly qualified before undertaking something

Self Doubt, Laziness and Accomplishment — Hakdamah 23

Chovos Halvavos describes Rabbeinu Bachya's struggle with self-doubt as he considered writing his sefer. Was he knowledgeable enough? Was his understanding sufficiently d

Creating the Sefer — Hakdamah 22

Chovos Halvavos describes how Rabbeinu Bachya began studying and practicing the duties of the heart, only to discover that the deeper he went, the more there was to learn

What did Hashem Create YOU for? — Hakdamah 21

Chovos Halvavos challenges the idea of “emunah peshutah” for someone capable of deeper understanding. Relying on the emunah we inherited may be sufficient when a person l

Discovering the Hidden Wisdom — Hakdamah 20

Chovos Halvavos introduces us to Chochmah Hatzfunah — the hidden wisdom of our inner avodas Hashem. Unlike practical halacha, this wisdom lies deep within the heart and m

Inner Torah Study — Hakdamah 19

Chovos Halvavos warns against devoting our limited learning time to subjects that may be fascinating while neglecting the foundations of our emunah. Knowing that Hashem i

Motivations for Torah Study — Hakdamah 18

Chovos Halvavos explains why the duties of the heart have received so much less attention than the practical mitzvos. It isn’t because they’re simple or obvious — in fact