Chovos Halvavos Daily

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

The Sky is Not the Limit —Hakdamah 17

Chovos Halvavos explains another reason why the duties of the heart demand serious study. Physical mitzvos are defined and countable — but the obligations of our minds an

The Two Obstacles — Hakdamah 16

Chovos Halvavos illustrates the constant obligation of the mind with the parable of a servant given two jobs. His work in the fields depends on the season and circumstanc

Always Top of Mind — Hakdamah 15

Chovos Halvavos teaches that the duties of the heart are different from other mitzvos: they never stop. They apply at every time, in every place, and in every circumstanc

More Statements of the Sages — Hakdamah 14

Chovos Halvavos brings further proofs from Chazal that the mind and heart are at the center of our avodas Hashem. Pirkei Avos focuses on our inner world, and even Halacha

General Statements of the Sages — Hakdamah 13

Chovos Halvavos turns to the third gateway — the teachings of Chazal — for the clearest proof that Hashem demands not only our actions, but our minds and hearts: “Rachman

In Your Mouth and Your Heart — Hakdamah 12

Chovos Halvavos teaches that the entire system of mitzvos rests upon what takes place in our minds and hearts. The Torah tells us that serving Hashem is not far away: “It

Torah Sources for Mitzvos of the Mind — Hakdamah 11

Chovos Halvavos turns to the Written Torah to prove that the duties of the heart are genuine Torah obligations. Loving and fearing Hashem, loving others, avoiding jealous

NeuraLink and the Chovos Halvovos — Hakdamah 10

Chovos Halvavos demonstrates that the duties of the heart are genuine Torah obligations, rooted in logic, the Written Torah, and the teachings of Chazal. And there’s an e

Examples of Concealed Mitzvos — Hakdamah 9

Chovos Halvavos introduces us to Avodah Hatzfunah — the concealed service of Hashem that takes place within our minds and hearts. Yichud Hashem, genuine emunah, yirah, ac

The Mitzvos as Expressions of Gratitude — Hakdamah 8

Chovos Halvavos gives us a new perspective on the physical mitzvos we perform: they are expressions of gratitude to Hashem for the physical gifts He gives us. Tefillah, t

A New Perspective On the Mitzvos — Hakdamah 7

Chovos Halvavos begins proving through logic that the duties of the mind are genuine obligations. Physical mitzvos themselves depend on what’s happening inside us — on in

Nobody Wrote a Chovos Halvavos Until Now — Hakdamah 6

Chovos Halvavos reaches a turning point in the Hakdamah: why did Rabbeinu Bachya write this sefer? After surveying the great Torah works that already existed — on Tanach,

Negative Mitzvos of the Mind — Hakdamah 5

Chovos Halvavos introduces the negative obligations of the mind — thoughts and attitudes that the Torah forbids. We discover that even failing to use our minds to recogni

The Mitzvos of the Mind — Hakdamah 4

Chovos Halvavos explains an important difference between the duties of our limbs and the duties of our hearts. Some physical mitzvos make perfect sense to us, while other

Introducing the Torah of the Mind — Hakdamah 3

Chovos Halvavos identifies three gateways to Divine Wisdom: the human intellect, the Written Torah, and the teachings of Chazal. We discover what made Rav Moshe Feinstein

The Wisdom of Torah — Hakdamah 2

Chovos Halvavos discusses the various forms of wisdom — one of the great gifts bestowed upon us by Hashem. But he places special emphasis on what he calls “Divine Wisdom.