Kuntres HaHispaialus (The Discourse on Emotional Arousal)

Kuntres HaHispaialus is a discourse written by the Mitteler Rebbe and sent to the chassidim in 1814 (one year after the histalkus of the Alter Rebbe).

The kuntres is an epistle to all Chabad chassidim dealing with the ways of hispayalus (emotional arousal) in the heart and mind according to the Chabad approach, and their integration into Chabad avodas Hashem. The main point is that true hispajalus is achieved only through deep hisbonenus in Chassidus, after which the heart becomes naturally aroused in different levels corresponding to the depth of hisbonenus.

The kuntres is divided into an introduction, which is a separate letter where the Rebbe explains the obligation of hispajalus and rejects those who experience "external hispajalus," which he calls "the old ways" on one hand, and on the other hand those who are supposedly afraid of becoming emotionally aroused (referring to Chabad chassidim who mistakenly understood that hispajalus was completely invalid). The Rebbe laments the situation that most chassidim do not awaken to hispajalus and explains the reasons for this condition.

The kuntres itself is divided into several sections where the Mitteler Rebbe explains the levels of hispajalus as they are divided into five levels of the nefesh habehamis called ahavas olam, or in the language of the kuntres "hispajalus of physical life," and five levels of the nefesh ha'elokis called ahava rabba, or in the language of the kuntres "hispajalus of G-dly life," the ways to reach them, and the obstacles to hispajalus.

Commentaries

There are two explanations on the kuntres by Reb Hillel Paritcher. The first, "Mahadura Kama," follows the order of the kuntres in simpler language, and the second, "Mahadura Tinyana," focuses on the topics of the kuntres and extensively explains various concepts in Chassidus necessary for thoroughly understanding the subject. In this explanation, Reb Hillel explains, as if in passing, very deep concepts in Chassidus, and without it, it is very difficult to almost impossible to grasp its depth and truth.

Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira wrote a book about avodas Hashem based on the kuntres. The book was published by Yeshivas Od Yosef Chai in 2023.

Further Reading

• A review of the kuntres in 'Pnimiyut' journal, Iyar 2021.
• An interview with Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira in Kfar Chabad weekly, Parshas Toldos 2024.