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Monday 25 May 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 22 Daf 8a Part 2 (Koren Talmud Bavli) -...
Our Gemara speaks about the love that God has towards the area of Torah known as Halachah - Jewish law. Halachah - from the root "Walking" refers to the way in which we walk with God - the way in which we "go" with God. Of course we mean to say the love He has towards those who are going to be studying it and putting it into practise. The Torah is God's manifestation of His essence brought down using ink onto paper. God certainly loves all of Torah. But there is something special about the Halachah - the law itself.
God loves those who engage in the study of Halachah over all other areas. It is here - in the four cubits of Halachah that God can be found most - ever since the time of the destruction of the Temple.
We learn about the importance of action - of doing things with our hands. Having fear of Heaven is important. It's important to connect with God in every spiritual way we can. Its important to meditate and connect with God. But the one who uses his hands, his physicality to involve himself in the goings-on of this physical world is one who has happiness here and in the World to Come.
We learn about the importance of a pupil being close to his teacher - his Rebbe.
The Gemara then goes onto a very serious case discussing the issue of leaving a synagogue at the time the Torah is being read.
Thereafter we learn the importance of studying the Torah portion twice in the original Hebrew and once in the Aramaic (SheM'O'T) each week so that one completes the learning of the weekly Parshah each week with the community.
We learn a fascinating teaching that tells us that when we eat on the 9th day of Tishrei - God considers it as if we have fasted on both the 9th and the 10th day. What an we learn from that?
Wednesday 20 May 2020
Derech Hashem - The Way of God - How Moshe's Prophecy Differed Part 2 - ...
The Ramchal continues teaching us the difference in the way that Moshe experienced his prophecy to the way the other prophets would experience their prophecies.
Moshe was able to see his vision directly. He did so while he was wide awake! He also saw things through a clear lens - and there was only one. It wasn't a refracted / reflected image.
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 26 - The Rasha (the "Evil" Person) - Chapter 11
Having concluded his discussion about the Tzaddik (the righteous person), the Alter Rebbe continues into chapter 11 with the theme of the Rasha (the "evil" person).
The Rasha is not exactly the type of evil person we think of in a general sense. Certainly not in terms as relates to Rosh HaShanah when God judges us based upon our Mitzvah performance. Rather, the Rasha is a person whose good inclination is subjugated to his bad inclination.
Each Rasha has his own level with the level of bad influencing him to a greater or lesser extent. We now have a situation whereby one's city (the entire body) has a main rulership of evil influencing a person to commit various infractions against the Torah. Now, the citizens of the city (the limbs) will become chariots in order to serve the needs of the king who sets about influencing one on a path that goes away from the path that God wishes us to be on.
One is influenced through one's thoughts, one's speech and one's deeds to commit aveirot (sins). One is dominated by the side of evil - even though it is that there may be some good which indeed will express itself at times too. But in general, the main influence of the Rasha is the evil animalistic soul swaying over the judgment for the particular behaviour of a person.
Nevertheless, whatever the case, forgiveness from God is always available. Through the different ways of teshuvah (repentance) one can always be forgiven from God. This is indeed what happens to the Rasha - who will go through his life with this movement of being swayed into the ways of evil, and thereafter regretting what he has done, asking God to forgive him, and then starting again.
Monday 18 May 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 21 Daf 8a Part 1 (Koren Talmud Bavli) - Pray at a "Time of Finding"
#torah #judaism #berachot #gemara #talmud #bathroom #prayer #andsomuchmore
Our page of Talmud discusses the importance of praying with a Minyan and if one cannot for any reason - there is another solution to be a part of the Minyan when not actually with the Minyan...
Who is the "evil neighbour" of a neighbourhood? The Gemara goes into further depth about being part of the community by taking a part in the prayers of the community - in the same place as they all pray.
Our page tells us how we should treat the privilege of being able to pray in a synagogue. It's not enough to just get oneself into the shul, but rather, one should enter a certain distance to show one's love for the place of worship one will be praying in. It shouldn't have to look like a burden.
The Gemara teaches us about the different types of women one can marry. There is a man who "finds a find!" and then there is a man who may find himself with a different type of marriage partner. Well - that's what they used to say in Israel in any case. Listen in to the Shiur to find out more!
The Gemara goes into some depth explaining the benefit of praying at a "time of finding". What exactly is it and when does it occur? There are various interpretations that are given. One such interpretation speaks about death and the different types of death that occur in the world.
There are other approaches taken to understanding this expression - each as wonderful as the next. But if you'd like to know the types of things we need to pray for - a "time of finding" - you'll need to listen in. There's certainly enough material here to really make us think about what prayer is all about and just how important it is to pray for all our needs!
Wednesday 13 May 2020
Derech Hashem - The Way of God - How Moshe's Prophecy Differed - Lesson...
The Ramchal Section Three - Part 4 - discusses how the prophecy of Moshe (Moses) differed from all the other prophets.
He begins by sharing with us the usual way of prophecy. The prophet sees his vision through various "mirrors" which each reflect off each other. The vision itself is somewhat murky. But at the end of the day, the prophet knows that it is God Who is talking to him.
In our next lesson, we will see more about the way in which Moshe prophesied.
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 25 - The Complete Tzaddik - Chapter 10 Part 2
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liady (1745-1812) teaches us in this amazing chapter the different types of Tzaddikim. In today's lesson - the second half of chapter 10, we learn about the Tzaddik Gamur - the complete Tzaddik.
This is a person who not only has no evil inclination, but that even the left ventricle of his heart - the area which houses the evil - has been transformed to good. He is completely involved with good in everything. He thinks good, speaks good, does good. These are truly the people who are known as Bnei Aliyah - Sons (Children) of Ascent - because not only are they so superior in their behaviour than the average person, but their whole being is to cause holy ascents through their service of God.
As they involve themselves in the 248 Mitzvot constantly, they awaken the feminine waters from below, causing them to ascent upwards, producing Yichudim - unifications, and causing the masculine waters of blessing to descend into this world.
Monday 11 May 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 20 Daf 7b Part 2 (Koren Talmud Bavli) -...
The Talmud Berachot 7b brings up a big debate in life itself. Is it permitted to provoke the wicked? Those who look at the general way of the world may notice how often those who commit atrocities - those who perpetrate evil - actually succeed. Actually, they seem to go on and on with their success.
The famous question of why the wicked prosper comes to mind. But what of those who have had an injustice done to them? Should they further antagonise the wicked? Are we allowed to provoke the wicked and should we in fact do so.
The Talmud brings up a variety of opinions on this delicate and sensitive subject. Some say that one can. Yet others even say we should. And yet others say to stay far from those involved in evil.
Distance yourself from an evil neighbour - says Pirkei Avot. Maybe it's best to just stay as far away as possible from them - because whenever they do bad - they succeed. Actually even when they are caught out, they may laugh at the judgment against them - laughing at everyone in the court room, at everyone who cannot understand the person's way of life.
So, if for some reason the evil person can get away with murder - is it worthwhile engaging in an argument when it could even be that for some reason, he is "blessed" by his "lucky stars" with good fortune of getting away with the evil he does? If so, then even when an injustice is done to the righteous person - perhaps it is better for him to stay away from the evil person - who, for all intents and purposes, will be successful in any case - even when he is involved in wrong...
What a troubling section of Talmud this is. It brings to mind so much frustration that many of us go through. At the end of the day, like so many things in life - these are just some of life's mysteries we will never get to understand adequately.
The Gemara continues, and tells us that it is important to have a fixed place to prayer. It then discusses another fascinating area of Torah life. It is greater to serve Torah scholars than it is to study Torah.
But listen in to the entire Shiur to hear more about these exciting themes discussed in our Gemara today!
Wednesday 6 May 2020
Derech Hashem - The Way of God - How False Prophets Can Confuse Others ...
The Ramchal teaches us the story about the wicked King Achav. He had wanted to go to war with Ramot Gilad, but did not know if he would be victorious. As a result he employed some prophets to tell him that he would indeed be victorious!
The catch is the way in which they behaved. They were false prophets - seeking their ways through impurity. But worse - they all knew that what they were saying was false. But they still did their best to convince King Achav that he would be victorious.
King Achav was a little skeptical of them and so another prophet Tzidkiya ben Chaana came with a whole scene holding horns on his head and telling him that he would be victorious with those horns. But he too was fake!
Only Michiya was a true prophet, but King Achav was not prepared to hear him because a spirit from above was able to infiltrate through to the physical world to convince the king that he would indeed be victorious in his war.
Needless to say, he died in the war of Ramot Gilad.
But the point of the whole story was to share with us the mysteries behind understanding false prophets and what they can do, fake prophets, and then of course to get to understand that there are legitimate prophets too.
In the final section of Section 3 of the Ramchal's Derech Hashem - we will get to see what made Moshe (Moses) so different as a prophet than all the other prophets.
There are prophets... and then there is Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher)!
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 24 - Two Types of Tzaddikim - Chapter 10 Part 1
There are two types of Tzaddikim (righteous people). There is one who is a Tzaddik Gamur (a completely righteous person) and there is the Tzaddik She'eino Gamur (the incomplete Tzaddik). What makes them different?
What exactly is the Tzaddik? Who is we? What makes him as he is? It depends on his love of God and it depends on the degree in which there still harbours within him an element of evil which has not been converted into good. These factors make all the difference in the type of Tzaddik that a person would be.
Monday 4 May 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 19 Daf 7b (Koren Talmud Bavli) - The Me...
We conclude Daf 7a regarding God's desire to destroy the Jewish people and make a new nation from Moshe (Moses). Though Moshe's prayer succeeds in annulling the first part of the promise, God still acts out on His good intention in blessing Moshe to become great through his descendants.
We then move on to Daf 7b. We learn some teachings that Rabbi Yochanan says in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai - the author of the holy Zohar.
Did you know that until Avraham (Abraham), nobody referred to God as Adon?!
Another teaching we learn is that we should not try to placate another at his time of anger.
Did you know that until Leah - nobody gave true thanks to God?! When she named her fourth son Yehudah - this was her way of saying thank you. It is an inborn trait for a Jew to acknowledge the good that others do for him and to simply almost spontaneously thank they other when they receive a kindness. What a wonderful trait to have!
The Talmud thereafter speaks about the themes of the mysteries of names in the world. Why do each of us have a name and what do our names mean?! The Gemara sites certain people to show us the meaning of their names. We learn why Reuvein was called as he was, and Yaakov and also Rut!
Arguments in one's own home - from one's own children and really general family feuds can be much worse than even the war of Gog and Magog - the war preceding the arrival of the Moshiach.
Tune in to today's lesson to find our more about these wonderful teachings!
Thursday 30 April 2020
Wednesday 29 April 2020
Lessons in Derech Hashem - The Way of God - False Prophets - Lesson 22 S...
The Ramchal teaches us about false prophets. Sometimes people are false prophets intentionally and other times false prophecy occurs simply to test those who will find themselves listening to those people.
Whatever the case, those who wanted to be prophets would have to make sure they had an experienced teacher to lead them on a path that would be pure.
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 23 - Two Kings Ruling Over One City - Chapter 9
A fascinating chapter into the world of the city of the human body. Its inhabitants include the limbs of the body. But who is the king? There are two. There is the Animal Soul which believes it has full rights to rule over the city and there is Godly Soul which believe it has full rights to rule over the city.
Each of the kings wants to make the inhabitants been under their rulership expecting the limbs to acknowledge it has supreme king and agreeing to its terms and conditions.
Our chapter focuses on the behaviour of the Godly soul which wants the body to do as it dictates in every way - in thought, speech and action.
The chapter concludes by telling us that just as the rulership applies to the Godly soul - so too does it apply to the animal soul. Now the real battle begins and the Tanya will continue to elaborate on the real test that the Beinoni (the middle/average man) must fight each day.
Who will win?
Only time will tell...
Monday 27 April 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 18 Daf 7a (Koren Talmud Bavli) - Moshs'...
Though Bilam wanted to curse the Jewish people, he was unable to. Actually, his unique talent was that he knew the moment God is angry each day, and was able to tap into that moment to say his nasty things. At the moment of God's anger, those words would have a great effect - and he knew it!
Unfortunately for him, God showed no anger in those days, and as a result, his curse resulted in him reciting a blessing for the Jewish people! So much for cursing others! The Talmud tells us - for those interested in knowing - exactly when God gets angry angry each day and why. It's at that time that man can have an effect on the world in a most negative manner!
One of the Sages of the Talmud had his own anger issues with a particular rebellious nudnik and wanted to curse him. He tried the technique offered in the Talmud, but it did not go well unfortunately! No! Cursing is no good even for a great man to do towards a lowly person!
The Talmud teaches us some Mussar about the value of regret and just how it compares with actual physical discipline. Interesting!
Moshe asks three requests from God and apparently God grants him all the requests. But another Sage says that he was only granted two of those requests. It seems, that not even Moshe came to know the reason why God bestows His kindness on the evil people of the world...
The Talmud teaches us another aspect of the Tefillin that God wears.
The Talmud teaches us that contrary to thinking that God was not pleased that Moshe had not looked at His presence when He appeared to him in the burning bush, in fact, God was most pleased and rewarded him for this humility in turning away from the Divine presence that showed itself then.
It is not for us to stare at the Godly presence when She shows herself to us. It is a great honour if ever God reveals Himself to us in some way. By turning away in humility - we are truly more honoured by our having shown respect to God.
Wednesday 22 April 2020
Lessons in Derech Hashem - The Way of God - How the Prophet Sees His Pro...
Prophets experience their prophecies differently. Some through pictures, others through words. The most famous prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah etc. were able to express what they saw in actual words. In addition, they used physical objects to share with others what their prophecies were all about. In fact, their very actions were the catalysts to make their prophecies begin to take root!
The terms "prophet" is applied to someone who has already attained that status. He is able to have a prophecy. Those learning can also be considered prophets, but they are still learning. They can be prone to err. It is important that they have a teacher who will guide them so that they will be able to learn what to be careful of - what is true and what is false.
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 22 - Blemishes Caused by Kelipah Nogah & The 3...
Ending chapter 8 of Tanya, we learn about the blemishes that the Kelipah Nogah caused to one's soul (ultimately through the body) and how those blemishes can be purified and cleaned. We also learn about the problems associated with purifying the 3 totally impure Kelipot.
General study of the wisdoms of the nations carries with it a problem of being involved in the three entirely impure kelipot, but the truth is that if one uses those studies for the sake of Torah, then even though they seem to be directed more towards those 3 impure kelipot, we see that their potential is still founded in kelipah nogah and the studies of the wisdoms that relate to the nations of the world can actually be uplifted.
One can use mathematics for Torah - as one can science. One will ultimately have to learn mathematics in any case if one is to understand the calculations involved calculating the months of the year and when one is required to add an additional month etc.
We then make a start onto Chapter 9 - which will discuss the real challenge of the battle that is fought between the animal soul and the Godly soul. Perhaps it is here where all our learning begins to take on a real active challenge. It's no longer just about learning what the soul is made up of and how it works, but rather, how to use these soul powers so as to overcome the negative evil and focus one's life on positive good.
Monday 20 April 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 17 Daf 6b/7a (Koren Talmud Bavli) - The...
A person who has fear of Heaven will have his words heard by others. Fear of Heaven is perhaps the most important quality we could have. It makes us into human beings who realise that there is a Creator in the world who has created and made us. Suddenly - we realise that we must have some type of obligation in our lives. We need to listen to what this Creator wants from us. When we listen and do as we should - amazingly - others listen to what we have to say too!
Peace... It is perhaps the best single thing we all need in life. It's easy to make the start of bringing peace into the world. Just greet another! And if they seem to always greet you first - then make a change - catch them out before they have the chance to! Greet them first! When a poor man greets one, make sure to return the greeting. For him, it might be the only thing he has to give. The only? Hardly! Greeting others brings peace. That is the power we have in the world to do good other. Just say "Hello!" - or better yet "Shalom!" "Peace!"
Did you know that God prays? The Talmud tells us what His prayer is all about!
We read a story about the great High Priest (the Kohein Gadol) Yishmael ben Elisha who, when entering the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur, was asked by God to bless him. Yishmael blesses God with a blessing we should all learn from - and how important these attributes are for ourselves too! You'll need to listen in to the lesson to hear about it though!
The Talmud teaches us just how great our own blessings are - even if it seems like we are simple. Every one of us has the power to bless others! (See my interview with Judy Simon "The Power of Blessings" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVaC3zv4iQY for more about this).
Indeed - peace and blessings. Who can ask for more?! Stop with the hurtful words about others. Start thinking about the power of words - and when one speaks well about others and towards others, just what a difference it can make in their lives, in yours, and the difference it will make to the entire world!
The Talmud tells us about an aspect of God that we wish would not exist. This is His attribute of judgment and anger. The Talmud tells us just how powerful it is and how Bilam (who wished to curse the Jewish people) wanted to make use of God's anger in order to destroy the Jewish people themselves.
It's another fascinating page in the Talmud. Watch the full Shiur and feel free to contemplate the thoughts that come to you - and send me an email sharing what you've learnt too!
Monday 6 April 2020
Learn Talmud - Berachot - Lesson 16 Daf 6b (Koren Talmud Bavli) - Import...
The Talmud teaches us that the rewards given for various Mitzvot are often not the Mitzvot themselves, but rather something else that is hidden behind the scenes within the Mitzvah we perform.
For example, the reward for attending a wedding is not the attendance of the wedding itself, but rather, reward is given only when one brings happiness to the bride and the groom. One should speak well of the bride and groom. Praise them for who they are and for who they have become! Wish them well.
Imagine that?! And we thought a wedding was all about the Scotch, the steaks and the pudding!
Our page in our lesson teaches us about the importance of the Minchah (afternoon) prayer... the morning prayer... and the evening prayer! They are all important. We learn some valuable lessons from some pieces of Aggadata (the story parts) of the Gemara in our lesson.
We learn about some difficulties that the poor man must deal with - notably the embarrassment that he/she feels when having to ask and receive charity. But it shouldn't be that way. There is really a constant give and take in this world. We never know what life brings us and we should remain humble. Someone in need today, may well be the same person to give to the other the next day!
For some reason, God has set up the world in this way. But it takes real humility on the part of the giver (who has the means) to be able to give without causing undue embarrassment to the poor person.
Wednesday 1 April 2020
Lessons in Derech Hashem - The Way of God - Prophets Sent on Missions - ...
Prophets come in two types. There are those who are actually sent on missions, and then there are those who have no particular mission. Their prophecy is given to them as a simple gift from God. The prophet has the advantage in being able to be close to God and to experience Divine ecstasy! He has no other reason to receive the prophecy other than a reward for his effort in his work in striving to become holier and to cleaving to God.
The Ramchal continues to teach us something else about prophecy. While a prophet sent on a mission may well know what he is doing, he may well also not know exactly what he is doing! As a result, he can come to make a mistake or end up considering the prophecy a certain way when in fact it is not that way at all! Nevertheless, in hindsight, one can see clearly that the prophecy that is given to the prophet can actually go both ways.
A prophet's duty is to ultimately attend to whatever it is that God wants from him. This - if he is being sent on a mission. For the rest of the prophets, they engage in the practice of prophecy to delight in God and to be merit revelations that will assist them in their lives in this world - ultimately to be granted further holiness and a closeness to God.
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 21 - Uplifting The 3 Evil Kelipot and The Keli...
Chapter 8 continues the theme of the 3 evil kelipot (husks/shells/peels) and the kelipah nogah (the glowing husk). The Alter Rebbe (1745-1812) teaches us about the quality of evil inherent within various worldly things and our ability to refine it.
The 3 evil kelipot cannot be uplifted and raised to higher levels - no matter what we do with it. These parts of creation remain bound to the forces of evil. If we speak about them binding themselves to forbidden food - then even if we eat that food le'shem shamayim (for the sake of heaven), and we bless the food and use that energy for holy things - still none of this can uplift the evil that is to be found in them. There is nothing we can do with this energy ever. We must wait until the days of Moshiach when God will completely obliterate this evil from the world.
On the other hand, the kelipah nogah has within it the ability to be uplifted. As a result - if we talk about food and the kelipah nogah having a hold on the food, then even if we eat this food out of desire (and not for the sake of God) - because we are tempted to eat it (instead of wanting to eat it to make use of its energy for holy matters), then still - we can uplift the sparks contained within the food at another stage.
However, there is always a little left over and there is a way that it will ultimately fall away from us.
We briefly speak about another type of kelipah nogah. This is the kelipah nogah that relates to empty, useless and unnecessary talk. Even though it may not be evil - it "smacks" of it. Because of that, the "evil" contained within the wasted words must also be removed before the soul can be purified from the negative parts of its activities in this world. The Baal HaTanya explains to us how it is purified.
Monday 30 March 2020
Learn Talmud - Tractate Berachot - Lesson 15 Daf 6a/6b (Koren Talmud Bav...
God wears Tefillin... but what is in the pair that He wears?! The Gemara continues, teaching us the value of praying in the synagogue (shul). The Mitzvah of praying with a Minyan (10 male Jews over the age of 13) is discussed. The importance of running to the synagogue as opposed to running away from the synagogue is discussed. The importance of having a fixed place to pray is discussed.
The Gemara then continues onto an interesting discussion about the rewards giving for various things. These include rewards for going to lessons where there is discomfort of some sort and the rewards giving for listening to the lesson itself. What are the rewards for one who fasts? Is reward giving for fasting - or perhaps there is something much more important than the fast itself - for which the fast is given to us to earn that reward?
Thursday 26 March 2020
Wednesday 25 March 2020
Lessons in Derech Hashem - The Way of God - The Student Prophet - Lesson...
The Ramchal teaches us about the way in which the student desiring to learn how to prophesy would be required to learn by a teacher. The teacher would instruct him, monitoring his progress so that ultimately he too would reach the tremendously high levels of holiness and being able to prophesy for himself.
Of course, everyone is different, but prophecy is there for all those who wish to explore further in their spiritual growth. In days gone by it was clear that all had to go to a school in order to learn. It is no different today. One must study true kosher Jewish spirituality from one who has learnt it from a master himself. It is a long path, but it is also short... There is a process to follow. There is much to be done.
But let us find out how it all worked in the meantime, and begin to imagine the reality of it, and that God has certainly wanted for us to strive to attain levels of holiness so that we could be able to attach ourselves to Him and experience true prophecy!
Lessons in Tanya - Lesson 20 - Repentance Out of Love - Repairing Damage Done Through Sin -Chapter 7
The three Kelipot (husks/shells/peels) are completely evil. Nevertheless, if a person engaged in an activity which is bound by these three Kelipot, he can still make repair to the sin which was committed. This can be done through Teshuvah Mei'Ahavah - repentance out of love. When one has tremendous love for God - and a real regret for having done wrong, then not only is he forgiven, but one's sins are converted into merits!
Therefore, one can repair even such sins as having eaten non-kosher food and having engaged in sexual immorality (sexual activity forbidden by the Torah.) However, there is one sin that the kelipah holds onto that it not released through a repentance out of love. This is the sin of the emission of seed (the spilling of seed) in vain. Though it is in fact worse than general sexual immorality, there is another way that repentance can be done for this sin. The Alter Rebbe tells us what to do based upon the teachings of the Arizal.
There is however one sin that can never be atoned for - though even here, there is a certain way to repair it.
We now begin chapter 8 of the Tanya. We begin to explore the idea of using the strength gained from having eaten forbidden foods for the sake of Mitzvot and whether there is a benefit. Can one use the strength gained from non-kosher forbidden food to perform Mitzvot? Can one raise the level of holiness that exists within the forbidden? Is there such a thing? Is there holiness inside the unholy that can somehow be elevated?!
Monday 23 March 2020
Learn Talmud Easily - Tractate Berachot - Lesson 14 Daf 6a (Koren Talmud...
Demons... They do exist. There are ways to know they exist, and there are ways to actually see them! Our Gemara today teaches us these ways.
Much like in today's times with the coronavirus, we have a situation of disease existing without our ability to see the actual disease - but we clearly know it to be so, so too with demons. We might not be able to see them with our physical eyes, but underneath a spiritual microscope, we would indeed be able to see them.
Our Gemara continues with some amazing teaches about the dwelling of the Divine Presence, and how it dwells first and foremost in a synagogue - where ten men pray. But even if there are not ten men there, the Divine presence still rests within this holy place and according to Halachah, even if there are not ten men present, it is still better to pray in a synagogue (a shul) than in one's own home. Of course - we're talking about when life goes by as normal again - and not during these unusual times of physical distance because of the coronavirus!
But don't be alarmed - the Divine Presence can also dwell even in as little as three men - where they are involved in adjudicating a Din Torah (a Torah judgment). In fact, the Divine Presence can also be found when there are just two Jews studying Torah together. And if that isn't good enough - the Divine Presence can be found even when one Jew sits and studies Torah alone?
What do we need all these different examples for then - if the Shechina (the Divine Presence) can be found even with one? Our Gemara goes into the details!
We start the next discussion of the Gemara. Did you know that God also wears Tefillin? We'll be learning more about those Tefillin (phylacteries) in our next lesson!
Wednesday 18 March 2020
Lessons in Derech Hashem - The Way of God - Prophecy - Lesson 18 of Section 3
How did the prophets of old actually become prophets? The Ramchal gives us an insight into the manner of the schools that existed in those days and how they would learn.
We take a tangent on the subject and deal with the real question of whether prophecy can still exist today. Can we become prophets? What would theoretically be involved? How can one know the levels required of one who wishes to become a prophet? And we deal with the comparison between Ruach HaKodesh (Divine Inspiration) and Nevuah (Prophecy) - where they meet and where they differ.
Ahavat Chessed - Loving Kindness - Chofetz Chaim - Lesson 1
We are starting the famous work Ahavat Chessed - Loving Kindness - written by the Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir HaKohen Kagan.
This is an amazing work that teaches us the values of loving kindness. Not just practising kindness, but how to actually come to love kindness.
We are living in an especially difficult time at the moment with the Coronavirus and it is important for us to increase in our acts of lovingkindness towards each other. I start this lesson with some insights into the attribute of kindness and some ideas of how we can work on increasing kindness with each other.
Thereafter we begin from Chapter 2 of the famous work (dealing with how we can understand the attribute of kindness and how to implement it.) The book has been divided into small sections to help learn it again and again over a three month period.
In this lesson we go through the first two days of reading where we find out why it is that sometimes things get taken away from us and that if we see this in the correct light, we can understand why it is happening to us this way. Thereafter we find out what it really means to love kindness and how this will help us to be better.
Now, more than ever, we must increase in loving kindness - caring for one another, wishing the best for one another and doing whatever we can to turn around our moments of self-quarantine and distance from each other - to moments of connection and love!
Sunday 15 March 2020
Tuesday 10 March 2020
Monday 9 March 2020
Wednesday 4 March 2020
Tuesday 3 March 2020
Monday 2 March 2020
Friday 28 February 2020
Tuesday 25 February 2020
Sunday 23 February 2020
Wednesday 19 February 2020
Monday 17 February 2020
Wednesday 12 February 2020
Monday 10 February 2020
Wednesday 5 February 2020
Monday 3 February 2020
Sunday 2 February 2020
Wednesday 29 January 2020
Monday 27 January 2020
Thursday 23 January 2020
Wednesday 22 January 2020
Friday 17 January 2020
Wednesday 15 January 2020
Monday 13 January 2020
Monday 6 January 2020
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