Short Class On all three Brachos (Yeshiva 5780). These three Brachos deal with the ability to walk the earth, which allows us, human kind to be “outside our source” and exercise free will in doing our purpose. The land rose up over the sea, and He gave us (and continues giving us) the steps with which we do our work. He provides all we need including the lowest things (shoes) to complete our mission.
Short Class On all three Brachos (Yeshiva 5780) mp3
Roka HaAretz Al HaMayim. Wednesday 21 Shvat 5774/ Jan. 22 2014. The simple idea being celebrated here is the fact that 1) We walk on dry land and 2) That Hashem caused the land to be raised above the water though naturally the entire surface of the earth should be covered in water. We explored this a little deeper discovering various more mystical insights. The GR”A holds, that the earth is Malchus that covers over ‘Mayim’ in creation. The Arizal, that the earth is ‘The Dmus’ (Adam HaElyon) that exists (by covering) over the ‘(5) waters’. The Pardes, that included in this Bracha is both a thank you and a pledge to see through the purpose for which the land was raised above the water: to reunify the land with the water. The Tolaas Yaakov, the land is the ‘Eretz HaChayim’ (reward) which is the reason the lower waters were separated in the first place. Chassidus, that explains that this is about ‘Dira BiTachtonim’.
HaMaichin Mitzadai Guver. Wednesday 28 Shvat 5774/ Jan. 29 2014. The placement of this Bracha before Sheasa Li Kol Tzurki needs explaining. 1) First the point and then the protection (shoes etc), 2) This Bracha is Netzach and Hod, the next Bracha is yesod, 3) This is about Hashgacha. Two nuschaos: HaMaichin Mitzadai Guver and Asher haichin… what is the difference. The RaMbaM about everything being in the first point in time vs. Hashem’s involvement on our action right now.
Sheusu Li Kol Tzurchi. Wednesday 5 Adar 1 5774/ Feb. 5 2014. Why are all the needs of man represented by shoes? Would it not be better to thank Him for shoes rather than allude to shoes with “all my needs”? In this class we explore this Bracha on several levels. Needs vs. wants. Wholeness of self as represented by “even” having shoes. Shoes that protect and that bring us to the lowest world to complete a task and shoes that bring us blessing. The “big” idea of this class is that shoes are the end of our needs and when all our needs are complete we are complete and in an ideal position to fulfill our purpose.
