Yisimechu BiMalchuscha…. Shabbos. The prayer said on Friday night and Shacharis and Musaf (but not at Mincha) linking Shabbos with Joy. Why does it have so many versions and why is it not recited always, and why are there so many opinions about its times of recitation. Joy is lower than delight, and Shabbos is…

Ata Kidashta. Ata Kidashata: The beginning of the middle Bracha of the Friday night Davening. Why Shabbos (and Yom Tov) has seven Blessings (rather than nineteen); It begins with Kidusha, like betrothal- formal Marriage that will deepen over Shabbos; the ‘Tachlis’ of all of creation is A. To reward man, B. To bring God down;…

The Zoharic section added (relatively recently) to the Kabbalas Shabbos at the expense of Bame’ Madlikin. This class involves a long introduction to all of Kabbalas Shabbos. Kigavna, on Shabbos the lower worlds mirror the Unity and peace that exists (always) in the higher world. On Shabbos the lower and higher worlds A. Mirror each…

Shma Kolainu (2). Shma Kolainu inside. Two introductions: 1) What is the meaning of the word Tefilla, to connect. 2) Shma in Hashem means that He should pay specific attention. Two levels of this prayer were explained and both were read inside: 1) As a request for things, 2) As a request for a connection…

Shma Kolainu (1). Shma Kolainu, is about Hashem accepting and helping us connect to Him, spiritually, in Prayer. So many variations in Nusach exist. Beginning with the question of why it says twice “ki” (because), and the question of mentioning that Hashem is our Father, to much else. In this class, this blessing is divided…

ViLiyerushalayim ViLiyirushalayim, there are so many versions and meanings to this Bracha it is extraordinary. 1) RaSaG, 2) R. Amram gaon, 3) r. Noson Gaon, 4) Machzor Vitri, 5) Ri ben Yakar, 6) Rokeach, 7) Abudraham. First an overview and commentary on what separates the different readings and meanings and then an attempt at unraveling…

Bareich Aleinu Class One. The ninth Bracha of Shmona Esrei. It seems that the Brachos after this one are collective (for the Klal Yisroel) and this is the last of the requests that are for us as individuals. The Bracha (on Parnassa) focuses on the blessing in the time, how certain times are blessed and…

Healing has many levels. This class explores this a little bit.

Kidusha in Chazaras HaShatz (part two). Kidusha (2). This class covers only the weekday Kidusha inside. Three introductions and three kidushos 1) Srafim, Bria, sophisticated and nuanced, 2) Chayos (and Ofnim) Yetzira, simple passion, addresses Hashem Himself more directly, 3) down here Neshamos say Yimloch, expressing the Kidusha through actions.

Kidusha in Chazars Hashatz (part one). Kidusha (1). An introduction to Kidusha. The Zohar says that Kidusha is Biblical and is learned from the same Possuk from which we learn Mesiras Nefesh Al Kidush Hashem. Kidusha is about creating a Merkava (seat) for Hashem’s manifestation as the various levels of malachim do. The different Nuschaos,…