כי תשא means raising Yidden up in Teshuva, lifting in a way that is infinitely higher than before (even above the head). It must be done through Moshe. תרומה להי’ה means lifting from the bottom up, Teshuva, תרומת הוי’ה is bringing the infinity of the בעל תשובה into the finitude of the צדיק because he…

Everyone gives half a Shekel which is ten Gaira. Still one is rich and another poor, because though each gives ten Gaira they are rich (in Atzilus) and poor (BYA). The higher ten is Adam (and people like him) the lower ten is ordinary people. The joining the higher and lower ten need to be…

This Ma’amar explores that Machatzis HaShekel has a message ‘klali’, we are a half and the other half is our schar- connection to Hashem. Three steps: 1) Bittul until Mesiras Nefesh as is indicated in the idea of 1) Ze Yitnu, giving with no constraint, 2) a half 2) Above the bittul is the ‘ten’…

The details of the Parsha of Machatzis Hashekel that are irrelevant beyond Moshe’s time (and beyond the Beis Hamikdash) need analysis. How are they also an eternal lesson? The Rebbe explains the idea that Torah is a Hora’a and a illuminated lesson for us to practice, not only to understand in some spiritual way. The…

Another Maamar Ki Tisa, this time on the Parsha. Ki Tisa here means T’shuva which is higher than the Avoda of a Tzadik or Beinoni and is the only reason there is even a possibility of sin by the average Jew. T’shuva is higher than 1) Right and Left: Mitzvos Asei and Lo Tase, 2)…

Machatzis Hashekel is a Klalis (all important) idea in Torah, as it is “Lichaper Al Nafshoseichem” (to atone on the Soul). It is different than Teshuva because Teshuva is the complete breaking down of the person, while Machatzis HaShekel and the Aron haKodesh (Torah) are only halving oneself. The idea is not to be broken…

The Kiyor, was outside the Beis HaMikdash (and the Mishkan) showing that its’ function was secondary. Some hold the Kiyor in higher regard. The Tzemach Tzedek and the Noam Elimelech. Rashi, MaHaRaM, Chizkuni, E. Ezra, R. Bechayey, Rikanti, Abarbanel (2 approaches), Shach, Chasam Sofer, Ohr HaRorah, Noam Elimelech.

32-01. The חטא העגל a few different versions How could the Yiden have made an eigel (Golden Calf) so soon after recieving the Torah? This class was given at Machon Chana (5763). An introductory level lecture on the perplexing question of how the Jewish people got involved in making a golden calf¹. This class is…

A three part series on the 13 Middos given in 5766. Part One. A three class series providing a deep examination of the Yud Gimmel Middos Harachamim (the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy).¹ This first class focuses on how the 13 attributes are enumerated. This is an intermediate to advanced level class which discusses in detail…