פרשת התמיד Class Two. This class was a lecture on the idea of קרבנות based on the רמב”ם and the רמב”ן. We talked about how the רמב”ם can be explained in spite of the fact that קרבנות predates idol worship. The point of the class was to divide this paragraph into two parts: A) Something…

פרשת התמיד Class Eight. We learned the fifth Possuk of this paragraph and touched on the sixth Possuk. We started with a long introduction about: 1) Ratzo Vashov, using Korach and Tzitzis as the model 2) We quoted the Maamar Chazal that says that Krias Shma without tefillin is like a Korban without a Mincha…

Monday 22 Adar 5773/ March 4 2013. Ana BiKoach. Class One. Ana BiKoach, Introduction, its Kabblistic nature, its vague origins. A prayer of seven lines with six words to each line making forty two words, based on the forty two letters of the Divine name ‘MA”B’ (42). Most lines have a direct allusion to God…

Yeshiva (short) version 5780 (Part One).This is an amazing meditation, it is more about Hashem (even than Yiddishkeit) than anything else.It has three parts that are not in a logical order1) King 2) Self 3) Relationship with usWhy this order. Yeshiva (short) version 5780 (Part Two).The reason Adon Olom first talks of His Kingship and…

13 Ikarim (Principles of Faith), Class One. As part of the Siddur series and in conjunction with the meditation of אדון עולם we decided to explore the י”ג עקרי האמונה.We talked about the אריז”ל’s issue (not with the content, but) with the Nusach of the 13 Ikarim (whoever wrote them had no connection to “Sod”),…

Elokeinu VeElokai Avosainu (before Vayehi Achar) [Yeshiva 5780]The custom of saying ויהי אחר (the Akaida) every morning and it has a prefix (אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו) and a suffix (רבונו של עולם).These two are תחינות (begging (?)).This little paragraph comes from the Musaf of שמונה עשרה the end of ברכת זכרונות with some changes.We say this…

Vayehi Achar (the Akeida), Yeshiva Version, Class One.This class gives deep and accessible insights into the enigmatic story of The Akeidah.  A great resource for gleaning personal applications from the final and most challenging test of Avraham Avinu (Our father Abraham).We introduced it briefly, and read most of the Akeida inside and translated it and…

Ribono Shel Olom (Yeshiva Version 5781/ 2020) Class One.Overview of this paragraph, its source and its placement here. Ribono Shel Olom (Yeshiva Version 5781/ 2020) Class Two.Inside first half:1) Kevesh: Avrohom squeezed himself, we are asking Hashem to squeeze Himself and love us in return.2) Remembering the Avos.3) Yetzias Mitzrayim.4) Moshiach. Ribono Shel Olom (Yeshiva…

Liolom Yehei Adam, Class One (Yeshiva 5781/ 2020).Introduction: the 4 things we say before Korbanos: 1) Ma Tovo, 2) Adon Olom, 3) Akaida (with a before and after), 4) Liolom Yehaid Adam.From Tana Dvei Eliyahu, it’s about saying Shma and more.We read the first half inside. Liolom Yehei Adam, Class Two (Yeshiva 5781/ 2020).Inside with…

Third Bracha of Birchas HaTorah, Asher Bachar Banu: This Bracha corresponds to Torah SheBiksav, the Godliness of the Torah has to do with the Godliness of the Jewish people. The reason for the order is, (Reb Laivik) first Pnimi, then Makif (arvus) and then Makif of the Makif (arvus for Arvus).