Short class on the Two Brachos for what is given to “Yisroel”, a belt and a hat, they are both about something spiritual. The strength for the service of Hashem.
Wednesday 12 Adar 1 5774/ Feb. 12 2014. Ozairi Yisroel BiGvura. Eleven different insights into (the gartel and) why we make this Bracha. Question how do you reconcile Oizair, which has to do with the lowest third of the body, the NeHI and Yisroel which refers to the highest level of Yidden? Answer: the key to this Bracha is the word Gevura, (see 5652 Vayechi and [5666] Mamar Vayigash 5668), which means toughness that reveals itself only in adversity; it exists on the lowest and the highest level. This insight creates unity between all eleven ideas cited above.
Oter Yisroel BiSifara. Three opinions: 1) This Bracha is not said at all, 2) It is said while still in bed, 3) It is said when out and about in the world. Various insights into the Bracha: 1) For the hat we wear as A. the Shechina rests, B. For Yiras Shamayim, 2) For the beauty of Tefillin, 3) Hashem wraps Himself with us and honors us as He does not need honor, 4) In our struggles of Golus we don’t only survive, we thrive, 5) We (are Hashem’s ‘Mother’ and) crown Him, 6) Bina into Z”A, 7) Malchus into Z”A, 8) After elevating the Nefesh HaBahamis, we have the beauty of the convergence of the two Souls. Point: Beauty is ephemeral. It emerges from various things that are joined together that add up to (a vessel for) beauty.
