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Thoughts on Ruth Part Two

Transcribed by Daniel Goldman from a lecture recorded 19 April 1999: We have to understand some ideas that are fundamental to the book of Ruth. Ruth comes from Moab. A Moabite man who converts can never marry

Tags: Bible, Megilas Rus, Megilat Ruth, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ruth, Shavuos, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Four: Sefirah 40

Shall I say that just as water does not gladden the heart, so the words of Torah? Not so, since it is compared with wine: just as wine rejoices the heart, as it is written, “And wine makes the heart of man glad (Psalms 104:15),”

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Pesach, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shavuot, Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, The Foundation Stone

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Three: Sefirah 39

Rabbi Chama bar Ukvah said: Just as water makes plants grow, so the words of the Torah nurture everyone who labors over them as they require. Shall I say that just as water becomes stale and sour in the jar, so the words

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Pesach, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shavuot, Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, The Foundation Stone

Acquiring Torah 40: Ramchal: Derech Eitz haChaim VI

Consequently, man has had the duty of reflection imposed on him, for if he does not reflect an deliberate, wisdom will not come to seek him out, and he will remain in darkness without knowledge and walk in vain paths

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Acquiring Torah 39: Ramchal: Derech Eitz haChaim V

Wisdom has already been set by the Holy One, Blessed is He, in the hearts of all men, but in order that it might grow, His mouth which sustains it, has to vigorously fan it. Just like fire flaring up when it is fanned, wisdom

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom: Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

One day Hillel, walking along the road, met men carrying wheat. “How much is a se’ah?” “Two Dinar,” they replied. Then he met others and asked them, “How much is a se’ah?” “Three Dinar,” they said. “But the other men said a se’ah

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom: Day 40: Hod in Yesod

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ila’i was teaching his students and a bridal party passed by. “What is that?” he asked. “A bride is passing by,” they replied. “My sons,” he said, “ go out and gladden the bride. For we find that the Holy One

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Table Talk: Bamidbar

No More Sinai: “God spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying.” (Bamidbar 1:1)

Tags: Bamidbar, Bo, Man's Soul, Micah, Mishlei, Shemot, Table Talk

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

At the time that Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Without you no man may lift up his hand” (Genesis 41:44). Pharaohs astrologers said, “Will you set over us a slave whom his master bought for twenty pieces of silver?” He replied, “I perceive in him royal characteristics

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 40: Hod in Yesod

[When Joseph remained alone with his brothers, he] was in grave danger, for if his brothers had slain him, no one in the world would have defended him. But Joseph thought, “It is better for me to be killed than to humiliate my brothers in front of the

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Haftarah Bamidbar: Experiencing God’s Love

Hosea 2:1-22 - In order for the prophet to properly serve in his role as teacher and rebuker, he first had to experience the depth of God’s love for Israel: Hosea had been quick in condemning Israel and saying to God,

Tags: Bamidbar, Haftarah, Hosheia

Midot Hayom: Day 40: Hod in Yesod

Rabbi Yehuda bar Ila’i was teaching his students and a bridal party passed by. “What is that?” he asked. “A bride is passing by,” they replied. “My sons,” he said, “ go out and gladden the bride. For we find that the Holy One

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom: Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

One day Hillel, walking along the road, met men carrying wheat. “How much is a se’ah?” “Two Dinar,” they replied. Then he met others and asked them, “How much is a se’ah?” “Three Dinar,” they said. “But the other men said a se’ah

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Shavuot, Megilat Ruth & The 10 Sefirot Part One

Transcribed by Daniel Goldman from a lecture recorded on 4 May 1999: We’re going to begin by shattering a myth. The myth is that there is something called a “World to Come.” I have some bad news for you. There

Tags: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ruth, Sefirot, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone

Shavuot, Megilat Ruth & The 10 Sefirot Part One

Transcribed by Daniel Goldman from a lecture recorded on 4 May 1999: We’re going to begin by shattering a myth. The myth is that there is something called a “World to Come.” I have some bad news for you. There

Tags: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ruth, Sefirot, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone

Thoughts on Ruth Part One

Transcribed by Daniel Goldman from a lecture recorded 19 April 1999 I want to go over some quick ideas to keep in mind when studying Megillat Ruth. We read Megillat Ruth on Shavuot, the most common reason being

Tags: Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ruth, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone

Acquiring Torah 38: Derech Eitz haChaim IV:

Accordingly, we see that despite the infinity not only of the Torah but even of each of its letters, it is necessary to inflame it so that it flares up. Human intellect has been similarly fashioned so that its power of comprehension

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Taking it With You: Ramchal: Structure

The Amidah is followed by three other prayers, which transmit a continuity of God’s sustenance to the three worlds, one after the other. They are the Kedushah of the Order in u’Va L’Tzion, the Levites Psalm for each day,

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Tehillim Tools: Ramchal 106:1

“Praise God. Give thanks to God, for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. Who can recount the mighty acts of God, or make heard all His praise (Psalms 106:1-2).” “The mighty acts of God,” describe actions of Din,

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Two: Sefirah 38

Rabbi Chanina of Caesaria said: Seeing that water is conducted not only to gardens and orchards, but also to baths and privies, am I to say that it is the same with the words of the Torah? Not so, since it says, “For the ways

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Pesach, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shavuot, Shir Hashirim, Song of Songs, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom: Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

A man is obligated to attend to three Torah scholars, such as Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva, for it says, “Praiseworthy is the person who listens to Me, to hasten my doors

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

Every day Potiphar’s wife would try to persuade Joseph with words. The garments that she wore in the morning she did not wear in the evening, and the garments that she wore in the evening she did not wear in the morning. She said to him, “Consort

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Peh Kodesh: Sinai I

The 26th of Iyar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yitzchak ben Chaim of Volozhin (1779-1849 or 1851), the son of, and successor to, Rav Chaim of Volozhin upon the latter’s petira in 1821. He also served as Rav of Volozhin. Rav

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Midot Hayom: Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

A man is obligated to attend to three Torah scholars, such as Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Akiva, for it says, “Praiseworthy is the person who listens to Me, to hasten my doors

Tags: Kabbalah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirot, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Tehillim Tools: Ramchal 104: 29-30

“When You hide Your face, they are panic stricken; when You gather in their breath, they perish, and to their dust they return. When You send Your spirit, they will be created anew; and You will renew the face of the earth (Psalms 104:29–30).”

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Amidah: Ramchal: Structure

Our sages also taught us a number of specific conditions that must the company prayer in order to make it complete. These all relate to the closeness to God that one experiences during prayer, as well as the various Influences

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Amidah: Ramchal: An Elevated State

One of God’s acts of love was the opportunity that He gave man to approach Him, even in this world. Even though man is immersed in darkness and far from the Light in his natural physical state, he is still permitted to stand

Tags: Jewish Mysticism, Kabalah, Luzzatto, Mesilat Yesharim, Path of the Just, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramchal, The Foundation Stone

Categories

Thoughts on Ruth Part Two

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Four: Sefirah 40

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Three: Sefirah 39

Acquiring Torah 40: Ramchal: Derech Eitz haChaim VI

Acquiring Torah 39: Ramchal: Derech Eitz haChaim V

Midot Hayom: Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

Midot Hayom: Day 40: Hod in Yesod

Table Talk: Bamidbar

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 40: Hod in Yesod

Haftarah Bamidbar: Experiencing God’s Love

Midot Hayom: Day 40: Hod in Yesod

Midot Hayom: Day 39: Netzach in Yesod

Shavuot, Megilat Ruth & The 10 Sefirot Part One

Shavuot, Megilat Ruth & The 10 Sefirot Part One

Thoughts on Ruth Part One

Acquiring Torah 38: Derech Eitz haChaim IV:

Taking it With You: Ramchal: Structure

Tehillim Tools: Ramchal 106:1

Shir ha-Shirim XVIII Part Two: Sefirah 38

Midot Hayom: Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

Peh Kodesh: Sinai I

Midot Hayom: Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod

Tehillim Tools: Ramchal 104: 29-30

Amidah: Ramchal: Structure

Amidah: Ramchal: An Elevated State

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