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Midot Hayom 5770 Day 13: Yesod in Gevurah

“It happened after these words,” (Genesis 22:1) – after Ishmael’s words to Isaac. Ishmael said to Isaac, “I am greater than you in [the performance of] Mitzvot, for you where circumcised at eight days, whereas I [allowed myself to be circumcised] at the age of thirteen years.” [Isaac] replied, “you intimidate

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

Midot Hayom: Day 13: Yesod in Gevurah

The Holy One, Blessed is He, said to Iyov: “Iyov, you have not reached half of Abraham’s measure. You sit in your house waiting for wayfarers to arrive. To one used to eating wheat bread, you serve wheat bread;

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

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part Three: Sefirah 12

Another explanation; “Lest you forget the things (Deuteronomy 4:9),” Israel heard the first and the second of the Ten Statements from the mouth of the Holy One, Blessed is He. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The reason

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

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part Two: Sefirah 11

The Rabbis, however, say: The commandment itself went in turn to each of the Jews and said to him and him, “Do you undertake to keep me? So many rules are attached to me, so many penalties, so many precautionary measures,

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

Acquiring Torah 12: Rise to the Occasion

Rabbi Akiva gave five instructions to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai when Rabbi Akiva was incarcerated in prison (See Berachot 61b): Rabbi Shimon said to him, “Master! Teach me Torah!” Rabbi Akiva said, “I will not

Tags: Kabbalat HaTorah, Kinyan Torah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirah, Sefiras Haomer, Shavuos, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Living in the Post-Khomeitz Age

So, everybody knows that Nisan is the month of Mokhin d'Gadlut, a high mind. As R' Shlomo put it, this is the time to set aside all pettiness, the little bit of Khomeitz that prevents us from ascending to all the high levels that G-d

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Standing

The 23rd of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe (ben Yosef) MiTrani, the Mabit. One must stand while involved in both prayer and sacrifice. The reason for this is because one of the most visible differences between

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

Yom Hashoah: A Reading of Joel 2:12-14

I often wonder how the biblical prophets would have addressed Israel during the Holocaust. 20 years ago I taught a series on, “Isaiah and the Holocaust.” This year I have been reading some verses in the book of Joel,

Tags: Destruction, Holocaust, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Yom Hashoah

Haftarah: Kedoshim: The Violence of No Sanctity

Ezekiel 22:1-16: “Will you judge (Verse 2)?” can also be read, “Are you prepared to involve yourself in this issue?” (Rav Breuer on Yechezkel) “The city of bloodshed,” a city from which the soul has been banished

Tags: Ezekiel, Haftarah, Kedoshim

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part One: The Kiss of Torah: Sefirah 10

Another explanation: “Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth.” Rabbi Yochanan said: An angel carried each utterance at Mount Sinai from before the Holy One, blessed is He, each one in turn, and brought it to each

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

Acquiring Torah 11: Private Recognition

Rabbi Ba said: Originally, each Sage would ordain his own students; Rabbi Yochanan ordained Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua. Rabbi Yehoshua ordained Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Akiva ordained Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Shimon.

Tags: Kabbalat HaTorah, Kinyan Torah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirah, Sefiras Haomer, Shavuos, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Waiting For an Answer

The 23rd of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe (ben Yosef) MiTrani, the Mabit: I first thought, it would not appear correct to offer special praise to God before asking for one's needs. When a person praises his neighbor

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

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 119:98

“Each of Your commandments makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me (Psalms 119:98).” We can read this verse adds, “help me acquire wisdom from my enemy,” the evil inclination, “so I will know how

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, spirituality, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Tools for Growth

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 119:49-50

"Remember Your word to Your servant, through which You have given me cause to hope. This is my consolation in my affliction, for Your word has given me life (Psalms 119:49–50).” I once asked my father zt"l for

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, spirituality, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Tools for Growth

Midot Hayom: Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

“Do not engage in too much idle talk with women.” How should one fulfill this? If a man was not treated with respect in the house of study, or he had a fight with a neighbor, he should not go

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

Midot Hayom: Day 12: Hod in Gevurah

Rabbi Shimon ben Menasia says: What a pity that a great servant was lost to the world, for had the serpent not been cursed, every Jew would have two serpents in his home, sending one to the east and one to the west

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

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

“I will bless you . . . I will increase your offspring” (Genesis 26:3,4). Isaac deduced [that just like an increase in offspring would not come without his actions, so too (Chasdei Dovid)] the blessing would depend on

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

Midot Hayom: Day 12: Hod in Gevurah

Rabbi Shimon ben Menasia says: What a pity that a great servant was lost to the world, for had the serpent not been cursed, every Jew would have two serpents in his home, sending one to the east and one to the west

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

Midot Hayom: Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

“Do not engage in too much idle talk with women.” How should one fulfill this? If a man was not treated with respect in the house of study, or he had a fight with a neighbor, he should not go

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

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Beginnings

The 23rd of Nisan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe (ben Yosef) MiTrani, the Mabit. From the time of Moses until the Great Assembly, the Divine Presence was revealed where sacrifice was offered, and prophecy still existed

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

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 116:1-2

"I love when God hears my voice, my prayers. Because He turned His ear to me, throughout my days I will call upon Him (Psalms 116:1-2).” I'm thrilled that You have heard the voice of my prayers, and have forgiven me

Tags: Bible, Midrash, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, spirituality, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Tools for Growth

Taking it With You: Ashrei: Lifting the Fallen

“God supports all the fallen ones and straightens all the bent.” This verse takes us back to Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden: when Adam sinned the entire creation “fell,” so to speak, from its lofty and elevated status. All

Tags: Aleinu, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Shir ha-Shirim XII: Part Four: Different Loves: Sefirah 9

According to the view of Rabbi Chinena, who said that it was uttered by the Red Sea, we interpret this verse, “Let Him kiss,” "Let the Divine Inspiration rest upon us and we will sing before Him many songs." According to

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

Shir ha-Shirim XII: Part Three: God’s Song: Sefirah 8

It was taught in the name of Rabbi Nathan: The Holy One, Blessed is He, said it in the excellence of His Majesty, as it says, “The song of songs which is Solomon's,” that is, that the King to whom all peace belongs.

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

Acquiring Torah 10: Seeds of Torah

Ben Azzai says: All the Sages of Israel are in comparison with myself, as thin as the husk of garlic, except that bald head [Rashi: Rabbi Akiva].” (Bechorot 58a) Ben Azzai was often criticized by the Sages for not marrying,

Tags: Kabbalat HaTorah, Kinyan Torah, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sefirah, Sefiras Haomer, Shavuos, Shavuot, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Table Talk: Acharei Mot – Kedoshim

If Only It Was That Simple: “You shall not hate your brother in your heart; you shall reprove your fellow and do not bear a sin because of him.” (19:17) The prohibition against hating is, as the verse says, “in your heart”. The assumption is that there must be a reason that you hate someone else. He must have done

Tags: Acharei Mot, Kedoshim, Lishon Harah, Rebuke

Rav Zevin: Kedoshim

"You shall not go about tale bearing" (19:16) As he walked up and down the beis midrash of Reb Yehudah Aryeh Leib of Ger, all that could be heard from his mouth was an uncomplimentary

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

Categories

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 13: Yesod in Gevurah

Midot Hayom: Day 13: Yesod in Gevurah

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part Three: Sefirah 12

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part Two: Sefirah 11

Acquiring Torah 12: Rise to the Occasion

Living in the Post-Khomeitz Age

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Standing

Yom Hashoah: A Reading of Joel 2:12-14

Haftarah: Kedoshim: The Violence of No Sanctity

Shir ha-Shirim XIII: Part One: The Kiss of Torah: Sefirah 10

Acquiring Torah 11: Private Recognition

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Waiting For an Answer

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 119:98

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 119:49-50

Midot Hayom: Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

Midot Hayom: Day 12: Hod in Gevurah

Midot Hayom 5770 Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

Midot Hayom: Day 12: Hod in Gevurah

Midot Hayom: Day 11: Netzach in Gevurah

Prayer Skills: Mabit: Beginnings

Tehillim Tools: Psalms 116:1-2

Taking it With You: Ashrei: Lifting the Fallen

Shir ha-Shirim XII: Part Four: Different Loves: Sefirah 9

Shir ha-Shirim XII: Part Three: God’s Song: Sefirah 8

Acquiring Torah 10: Seeds of Torah

Table Talk: Acharei Mot – Kedoshim

Rav Zevin: Kedoshim

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