Female LessonParashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test Yourself Next Thursday begins the 3 weeks ("Bein Ham'tzarim") from 17 Tamuz - 9 Av, commemorating the breach of Jerusalem & the eventual destruction of the city & both the 1st & 2nd Batei Mikdash. Other tragedies that occurred on the 17th of Tamuz include the breaking by Moshe of the 1st set of Luchot, & the suspension of the daily offerings in the Bet HaMikdash. In order to limit our Simcha during these 3 weeks, we do not have weddings; we avoid live music; we do not take haircuts; & we refrain from saying the Shehecheyanu blessing on new fruits or clothes (except on Shabbat). All types of food & drink may be eaten until the 9 Days, when mourning intensifies & we then refrain from eating meat & wine. Even greater sadness is displayed in the week when Tisha B'Av occurs, &, then, of course, on Tisha B'Av itself. Thursday’s fast begins (in Ra’anana) at 4:13 am & ends at 8:11 pm. May we see the Bet HaMikdash rebuilt in our days! (Note: Above is the Ashkenaz custom).
DO WE DESERVE REDEMPTION? “Blood, Covenant, and Return”- Parshat VaEra
Are we today so much greater than say the Rambam's generation? Why is G-d returning us to Israel & doing so many salvations and victories over Hamas, Hizballah, Syria and Iran in recent years, even if we haven't done Teshuva & seemingly don't deserve it?
The class deals with how to cleave and strengthen the G-dly trait of "Truth", the need to pray for Teshuva, the importance of returning that which was wrongly taken before saying Viduy, and other aspects of Teshuva.
Rav Kook explains why that which is learned on Shabbat is considered so much greater than that studied during the week, and why creativity is that much greater on Shabbat, for better or for worse!
The class deals with not "resting on one's laurels", and that not a few people who lived their entire lives idealistically, "lost it" upon getting older. Similarly the importance of not focusing on luxuries but on the necessities of life.
Seemingly 'Strange' Rabbinical Decrees- Not What You Thought!
Rav Kook suggests a very innovative and important "eye-opening" way to understand some of the rabbinical decrees which are particularly difficult to understand!