We study the passuk in Yeshaya perek 30 passuk 15, which speaks of the great quiet and enjoyment one has in the state of Bitachon, the confidence which allows all the problems to slip away and be replaced with Hashem's salvation.
Why was Yehuda specifically sent to go down ahead of his family to Yosef in order to set up their homes and a place to study? Who are represented by the wolf and the lamb, and the lion and the cattle who graze together in peace in the future? How does the resolution of the story of Yosef and his brothers parallel the resolution of the story of the world in the coming of Moshiach? Why is it that when Hashem will bring the dead back to life, they will first be with their previous flaws, and only then brought into a state of perfection? How can each of us find this Moshiach type of peace in our personal lives?
We continue our study together of the passuk in Yeshaya perek 26 passuk 4 which speaks about trusting in Hashem, Who fashioned the worlds. Here we discuss at length the idea of Hashem not just as the One Who fashioned the world, but as the 'Rock' who gives strength to the world and to all of us - as we trust in Him.
What is the connection between the story of Yosef and his brothers and the celebration of Chanukah? How does Pharaoh know that Yosef is so unusual to the point where he exclaims, 'Could we find anyone else like this?' How was Yosef able to access the special guidance of Hashem, which is Ruach Hakodesh? What was the unique approach of Yehuda and how did he reach his tikkun alongside Yosef? What is the unique power of difficult times, commitments and embarrassment, which serve to take away the power of the 'mind' and give us deeper access to our neshama?
We continue our study together of the passuk in Yeshaya perek 26 passuk 4 which speaks about trusting in Hashem, Who fashioned the worlds. There are approaches for every person, no matter if they are rich or poor. We are to recognize that Hashem has all the power, and that even if we seem to have power, ourselves, it is just a gift from Hashem. This is a recognition we need to constantly remind ourselves of.
What is the reason for the oppresors of the Jewish people having power over us? What is the fundamental mistake we make in our relationship with Hashem? How do the challenges of our oppresors create a change that brings us back into relationship with Him? How does this correspond to the cycle of growth that the Jewish people experienced in the process of the Exodus from Egypt? How does this also correspond to the process Yosef went through with his relationship with his brothers?
We study together the passuk in Yeshaya perek 26 passuk 4 which speaks about trusting in Hashem, Who fashioned the worlds - and transcends all the things here in our world that have power - as He is the source of their power, and therefore is the right address for us to send our prayers and trust.
Why were there 600,000 angels doing a great circle dance for Yaakov as he returned from Lavan's house to Israel? Why did he take angels from this group and send them to Esav? Why are they described as an encampment - which seems to denote lack of movement - but also as a dancing circle, full of movement? How does this parallel the other places we find circles and encampments, specifically at the splitting of the sea, and afterwards, as well as the journeys of the Jewish people through the wilderness? How does this parallel the dance of the righteous that Hashem Himself leads in the future time of the World to Come?
We study together the passuk in Yeshaya perek 26 passuk 3 which speaks about the deep peace one can experience when placing one's trust completely in Hashem.
Why does Yaakov place 12 separate rocks under his head before he goes to sleep, and what is the concept behind them combining to form a single rock? Why were Avraham and Yitzchak, as well as Adam Harishon, not able to have 12 tribes? What does the midrash mean when it says that the high priest enters the holy of holies with the merit of the twelve tribes? What do the twelve stones of the breastplate of the High Priest have to do with the twelve stones of Yaakov? Why does Yaakov keep mentioning the word 'this' when he wakes up from the dream? What do these stones have to do with the foundation stone which is on the Temple Mount 'til this very day?