Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running time: 22:53
Showing posts with label Ruach Hakodesh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ruach Hakodesh. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Tetzaveh - From Mind to Heart
Why did the Jewish people need the Divine Presence in order to remember that Hashem took them out of Egypt if they had just experienced it? How does one move the experiences that make an impression intellectually into one that is also felt emotionally? Why did Elijah pray that the Jewish people be affected positively by the miracles they were about to witness? How does the belief in one's teacher help bridge the gap from mind to heart?
Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running time: 22:53
Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running time: 22:53
Friday, October 2, 2015
Succos - Waters of Appreciation
What is the concept of water? Why does it come into play so much during Succos? How does it relate to the clouds of glory? How does it relate to the Lulav and the Succah (schach)? What is the connection between drawing the water to be offered on the mizbe’ach and ‘drawing’ Divine Inspiration? How does being engulfed in the Divine Presence create love? How is that reflected in Moshe’s bracha to Binyomin in v’zos habracha?
Find out in this week's parsha podcast.
Running time: 22:42
Find out in this week's parsha podcast.
Running time: 22:42
Friday, January 14, 2011
Beshalach - Water, prophecy and song
Why is the climax of the Exodus specifically at Yam Suf, a body of water?
What is the significance of the fact that there was an incredible level of prophecy at yam suf? Why does the Torah stress, a number of times, that the water was a wall for them, to their right and left? What is the secret of the three verses of 72 letters and the 72 letter name of Hashem? What is the deep connection to Succos, where we see that the 72 letter name is used, as per Rashi in Succah? What is the deeper connection between water, ruach hakodesh, and song? Why did each of the twelve tribes get their own path? What is the significance of the miracle that they were able to see through the water and view each of the other tribes? Why was Moshe back involved in this miracle, after being left out of bechoros?
Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running time: 22:36
What is the significance of the fact that there was an incredible level of prophecy at yam suf? Why does the Torah stress, a number of times, that the water was a wall for them, to their right and left? What is the secret of the three verses of 72 letters and the 72 letter name of Hashem? What is the deep connection to Succos, where we see that the 72 letter name is used, as per Rashi in Succah? What is the deeper connection between water, ruach hakodesh, and song? Why did each of the twelve tribes get their own path? What is the significance of the miracle that they were able to see through the water and view each of the other tribes? Why was Moshe back involved in this miracle, after being left out of bechoros?
Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running time: 22:36
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Moshiach, now?
The following comment was posted on the previous post:
Please, Ari, please don't fall into the trap of predicting a scary downfall of America. Just three months ago, I asked R. Chaim Kanievsky if I should move my family to E"Y. I was all excited about it.
He replied that I cannot come without parnassah. I asked him if I should just "cash out" and come. He said, "Then you spend it and go back. What's the point?"
Parnassah is in the hands of HaShem. Thus, for us, so is moving to E'Y. In the meantime, we must have faith that HaShem is going to orchestrate the kibbutz galius we just read about in the Pesach haftorah.
Please don't be insensitive to those who b'emes long to come to E"Y, but don't have the financial capabilities (yet!) to do so.
I would just like to clarify my general approach with this blog. I really try not to make any predictions, and it was not my intent to predict the fall of the US. I was merely sharing a story with you that I thought would be interesting. I personally firmly believe that every single person must ask a shailah in regards to how they should proceed with life, and rest assured that if they follow da'as Torah, Hashem will not steer them wrong. I encourage everyone to do so, and it is interesting to me that when you asked R' Chaim he responded that way, as someone else recently told me in a conversation that they asked an American Gadol (who is very serious about the idea of living in Eretz Yisrael) the same question and received the same exact answer - one can not come here without a realistic plan for parnassah.
One thought I would like to mention that hits me as I am writing this, is that even if a particular Gadol, say, R' Kanievsky, told one person that this is the proper approach, he may not tell the next person the same thing. Our Gedolim are gifted with Ruach Hakodesh and receive constant guidance as they help out the Klal as well as the many individuals who seek their guidance. I almost laugh as I think about the obviousness of it, but I think we've learned that what a Gadol says for one person will not necessarily apply to another. Just because you read in this blog that R' Chaim told 'anonymous' not to come here doesn't mean you shouldn't ask your rav if it might be the right thing for you.
Our lives must center around serving Hashem, and while צפית לישועה is of course an important thing, it mustn't take over our lives. I realized how compulsively I was checking the news, and I realized that it began when I got very into the whole Moshiach kick. I was never into politics, not here in Israel, and not in the US. It is all a waste of time, and all it does is steer us away from our avodas Hashem. I have really been conscious of not looking at the news, and I am proud to say that I was surprised that I didn't know that 'Durban II' was happening until someone told me about it.
I think it is important to talk and be excited and hopeful about Moshiach's advent, and I do believe he will be here soon. I am happy to say that I don't know how soon, but I do wait for him every day, so I think I'm headed in a good direction. Do I think that the US will fall? I don't know, and I don't wish it upon anyone, certainly not our wonderful brothers and sisters who live there (and might even want to be here in Israel much more than being there). One thing I am sure of is that no matter where we are, Hashem will be taking care of us, and if we have indeed reached the final stages of Geulah, or are nearing them, there will be a tremendous amount of rachamim for us, not destruction ח"ו.
The final redemption will defy logic, and if one takes a look around, the entire world, and the entire state of affairs for the Jewish people as a whole defies all logic. When everything defies logic, it is Hashem's fingerprints, his voice whispering, "I'm here with you." When the winter goes by and it is one of the driest winters in years, and the weather experts are exclaiming that the chances of such a winter are zero - when the chances are zero, this is Hashem speaking. It's no coincidence that this horrible winter in Israel was the worst time for the entire world since the Great Depression. Israel is the conduit for Hashem's goodness. Whatever happens here is a sign of what is happening everywhere else.
Bottom line is that we need to love Hashem, commit to coming close to Him, chuck all the distractions, and focus in on what really counts. We don't need to know what will happen in the future. The more we try to figure it out, the more futile it will be. We can want Moshiach without needing to know when he will be here, and without trying to figure out precisely what will happen and how it will unfold.
In any event, my bet is that it will be interesting, as there's no better 'storyteller' than Hashem. We can sit back and enjoy the show without trying to figure out the ending. We can also get 'into' the story and watch as it progresses without getting carried away and losing sight of what's really important in our lives. We can be excited when we hear that the gematria of ברק אובאמה is the same as the נחש which is also the same as משיח because they are all forces that come into play in the final story. And we can also say that maybe that's not significant and maybe the story will end in a different way. If a great author can give you a surprising and shocking ending, do we think that we can figure out the ending to this story written by Hashem? No matter what it will be interesting, and no matter what it will be the Ultimate Good. Let's try to do this with balance.
Please, Ari, please don't fall into the trap of predicting a scary downfall of America. Just three months ago, I asked R. Chaim Kanievsky if I should move my family to E"Y. I was all excited about it.
He replied that I cannot come without parnassah. I asked him if I should just "cash out" and come. He said, "Then you spend it and go back. What's the point?"
Parnassah is in the hands of HaShem. Thus, for us, so is moving to E'Y. In the meantime, we must have faith that HaShem is going to orchestrate the kibbutz galius we just read about in the Pesach haftorah.
Please don't be insensitive to those who b'emes long to come to E"Y, but don't have the financial capabilities (yet!) to do so.
I would just like to clarify my general approach with this blog. I really try not to make any predictions, and it was not my intent to predict the fall of the US. I was merely sharing a story with you that I thought would be interesting. I personally firmly believe that every single person must ask a shailah in regards to how they should proceed with life, and rest assured that if they follow da'as Torah, Hashem will not steer them wrong. I encourage everyone to do so, and it is interesting to me that when you asked R' Chaim he responded that way, as someone else recently told me in a conversation that they asked an American Gadol (who is very serious about the idea of living in Eretz Yisrael) the same question and received the same exact answer - one can not come here without a realistic plan for parnassah.
One thought I would like to mention that hits me as I am writing this, is that even if a particular Gadol, say, R' Kanievsky, told one person that this is the proper approach, he may not tell the next person the same thing. Our Gedolim are gifted with Ruach Hakodesh and receive constant guidance as they help out the Klal as well as the many individuals who seek their guidance. I almost laugh as I think about the obviousness of it, but I think we've learned that what a Gadol says for one person will not necessarily apply to another. Just because you read in this blog that R' Chaim told 'anonymous' not to come here doesn't mean you shouldn't ask your rav if it might be the right thing for you.
Our lives must center around serving Hashem, and while צפית לישועה is of course an important thing, it mustn't take over our lives. I realized how compulsively I was checking the news, and I realized that it began when I got very into the whole Moshiach kick. I was never into politics, not here in Israel, and not in the US. It is all a waste of time, and all it does is steer us away from our avodas Hashem. I have really been conscious of not looking at the news, and I am proud to say that I was surprised that I didn't know that 'Durban II' was happening until someone told me about it.
I think it is important to talk and be excited and hopeful about Moshiach's advent, and I do believe he will be here soon. I am happy to say that I don't know how soon, but I do wait for him every day, so I think I'm headed in a good direction. Do I think that the US will fall? I don't know, and I don't wish it upon anyone, certainly not our wonderful brothers and sisters who live there (and might even want to be here in Israel much more than being there). One thing I am sure of is that no matter where we are, Hashem will be taking care of us, and if we have indeed reached the final stages of Geulah, or are nearing them, there will be a tremendous amount of rachamim for us, not destruction ח"ו.
The final redemption will defy logic, and if one takes a look around, the entire world, and the entire state of affairs for the Jewish people as a whole defies all logic. When everything defies logic, it is Hashem's fingerprints, his voice whispering, "I'm here with you." When the winter goes by and it is one of the driest winters in years, and the weather experts are exclaiming that the chances of such a winter are zero - when the chances are zero, this is Hashem speaking. It's no coincidence that this horrible winter in Israel was the worst time for the entire world since the Great Depression. Israel is the conduit for Hashem's goodness. Whatever happens here is a sign of what is happening everywhere else.
Bottom line is that we need to love Hashem, commit to coming close to Him, chuck all the distractions, and focus in on what really counts. We don't need to know what will happen in the future. The more we try to figure it out, the more futile it will be. We can want Moshiach without needing to know when he will be here, and without trying to figure out precisely what will happen and how it will unfold.
In any event, my bet is that it will be interesting, as there's no better 'storyteller' than Hashem. We can sit back and enjoy the show without trying to figure out the ending. We can also get 'into' the story and watch as it progresses without getting carried away and losing sight of what's really important in our lives. We can be excited when we hear that the gematria of ברק אובאמה is the same as the נחש which is also the same as משיח because they are all forces that come into play in the final story. And we can also say that maybe that's not significant and maybe the story will end in a different way. If a great author can give you a surprising and shocking ending, do we think that we can figure out the ending to this story written by Hashem? No matter what it will be interesting, and no matter what it will be the Ultimate Good. Let's try to do this with balance.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ruach Hakodesh today
Does Ruach Hakodesh still exist today? I would like to share a number of quotes from Rav Aryeh Kaplan's book "Handbook of Jewish Thought." I will give the page references, and I highly recommend seeing the book itself for a better understanding, as there are numerous footnotes that will direct you to the sources of the statements.
Pages 86-87:
6:18 The lowest level of inspiration is Divine guidance that is granted to a person without his knowledge. This was the minimal attainment of all the great Biblical and Talmudical leaders, who were guided by God in all their words and deeds. It is thus written, "God's council is with those who fear Him" (Psalms 25:14). Such inspiration also marked the beginning of the careers of the prophets.
6:19 The gift of Divine guidance is granted to those who teach Torah publicly, bringing the people closer to God. It is thus written, "This book of the Torah shall not depart from you... and you shall observe everything written in it, for then you shall... have good success" (Joshua 1:8). Therefore, any Torah leader whose works have been accepted by all Israel is assumed to have been divinely guided.
6:20 This gift is attainable by any person, at any time or place, as long as the person makes himself worthy of it.
On page 87, in note 33, Rav Kaplan writes, "Actually, the Talmud states that Ruach Hakodesh ceased to exist after the death of the last prophets, see below, note 258. This is speaking of the level described in 6:21 or 6:27 [higher levels of Divine inspiration then what we are talking about here - ag]."
On page 206, in regards to the original semicha which went back to Moshe Rabbenu, he writes:
10:33 The greatest Torah scholars of each generation are automatically qualified for ordination. It is thus written, "You shall go to the... judge who shall be in those days" (Deuteronomy 17:9). This indicates that each generation has its own standard.
Pages 241-242:
12:25 In every generation, there are certain rabbis who, because of their great scholarship and piety, are generally accepted as religious leaders and authorities, as it is written, "You must observe all that they decide for you" (Deuteronomy 17:10). Although this commandment relates specifically to the Sanhedrin, it also applies to the religious leaders of each generation.
On page 248, in speaking of the community rav, he states:
12:44 In all such cases, the rabbi must depend on his own judgment. He can be secure in the promise of Divine guidance, as it is written, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man, but for God, and He is with you in your decision" (2 Chronicles 19:6).
Finally, on page 286, Rav Kaplan finishes the book with the following:
13:84 One of the fundamental unvoiced concepts of Judaism is that God reveals His will to us, not only through prophecy, but in the common destiny of all who seek Him. Therefore, even such seemingly prosaic concepts as legal decisions and customs partake of God's continuous process of revelation.
Pages 86-87:
6:18 The lowest level of inspiration is Divine guidance that is granted to a person without his knowledge. This was the minimal attainment of all the great Biblical and Talmudical leaders, who were guided by God in all their words and deeds. It is thus written, "God's council is with those who fear Him" (Psalms 25:14). Such inspiration also marked the beginning of the careers of the prophets.
6:19 The gift of Divine guidance is granted to those who teach Torah publicly, bringing the people closer to God. It is thus written, "This book of the Torah shall not depart from you... and you shall observe everything written in it, for then you shall... have good success" (Joshua 1:8). Therefore, any Torah leader whose works have been accepted by all Israel is assumed to have been divinely guided.
6:20 This gift is attainable by any person, at any time or place, as long as the person makes himself worthy of it.
On page 87, in note 33, Rav Kaplan writes, "Actually, the Talmud states that Ruach Hakodesh ceased to exist after the death of the last prophets, see below, note 258. This is speaking of the level described in 6:21 or 6:27 [higher levels of Divine inspiration then what we are talking about here - ag]."
On page 206, in regards to the original semicha which went back to Moshe Rabbenu, he writes:
10:33 The greatest Torah scholars of each generation are automatically qualified for ordination. It is thus written, "You shall go to the... judge who shall be in those days" (Deuteronomy 17:9). This indicates that each generation has its own standard.
Pages 241-242:
12:25 In every generation, there are certain rabbis who, because of their great scholarship and piety, are generally accepted as religious leaders and authorities, as it is written, "You must observe all that they decide for you" (Deuteronomy 17:10). Although this commandment relates specifically to the Sanhedrin, it also applies to the religious leaders of each generation.
On page 248, in speaking of the community rav, he states:
12:44 In all such cases, the rabbi must depend on his own judgment. He can be secure in the promise of Divine guidance, as it is written, "Consider what you do, for you judge not for man, but for God, and He is with you in your decision" (2 Chronicles 19:6).
Finally, on page 286, Rav Kaplan finishes the book with the following:
13:84 One of the fundamental unvoiced concepts of Judaism is that God reveals His will to us, not only through prophecy, but in the common destiny of all who seek Him. Therefore, even such seemingly prosaic concepts as legal decisions and customs partake of God's continuous process of revelation.
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