Zohar Al Pi Pshat Day 756. 97b-98a: Zamir: the Year that Bris Milah was Given: 2047 from Creation!

This is a great chiddush!!!

Avraham was born in 1948, so his bris at 99 was in 2047.

זמיר is 200 (ר) times 10 (י) plus 47 (זמ).

That is the meaning of עת הזמיר הגיע!

Also explained here is ברית מילה as the chiseled word (גזר מילה) although the word chiseled escaped me while saying the explanation.

 

Torah Im Derech Eretz: Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer's Moriah pt 10: Avraham Emerges From the Ruins of Bavel

Moriah by Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer - August 30

VIEW RECORDING - 35 mins (No highlights)

Meeting Purpose

To analyze Rabbi Breuer's philosophy on early human history and the Jewish nation's role.

Key Takeaways

• Two Tragedies: Human history is defined by two rebellions: Adam's individual arrogance and the Tower of Babel's collective totalitarianism.
• Avraham's Counter-History: Avraham was chosen to create a new history, a "state of God" (Medinat Elohim), by rejecting the flawed models of individual and collective authority.
• Nationhood vs. Religion: Judaism is fundamentally a nation (Am Yisrael), not a religion (Klal Yisrael). This distinction is critical to understanding its mission and was the basis of a major dispute between Breuer and Yaakov Rosenheim.
• Universal Mission: The Jewish nation's purpose is to be a "blessing to all families of the earth" by demonstrating a society whose authority is God, not man.

Topics

The Two Rebellions Defining History

• 1. Adam's Rebellion (Individualism):
  • Cause: Man's usurpation of divine authority.
  • Result: Removal of the divine presence (Shechina) from the world.
  • Consequence: The Flood (Mabul), which broke human pride but led to a new extreme.
• 2. Tower of Babel Rebellion (Collectivism):
  • Cause: A post-Flood inferiority complex → the individual was seen as nothing, society as everything.
  • Method: The first totalitarian state, built on the new technology of the brick, to "make a name for ourselves" (na'aseh lanu shem)—a name for the state, not for God.
  • Result: God's intervention created a confusion of languages, preventing a single, corrupt universal state and establishing the era of competing nations.

Avraham's Counter-History: The State of God

• The Call to Separation:
  • God commanded Avraham to leave his land, society, and family.
  • Rationale: To exit the flawed "general history" of totalitarian states (e.g., Nimrod's) and create a new, ideal society.
• The New Nation (Am):
  • Foundation: A "created nation" (Am Elokei Avraham) whose authority is God, not man.
  • Purpose: To be a "blessing to all families of the earth" by demonstrating a righteous society.
  • Core Identity: A nation (Am Yisrael), not a religion. This distinction is central to Breuer's philosophy and was the basis of a major dispute with Yaakov Rosenheim.

Next Steps

• Rabbi Bechhofer: Continue the discussion on Breuer's philosophy, focusing on the mission of the Jewish nation and the distinction between Am Yisrael and Klal Yisrael.

 

The Beracha on Chocolate and a Fundamental Principle in Halacha

 A recording for the BHP daily Halachic Whatsapp group https://chat.whatsapp.com/Gz8rrxqRcfy9rMOXRLG6GS

Rischa D'Araisa Season 14 Episode 2: Modern Shortcuts: Scootering to Shul; Ozemping your Ta'avos; Micro-Gestures as Mussar

 

Rischa D'Araisa Season 14 Episode 2: 

Modern Shortcuts:

Scootering to Shul;

Ozemping your Ta'avos;

Micro-Gestures as Mussar

https://listen.jewishpodcasts.fm/yeshivaofnewark/121653

or

https://youtu.be/YjjQ33ff1Xc

The Gemara About Rosh HaShanah (and Changing Fate & Mazal) part 4, Rosh HaShanah 16b - Uganda Shiur

Meeting Purpose

To explore Rosh Hashanah's Day of Judgment and how to influence one's fate.

Key Takeaways

• Four Actions to Revoke a Bad Judgment: Charity, prayer, changing one's name, and changing one's deeds (Teshuvah).
• The Name Change of Sarai to Sarah: This change was a divine lesson, not a necessity, demonstrating the power of a new identity to alter destiny (e.g., enabling childbirth).
• Rosh Hashanah Judgment Categories: People are judged as Righteous (Tzaddikim), Wicked (Resha'im), or Middling (Beinonim), with the latter's fate suspended until Yom Kippur.
• "Mazal" as a "Flow," Not Luck: The term "Mazal Tov" (good luck) is reinterpreted as a "good flow" of divine blessing, which can be influenced by one's actions, location, and purpose.

Topics

Revoking a Bad Judgment

• Rabbi Yitzhak identified four actions that can revoke a bad judgment:
  1. Charity (Tzedakah): "Charity delivers from death."
  2. Prayer (Tefillah): "They cry to the Lord... and it brings them out of their distresses."
  3. Changing One's Name:
     • Rationale: A new name creates a new identity in heaven, potentially altering one's judgment.
     • Example (Sarai → Sarah): This change was a divine lesson, not a necessity.
       • Kabbalistic View: Adding the letter Hey (value 5) to both names created a combined value of 10 (Yud), the first letter of their son Yitzchak.
       • Talmudic View: The name change gave Sarah the physical capacity (a uterus) to bear children.
  4. Changing One's Deeds (Teshuvah): Repentance, as seen with the people of Ninveh, who were spared destruction after changing their ways.
• A Fifth Action (Disputed): Changing One's Place of Residence:
  • Proponents' View: A new location can change one's divine mission and "flow" (Mazal), citing Avram's move to Israel as the catalyst for becoming a great nation.
  • Opponents' View: This only applies to moving to the Land of Israel, whose inherent sanctity is the true catalyst for change.

The Problem of "Mazal" (Luck)

• The concept of "Mazal" (luck) poses a theological challenge, as it implies fate is determined by astrology.
• Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz's Interpretation:
  • Rejects astrology as a factor for Jews.
  • Defines "Mazal" as a "flow" (nozel) of divine blessing.
  • Significance: This interpretation makes one's fate contingent on actions and purpose, not on fixed astrological signs.

Rosh Hashanah Judgment Categories

• On Rosh Hashanah, three books are opened for judgment:
  • Absolutely Righteous (Tzaddikim Gemurim): Immediately written and sealed for life.
  • Absolutely Wicked (Resha'im Gemurim): Immediately written and sealed for death.
  • Middling People (Beinonim): Judgment is suspended until Yom Kippur, allowing them to influence their fate through repentance.
• Interpretation of "Wicked" (Rasha):
  • Literal View: A person with no chance of repentance.
  • Judgment-Based View: A person whose fate is clear for other reasons.
    • Example: A 100-year-old person is a "Rasha" in judgment because their time is up, regardless of their deeds.
    • Example: A wicked person who performed a few mitzvot may be a "Tzaddik" in judgment, kept alive to receive their reward in this world.

Festival Obligations

• Two additional obligations for festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot):
  • Visit One's Teacher: A substitute for the pilgrimage to the Temple, as the teacher's presence is considered holy.
  • Achieve Ritual Purity (Tahara): Required for all Jews to eat holy foods (e.g., sacrifices, Trumah) during the festival.

Next Steps

• Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer: Continue the discussion on Rosh Hashanah judgment categories in the next session.