Shalom Aleichem When Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah Coincide

Shalom Aleichem (and Kabbalat Shabbat) when Shabbat and Rosh Hashanah (or another Yom Tov) Coincide.

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

 

Rischa D'Araisa Season 14 Episode 4: Does the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Figure Into Our Rosh HaShanah's Zichron Teru'ah?

 

Rischa D'Araisa Season 14 Episode 4:

להיזכר מעשים רבים והמון בריות לאין תכלית:

Does the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Figure Into Our Rosh HaShanah's Zichron Teru'ah?

https://listen.jewishpodcasts.fm/yeshivaofnewark/122150

The Gemara About Rosh HaShanah (Forgiveness and Forgoing) part 7, Rosh HaShanah 17a - Uganda Shiur

 

Uganda Shiur - September 07

VIEW RECORDING - 29 mins (No highlights)

Meeting Purpose

To understand the Jewish concept of Gehenna and divine judgment.

Key Takeaways

• Gehenna is spiritual shame, not physical fire. It's the soul's unrelenting remorse for its sins, a pain described as 60 times worse than physical fire.
• Divine judgment is based on patterns, not isolated acts. God overlooks initial sins, but a repeated pattern establishes a sinful identity and retroactively counts all prior related acts.
• Forgiving others is the most effective path to divine forgiveness. Applying the principle of Midah Kinneged Midah (measure for measure), God forgives those who forgive others.
• Prayer and kindness are the primary tools for a favorable judgment. Sincere prayer can uplift a person with little merit, and kindness toward others directly earns divine kindness.

Topics

Gehenna: Spiritual Shame

• Gehenna is a spiritual state of intense, unrelenting shame and remorse for one's sins.
• The rabbinic metaphor of "fire 60 times stronger" than physical fire illustrates the soul's profound pain when it is fully exposed to its own wrongdoing.
• The physical location, Gei Ben-Hinom, was a valley outside Jerusalem associated with idolatrous fire sacrifices, serving as the metaphor's origin.

The Soul's Journey & Cleansing

• After death, the soul enters a transition period called the "catapult," where it pursues unfulfillable physical desires.
• This phase continues until the soul realizes the futility of its worldly pursuits and develops genuine remorse.
• Only then can the soul enter Gehenna for purification, which is a temporary process.

Divine Judgment: Balancing the Scales

• The Gemara describes God "tilting the scales" for middling people (50/50 merits vs. sins) who did not commit "rebellious sins."
• Two interpretations explain this divine kindness:
  • Rabbi Lez: God adds weight to the merit side.
  • Rabbi Yosef Gavriel: God lifts weight from the sin side.
• Both interpretations achieve the same result: a favorable judgment, showing God's mercy.

"Rebellious Sins" & Their Consequences

• "Rebellious sins with the body" are considered especially severe, requiring full purification in Gehenna.
• Examples:
  • Men: Never wearing tefillin (phylacteries).
  • Women & Non-Jews: Engaging in forbidden relations.
• Rationale: These sins misuse the body, which is a divine loan.
• Exception: A person with these sins can still receive mercy if their overall deeds are balanced (50/50).

Prayer & Forgiveness: Paths to a Good Judgment

• Prayer: Sincere prayer can uplift a person with little merit, earning a favorable judgment.
• Forgiveness: Forgiving others for injustices is the most powerful path to divine forgiveness.
  • Principle: Midah Kinneged Midah (measure for measure).
  • Action: Forgiving others → God forgives your sins.
  • Action: Holding grudges → God holds grudges against you.

Next Steps

• To prepare for Rosh Hashanah, focus on two actions:
  • Prayer: Engage in sincere, personal prayer to express a desire for self-improvement.
  • Kindness: Act kindly and forgivingly toward everyone, especially those who have wronged you.

Torah Im Derech Eretz: Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer's Moriah pt 11: The of Mission of Avraham & the Exodus

Fathom Summary:

Moriah by Rabbi Dr Isaac Breuer - September 06

Meeting Purpose

To introduce Rabbi Dr. Isaac Breuer's concept of Judaism as a national, not individual, mission.

Key Takeaways

• Judaism is a national mission to fulfill God's plan for humanity (family, society, nation, state), not an individual religion.
• Jewish history is "Meta-History," a divine narrative that transcends "General History" (the natural cycle of power struggles).
• Egypt was the "Crucible" where the Jewish people were forged, learning that autonomous states prioritize political power over justice and that social exploitation is an inherent evil.
• Religious Zionism is an aberration because it seeks to make Israel "like all the nations," ignoring the Jewish people's unique, divinely ordained mission.

Topics

The National Mission of Judaism

• Judaism is a national mission, not an individual religion.
• Core Principle: Humans are social animals. God's plan for creation requires nations and states to "be fruitful, multiply, and conquer the land."
• Avraham's Role: Chosen to restart this plan after humanity's failures (Adam, Tower of Bavel).
  • He is the "father of the masses of nations" (Av Avamogayim), tasked with instructing all nations in God's ways.
  • This role is largely forgotten today.

General History vs. Meta-History

• General History (HaHistory HaKalilis): The natural cycle of power struggles where the strong oppress the weak.
• Meta-History (Meta-Historia): The divine history of the Jewish people, which transcends natural laws.
  • Avraham's Exodus: God removed Avraham from this natural cycle, placing him "above the stars" to found a new, purposeful history.
  • Yitzchak's Birth: A "ridiculous" event by natural standards, symbolizing the start of a history that defies nature.
  • Egypt as the Crucible: The nation was forged in exile (Golus), learning that its destiny is to be "foreigners in a land not theirs."
  • Perpetual Exile: The Second Temple period was a continuation of exile, not true independence, as Israel remained a vassal state.

The Lessons of Egypt

• Egypt was the "Crucible" where the Jewish people were forged.
• Lesson 1: The State vs. Humanity
  • Autonomous states prioritize political advantage over justice, creating an "abyss" between the state and humanity.
  • This legacy creates an intrinsic Jewish restlessness for justice, even in secular Jews.
• Lesson 2: Social Justice
  • The experience of slavery instilled a deep understanding of social exploitation.
  • This legacy explains the historical Jewish solidarity with the working class.

The Exodus as a Metaphor

• The Exodus from Egypt is the foundational principle of Judaism.
• Meaning: Not just a physical departure, but an exodus from "General History" into "Meta-History."
• Personal Application: Every Jew must leave their own "Mitzrayim" (personal limitations) to enter the nation's Meta-History and fulfill their divine purpose.

Next Steps

• Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer: Continue the discussion on Breuer's concepts of General History and Meta-History in the next session.

 

The Gemara About Rosh HaShanah (The 12 Months in Gehennom) part 6, Rosh HaShanah 17a - Uganda Shiur

Uganda Shiur - September 03

VIEW RECORDING - 23 mins (No highlights)

Meeting Purpose

To explore the Gemara's teachings on post-mortem judgment and atonement.

Key Takeaways

• Atonement Tiers: Most sinners face a 12-month judgment in Gehenna, after which their souls are redeemed via their connection to the righteous. A specific class of arch-wicked individuals (e.g., heretics, informers) face eternal punishment.
• Communal Merit: A person's connection to the community provides a crucial source of merit. This is the basis for saying Kaddish for 11 months (not 12) for parents and for the "soft judgment" on the second day of Rosh Hashanah.
• The Shekhinah: Human actions directly affect the divine presence (Shekhinah) in the world. Sin pushes the Shekhinah away, while mitzvot bring it closer, creating a "dwelling place for Him below" (Dira Batachtonim).
• Judgment's Unmasking: In the afterlife, a person's inner essence is revealed. The faces of the wicked appear "black and sooty," exposing their true nature regardless of their worldly appearance.

Topics

The Afterlife: Judgment & Atonement

• The Gemara (Rosh Hashanah 17A) describes post-mortem judgment for Jews and non-Jews.
• Standard Sinners: Face a 12-month judgment in Gehenna.
  • Outcome: After 12 months, their souls are "burned" (purified) and then redeemed by their connection to the righteous.
  • Mechanism: "Wind scatters them under the soles of the feet of the righteous." This is interpreted as:
    1. A righteous person's merit elevating a connected individual.
    2. A person's own good deeds for others providing a path to redemption.
• Arch-Wicked Individuals: Face eternal punishment.
  • Category: Heretics, informers, apostates, Torah deniers, resurrection deniers, community separators, fear-mongers, and those who cause the masses to sin (e.g., King Yerovam).
  • Rationale: Causing others to sin is worse than sinning oneself, as it stems from malicious intent rather than personal weakness.
  • Punishment: "Worms shall not die, and their fire shall not be quenched." The punishment outlasts Gehenna itself.

Communal Merit & Judgment

• A person's connection to the community provides a source of merit, especially for those lacking sufficient individual merit.
• Kaddish for Parents: Recited for 11 months, not 12.
  • Rationale: To avoid implying a parent was so wicked they required the full 12-month judgment.
• Rosh Hashanah Judgment: The Zohar describes two days of judgment.
  • Day 1 (Hard Judgment): Based on individual merit.
  • Day 2 (Soft Judgment): Based on communal merit. A person can receive a good year by being a valuable part of the community, even if their individual merit is low.
• Biblical Precedents:
  • Elisha & the Shunamite Woman: The woman refused special favors, preferring to be judged "among my people" (within the community).
  • Yaakov's Prayer: Yaakov cited his role in God's plan (founding the tribes) as a reason for salvation, not just his personal merit.

The Shekhinah: Divine Presence & Human Action

• The severity of the arch-wicked's punishment stems from their actions against "God's dwelling" (Beit HaMikdash).
• Interpretation: "God's dwelling" refers to the Shekhinah, the divine presence on earth.
• Shekhinah as a Feminine Word: In Kabbalah, masculine = giving, feminine = receiving.
  • Significance: The Shekhinah is the aspect of God that receives from humanity.
  • Mechanism: Human actions (Torah & mitzvot) bring the Shekhinah closer, creating a "dwelling place for Him below" (Dira Batachtonim). Sin pushes it away.
• Pride as an Obstacle: An arrogant person's pride pushes the Shekhinah away, making it impossible for God to "live together with him."

Judgment's Unmasking

• In the afterlife, a person's inner essence is revealed.
• Appearance: The faces of the wicked appear "black and sooty like the bottom of a pot."
• Meaning: This is not a literal physical change but an unmasking of true character.
  • Interpretation 1: On the day of resurrection, a person's inner wickedness is visibly reflected on their face.
  • Interpretation 2: In the heavenly realm, one's true nature is immediately apparent to all.
• Rav's Example: Rav believed even the most "upstanding" people of Mechoza were wicked, demonstrating that worldly appearance is deceptive.

Next Steps

• Odupa Abram: Ask about the nature of Gehenna in the next session.
• Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer: Explain Gehenna in more detail during the next shiur.

Action Items

• Email Abram copy of today's shiur - WATCH (5 secs)
• Ask Yosef next session re: Gehenna; he'll explain - WATCH (5 secs)