What is redemption?

We have all heard about redemption and intuitively seek and yearn for it. We know that the world and creation is destined for something far greater than what we are seeing and the conscious state of mind which we are in. The Rambam (Maimonides) devotes the last 2 chapters of his monumental books to redemption and what the world will look like.

So what is redemption really?

Turing On The Light

The creation of the world is likened to a house, a dwelling place. Just as we feel at home in our own homes, so too G-d yearns to feel “at home” in this world. We help make that dwelling place for the Divine in this world. The Midrash says that “G-d desired to dwell within this world”.

In addition, just as there are various types of homes, such as a large, small, with a view etc. A common need for all homes is for the home to be well lit. Without the proper lighting, either from widows are electricity and as beautiful as the home may be with...

Webinar handouts:

The first “Machloket” in the Torah

משנה אבות ה׳:י״ז

כל מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים. סופה להתקיים. ושאינה לשם שמים. אין סופה להתקיים. איזו היא מחלוקת שהוא לשם שמים זו מחלוקת הלל ושמאי. ושאינה לשם שמים. זו מחלוקת קרח וכל עדתו

Every argument that is for [the sake of] heaven's name, it is destined to endure. But if it is not for [the sake of] heaven's name -- it is not destined to endure. What is [an example of an argument] for [the sake of] heaven's name? The argument of Hillel and Shammai. What is [an example of an argument] not for [the sake of] heaven's name? The argument of Korach and all of his congregation.

ויקרא י טז

וְאֵת ׀ שְׂעִיר הַֽחַטָּאת דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ מֹשֶׁה וְהִנֵּה שֹׂרָף וַיִּקְצֹף עַל־אֶלְעָזָר וְעַל־אִֽיתָמָר בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַנּוֹתָרִם לֵאמֹֽר׃

Then Moses inquired about the goat of sin offering, and it had already been burned! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and said,

Rashi:

שעיר החטאת...

Live Kabbalah Webinar Class handouts

1. Exodus 35: 2

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יִהְיֶה לָכֶם קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן

“On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest”

2. Exodus 20: 9

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּֽעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל־מְלַאכְתֶּֽךָ

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work..”

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה

תֵּעָשֶׂה בדרך ממילא

תַעַשֶה תעשה בהתעסקות

"Sheshet Yomim Taioseh Melacha"

Taioseh = It will get done

Ta'aaseh = You shall do

3. Mekhilta DeRabbi Shimon Bar Yochai 35:2

, וכתוב אחד אומר: "ששת ימים תעבוד" (שמות כ ט; שמות לד כא)? בזמן שישראל עושין רצונו של מקום, מלאכתן נעשית על ידי אחרים; וכשאינן עושין רצונו של מקום, מלאכתן נעשית על ידי עצמן.

This is what Rabbi Yishamel would say: One verse "six days work will get done" and another verse says "six days you shall labor and do all of your work". How can both of these verses be fulfilled?...

בס׳ד

 ?Why did Moshe break the Tablets

Exodus 34

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה פְּסָל־לְךָ שְׁנֵֽי־לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים כָּרִאשֹׁנִים וְכָתַבְתִּי עַל־הַלֻּחֹת אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ עַל־הַלֻּחֹת הָרִאשֹׁנִים אֲשֶׁר שִׁבַּֽרְתָּ׃

“Hashem said to Moses: “Carve two tablets of stone like the first, and I will inscribe upon the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you shattered.”

Shabbat 87a

שבר את הלוחות מאי דריש אמר ומה פסח שהוא אחד מתריג מצות אמרה תורה וכל בן נכר לא יאכל בו התורה כולה [כאן] וישראל משומדים על אחת כמה וכמה ומנלן דהסכים הקדוש ברוך הוא על ידו שנאמר אשר שברת ואמר ריש לקיש יישר כחך ששברת

“And he broke the tablets following the sin of the Golden Calf. What source did he interpret that led him to do so? Moses said: With regard to the Paschal lamb, which is only one of six hundred and thirteen Mitzvot, the Torah stated: “And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron: This is the ordinance of the Paschal...

1. The 72 Letter Names

The permutations of the 72 Letters are found in both Talmudic as well as Kabbalistic texts.

Commentators say (Ba’al Haturim) that the name that was inside of the Choshen- חושן, the breastplate of the High Priest (called Orim V’tumim) was the 72 Letter Name combination.

The High Priest also had 72 bells studded on the bottom of his cloak called the Me’il- מעיל. We will soon see the connection of 72 with the priesthood and the side of Chesed - Divine kindness.

In the Machzor (the prayer book) of the High Holidays we find the words u’bechen- ובכן repeating it self. The Kabbalists teach that the numerology of this word is 72.

Like keys, there are many word combinations throughout the Siddur that have the specific names of the 72 Letters.

As discussed in our 2nd class on the Divine names that these 72 combinations are different than the name Av- עב which which has the hidden value of Yud and stems from the above the world of Atzilut.

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'All you need is love"- myth or fact?

What happens when an Orthodox and Reform Rabbis talk about love?

What is the definition of true love? and what about gay marriage and dating in the age of the internet? 

Check out this interview for more!