Parsha with Rabbi David Bibi (JewishPodcasts.org)

Parasha Re’eh 5781 - What does it mean to see
? Choose between - Blessing and and curse? Life and death ? Good and evil ? Would anyone choose the latter? Define blessing and curse? Protection from the dark side ! The problem with resting. The secret of my כפי palms ! Success in Elul !  

The dream with King
Solomon, Why so many wives? Why no fear of returning to Egypt? Why marry the
daughter of Pharoah on the same night you were consecrating the new Bet
HaMikdash? 

Ki Tesse, the captive woman is our own soul we must free. The battle between Jacob and Esav for the months of the year. Understanding Elul and taking advantage of Jacob's effort.
The zodiac sign of Virgo and bringing the bride to the King. 

 Shoftim: It’s all about connecting.  

What is it that bonds having a just court system to our meriting to inherit and possess the land?  

And once we get to the land we are told to appoint a king. What of the kings role do we learn from here?  

Then the kohanim are to be given from each animal: the cheeks, the shoulder and the maw. Why those specific parts? And why tell this to us now? Things set aside for the priest seems out of place here.    

The portion continues with drafting soldiers for war and then gives a litany of excuses permitting the soldier to tear up his draft card. what makes the perfect soldier ?  

 The meaning of Shalom 

Shalom as a connection  

The Haftara link to Eliyahu and Shalom  

Shalom
- Hidden within the Kaddish and really at it’s core.  

Shalom
as the ultimate answer.   

This week we explore Tefila- prayer. Why does
the same prayer said by two people have different results? What activates prayer? How do we go beyond prayer? Why does Moses resort to falling in his face ? Can we take advantage of Moses’ lesson?  

Ki Tabo - Learning Simcha from the Yeser HaRah 

Is it a misvah gedola lihiyot besimcha   

The zohar on joy 

 The difference between joy and happiness 

 Emotion vs intellect 

 Recognizing Hashem with joy and humility  

 How the evil inclination teaches joy  

 Serving Hashem with my two hearts  

 Ki Tabo - The nations will fear you - Tefilin and Tefilah 

First Fruits - Blessings and Curses  

Tonight we will explore the blessing that The nations will
fear you.  

How this blessing relates to the power of tefillin and the
power of prayer especially this time of Selichot.  

The mystery of the double shin on the tefillin shel Rosh. A
three headed and four headed version  

Defeating the seven headed demon in the study hall as Jacob
defeated the angel of Esav.  

Suppressing the evil inclination. 

Retrieving the holy sparks and bringing about
redemption.   

Nisavim 5781 Short Class Moving Beyond the curses to blessings 

But the Klausenberger Rebbe 

Rabbi Riskin's first lesson in modern zionism 

When was the 1st day of Creation? 

What does Rosh Hashana Recall?

Why celebrate New Years on the 6th Day?

The promise to Adam and Chava 

Hashem is my shadow ! 

 Ben Ish Chai – Rabbi Yosef Chaim Baghdad   

Im KeBanim Im KeAvadim   

Rav Elya Lopian 

What is the difference between a loyal son and a
dutiful servant? 

The greatest praise of Moses is that he was
called Eved Hashem  

Rabban Gamliel summed it up when he said to two sages whom he wanted to appoint to office: “Do you imagine I am offering you rulership? I am offering you avdut, the chance to serve.”

Shabbat Shuva Returning the Heh through Balance and Admission. The lower Heh of Malchut expanding into the upper Heh of Binah. The wake up call of the shofar. Hayom harat Olam Today the world was conceived. Adam's sin and the mixture of good and evil. Bringing balance to the world. Modeh VeOzev Yerucham. Admitting is the hardest thing to do. 

The Trojan Horse and opening for Teshuva

A lesson from Yonah and the Kikayon tree 

Rabbi Yisroel Meir Lau and the burn victims of the Yom Kippur War

The Ramban and R' Avner who converted to Catholicism   

My Dad is the Pilot

Hashem is our father who loves us 

Make a small opening and let him in 

Whoever fulfills the mitzvah of Succah in this world - Olam HaZeh – will be zocheh that Hashem will give him a portion in the future in the succah. What does that mean?

Three strikes - The generation of the Flood, the generation of dispersion and the generation of Sedom 

Three types of Torah. The written Torah. The oral Torah of this world. The oral Torah of Olam Habbah.

Reversing the wires. Causing a short circuit. The greatest potential can be the worst tragedy.

We are them and we can fix it! 

Vezot Haberacha - The number 8 and Going Beyond Nature 5782

15 Moadim or 16 Holiday days

53 parshiot or 54 parshiot

VeZot HaBeracha 

7/49 representing nature

8/50 representing the supernatural or beyond nature

Understanding based on the Hebrew Slave Eved Ivri 

Reshit is Moshe and the 1st generation 

Connecting the lowest to the greatest 

our opportunity on shemini aseret and simchat torah 

Bereshit Birkat HaLevana and neshama yetera 5782

The moon complains

The moon representing the Shechina

A desire to nourish directly

The seven levels of teh shechina depend on us 

The text of Birkat HaLevana 

Expanding our three levels of souls on Friday Night 

Death and life are in the hand of the tongue 

 Sometimes one must speak, but sometimes one must be silent  

The strength of Noah was in his ability to control his speech   

 This word Siach is interesting as it has a numerical value of 318   

Eliezer is 318 

Tameh, the torah replaces it with multiple words asher loh Tehorah  

A 'תיבה' is also a WORD 

The entirety of creation is divided into four realms  

Feathers in a pillow

Good morning, Herr Rabbiner 

What was the Dor Haflaga trying to accomplish ? 

Lech Lecha Abraham & Sarah - Tikun Adam & Chava 

Listening to your wife, good or bad?

Adam and Chava - Take Two

The snake will come to support you

Overcoming Mansapach

The reward for silence.

Your money or your life ! 

The Tree of Life of the secrets of Torah is very hidden and difficult to truly attain due to the revolving sword which bars entry to Gan Eden D’ei Chochmah L’nafshechah – Rav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern  

Shvilei Pinchas - Hashem instructs the neshameh to leave its heavenly abode and to enter a particular body.  

These four words -- “אל הארץ אשר אראך” -- to the land that I will show you — are the key!  

Each moment of our lives, at each encounter we face we have two choices: To be mediocre or to be great.  

Is there anything to a red string?

How does one prevent ayin haRah?

What is the lesson of Rachel?

Why are her cries heard above all other by Hashem? 

Why is Kever Rachel on the road? 

A holy soul interferes with the dark side

Hashem sends his angels to accompany us 

Menashe explains the challenges of Avoda Zara

Abraham and the Mazalot and astrological influence

Ein Mazal LeYisrael

Our personal test and tikun in this world 

Chaye Sara - Eliezer and Transforming a curse into a blessing 5782

He is blessed and you are cursed and the two cannot be joined.

How is Avraham so harsh with Eliezer?

What is the secret that changes Eliezer to blessed?

Why is the first letter of the Torah a Bet while the first letter of the commandments an Aleph?

Rivka on the Camel subjugating the Nachash

Did Rivka fall or as Onkelus suggests gracefully dismount? 

How does Rivka continue the Tikkun of Chava?

 “The splendor of Yaakov was a semblance of the splendor of Adam.”

Eisav had a mark resembling a nachash on his thigh; this alluded to the fact that Eisav was a representative of the nachash. 

 Rav Yehuda HaNasi and Antoninos שני גויים בבטנך TWO NATIONS ARE IN THY WOMB — 

The True role of Eisav in this world. 

If one’s income and one’s health and everything
else has already been decided, how can one hoe hope to change things through daily prayer?

The rabbis explain although we are taught, ein Mazal LeYisrael, there in fact is mazal and it’s difficult for an individual person to change their Mazal, so again what are we hoping for? 

This week our forefather Isaac gives us a lesson in rising above or tunneling through and changing what was predicted to be to what can be.  

 Reaching a place called MAZALA.  

jacob is penniless, where will his ezri – help or perhaps his “Eliezer” come from?  

Esav bound his son Eliphaz with an oath to slay Jacob 

Eliphaz overcame his nature 

the Rama of Pano explains: Onkelos was an “ibur” of Eliphaz.  

A short class exploring why Yaakov after spending a lifetime studying Torah is privileged only to see angels in a dream, then after working as a shepherd for 20 years sees them up close and can even command them. And how we can understand this idea of Yaakov being Tiferet, beauty and the balance in our world through overcoming real life challenges and inspiring us that we can do the same.   

The battle continues 

Little jars and shattered vessels.  

Putting me to work in the mines 

Is my brother a vampire? 

The butterfly in the cocoon 

Two men living inside one body.  

The process may be painful but it produces 

A peaceful reunion in Petra  

 “Yaakov was left alone and a man wrestled with him!” Who Fought with Yaakov and what was at stake?
 

Based on Rav Pinchas Friedman  

Esav’s Guardian Angel Fought with Yaakov Avinu on Account of the Third Bet HaMikdash  

Why does the gemara write an obvious grammatical mistake
when it writes: “Rabbi Yaakov Pays Half-Damages”? 

Why does Yaakov not take in Timna and how does that relate
the the Two Letters “Samech-Mem” of סמא'ל?  

Yaakov Avinu Was the Tikun of Adam HaRishon Who Brought
Death to the World!   

What does the midrash mean when it tells us that HKB”H minimized
the Stature of Adam HaRishon to One Hundred Cubits?   

The Ten Dreams of Bereshit

Dream Interpretation 

Asking through a Dream 

BE Careful who you tell a dream to

Dreams are 1/60th of prophecy 

VaYesheb - Yosef was a Gilgul of Chanoch who transformed alive into the angel Matat. Based on the teachings of the Shvilei Pinchas   

If Chanoch went to heaven alive, what tikun was to be accomplished through Joseph?
Chanoch’s Shortcoming Was that He Failed to Rebuke the People of His Generation 

Yisrael in Mitzrayim neshamos that had corrupted their ways in the generation of the flood 

 The Connection between Chanoch and the Passuk: “חנוך לנער על פי דרכו” 

Yosef Possesses the Same Numerical Value as Melech Yavan  

The Preferred Mitzvah Is to Place the Chanukah Candles outside one’s door    

Yosef Prepared a Chanukah Feast and Gave Binyamin Five Portions Corresponding to the Five Reasons Binyamin Merited Having the Chanukah Miracle Occur in His Territory based on the Shvilei Pinchas 

Being drawn upwards with the flame!  

Are we celebrating a victory or a miracle?  

The eight day holidays celebrated by Adam and the origin of pagan winter celebrations.  

The Hellenists are alive and well in our generation and the challenge of Hannukah remains.  

Joseph to Pharaoh: Interpretation or advice?  

Qualifications to run the country.  

Connecting Yesod with Binah  

How do we do that?   

VaYigash We cannot live in a world of only Chesed 5781

Yehudah Crashed into Yosef 

Understanding Elokim vs Havaya 

Who will be chosen King?

Mechilah and Kappara 

Recovering from mistakes makes the king. 

Today we fast in commemoration of Nebuchadnezzar’s seige of Jerusalem which resulted in the destruction of the First Bet HaMikdash. The fast day is simply called Asara BaTevet. strange thing about the Tenth of Tevet is that when it falls out on a Friday, we don’t push it off or push it back, We fast on Friday unlike other fasts. And Avudraham suggests that were it to fall out on Shabbat, we would even fast on Shabbat and we only do that when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat. Why? We commemorate the siege only while on other days we remember the more difficult anniversaries of the breaking of the walls and the destruction itself. What makes the Tenth of Tevet different?  

This fast almost always falls during the week we read Vayechi. Vayechi Yaakov which translates as Jacob lived seems to be more about Jacob dying rather than living.  

The weekly portions always are demarcated; they begin either on a new line, or on the same line as the end of the previous portion but after a space large enough to have nine letters written in it. Vayechi is an exception, in that there is no space at all between the end of last week's parsha, Vayigash, and the beginning of Vayechi - the last word of Vayigash is followed immediately by the first word of Vayechi. 

 Rashi quotes two explanations of this unique phenomenon. 'Why is this parsha 'stumah' [closed, or sealed, i.e., written immediately after the end of the preceding parsha with no space in between]? Because once Jacob died, the eyes and hearts of the Israelites were closed by the oppression of their subjugation, for it was then that they [the Egyptians] began to subjugate them. Another explanation is that Jacob wanted to reveal the “end” to his sons, but it was closed to him.' 

Vayechi - Jacob Never Died - What does that mean to Us? 

Jacob the Paradigm of Truth 

Emet and immortality 

Children are the legs of their parents 

The world was created with three separate alphabets of 22 letters relating to the 66 who went down to Egypt

Adam Man and Dam Blood

Emet Truth and Met Death

Amonay - G-d and Din - Judgement

Achieving Immortality

The umbrella of protection based on the teachings of Rabbi Abittan and Rabbi Aderet   

The attempts at a tikun of Kayin in the book of Bereshit and our continuing job.  

Daf Yomi helps a driver get out of a traffic ticket. 

Does slavery truly begin with the death of Jacob or is it 80 years later? 

Decoding Jacob’s blessings to his grandchildren and to his children. 

The origin of the Vulcan nerve pinch by Spock 

Finding refuge within the tent of the study hall.  

The Nile River was an Egyptian deity and Pharoh intended to drown the Jewish children in the impurity of the Egyptian deity.

 If Yocheved realized that Moshe had the power to negate the klipeh of the Nile, why did she hide him for three months. What was so special about the day she placed him in the water?

By extending her arm to rescue Moshe, she rescued herself from the decree of death, allowing her to enter Gan Eden alive. 

What was the power of the Tevah ? 

Based on the teachings of Rabbi Pinches Friedman  

 Shemot - I want to be your neighbor! 

Who chased whom out of the Garden of Eden?  

Why not send baby Moses away or come up with some other way to hide him; why risk killing him by putting him into a basket by the water? 

Why did Yocheved choose this specific day to place Moses by the water; what was so special about that day which gave her confidence?  

Who did the daughter of Pharaoh see in the basket with Moses?  

How can one refuse a personal and direct request from Hashem? 

What’s was the basis of such a refusal by Moses at the burning bush and later by Yirmiyahu as we see in the Haftara? 

What does Pharaoh know that makes him wonder why Moses would want to take Benai Yisrael into the desert? 

What do we learn about appreciation and recognition of good in this perasha? 

How do we make sense of the sign which doesn’t seem like a sign that Hashem gives to Moses? 

Why would man need to pray for Hashem‘s salvation? 

Why didn’t the brothers return at the the time of Jacob’s funeral to stay in Canaan? Were they forced to keep their family and cattle in Egypt or was it a decision? And if they were forced why not gradually sneak out over the next 50 years that Joseph was in
power? 

What does it mean when we learn that someone living outside of Israel is like an idol worshiper?    

VaEra - HaKarat HaTov - SHort Story - A Silver lIning in Jerusalem 

How far is a Jew required to go to give Hakarat HaTov?  

We read last week, “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know of Joseph' . Our Sages ask: can it be that he did not know of Joseph?  

Rav Ovadia showed tremendous hakarat hatov and appreciation.  

You need to try to picture this ragtag group as the clock struck midnight, in front of an alley bar with the music playing. Black hats, baseball hats, army caps, crochet knit Nachman caps and plain old yalmakahs, all together.  

The joy of Chodesh Shevat   

The secret of the month Shevat and the kavana for sanctifying it. 

 Understanding the waves of Shovevim  

Punishment for Substituting pledges even with something better.  

Changing minds. Yitro, Pharaoh and Moses. Why can’t we stick to our guns.  

Moshe’s grandson becomes a priest of avoda Zara. How can that be? 

Overcoming the snake's doubt. 

What’s our lesson?  

How can we fix things ?   

Based on the teachings or Rabbi Abittan and Rabbi Aderet as recorded January 2021

Moses in a state of shock and embarrassment runs back to G-d and complains. “Why did you do evil to these people? Why did you send me? From the moment I arrived at Pharaoh to speak in your name, only more evil befell the nation. And obviously I did not do anything to save your nation.” 

Hashem assures Moses that he will now see what will be done to Pharaoh and how Pharaoh will set the people free. But Hashem doesn’t seem to answer Moses question, or does He? 

The rabbis point out that the strange combination found in the opening words of this week’s portion are in essence an answer from G-d to Moses. We begin with the words, Vaydaber Elokim – as we have explained in the past this verb for speaking denotes a harsh tone from the aspect of Elokim or strict justice and the same verse concludes, Vayomer Elav Ani Hashem. Again as we noted this
verb denotes a soft loving tone and concludes with the name Hashem or Havaya denoting the aspect of loving kindness. Hashem in essence is telling Moses, although you perceive Me coming to you and the people with harshness, judgment and
cruelty, in reality I am coming to you with kindness as Ani Hashem.   

Three plagues of Darkness

Borrowing the dishes 

The promise to Abraham 

Why dishes? 

Why borrow?

Killing the gods of Egypt 

BeShalach 5780 Shvilei Pinchas Galut Daat

HKB”H said to Moshe “Those dear to me are drowning in the sea, and you linger before Me in prayer?” Moshe responded: “What am I to do?” HKB”H replied: “Speak to Bnei Yisrael and let them journey. And you, lift up your staff and stretch out your arm over the sea.” 

It is man’s task to ensure that the three intellectual aspects in the brain control the seven-character traits of the heart — not allowing them to satisfy his heart’s desires.  

This is the modus operandi of the yetzer. It introduces doubt and uncertainty into a person’s heart and mind: Why are you learning this subject instead of another subject? Why are you serving Hashem in this way and not in that way? In this manner, it
confuses man to the point that he is uncertain as to how to act and proceed.  

This teaches us that the sea split for Yisrael in the merit of their “emunah.” Therefore, those tzaddikim who believed in Hashem and his loyal servant Moshe, and jumped into the raging waters without fear for their lives, deserved to have the sea split on their behalf. 

The Sea Split a Second Time Specifically for Datan and Aviram 

The Sea Was Enraged by Datan and Aviram 

Naaseh VeNishma Thought and Action Joe R Bibi A'H 5782 

Connection to BeShalach: We are told that Amalek was able to attack only because we weren’t studying properly.  

LOH HAMIDRASH Ikar ELEH HAMaaseh  

Tefilin shel yad and tefilin shel rosh 

We see that NACHSHON is granted that his children will become kings when he jumps into the sea.  

Yitro – Eliminating Evil 5780 The Secret of overcoming Raah 

Rashi comments: There is a star whose name is ' רעה ' (Ra’ah). Pharaoh said to them, “I see through my astrological predictions that star ascending to meet you in the midbar; and it is an omen of blood and killing.”  

'What did Yitro hear that made him come? He heard about the splitting of the sea and the war against Amalek.' 

Yes, we are the chosen people. Yes, we stood at Sinai and heard the words of the Creator Himself. Yes, G-d is involved in each of our lives moment by moment. We see it in the miracles of our own day; the miracles of the six day war and the miracles of building a land. A generation ago the death knell was heard, the tolling of the bell was impossible to miss, both Jews and non-Jews predicted the demise of a Torah observant people. Yet today we see more people learning than at any other point since the destruction of the Temple 2000 years ago. We see more acts of kindness and charity. This is a G-d’s miracle. But we have seen up close what Amalek can do. And still today there is Amalek in the world.   

Resurrection and being born again every day! 

Learning to see the world through new eyes. 

The Dew of Torah

Déjà vu all over again

Mishpatim and Reincarnation – Short Class Based on Shvilei Pinchas

Three or Four Strikes and you're out! 

 'And these are the laws that you shall place before them,' which Onkelos translates: 'And these are the laws that you should order before them,' which means, these are the orders of reincarnation, the laws of the souls, that each one is judged to receive its punishment. 

HKB”H created man out of four basic elements: fire, wind, water and earth—aish, ruach mayim, afar. These four elements
correspond to the four letters of the name Havaya. Had man, not sinned with the Tree of Knowledge, his body and soul would
have existed in perfect harmony with regards to the four elements;
and he would have lived forever.  

The purpose of offering a korban is to make amends for the damage one’s transgressions have caused to the four basic elements: “aish,” “ruach,” “mayim,” and “afar.”  

MISHPATIM 5779 Netivot Shalom – 4 ways Our Yeser tries to damage us 

The four legged dining table

The four elements 

Rectification 

Rabbi Chiya responded to Rabbi Chanina, “How do you dare argue with me? For I make sure the Torah is not forgotten from Yisrael to begin with. What do I do? I go and sow flax; then I weave nets from the flax. I trap deer with them, and I feed their meat to orphans. Then I prepare scrolls of parchment (with their skins),
and I write the five chumashim (of the Torah on them). I go
to the village (where there is no one to teach the children), I
teach five children the five chumashim (each one a different chumash), and I teach another six children the six orders of the
Mishnah (by heart—each child a different order). Then
I say to them, ‘Until I come back, teach each other Torah and teach each other Mishnah.’ Thus, I ensure that the Torah will never be forgotten from Yisrael.”  

 Taking into account all that we have discussed, we learn a fundamental principle. The Bet HaMikdash above in the heavens represents the letters י”ה , which stand for ;י’שמחו ה’שמים whereas the Bet HaMikdash down below on earth represents the letters ו”ה
, which stand for ו’תגל ה’ארץ .   

The secret to two Adars

The battle with Amalek 

Born in a leap year 

Why do we need a Mikdash

Is it limiting? 

The Embassy 

How was Besalele's vision different from Moshe's

Tesaveh - Olive Oil and Doves - Moses Correcting Noah 5779

The Golden Calf

The assasination of Hur 

Why was Aharon HaKohen subjected to the devastating ordeal of making the egel ? 

And Haran died in the lifetime of his father Terah 

Aharon accepted upon himself the blame for making the egel in order to save Yisrael from extermination 

Vayakhel 5781 Besalel and understanding Yirah

Vayakhel / Shekalim - Little Effort Big Reward - Based on the teachings of HaGaon HaGadol Rav Moshe Wolfson shlit”a 5779

Do 600,000 half shekels add up to Haman's bribe?

The essence of berachah is multiplication; when something is blessed, it becomes quantitatively more.

The angel of Chodesh Adar is called אברכיא'ל – which includes in it the word ברך , a term of blessing.

Vayika Zachor Wiping Out Amalek 

The Little Aleph in Vayikra 

The failure of King Saul 

The Nachash 

The throne of Haman 

Hanging from a tree 

The source of Amalek's power

Wiping out Amalek 

Rav Kanievsky Z'SL and the sons of Aaron, Short Class 

Protocol and Guidance 

Connecting one generation with another 

Moses and Rabbi Eliezer

King Solomon and his question

Abraham and dust and ashes

Vaccine and the Red Heifer

The secret to Humility 

 Visiting cemeteries 

Raising souls  

Reciprocal relationships  

The birds nest of souls   

 Please be sure to listen to PART 2 

Tomorrow is the fourth Sabbath in the cycle of special Sabbatot that come in the spring time before Purim and Passover.  

It is also a triple header. The rare case of when we open the Hechal and we take out, not, one and not two, but three Sifrei Torah to read from as we do on Simcha Torah.  

In addition to Simcha Torah, a triple header comes when Shabbat falls on Rosh Hodesh Tevet during Chanukah, Rosh Hodesh Adar and as tomorrow Rosh Hodesh Nissan.   

 Every Rosh Hodesh  

Connection to faith  

Imbues special power which lasts the month  

Rosh Hodesh Nissan permeates through the year

Change and overcome luck, fate and gezerot 

Why do our ancestors pray for us in heaven particularly during Nissan? 

We understand why we eat Matzah, but does Hashem care if we eat chametz? 

Bread of Shame and earning the light? 

The Dark Side wants revenge for an unfair fight. 

Don't wave a fistful of cash in the street. 

Growth through earning.   

ACHAREI - The Sacrifice of the Son's of Aaron - A different perspective 

Based on the Shvilei Pinchas and the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh 

Kedoshim - VeAhavta LeReyacha KaMocha 

Each of us is a letter in the Sefer Torah

Each of us has a path 

But we are on the same circle  

In unison towards receiving the Torah 

Emor - Pesach Sheni and Second Chances - Thank You Yosef 

Behar 5782 - The source of Bitachon - Miracles are Real ! 

Ruth - From Apathy to Kindness - A Journey 

Judges who Judged - What does that mean?

How do we understand Boaz?

Why a famine? 

Who is the hero? 

Bemidbar - Ben Adam LeAdam and Ben Adam LeMakom

Naso - The Nazir, The Sotah and repairing the sin of Adam and Chava 

BeHaalotecha - Everyone is watching you - Kiddush Hashem

Shelah - The Pschology of Perception and Feeling Holiness 

Korach - The Ultimate Test - TheUltimate Reward - Return to Kayin and Hevel - Based on Shvilei Pinchas 

 Parah Adumah - Why would King Solomon not understand the reasons? 

Pinchas Gilgulim Eliyahu and Rabbi Akiva 5780

Shechem, Zimri and Rabbi Akiva

Pinchas ELiyah and the Battle with the Malach HaMavet 

Matot Masai - The Other Side of The Jordan 

How the physical world impacts the spiritual world. 

Remaining with Moses 

Eikev: The afflictions we experience are to test us in order that Hashem can give us good in the end

Re'eh Hearing - Personal Responsibility and Delegating to Others 

Hear with your heart and let it enter your heart 

Somebody get a sponge! 

Ki Tesse LaMilchama - The different ways of understanding Eshet Yefat Toar - The Beautiful captured Woman 

The Various opinions that differe between the Yerushalmi and The Bavli, the difference between Rambam and Ramban.

How is it possible for a soldier who is sinless and pure to fall prey to the desire for a battlefield captive? 

 · Ki Tabo Appreciation, The Simanim
and Rosh Hashana 

· Overcoming the 98 curses 

· Bringing the Bikurim and hearing a
Bat Kol  

· Why the Simanim on Rosh Hashana? 

· Day of Judgment is very serious. 

· How can an apple dipped in honey get
me a sweet year? 

· Can I change my Mazal?   

Acess Supernatural blessing - Another Chance Isru Chag 5783 

VeZot HaBeracha 

Simchat Torah 

Shemini Aseret 

The Power of 8 

The Angels cannot stop me 

Bereshit Understanding and beginning to access the layers of Torah 

Introduction Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh 

5 levels of understanding Torah 

Letters, Crowns, Vowels, Taamim and the Spirit of the Text 

Bereshit Ezer Kenegdo - The helper against me 5780

How Chen or Grace was the secret to Noah's success and how to garner Chen

Lech Lecha - the reward for a good deed Og melecha HaBashan 

Understanding Lech Lecha through Sod and Gilgul - Adam, Chava and the Snake return. 5781 

Vayera - Abraham stands in for the Angel Uriel 

The Akeyda- what really happened - the story they never wanted you to know. The R rated version!  

I first discovered this alternate version about 30 years ago. The Eben Ezra comments on the verse: “And Abraham returned”: He questions that it does not mention Issac … and then he quotes a source … “And the one that says that he slaughtered him and left him, and he came back to life later”.  

And I said to myself what? What is he talking about? Someone says he didn’t stop? Someone says Abraham killed Isaac? I asked Rabbi Abittan for an explanation and began delving into the opinion carried not just by one, but we saw, by many and
buried for various reasons which later became very obvious.  

 But it soon became apparent that this other opinion was not very well hidden. It was more about being ignored as it was simply impossible to comprehend and we preferred to stick with the kindergarten version. 

For example, in the Meam Loez, a commentary on the Torah written specifically for the religiously uneducated masses in 1730, Rav Yaakov Culi comments on this same verse. “There is another opinion that Abraham did begin to slit Isaac’s throat and actually perforated his windpipe. When Abraham looked up and saw the
ram, the angels swooped Isaac away, brought him to the Garden of Eden and left him there until he was completely healed.” 

 Sources 

Initially with the rabbi as I mentioned based on Eben Ezra comment. Then Rabbi Aderet provided more details. Then
Rabbi Wagensberg in yerushalayim put it all together. And
the sources? Zohar, Rabbeynu bachya, Rashi, Yalkut Reuveni. Megaleh Amukot, Hagahot vehaarot on the tur and bet yosef, Shibolet haleket, Ben ish chai ...   

But
really the bottom line is a simple re-reading of Chumash with Rashi setting
aside some of the preconceptions 

 Avraham Avinu has gone through this gut-wrenching test of
the Akeyda and he returns home to his life long partner Sarah Imeynu and discovers that in his absence, she has passed away. Although Hashem promised him the entire land, at this moment, he does not even have a 20 square foot plot to bury his wife. He approaches the locals and asks for permission to
purchase the cave of Machpela.  

Midrashim tell us that he discovered earlier that this
was the burial place of Adam and Chava and had some spiritual portal connecting
the worlds.  

Efron makes an empty offer of giving it to Abraham at no
charge and then continues, 'My Lord, heed me! Land worth four hundred silver
shekels, between me and you - what is it? Bury your dead.' Our rabbis explain
that this was an exorbitant price. Still the pasuk continues ….  

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע אַבְרָהָם֮ אֶל־עֶפְרוֹן֒ וַיִּשְׁקֹ֤ל
אַבְרָהָם֙ לְעֶפְרֹ֔ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֕סֶף אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר בְּאׇזְנֵ֣י בְנֵי־חֵ֑ת
אַרְבַּ֤ע מֵאוֹת֙ שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף עֹבֵ֖ר לַסֹּחֵֽר׃  

Abraham accepted Ephron’s terms. Abraham paid out to
Ephron the money that he had named in the ears of the Hittites—four hundred
shekels of silver at the going merchants’ rate. 

Baal HaTurim: לעפרן חסר בגימטריא עין רע. 

Kli Yakar  

The name עפרן is missing a 'ו'. The Ba'al Haturim explains
that he had an evil eye, and the name of עפרן without a 'ו' adds in gematria to
ר״ע עי״ן (evil eye). The reason for this comes from a statement in Bava Batra (9B) which states that
whoever gives a coin to a poor person is blessed with 6 blessings, and whoever
is stingy with the poor is not blessed with these 6 blessings. It is for this
reason that Efron lost his 'ו' (which has the numerical value of 6) - as he was
stingy, he lost 6 blessings.  

Our sages also tell us (Sotah
36B) that we give the glass of blessing to a generous spirit, as the verse
states טוב עין הוא יבורך (with a 'ו') - Don't read 'he is blessed', but rather
'he will bless'.  

Both the literal reading and the way it is read are true -
someone who blesses others generously will be blessed with the six blessings
(as depicted by the 'ו' in יבורך). 

Furthermore, know that the numerical value of רע עין = 400.  

We find 400 in 4 different places specifically with regards
to stingy people. The first is Efron who was stingy and therefore took 400
Silver shekels.  

The second place relates to the brothers of Joseph had a bad
view of Josef the righteous and they were jealous of him because of the coat of
many colours. The result of this was that the Jewish people were exiled for 400
years as strangers, affliction and servitude.  

The third place relates to Esau who had a bad view of his
brothers, and he was jealous of him because of the blessings which Isaac
blessed Jacob. It is for this reason that Jacob placed a space between each
flock to fill the eyes of that evil man (that was to be given to Esau), because
he came with 400 men.  

The fourth place relates to Naval, because he was a stingy
man. It was for this reason that David approached him with 400 men.