Kabbalah in 5

 

Every one of us influences someone.

A parent influences a child.

A teacher influences a student.

A rabbi influences a community.

A friend influences a friend.

When should we speak?

When should we advise? 

When should we simply step back?

In this week's Torah portion, the Talmud discusses how the correct amount of oil was determined for the Menorah. 

One opinion says they began with a large amount of oil and gradually reduced it until they reached the exact measure. 

Another opinion says they began with a small amount and gradually increased it until they reached the proper measure.

On the surface, this sounds like a technical discussion about measurements.

… Read More »

As a Jewish nation we went through 3 stages.

Egypt.

Desert.

The Land of Israel.

This is also the inner story of every person.

Sometimes a person has already left Egypt, but he is still stuck in the desert.

The goal is not to remain in the desert.

The goal is to reach the Land of Israel.

Not only to run away from the pain, but to transform what we went through into purpose.

A slave has no time to think.

No time to dream.

He does not have the ability to ask:

Who am I really?

What is my mission?

He is only surviving.

This is called Egypt.

Mitzrayim comes from the word metzarim, meaning boundaries, limitations.

Thank G-d, most people are not in prison.

But in their mind, in their heart, … Read More »

40 years have passed, and we are still carrying the pain of one sentence.

Someone hurt us.

Maybe they don’t even know they hurt us.

Maybe they are not even in our life anymore.

But inside, we are still going back to that moment.

This week’s Parsha teaches us the mitzvah of Shichecha.

When a person harvests his field and forgets some stalks, the Torah says:

Do not go back.

Leave it there for the poor.

Rashi says something amazing:

When a person fulfills this mitzvah, it is as if he built the Beis Hamikdash.

Why?

Because this is not easy.

A person worked hard on his field.

He planted.

He waited.

He invested time, money, and energy.

And now the Torah says:

Do not go back… Read More »

*Recap!*

We wake up in the morning

and we have so much on our minds.

Each person

has their own challenges.

Their own tests in life.

And yes— we handle it.

But it still feels like a lot.

Things to solve.

Things to figure out.

And it feels bigger

than we can handle.

Health.

Debts.

Work.

Shidduchim.

Relationships at home.

And we think,

how am I supposed to juggle all of this?

When the mind has too much—

it freezes.

This is not laziness.

It is just feeling overwhelmed.

So what happens?

We don’t move.

We delay it.

We hope things will somehow work out.

There are two types of p… Read More »

 On Pesach, we are only allowed to eat matzah — representing humility, acceptance, and faith.

On Shavuot, by contrast, in the Beit Hamikdash we brought the offering of two loaves of bread — representing understanding, depth, and intellect.

When building a nation, a relationship, or educating a child — first comes faith and humility, and only then intellect and understanding.

This is why Pesach comes before Shavuot.

A person can spend a lifetime lost when when his or her choices begins with intellect instead of acceptance.

Sometimes you are right — and YOU choose to give in.

Sometimes you are tired — and YOU choose to listen.

Sometimes you want to be alone — and YOU  choo… Read More »

Why is it that the people we love the most are often the ones we struggle with the most?

With people who are more distant, there are no expectations.

Expectation creates disappointment.

Disappointment is the beginning of the struggle.

Haman was happy when his lottery fell on Adar because he knew that in Adar Moshe passed away.

But he did not realize that in Adar was also Moshe’s birthday.

What’s the connection between Haman and Moshe?

Moshe was the most humble person who ever lived, and Haman was all about his ego.

The fact that he was not able to tolerate Mordechai was because Mordechai did not bow down to him. It was not about religion. It was about his ego.

He needed recognition, honor, and … Read More »

Question:

If someone offered you great success a secure future, a big name, real influence but someone close to you would be hurt or left behind…

Would you take it?

After the Golden Calf,

G-d tells Moshe:

“I will destroy them, and I will make you into a great nation.”

Moshe answers:

“If You do not forgive them,

erase my name from Your book.”

And in this week’s portion,

Moshe’s name is not mentioned.

Let’s go deeper:

“I will destroy them”

and “I will make you great” were said in one breath.

Not step one and then step two.

Not two separate offers.

One sentence.

Moshe understood something very subtle:

If my greatness is mentioned toge… Read More »

People think:

If Hashem is One, 

and all is Hashem, 

then shouldn’t everyone be the same? 

But the Torah says the opposite.

Precisely because Hashem is One 

each person has a unique mission.

One body.

The heart is not the brain.

The foot is not the hand.

Different roles.

Part of one organism.

A Mechitzah teaches me, 

I have a specific role.

I have a unique place in this world. 

Jealousy begins

when there is no clear boundary.

A healthy boundary

creates inner peace.

In the Mishkan, ( Tabernacle) everything had a place.

The Ark — its place.

The Menorah — its place.

The Altar — its place.

The High Priest went to specific places in specific time… Read More »

התורה מתחלקת לשלושה חלקים

תורה, נביאים וכתובים

The Torah is divided into 3 parts: Torah, Prophets, and Writings.

עם ישראל נחלק לשלושה

כהן, לוי וישראל

The Jewish people are divided into 3 groups: Kohen, Levi, and Israel.

התורה ניתנה על־ידי משה, שהיה השלישי במשפחה: מרים, אהרן ומשה

The Torah was given through Moshe, who was a 3rd sibling: Miriam, Aaron, and Moshe.

התורה ניתנה לאחר שלושה ימים של פרישות וטהרה

The Torah was given after 3 days of separation and spiritual preparation.

והיא ניתנה בחודש השלישי – חודש סיוון

And it was given in the 3rd month, the month of Sivan.

דיברנו על ההבדל בין עולם התוהו לעולם התיקון

There is the World of Chaos (Tohu) and the World of Rectification (Tikun).

עולם התוהו הוא מצ… Read More »