Lag B'Omer Shiur 2024

Reish Lokish taught us about the power of Teshuva. The Sins of the past are transformed into merits. (Yuma 86 B) How does this work?

On the holiest day of the year, a goat was pushed off a mountain. On its head it carried the Sins of all the Jews. The Rambam teaches us that they were forgiven for the vast majority of their Sins, through this process, even without doing Teshuva.

Parsha Shiur Parshat Metzora 2024

Description

Rashbi and his son seem to be sharply divided in the interpretation of the Mitzvah if Tzaraas appearing in the walls of one’s home.

Sources

Chumash Vayikra Perek 14 Pesukim 1 - 4

Rashi on Possuk 2

Gemara Bava Metzia 84 B

Gemara Sanhedrin 71 A

Likkutei Sichos Chelek 2 Devarim Page 359 Ois 3

Hadrian’s nephew Akilos (Unkelus) wanted to convert and become a Jew. His uncle told him that the Jews are ‘the lowliest of all nations.’ Akilos claimed that even the ‘smallest’ among them know how GD created the world, in which order it was created, the accurate age of the universe, what makes it stand and their Torah is true.

The Mitzvah of Parah Adumah is the most illogical Mitzvah in the Torah. Yet the Possuk and Rashi seem to provide the reason and the incentive for the Mitzvah. Rashi even adds an explanation of the significance of many of its details.

Why did Hashem distracted the Angel of Death during the giving of the Torah?

Sources:

Bamidbar Perek 19 Pesukim 1 - 22

Commentery of Rashi on Possuk 2 and 22

Commentery of Kli Yakar on Possuk 2. ‘V’Inyan Amok Zeh…’

Gemara Kesubos 103 B

Commentery of Tosafos on the Gemara ‘Oisoi Hayom Shemeis’

Gemara Shabbos 89 A

Commentary of Tosafos ‘Torah Heichan Hee’

Likkutei Sichos Volume 6 pages 84 - 85

Parsha Shiur Vayikra 2024

Purim Shiur #4 Purim Series 2024

The Midrash sees the loud and bitter cry of Mordechai as retribution for the loud and bitter cry of Esav.

Why did Mordechai let Haman live?

When does Almighty GD ‘let things slide’ and when does He respond with a Divine Vengeance?

Sources

Midrash Rabba Esther Parsha 8 Perek 2

Gemara Yuma 22 B

Gemara Gittin 57 B

Likkutei Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Volume 21 Purim Sicha

Why would Esther risk her life just for a party? And why did she invite Hamman to the party? Why the Midrash compares Hamman to a pig being fattened in order to be slaughtered. What is the message of the Torah when antisemitism sprouts everywhere - like grass.

Sources

Megillas Esther Perek 5 Possuk 4Masechet Megilla 15 BMasechet Megilla 13 BMidrash Rabba Esther Parsha 7 Perek Aleph and Bais

Parsha shiur Pekudei 2024

The Cynics argued that there was no way Moshe Rabbeinu, would be able to make a Mishkan for Hashem. When Moshe put his hands under the beams, it seemed they were right.

Sources:

Shemos Perek 39 Possuk 33

Midrash Rabba Shemos Parsha 52 Perek 2

Commentery of Tiferes Tzion on the Midrash

Gemara Bava Basra 17 A

Gemara Sotah 12 A

Likkutei Sichos of the Rebbe Volume 11 Pekudei 3

Commentery of Rashi on Shemos Perek 39 Possuk 33