The Thursday Night Shiur - Maayon Yisroel - Rabbi Reuven Wolf

A Mystical explanation on the spiritual illumination of the Matzah.

A profound discourse on the significance of  Torah study. Why we must study both the revealed and mystical dimensions of the Torah?

Why is there so many ups and downs in our spiritual lives?  Why does inspiration fade away so quickly?  How can we make permanent advances in our refinement of self?

Our love for G-D comes in two ways. One that we can produce through our contemplation and meditation. The other comes as a gift from above after we’ve done our part. The latter is far greater then the former, but not everyone  merits to experience that higher connection with G-D.  These two forms of love are alluded to in the twenty Geiro coin that made up the holy  Shekel, described in this Torah portion. What is required from us all is to give half the Shekel, the human effort  which is in our reach.

Shabbos is a holy day all by itself. Why then were we commanded to make Shabbos holy? The holiness of Shabbos is a result of G-D retracting his creative energy back to its source in the wisdom of G-D. However through our service of  making this world holy during the week, we add a much higher holiness to Shabbos. By evoking G-D’s pleasure which infinitely surpasses his wisdom.

The purpose of creation is to bring the Shecinah (Divine presence) down to earth. Initially when the world was  created the Shecinah resided on earth. As a consequence of  seven sinful generations the Shechina retreated back to heaven. Our mission is to restore the world back to its original state,  a home and primary residence for G-D.

The significance of the name Tzvakos.  A name of G-D that first appears in the prophets. Why didn’t Moshe use that name? All names of G-d refer to G-d as he is projecting through a specific attribute. Generally these are referring to the attributes of Atzilut the “world of emanation” were the attributes are completely one with G-d. Its from that level that Moshe’s prophesy was derived. The latter prophets had a lower level of prophesy from the “world of Briah” the world of creation. They were able to draw G-D’s projection into the lower attributes which is where the name Tzvakos applies.

The mystical meaning of Egyptian exile both on the cosmic and individual level. G-d transmits his creative energy to the world through a series of attributes that are called vessels. Egypt gets in the way interfering with that process primarily blocking the intellectual attributes from transmitting to the emotional attributes. The redemption is when this blockage is broken through and the emotions are born. This allows the divine life force to reach the creation.

Moshe’s soul is unique that it descended to earth without undergoing  any change or compromise of its G-dliness. The primary spiritual role of his Neshama was to inject the element of Daas into the souls of the Jewish people. That means that ordinary people should have the ability to experience the divine in a very real way. For many times we study and learn about spiritual matters but it doesn’t move us,we remain just as earthy as we were to begin with. By being connected to the soul of Moshe we receive the true Daas which empowers us to have a very real relationship with G-d.

Egyptian exile in its present day form is when the knowledge of the mind does not reach the emotions of the heart. When we study and meditate on G-ds greatness but it stay stuck in the mind and it does not translate into a deep love and powerful passion for G-d.  Mitzraim is what stands in the way its the materialism that one is deeply attached to that interferes and blocks the emotions from being born. Study of  Torah both the written and oral brigs the inner redemption allowing the spiritual light to reach the heart.