Torah Thinking

By Rabbi Mendel KessinReligion & Spirituality Judaism

Torah Thinking episodes

June 10, 2018Derech Hashem / The Way of God #76 | An Overview of the Concept of the Hashgacha / Supervision & Interaction Between Hashem & Creation
Given 6/8/18
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
https://TorahThinking.com
Focus of second section of Derech Hashem: Hashgacha
Framework
Purpose
Determines all that exists
Situation
Free will
Actions
Response of Hashem
Occurrences in the world are the responses of Hashem to the acts of man
Hashem takes into account ALL variables. Pretty much infinite
Ramchal talks about the responses in a general way, as the specifics of each situation are infinite
Everything that exists only exists due to a purpose, it's situation included.
Hashem sustains all creations including those that are spiritual.
Each individual entity advances the purpose of creation.
A key to proper Tefillah / prayer is to contemplate this for a few minutes before you start.
The Hashgacha to Man is different than that to other creations due to his having free will and being a true cause.
This results in 2 major types of hashgacha
That of beings without free will and are completely acted upon
That of beings with free will who can act upon
The Hashgacha of man has 3 subdivisions.
Midah kneged Midah (din) mishpat
A partial suspension of din to give us a chance (rachamim)
A complete suspension of din to fulfill His desire (yichud)
Hashem can look at someone in 2 ways
On his own
As a contributor to the community
One of the greatest activities a person can be involved with is zikui harabbim
The Hashgacha on a person can be a response to thought (which is the cause of feelings) and action.
When approaching Hashem in Tefillah it's always better to do so with an attitude of Him providing for us from love for unknown reasons, as opposed to presenting what we perceive to be our merits.
A Jews purpose is to do the Tikun. The purpose of a goy is to assist the Jews in doing the Tikun. They thereby get Olam Habah
A goy can also get Olam Haba by doing the 7 Mitzvos of bnei Noach.
1 hr 18 min
June 03, 2018Derech Hashem / The Way of God #75 | The Components of Creation in Detail, Part 6
Given 6/2/2018
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
https://www.TorahThinking.com
Transcendental forces as the cause of reality.
Transcendental forces are controlled by malachim (isarusa d’leilah - influence from above).
Nature & Miracles.
Anyone with free will can influence their transcendental counterpart (Isarusa d’ltatah)
God can decree that there be an influence from the transcendental force to a creation despite their free will.
Those with free will can also influence other things and even other people with free will and, in turn, anything those people influence.
About the unconscious stream of thought, depression, anxiety, etc.
People can also instruct malachim to deviate
Haoras and hester Panim / Divine illumination and concealment
Reward and punishment
Hashem can influence the malach by shining illumination and increasing His presence
Concealing His presence from that malach, allowing the Satan to enter and apply zohama
Hashem may give someone success to someone to allow him to consume his entire reward in olam hazeh
Hashem is on the side of all people - even goyim - to make sure they get olam habah. Only people evil to the extreme are subject to ibud - annihilation
While olam habah must be achieved through earning it, Hashem does give assistance solely as a kindness even if it is undeserved
1 hr 4 min
June 03, 2018 21st Century #32 | The 4th Error of President Donald Trump
Given 6/2/2018
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
https://www.TorahThinking.com

The Proposed Israel - Palestinian Peace Deal
26 min
May 28, 2018 Derech Hashem / The Way of God #74 | The Components of Creation in Detail, Part 5
Given 5/26/18
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
TorahThinking.com
58 min
May 11, 2018 The Pnimiyus of Shabbos - The Ramchal's Yahrtzeit - 5776/2016
Given in 2016
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
TorahThinking.com
1 hr 17 min
May 11, 2018 The Initiation of the Geulah | The Ramchal's Yahrtzeit - 5776/2016
Given in 2016
By Rabbi Shimon Kessin
2 hr 8 min
May 11, 2018 Why Learning Torah is So Great - The Pnimiyus of Torah | Ramchal's Yahrtzeit 5777/2017
Given 5/21/17
The 41st day of the Omer
Sefirah Yesod Sheb'Yesod
By Rabbi Mendel Kessin
TorahThinking.com
1 hr 20 min
May 10, 2018 The Pnimiyus of Shabbos - The Ramchal’s Yahrtzeit - 5776/2016
Given in 2016

By Rabbi Mendel Kessin

TorahThinking.com
1 hr 17 min
May 10, 2018 The Initiation of the Geulah | The Ramchal’s Yahrtzeit - 5776/2016
Given in 2016

By Rabbi Shimon Kessin
2 hr 8 min
May 10, 2018 Why Learning Torah is So Great - The Pnimiyus of Torah | Ramchal’s Yahrtzeit 5777/2017
Given 5/21/17

The 41st day of the Omer

Sefirah Yesod Sheb'Yesod

By Rabbi Mendel Kessin

TorahThinking.com
1 hr 20 min