Lecture for English Speakers at the Residence of the Esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
On Sunday night, the 23rd of Tevet - the day of the King's celebration, a lecture was held at the holy residence of our teacher, Rav Berland shlit"a, for our English-speaking community.
Below is a summary of the topics delivered by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, during the lecture:
1. The month of Tevet, the secret of the cleft of the rock, the time of the revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, "Behold, there is a place with Me" - "with Me" in gematria equals Tevet.
2. Rosh Chodesh Shevat – the month of song and the month of redemption; the more we sing, the closer we bring the redemption.
3. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wept over the four hundred years that the Jewish people would suffer for the four words that Abraham said; "If only Ishmael might live before You."
4. Pharaoh and the King of Nineveh – seven hundred years from the splitting of the Sea of Reeds to Nineveh; the power of repentance that transforms a person into a king.
5. Pharaoh and the Nile: the idolatry of the Nile, daily immersion, and understanding the verse "The Nile is mine, and I made it for myself."
6. Words of the Zohar in Behar: After the fiery furnace – all returned in repentance except for Nimrod; the power of giving and blessing.
7. The promise of abundance in the Sabbatical year – "I will command My blessing"; the doubling of abundance for those who do Hashem's will.
8. A story of a man who gave all his food in the desert despite the danger – faith versus human calculation.
9. "Who will lead me to the fortified city" King David wanted to conquer Rome as well, but Hashem stopped him so that his anger would not be spent on wood and stones.
10. Hannah prayed 717 years before Chanukah for the Maccabees to defeat the Greeks.
11. Penina and Hannah: jealousy, ten sons, and the depth of the conduct of judgment and mercy.
12. The Binding of Isaac - how could it be that Sarah was "alarmed"? In truth, Satan told her that Isaac was not slaughtered because he refused, and she did not believe how it could be that Isaac was not willing to sacrifice himself, which indeed did not happen.
13. Rabbi Akiva in self-sacrifice, his soul departed with "One," and the reason he did not say "And you shall love" was because then everyone around him would have been consumed by the intensity of the holiness.
14. The mistake of Yoav ben Tzeruya and its correction in the reincarnation of Benaiah ben Jehoiada.
15. The sanctity of Jerusalem: the dispute between the Rambam and the Raavad whether the sanctity exists without the Temple.
16. The sanctity of the land in the future – the role of the King Messiah in the renewed sanctification of the land.
17. Laws of the Four Species: myrtle, willow, and palm – the simple meaning and differences in methods.
18. Tzofach ben Eliphaz: a historical figure, honoring one's father, kingship by virtue of Isaac's blessing.
19. The pursuit of Eliphaz after Jacob; and the miracle that happened to him with the rider's garments on the banks of the Jordan.
20. The war of Esau and the sons of Jacob over the Cave of Machpelah; Naphtali leaping to search for the deed.
21. Judah approaching Joseph: one shout that toppled heroes and overturned the order of the world.
Below is a summary of the topics delivered by our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, during the lecture:
1. The month of Tevet, the secret of the cleft of the rock, the time of the revelation of the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, "Behold, there is a place with Me" - "with Me" in gematria equals Tevet.
2. Rosh Chodesh Shevat – the month of song and the month of redemption; the more we sing, the closer we bring the redemption.
3. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wept over the four hundred years that the Jewish people would suffer for the four words that Abraham said; "If only Ishmael might live before You."
4. Pharaoh and the King of Nineveh – seven hundred years from the splitting of the Sea of Reeds to Nineveh; the power of repentance that transforms a person into a king.
5. Pharaoh and the Nile: the idolatry of the Nile, daily immersion, and understanding the verse "The Nile is mine, and I made it for myself."
6. Words of the Zohar in Behar: After the fiery furnace – all returned in repentance except for Nimrod; the power of giving and blessing.
7. The promise of abundance in the Sabbatical year – "I will command My blessing"; the doubling of abundance for those who do Hashem's will.
8. A story of a man who gave all his food in the desert despite the danger – faith versus human calculation.
9. "Who will lead me to the fortified city" King David wanted to conquer Rome as well, but Hashem stopped him so that his anger would not be spent on wood and stones.
10. Hannah prayed 717 years before Chanukah for the Maccabees to defeat the Greeks.
11. Penina and Hannah: jealousy, ten sons, and the depth of the conduct of judgment and mercy.
12. The Binding of Isaac - how could it be that Sarah was "alarmed"? In truth, Satan told her that Isaac was not slaughtered because he refused, and she did not believe how it could be that Isaac was not willing to sacrifice himself, which indeed did not happen.
13. Rabbi Akiva in self-sacrifice, his soul departed with "One," and the reason he did not say "And you shall love" was because then everyone around him would have been consumed by the intensity of the holiness.
14. The mistake of Yoav ben Tzeruya and its correction in the reincarnation of Benaiah ben Jehoiada.
15. The sanctity of Jerusalem: the dispute between the Rambam and the Raavad whether the sanctity exists without the Temple.
16. The sanctity of the land in the future – the role of the King Messiah in the renewed sanctification of the land.
17. Laws of the Four Species: myrtle, willow, and palm – the simple meaning and differences in methods.
18. Tzofach ben Eliphaz: a historical figure, honoring one's father, kingship by virtue of Isaac's blessing.
19. The pursuit of Eliphaz after Jacob; and the miracle that happened to him with the rider's garments on the banks of the Jordan.
20. The war of Esau and the sons of Jacob over the Cave of Machpelah; Naphtali leaping to search for the deed.
21. Judah approaching Joseph: one shout that toppled heroes and overturned the order of the world.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Receive Torah articles and inspiration directly in your inbox