Lecture in Yerucham at the Residence of the Esteemed Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a
On Monday night, the 17th of Tevet, Parshat Shemot, a lecture was held at the holy residence of our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, for the scholars and students of our teacher, the Rabbi shlit"a, from the Shuvu Banim synagogue in the city of Yerucham.
The lecture lasted close to forty minutes. Here is a summary of the topics mentioned by our teacher, the Rabbi shlit"a, during the lecture:
1. Abraham's warning not to descend from the camel and the spiritual significance of seeing a "pillar of fire".
2. The question of Ishmael versus Isaac, four hundred years of suffering from the Ishmaelites as a hint to the four words, "If only Ishmael might live before You".
3. The story of Rav Bar Nachmani and his escape, and the conclusion of the story in the Gemara Berachot.
4. The story of the cows that sang and walked backwards, and the song of welcoming Shabbat in nature.
5. The descent of fire in the generations of the Tannaim and Amoraim: Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, and Rabbi Zeira.
6. The story of Elisha ben Avuya and the root of his corruption from eating non-kosher meat during his mother's pregnancy.
7. Words from Shir HaShirim: Torah learned from within fire and surrounding the learner.
8. An attempt to purify the Kishon and the prevention of the matter due to religious identity.
9. The battle of Elijah the Prophet against the prophets of Baal.
10. Hints of the word "Eti" referring to the month of Tevet, "Eti MeLevanon Kalah" - the time of matchmaking.
11. The reason for Joseph's silence towards his father to prevent the death of the tribes.
12. Jacob's recitation of Shema upon meeting Joseph - a desire not to enjoy this world.
13. The Ten Martyrs as atonement for the sale of Joseph and slander.
14. The creation of a calf in the Sefer Yetzirah, the law of a Ben Pekuah, and the disputes regarding the law of a limb from a living animal - the dispute of the brothers and Joseph.
15. Laws of slaughter: libun, slaughter before libun, and the methods of the Chatam Sofer and the Haflaah.
16. The Rambam's ruling on a person whose two signs were severed yet is still considered alive. Regarding impurity, divorce, and marriage and yibbum.
17. The graves of the Patriarchs and the Jewish ownership of the Cave of Machpelah thanks to Shuvu Banim.
18. Jacob told Joseph, "I know you have something against me for burying Rachel - on the way, but it was 'by divine command'."
19. Today we see that the wall - where the state's control over the area of Jerusalem ends, reaches exactly to Rachel's Tomb.
20. The issue of "Shachtia Rabia for Rabbi Zeira" and the power that the Tannaim and the true tzaddik have to resurrect the dead.
