Lesson for the Residents of Bat Yam in the Holy Residence of the Gaon and

On Wednesday, the eve of the 14th of Kislev, Parshas Vayishlach, a lesson was held for some of the residents of Bat Yam—students of the Rav (Rabbi Berland) shlit"a (may he live long and good days) in the city. The Rav shlit"a delivered his holy words for over an hour.

Before you is a summary of the topics mentioned by the Rav shlit"a during the lesson:

1. The meaning of the words of Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer regarding eating "from the living"—that the brothers ate actual live limbs, and the hints in Rashi that the water became seed.
2. "He shall not return to it again"—a hint that the crown unites with the Mashiach through a bird connected to the root of Mashiach ben David.
3. The secret of the oil—"a plucked olive leaf" and the eight days of Hanukkah, oil that was preserved until the destruction of the Temple, as brought in the Zohar.
4. The Mashiach reads the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), and the dove places the crown upon him and returns to the spiritual "Ken Tzippor" (Bird's Nest) reserved for him.
5. "A fresh olive"—the revelation of the light of Mashiach in the world and the rectification of the injury Noah received from the lion, according to the tradition of our Sages of blessed memory.
6. The Generation of Dispersion (Dor HaPlaga)—one third became monkeys, one third were scattered, and one third were lost—and the foundation of the seventy nations.
7. Sodom and Gomorrah—their wickedness, the "Bed of Sodom," and the diamonds of the earth that were created to hint at the light of the Geulah (Redemption).
8. Mashiach on the roof of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple) announces "I am Mashiach"—and nevertheless, they will not believe him at first, as brought in Tractate Sanhedrin.
9. The appearance of the Mashiach like the light of the sun—"And upon you Hashem will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you."
10. The story regarding the father of the Chacham Zvi—who did not permit an agunah (a woman anchored in marriage whose husband's whereabouts are unknown) to remarry despite eyewitness testimony, until it became clear that his head had not been severed.
11. "Stolen by day and stolen by night"—Jacob fought for twenty years against lions that came for Laban's flock, totaling approximately 14,600 lions.
12. Stories from the Gemara: A wealthy man who was fed a fattened chicken and old wine; his sister who brought the food on that same day; the story of Nachum Ish Gamzu with the water jars; and the chest of earth that turned into arrows and swords.
13. Deborah the nurse and "Allon Bachuth"—a hint to the histalkus (passing away) of Rebecca in a hidden manner.
14. The secret of "Him with him to him" in Rashi—as revealed to Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman—a hint to the angel Metat (Enoch) and his root in Joseph.
15. The argument of the angel Metat with the other angels regarding whether to create the world—and why he took responsibility for the creation.
16. The Tzaddik took responsibility for the entire creation—and anyone who comes to Shuvu Banim will not leave the world without teshuvah (repentance), and not a single klipah (shell of impurity) will remain upon him.
17. Joseph as the aspect of the angel Metat—and therefore "they conspired against him" (vayitnaklu), meaning they brought him to judgment for saying the world should be created.
18. The power of speech in Rashi's commentary—every word is an awesome secret and a Divine revelation.
19. Rashi: He fasted 613 fasts until he merited to write his commentary on the Torah.
20. Three types of women in Egypt: In the field—where the children were swallowed by the earth; in the house—where the children were thrown into the Nile; and in the wall—"The snare is broken, and we have escaped."
21. Abba Umna—who would receive a greeting of peace from Heaven every day in the merit of his modesty and because he did not take direct payment from his patients but instead placed a box for them to contribute.
22. Zohar Behar—the conduct of the Tzaddikim in the desert and the wondrous miracles of Divine Providence.
23. Rabbi Chiyya and Rabbi Yossi—the secret of the snake in the desert and miracles performed in the merit of chesed (kindness) and tzedakah (charity).