The Creation of Worlds

In Shaar 2 the Leshem explains the process of the creation of the worlds, how the Infinite Light descends from the highest worlds to the lowest worlds through expansion and contraction.

He begins with an explanation of the dichotomy between ‘form’ and ‘matter’, ‘body’ and ‘soul’. He then talks about how the ‘matter’ of a higher world becomes the ‘form’ of a lower world.

Rabbi Triebitz shows how these ideas are rooted in the Rambam (though he never discusses this idea of tzimtzum or the declension of worlds). He also brings other sources in the Leshem that explain this idea more fully (Chidushim u-Biurim p. 12b and Sefer HaKlalim 65b). The Leshem also explains the Rambam’s idea (which was discusses in one of the previous Moreh Nevuchim shiurim) that we cannot say that G-d created the world for the sake of man, or for any specific purpose.

Finally, Rabbi Triebitz shows how this idea is related to the neo-Kantian philosophy of Hermann Cohen, and quotes from the book “Rosenzweig and Heidegger” by Peter Eli Gordon.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_04.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 04

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 04
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 04

Four Edifices

Rabbi Triebitz continues with chapters 7 and 8 of the first section of the Leshem. He concludes building the four foundations of the Leshem’s philosophy which he began last week.

The four are:
1. everything is revelation/creation. We can’t talk about G-d at all
2. there is no metaphor or nimshal. the revelation is irreducible
3. man connects with G-d’s Will in Atizilus when learning Torah
4. through uniting with G-d’s Will man brings about the perfection of the world.

Next week we will begin with Shaar Beis (IY”H)

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_03.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 03

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 03
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 03

Kabbalah is not a metaphor

The shiur begins with Rabbi Triebitz answering some questions from last week about the opinion of the Nefesh HaChaim and also about how Rabbi Triebitz is able to learn and teach both the Leshem and the Chasidic works that come from a totally different vantage point.

Rabbi Triebitz builds three edifices which underlie the thinking of the Leshem. One, from last week, is that we can’t know anything about G-d, but that all His names are creations. Two is that Kabbalah is not a metaphor – and the Leshem attacks the Ramchal for saying that it is. The third edifice will be discussed more fully next week.

Tune in next week for another exciting episode of the Leshem

Rabbi Triebitz reads from Sefer HaKlalim and Sefer HaDeah (sorry, not available online yet).

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_02.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 02

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 02
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 02

Leshem Introduction

This is Rabbi Triebitz’s introduction to the Leshem, and the Leshem’s introduction to the Hakdamos u-Shearim. (if you life in Israel you can purchase the book for around 70 shekel – http://news2.armoni.info/????_????_?????-???_???_??????_???_?-P109.aspx. In America it seems to be much more – http://nehora.com/index.cfm/product/5873)

Rabbi Triebitz explains that this series of shiurim is not a series of shiruim on kabbalah. But it is a general introduction to the concepts and ideas of kabbalah so that a person who wishes to learn kabbalah in the future will have the tools to do so.

He also explains the importance of this kind of learning. The Leshem explains that it is an important component of Torah learning, which is unfortunately ignored by many. Furthermore there are so many ideas of kabbalah and hashkafa and mysticism being touted nowadays that it is important to know what is acceptable Jewish belief and what is paganism or heresy. For the Leshem there is a very fine line between the two.

In addition to going through part of the introduction, Rabbi Triebitz makes a beginning of shaar 1. Since this is not yet available online, and you may not have had a chance (or the inclination) to purchase a copy I’m including the text here. Unfortunately I can’t get the columns to line up, so it may be a bit difficult to find the place when he skips to the second column.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_01.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 01

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 01
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 01