Monthly Archives: April 2010

History and Philosophy of Kaballah 02

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This is possibly the best shiur I’ve ever heard from Rabbi Triebitz (I know I said that last week, but this one was even better)! He shows that almost everyone was influenced by Mahari Sarug, and one of the most common ‘kabbalistic’ phrases we hear nowadays can only be based upon Olam HaMalbush.

He also explains why Rav Chaim Vital did not include the concept of Olam HaMalbush in the Etz Chaim, and has a radically new understanding of the second chakira which opens that book.

Here are the sources for this amazing shiur:

Nefesh HaChaim perek 4 shaar 10

Unfortunately the Leshem: Hakdamos u-Shearim is still not available online, but if you have access to it look at p. 123 and 124

I also can’t find Rav Tzadok’s Sefer HaZichronos online (I can only find the second volume, which I’m pretty sure is the wrong book – but definitely worth going through if you have a lot of spare time)

Rav Chaim Vital’s introduction to Etz Chaim

The second chakira of Rav Chaim in Etz Chaim

(If you prefer, here is a text version of Etz Chaim, rather than the pdf)

Enjoy this wonderful shiur

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

[flv:/kaballah/kaballah_02_1.flv 240 180]
Video of History and Philosophy of Kaballah 02

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
History and Philosophy of Kaballah 02
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Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
History and Philosophy of Kaballah 02

Sources of Halacha 11 – Halachic minhagim

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This shiur is a continuation of last week’s shiur. The Talmud seems to contradict itself in the halachos of Shema in the evening and in the morning. It seems to uphold two opposing opinions.

The Rif explains that one is l’chatchila and the other is b’di-eved, but maintains that both are halacha.

Baal HaMaor challenges the Rif, saying that two contradictory opinions cannot both be halacha. The only thing that the two opinions agree on is that they are mutually exclusive!

Rabbi Triebtiz answers on behalf of the Rif by using the concept of minhag. Since the times of Shema are phenomenological (based on when people get up and go to bed) different minhagim can all be valid. And since the minhag is valid in one place, it is acceptable as a b’di-eved opinion even in another place.

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

[flv:/sources/soh_11.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 11

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Sources of Halacha 11
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Source of Halacha 11

Sources of Halacha 11 – Halachic minhagim

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This shiur is a continuation of last week’s shiur. The Talmud seems to contradict itself in the halachos of Shema in the evening and in the morning. It seems to uphold two opposing opinions.

The Rif explains that one is l’chatchila and the other is b’di-eved, but maintains that both are halacha.

Baal HaMaor challenges the Rif, saying that two contradictory opinions cannot both be halacha. The only thing that the two opinions agree on is that they are mutually exclusive!

Rabbi Triebtiz answers on behalf of the Rif by using the concept of minhag. Since the times of Shema are phenomenological (based on when people get up and go to bed) different minhagim can all be valid. And since the minhag is valid in one place, it is acceptable as a b’di-eved opinion even in another place.

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

[flv:/sources/soh_11.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 11

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Sources of Halacha 11
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Source of Halacha 11

History and Philosophy of Kaballah 01

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This is the first in a series of shiurim from Rabbi Triebitz on the history of Kaballah, using the Tanya (shaar hayichud ve-ha-emunah) as the springboard to go forward and backward in history. This is possibly the most exciting series of shiurim he has ever given.

Here are the sources for the shiur. I’m not going to write a summary because I can’t do it justice, but the main topic is G-d’s immanence in the world through the letters of the Torah.

Tanya (Shaar HaYichud ve-ha-Emunah chapter 1)

(English translation of Tanya)

Sefer Yetzirah 2:4 (231 gates)

Baal Shem Tov bio

Dov Ber of Mezeritch bio

Rav Shneur Zalman bio

Likutei Halachos Behar 43

Emek HaMelech bio

Mahari Sarug bio

Etz Chaim tzimtzum and kav

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

[flv:/kaballah/Kaballah_01.flv 240 180]
Video of History and Philosophy of Kaballah 01

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
History and Philosophy of Kaballah 01
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
History and Philosophy of Kaballah 01

Sources of Halacha 10 – Halacha is like…

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Rabbi Triebitz continues with his series on how halacha develops from the Talmud. He focusses on a passage in Berachos 4b, and the Rishonim. Why does the gemara record a minority opinion instead of just the majority opinion, and what does that mean for us.

One of the key sources for this shiur is Chazon Ish Yoreh Deah 150

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

[flv:/sources/soh_10.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 10

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Sources of Halacha 10
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Source of Halacha 10