• Anonymous -10 months ago

  Is it possible to say that when the soul goes down into this world, it is ultimately like a bow being pulled down, only so that when its let go it can fly ever so higher in Shamayim to Hashem?

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• Anonymous -5 years ago

  Thank you

  Dear Rabbi,

   

  beautiful class an an very inspiring!!

  many blessings!

  Luiza Palti

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• SM

  Shaya Mintz -7 years ago

  A thought after listening to this beautifully delivered shiur. On the second day of Pesach Chazal instructed us to make a very big deal when cutting the barley for the Omer. We know that the counting of the Omer is a growth period to enable us to be mekable Torah at the end on the highest level. Starting out on the lowest level with a strong nefesh Habihamis symbolized by the barley offering which is animal food we were instructed to take the sickle which is like a cherev and prove to our known enemy the tzedukim that they were wrong. Later by Shavuos time when the offering is of wheat we don't find a public ceremony like the omer because then we are on a higher level and the avoda is one of beirurin, inner enemies. Lashon of the mishna is "haomer baah min Hakarov"! How beautiful. The enemies are near! The chasidus in me comes out...

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• M

  moriah -11 years ago

  Psalm Chapter 39
  Psalm 39 has something to say about being silent.

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• M

  Malka -11 years ago

  Rachel and Leah
  G-d  constantly createsthe universe by speaking it, but we give it meaning by recognizing that it goes beyond speech. Often I would like to quiet the inner chatter of my mind. Especially on Shabbat which is the soul of existence.
  
  
  
  A good thing to study is about Rachel and Leah. If I'm not mistaken, Rachel corresponds to speech, while Leah corresponds to thought. The goal is to unite the two, by speaking from a good heart; speaking only the truth of our hearts. This allows the speech to become potent.
  
  
  
  Another thing: Happy speech is healing, while brooding thoughts are harmful.
  
  
  
  Thanks for this article which really spoke to my silence.

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• A

  alex -11 years ago

  silence
  My own take on this topic is that while God created the universe by speaking it into existence, He maintains the universe by listening to it. 
  
  To listen with kavana to a human being is to literally give him life and aliveness. It gives that person the sense of being recreated, and to have worth and value. Committed listening is a Godly trait.
  
  
  

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• JZ

  jina zadeh -11 years ago

  BOW AND ARROW
  Thank you I lisended two times and took notes.  It  is really deep and full of amazing points.  I hope you can continue to  give classes for many many years in good health and happiness.

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• Q

  ques -12 years ago

  Source #5
  in Source 5 RYY says that B'yum Hageshem is the same value as Lag B'omer?? seems not to work out? please explain

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  • A

    Anonymous -12 years ago

    Re: Source #5
    See my answer in the comment above you. Let me know if you still have any questions.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Y

  yakov -12 years ago

  gmatria
  how is b'yom hageshem the same gmatria as lag b'omer?

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  • A

    Anonymous -12 years ago

    Re: gmatria
    

    
    
    התיבות "ביום גשם" עולות בגימטריא “יום לג בעמר”, והוא מספר 401. וצריך לכתוב בעמר בלי וא"ו. ועוד זאת: "ביום שלשה ושלושים" הוא בגימטריא "כמראה הקשת אשר יהיה בענן ביום הגשם". והיינו דאז ביום ל"ג בעמר, שלשה ושלשים, נראה מראה הקשת, יען אשר בו ביום עלה רשב"י לשמים. ועד אז לא נראתה הקשת בענן כי בדורו של רשב"י לא הצרכו לכך.

    
    
    

    
    
    The words "beyom geshem" are the gematria of the words "yom lag baomer."

    
    
    

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    • A

      Anonymous -12 years ago

      Re: gmatria
      Thank you!

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• A

  Anonymous -12 years ago

  Nice shot!
  Hey, that's Dovi Paltiel from Laguna Niguel in that picture.

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• N

  ND -12 years ago

  SOURCE
  Thanks a lot for this! Can you please say from
  
  which Sicha or Chassidic source is this?

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  • A

    Anonymous -12 years ago

    Re: SOURCE
    Below the video there is a PDF document, in it you will find all of the sources to the class.

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• A

  Anonymous -13 years ago

  Result of Inspiration
  This lesson really inspired me. While contemplating the message of what my personal path to G-d is, I felt moved to create an artistic meditative video. Perhaps you can give me some feedback. http://bit.ly/SoulofEveryJew

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• RAS

  Rabbi Avi Shlomo -13 years ago

  Response to David R
  As for now, you can either listen to each week's audio Tanya class as it is posted, or buy the entire set of "The tale of Two Souls" by emailing: [email protected].
  
  Thanks

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• D

  David -13 years ago

  Different classes
  
  BS"D
  
  Would like to ask where in the site I can listen and download previous classes for Tania and the other classes that have been given
  
  Thanks
  David R

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• YZH

  yankel zev hochman -13 years ago

  more shiurim
  when will the next shiur be posted? i have been waiting with excitement for some time now

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• Z

  Zev -13 years ago

  Yasher Co-ach
  B"H
  
  Thank you Admin for reducing the sizes of the MP3's
  
  Zev

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• TZ

  To Zev -13 years ago

  Admin
  The mp3 files have been reduced to smaller sizes. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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• A

  Admin -13 years ago

  Download Lesson 2
  heres the link for it:
  
  http://theyeshiva.net/Audio...

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• Z

  Zev -13 years ago

  MP3 files too too big!
  B"H
  
  I can't download lessons 2 & 3 because they are way too big. I use a local library internet facility and they enforce a 50Mb download limit for each download. Even 50Mb for an hour long voice only shiur is grossly extravagant; 10-15Mb is all that is needed without any loss in sound quality
  
  I hope you will revise your encoding policy so more people will able to download.
  
  thank you
  
  Zev
  

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• D

  dov -13 years ago

  tania part 2
  how can i down loud tania part 2

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• K

  Kayo -13 years ago

  Very clear instruction
  Baruch HaShem
  
  I have just listened to Chapter 5 - b of the tale of two souls. The explanation on who is Beinoni is very clear and interesting. Todah.

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• K

  Kayo -13 years ago

  Who is Beinoni
  Baruch HaShem
  
  I have a CDs of "the tale of two souls". I just listened to Chapter 1 - 005a. It is very easy to follow.

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• A

  Admin -13 years ago

  Welcome!
  Welcome to the weekly Tanya class with Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Jacobson.
  
  
  
  Please feel free to post your questions and comments here and Rabbi Jacobson and his staff will respond to all questions.
  
  
  
  We apologize for the delay in the accompanying curriculums, they will be posted in the coming few days, please check back soon.
  
  
  
  If you want to sponsor a class or the series in tribute to a loved one, please email us. If you would like to help us continue this project, please go to www.theyeshiva.net/donate.
  
  

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• O

  ol -14 years ago

  there are times when there is no room for words, but its as if you had said them all
  after a tragedy, when the family looks at each other they dont say anything but just stand there.....

  then there is the time when you here someone speak and you have not a clue what he said, its as if he was quiet... like that person still in shock and just babbles away, nobody understands him....

  to ok, your simply an idiot, go get help....

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• M

  Marvin -14 years ago

  Thanks
  Thank you for a soulful essay

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• O

  ok -14 years ago

  to YYJ
  I was too generous:

  Talking = Silence

  and Silence = Talking

  are not paradoxes;

  they are oxymorons.

  To paraphrase your response:
  I wish I could say you took a vow of silence -- to practice what you preached.

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• Z

  Zahava -14 years ago

  to OK
  perhaps the following will clarify "there is silence which is akin to talking"
  An elderly man sits by the bedside of his nonresponsive wife of his youth - he says nothing ... he only sits for hours and hours. Those that pass the door whisper and snicker to one another until a wise man speaks up and tells them... "she may never remember who he is.......but he still remembers who she is"

  with regards to "there is talking that is akin to silence" .... whe have all heard the saying "silence is golden" When someone listens to a person that is "nonstop talking" we wish this person would have the sense to understand this meaning. When a person speaks emes/truth = the listener is captivated and entranced by the emes this person is speaking. All is silent but the emes that is penetrating your neshamo and the listener wishes only that the speaker would countinue in his silence.

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• E

  Elki -14 years ago

  ok
  I think there are different types of silence. One says nothing and the other flows from the depth of the soul and cannot even be put into words. There is a verse, "Ki Lecha Dumiyah Tehillah," which
  promclaims to G-d, "To You silence is the highest form of preaise."
  If one doesn't pass along messages through writing and speaking, there would be no conversations and no learning. After all, man is the only species gifted with speech and we are to use this gift advisedly.

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• O

  Ok -14 years ago

  To YYJ
  Thank you. I appreciate that you took time to respond. You say you "wish [you] would be able to say, there is talking which is akin to silence, and there is silence which is akin to talking."
  If you cannot say "there is talking which is akin to silence, and there is silence which is akin to talking," what genuine response can you give? Or, if you could actually say "there is talking which is akin to silence, and there is silence which is akin to talking," I have TWO questions:
  a) What are the criteria by which I can identify "talking which is akin to silence" and b) What are the criteria by which I can identify "silence which is akin to talking"?
  If an enigmatic statement has real content, then a truly wise person must be able to make that content understandable. Just because something sounds like an enigmatic, incomprehensible paradox of some sort, doesn't mean that it actually constitutes wisdom.
  If it has real meaning, someone has to be able to bring the meaning down to earth.
  I have encountered some extraordinary minds. People with extraordinary minds translate very abstruse ideas into plain, simple, direct language. They don't delight in making things mysterious. They delight in making things clear.
  What is the source in the Torah for your statement "the Neshamah, is described in torah not as a Divine word but as a G-dly thought"? I suppose the account of the six days of creation is the source for "When G-d speaks, a universe is created." However, what is the source in the Torah for your statement "When G-d thinks, a soul is created"?
  How do you say in Hebrew "a G-dly thought"? How do you say in Hebrew "G-d thinks"?

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• Y

  YYJ -14 years ago

  To OK
  I love this question.
  I wish I would be able to say, there is talking which is akin to silence, and there is silence which is akin to talking.

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• CG

  Chaya Gross -14 years ago

  Silence an Action Like Thinking as a Process
  Perhaps one can relate to silence as and action as opposed to the absence of speech. Just like thinking can be an active, a conscious process as opposed to something we do constantly.
  The difference is in the intention. One can be actively or passively silent and that is what makes all the difference.

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• A

  alex -14 years ago

  speech/silence
  It may be useful to rethink Torah as a how to manual with God teaching us the elements of creating reality. When the Torah says that God spoke the universe into existence, it is
  actually instructing us how, in fact, we construct our reality. How we language something is the way it shows up for us.
  It may also be of interest to explore the creative aspects of silence and listening. When
  we listen, we grant existence by allowing the other to be. God created the universe by speaking it into existence and
  He maintains it by listening to it.

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• O

  ok -14 years ago

  Question
  With all due respect:
  If there is "nothing better for the body than silence” and if a "man’s task in the world [is] to make himself as silent as the dumb,”
  Why do you write so much and speak so much?
  Are we supposed to put all your lessons into practice?
  Is the lesson, Do as I say, Not as I do?

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• J

  Joe -14 years ago

  Question
  I loved it. But what is the difference between this idea and the "silence" so often discussed in the Far-Eastern teachings?

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• J

  Jill -14 years ago

  Prayer
  The Midrash says: "Did Jacob conquer Shechem with sword and bow? But 'my sword'
  is his prayer, and 'my bow' is his supplication."
  Why is prayer like a bow? Just like a bow, the more a person draws the bowstring to
  himself, the further the arrow flies, so it is with prayer:the deeper one delves into one's own heart, the higher one's prayer ascends. -The Kotzker Rebbe

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• M

  Menachem -14 years ago

  Question
  If I understand correctly, were you suggesting that Saul did not hate David, and only felt that David must be on the run in order to sublimate the lowest sparks? So Saul trying to kill David was only a show? Or was he really overtaken by a spirit of insanity – on his level -- and what you were saying is that the reason G-d allowed this to happen was so that David can continue the work of the “berurim” as you put it?

  The former, if correct, is a very novel idea, but difficult to see in the simple reading of the verses, where Saul is seen as envious and suspicious of David. You were suggesting that Saul knew that the sparks are still out there, and therefore we need a new leader to continue the journey, because Moshiach can’t come yet, and not only any leader, but someone like David whose destiny is to run, and enter into very low places, in order to unleash the greatest potential, so Saul had to have this rivalry with David just to get him to the place where he needs to be and make sure the world is getting what it needs to get? Or, again, did you only mean to say that G-d used Saul to orchestrate all of this, but Saul himself just wanted to dispose of David and not have him elevate any sparks and certainly not take over the kingship one day?

  Please clarify.

  A possible continuation to the class that might have flowed more smoothly might have been: Yehonasan was directing David to dig deeper to find the inner strength to wander in fear, knowing that it was G-d’s will. Or that he was telling David that he will need to go down to very low and forsaken places, like the arrow, in order to reach his greatest heights. This was a consolation to David at this vulnerable and difficult point of his life. You did not really have to discuss the motivation of king Saul, which is very confusing.
  Of course, David’s entire life would express this brilliant theme – he would not stop fighting wars, confronting foes, ultimately his own marriage and his own child are filled with the theme of going into very low and tragic places and yet somehow rising.

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• M

  Menachem -14 years ago

  Question
  If I understand correctly, were you suggesting that Saul did not hate David, and only felt that David must be on the run in order to sublimate the lowest sparks? So him trying to kill David was only a show? Or was he really overtaken by a spirit of insanity – on his level -- and the reason G-d allowed this to happen was so that David continue the work of the “berurim” as you put it?
  The former, if correct, is a very novel idea, but difficult to see in the simple reading of the verses, where Saul is seen as envious and suspicious of David. You were suggesting that Saul knew that the sparks are still out there, and therefore we need a new leader to continue the journey, because Moshiach can’t come yet, and not only any leader, but someone like David whose destiny is to run, and enter into very low places to unleash the greatest potential, so Saul had to have this rivalry with David just to get him to the place where he needs to be and make sure the world is getting what it needs to get? Or, again did you only mean to say that G-d used Saul to orchestrate all of this, but Saul himself just wanted to dispose of David and not have elevate any sparks and certainly not take over the kingship one day.
  A possible continuation to the class that might have flowed more smoothly might have been: Yehonasan was directing Dovid to dig deeper to find the inner strength to wander in fear, knowing that it was Hashem's will. Or that he was telling David that he will need to go down to very low and forsaken places, like the arrow, in order to reach his greatest heights. You did not really have to discuss the motivation of king Saul, which is very confusing.

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• G

  Greece -14 years ago

  behind the scenes..
  thank you avi shlomo for the curriculum..

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• KG

  Kayla Goldring -14 years ago

  It's difficult to watch
  I'm a great fan of Rabbi Jacobson, but for some reason the video keeps stopping and a winding circle comes up. Why is this? Can't you fix this? PLEASE

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• G

  gila -14 years ago

  changing darkness to light
  now i understand the connection between R. Shimon bar yochai and the bow! he was the one who changed darkness to light and therefore the bow represents his accomplishments in his lifetime.
  Thank you for a wonderful shiur.

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• Y

  YYJ -14 years ago

  To Dave
  See my answer to your question in the "Comments" section on this page: www.theyeshiva.net/Article/...

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• J

  Joe -14 years ago

  To Sarah
  You can now fwd and rew the video smoothly.

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• A

  Admin -14 years ago

  To Alex
  This was the weekly class, there will not be any other class this week.

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• A

  Alex -14 years ago

  Parshah Class
  I hope there will still be a class on the Torah Portion!

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• D

  Dave -14 years ago

  Question
  I understand it on a pyschological level, but practically why is short-term redemption unnecessary when it comes to a persons income? And further it is returned upon the arrival of the Jubilee year, in order not to deprive a person and his family of their natural source of income. He has to wait 50 years for his livelihood? Thank You

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• J

  JIH -14 years ago

  Bow and Arrow
  I wonder if the rabbi will explain why we play with bow and arrow on lag biomer?

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• J

  Joe -14 years ago

  Looking forward to 8:30 "trip" to a beautiful place
  Thank you.

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Rabbi YY Jacobson

• May 11, 2009
• |
• 17 Iyyar 5769
• |
• 4032 views

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