TheYeshiva.net - Rabbi YY Jacobson

When G-d Is Reduced to an Idea, We Become Numb to Life: Why Idolatry Was So Tempting

For the First Millenia of Jewish History, We Did Not Recite Blessings. Then It All Changed.

1 hr 31 min

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Class Summary:

This text-based class, the first on a discourse by the Alter Rebbe, Lehavin Einyan Ha’Brachos, Torah Or Bereishis, was presented on Monday, 24 Cheshvan, 5784, November 25, 2024, Parshas Toldos, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

The class explores why the sages instituted blessings during the Second Temple era. For the first millennia of Jewish history, we did not recite all the berachos/blessings. But when Hashem’s reality became a concept rather than an intuitive reality, the sages introduced blessings.

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Torah Ohr - Bereshit

Please leave your comment below!

DB
Danny Bergson -1 month ago
Bracha in vain
At end of today shiur I understood better the concept of bracha levatala because there is no mitzva so no koach ein sof to draw down and access

but that leaves question on birchas ne'enin such as food where there is no "asher" kidishanu benitzvosov how then doe we access ein sof with lashon of chazal?

surely "אין חביש מתיר מבית האסורים״ we need the mitzva to be able to make bracha

unless this is the deeper meaning behind "כל תיקון דרבנן כעין דאורייתא״ every law enactment instituted by the rabbis is rooted in the Torah not just meaning that it parallels it so that it gives the rabbinic law legitimacy but on an inner level

The way chazal create and structure a rabbinic law enables the Jew to also access ein sof because it's hooked into Torah which is one with Hashem ?

Rabbi YY is this off the mark ?
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A
Aharon -1 month ago
Creation                                               3760                       0

Adam harishon                                  3760                       d. 930

Cain & Hevel    jealousy

Noach                                                   2704 – 1754       b 1056    d 2006    lived 950 yrs

Mabul   gaivah                                   2104                       1656    Noach 600 yrs old

Avraham   chesed                            1812 – 1737                       1948 – 2123 lived 175 yrs

Tower of Babel kavod                     1764                                       1996   Peleg d.

Sodom & Amora destroyed                                                         2048

Avraham chesed begins teaching Torah                                                 2008

Yitzhak gevurah                               1712                                       2048   Avraham 100 yrs old

– 2228   lived 180 yrs

Yaakov   tifferes                                1652                                     b. 2108   Yitzhak 60 yrs old

d. 2255    lived 137 yrs.

Go down to Egypt                            1522                                       2238      Yaakov 130 yrs old

210 years in Egypt –

Exodus & Har Sinai                           1312                                       2448

Midbar Desert 40 yrs.                    1352 – 1312                        2448 – 2488

Enter Eretz Israel                              1312                                       2488

Pre Temple Era 480 years            1312 – 832                          2488 - 2928

Joshua, Shoftim, Shmuel haNavi, Shaul Hamelech, David ha melech

1^st Temple Era 410 years              832 – 422                            Shlomo Hamelech 2928 - 3338

Babylonian Exile 70 yrs                  422 – 352                            3340 - 3410

Purim Story                                        367 – 353                            3393 - 3407

2^nd Temple   420 years                    352 – 68                               3410 – 3830

2nd Temple destroyed                  68                                           3830

Today 2024 5785
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Y
Anonymous -1 month ago
Sometimes you try hard to accomplish something which you believe is a good thing (not only according to halacha), and the challenge seems extremely hard. How do you differentiate between the difficulty being there to help you reach and bring out your true potential (Yagaiti uMatzati), or if the challenge is there to tell you, this is not for you (even if it'sa good thing and doesn'tcontradict halacha)? I find it risky to consult in the Igros Kodesh because it is most of the time subject to biased interpretation of the Rebbe's words.
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DM
David Mittelman -1 month ago
Source of this morning Shiur
May I know the Mamer source used for this morning Shiur?!

Thank You
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- DM
  David Mittelman -1 month ago
  Thank You
  
  Got the sources
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MI
moshe isenberg -1 month ago
Why were brochas necessary after the destruction of the first Temple?
In a war, the big guns on one side fight the big guns on the other side, and so too with the small guns. The planes go against planes, tanks versus tanks, foot soldiers versus foot soldiers, etc.

During the Bayis Rishon, the yidden had emunah and nevuah that went up against avodah zora, By the time of the Bayis Sheni both the emunah and nevuah were gone or greated diminished, but, "zeh l'oomah zeh", so too avodah zora was eliminated by the raboonim. (other aveirahs like adultery and murder persisted however). So both sides were in the war that is life were diminished.

The Bayis Rishon itself brought down a great flow of kedusha, Bayis Sheni less so. The institution of brochas was to establish a MINI downward flow of kedusha preceding the act (e,g. a mitzvah, food, etc) the brocha sayer is about to perform.
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MI
Moshe Isenberg -1 month ago
"We can't relate to the avodah zorahs of yore"
But, today people worship Hollywood stars, musicians, politicians, media influencers, etc. Just as strange to people outside the culture
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