Weekly Torah Study is Saturday morning at 9:00 am. We meet in the Room 202 of Temple B’rith Kodesh (enter by Door A). We decide year by year how we’ll approach the weekly portion. Last year we used the weekly d’var Torah from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks as a jumping off point. This year, we’re going to consider each parsha from a Mussar perspective. Each week an email is sent out (usually on Thursday) to anyone who may be interested. You’re welcome on Saturday, whether or not you got the email or had time to read it. Discussions are generally lively.
Parshat Re’eh
Devarim 11:26
See, this day I set before you blessing and curse.
Sforno
Pay good attention so that you will not be like the nations of the world who relate to everything half-heartedly, always trying to find middle ground. Remember that I present you this day with the choice of two extremes, opposites. The blessing is an extreme in that it provides you with more than you need, whereas the curse is another extreme making sure that you have less than your basic needs. You have the choice of both before you; all you have to do is make a choice.
Is it difficult to make choices? Rabbi Wolbe notes that Solomon, the wisest of men made poor choices.
Are our biggest choices made rationally? For example, making a major career change, deciding to start a family, or adopting a religion: how are these decisions made?
In many aspects of mussar practice and Jewish thought, we are taught to find a middle way — finding a balance, for example, between excessive emotionalism and coldness. What kind of choices require decisive actions?
Devarim 15:7-8
If, however, there is a needy person among you, one of your kinsmen in any of your settlements in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your heart against your needy kinsman. Rather, you must open your hand and lend him sufficient for whatever he needs.
A key part of the mitzvah is “for whatever he needs.” It’s not saying money and it’s not saying what he desires. What makes someone needy? How do you know what they need?
Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe
kindness is not limited to fulfilling another’s request for help. The title ba’al chesed is reserved for one who has the ability to discern what is needed without the request being made, and then fulfills that desire.
However, kindness is not restricted to monetary donations. A smile can uplift someone who is dejected and words of encouragement can bring another real happiness. These are such small actions that could have such big ramifications. These are merely two of many kindnesses that we have the ability to perform – if we just took notice of what people are missing!
Everyone appreciates a compliment, and almost anyone you come in contact with benefits from a good word or a cheerful smile. So do a chessed that takes no time or money and make a point of complimenting or encouraging someone – today (and every day)!
Why might it be important to have an open heart to truly recognize another person’s needs?
Devarim 16:13-16 (Alter)
A festival of huts you shall make for yourself seven days, when you gather in from your threshing floor and from your wine press. [The holiday of Sukkot at harvest time.] And you shall rejoice in your festival, you and your sons and your daughter and your male slave and your slavegirl and the Levite and the orphan and the widow who are within your gates. Seven days you shall celebrate to the LORD your God in the place that the LORD chooses, for the LORD your God will bless you in all your yield and in all the work of your hands, and you shall be only joyful.
Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler
It is impossible to sow a field unless it has first been plowed. Similarly, the blockage in our heart — timtum ha-lev — prevents spiritual feelings from penetrating it. The hard peel surrounding the heart must first be pierced. Only then can spiritual insights be sown, and only then can fruit be expected to grow, in the form of changed attitudes.
How can the hard soil of the heart be plowed? With strong emotional upheaval. This can come from sudden disaster or from great joy. When a person is in a state of great excitement, for whatever reason, his heart opens.
Both disasters and joys can open the heart. Joyous holidays can provide an opportunity for spiritual growth.
Does this provide additional insight to why God presents before us both a blessing and curse?
Is it enough to have a transformative experience? Why does Rabbi Dessler, quoting the Vilna Gaon, also say that we must be ready to sow?
Torah Study Archive
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Parshat Mattot July 12, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Pinchas July 7, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chukat July 6, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Balak June 30, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Korach June 14, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shelach June 7, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beha’alotecha May 31, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Naso May 24, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bamidbar May 17, 2018 by Office Filed as: Latest News, Torah Study |
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Parshat Behar-Bechukotai May 10, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Emor May 3, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshotim Acharei Mot-Kedoshim April 26, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tazria-Metzora April 19, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 12, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tzav March 22, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudi March 6, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayikra March 6, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Ki Tisa March 1, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tetzaveh February 22, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Terumah February 15, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mishpatim February 8, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Yitro February 1, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beshalach January 24, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bo January 19, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaeira January 11, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemot–How did Moses become Moses? January 5, 2018 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayechi 5778 December 28, 2017 by Office Filed as: Latest News, Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayigash December 22, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mikeitz December 14, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeshev December 8, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayishlach November 29, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeitzei November 24, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Toldot November 16, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chayei Sarah November 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayera 5778 November 2, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Lech Lecha October 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Sukkot October 5, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Ki Teitzei August 31, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shoftim August 24, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Re’eh August 17, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Eikev August 10, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaetchanan August 3, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Devarim July 27, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Matot-Masei July 20, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Pinchas July 13, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Balak July 7, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chukat June 29, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Korach June 23, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shelach June 15, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beha’alotecha June 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Naso June 1, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Behar-Bechukotai May 18, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Emor May 11, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshotim Acharei Mot-Kedoshim May 4, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tazria-Metzora April 28, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 21, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemini April 13, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tzav April 6, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayikra March 31, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshot Vayakhel-Pekudi March 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Tetzaveh March 10, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beshelach February 9, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bo February 2, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vaera January 26, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shemot January 20, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayechi January 12, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayigash January 5, 2017 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Mikeitz December 29, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayeishev December 22, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayishlach December 15, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parsha Vayeitzei December 8, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Chayei Sarah November 25, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Vayera November 18, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Lech Lecha November 16, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Noach November 3, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Bereshit October 27, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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The Spirituality of Song — Ha’azinu October 13, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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To Renew Our Days — Vayelech October 5, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Not In Heaven — Nitzavim September 29, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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The Limits of Love – Ki Teitse September 14, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Keeping Our Word (Matot 5776) — August 6, 2016 August 17, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Devarim August 17, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parsha Korach July 7, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Shelach Lecha June 30, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |
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Parshat Beh’alotecha June 30, 2016 by Office Filed as: Torah Study |