KabbalaOnline.org Ki Tissa 5783 Anthology of Insights on the Torah Reading

 KabbalaOnline.org Ki Tissa 5783 Anthology of Insights on the Torah Reading

Ki Tissa 5783 - Article Summaries of Editors' Picks

Traveling Blues The Zohar From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash Rabbi Yossi said to Rabbi Chiya that when the Jews enter synagogues and study halls and see the words of comfort of the prophets, this gladdens their hearts and enables them to bear all the suffering of this exile. Rabbi Chiya said, "Certainly this is the case, but everything depends on their returning to the spiritual source and repenting."

Fixing the Mixing The Holy Ari From the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria; translated and edited by Moshe Yaakov Wisnefsky The Sages note that it was the "Mixed Multitude" of non-Jews that accompanied the Jews in their exodus from Egypt who instigated the idolatry of the Golden Calf. The Arizal explains that they were indeed meant to be elevated eventually, since they contained sparks of holiness, but Moses tried to do this prematurely. 5 Comments

Contribution of Maturity Mystical Classics From the Ohr HaChaim commentary by Rabbi Chaim (ben Moshe) ibn Attar A person is not yet mature enough emotionally and intellectually to successfully battle the evil urge and to appreciate G-d's message to man until age 20. Therefore, teenagers were not required to pay the half-shekel ransom, although they also participated in the Golden Calf episode.

Sins, Snakes, & Golden Calf Chasidic Masters From the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (The "Tzemach Tzedek") Man, essentially, has no connection to sin. The Zohar thus reads the verse, "When a soul sins" as an exclamation of surprise - "a soul that sins?!" The whole concept of sin is introduced because G-d in His great kindness wants to bring man to an even greater level.

Take Two Tablets and Call Me… Contemporary Kabbalists From the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; adapted by Moshe Yaakov Wisnefsky During Moses' first sojourn in the heavens when receiving the first tablets, his 40-day-fast was a miracle; he remained human and yet existed without food or drink. In contrast, Moses' 2nd sojourn was a time of divine displeasure, yet he was so entranced by the study of Torah that he was oblivious to his bodily needs. When Moses received the Second Tablets it was a time of divine good will. As they were less miraculous than the first, similarly, Moses' fast then was also less miraculous; he acclimated to the heavenly climate and did not need food - during this sojourn, he was an angel.

Beginner Broken Open Ascent Lights By Shaul Yosef Leiter When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Tablets of the Covenant, he saw the Jewish people sinning with the Golden Calf. He then threw down and broke the Tablets. These First Tablets had only the Ten Commandments. The Second Tablets had in addition the entire Oral Torah: all of the commentaries, explicit Jewish law, Midrash, and Agada's. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that when Moses broke the Tablets for all to see, so, too, the haughty spirit of the Jewish people was broken and they immediately became fit to receive all of the Torah - the Tablets as well as the details of Jewish Law and all its commentaries.

Beginner The Precious Coin Mystic Stories By Yerachmiel Tilles A holy half-shekel reveals the importance of judging one’s fellow favorably. 14 Comments

 

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  Our Prayer and hope: All the gates to the Har ha-Bait have to be opened for Jews and non-Jews seven days in the week 24 hours a day. The Jews need to have the freedom to go with Tefillin, Tallit and Torah Scroll up on the Mountain to serve Hashem. And do קידה ('Kidah' prostate, laying down, before Hashem) Everyone showing his/her respect for the Jewish and all other religions. But NOT for the words/deeds/sins spoken against any word of the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu and the 'real' teachings of the Jewish Rabbis. The Jews must be the guardians of the Har ha-Bait.

  תפילתנו ותקוותנו: כל שערי הר הבית צריכים להיפתח עבור יהודים ולא-יהודים שבעה ימים בשבוע 24 שעות ביממה. ליהודים צריך להיות חופש ללכת עם תפילין, טלית וספר תורה במעלה ההר כדי לשרת את ה' ולקוד קידה .מתוך הפגנת כבוד ליהודים ולכל הדתות האחרות, אבל לא למילים/למעשים/לחטאים הנאמרים נגד תורת משה רבנו. מלמודי רבנים, היהודים חייבים להיות שומרי הר הבית.

  Ariel, hopefully your Representee

  אריאל, מקווה שהנציג שלך