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Vyadaata 5657.
Classes 1 to 18. The Mem Gimmel Class series includes a full year of study at a relatively advanced level. The classes delve into an important area of the chassidus of Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Schneersohn (Rashab, the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch). The first 18 classes in this series cover a discourse from 5657 (1897) (Vyadata). The topic is Achdus Hashem (the unity of G-d) based on the pasuk (line) "Hashem hu ha'Elokim" (e.g., the Divine Name "Havaya" - an acronym for the 4 letter name of G-d - and the Divine name "Elokim" are one and the same). The discourse explains this concept of unity on three levels: (1) Havaya and Elokim are like the right and left Hands of One G-d; (2) Elokim conceals only from the perspective of the creation not the Creator; and finally (3) deep spiritual service makes it possible for us to experience the truth of the unity of Hashem in creation. Vyadata concludes with two practical discussions. First, earning a parnassa (a livelihood) while keeping a balance between faith and human effort. Second, the significance of personal tests. Class One.
Introduction to year ACHDUS HASHEM (AHAVAS YISROEL) emuna pshuta, pshitus of chakira, Adam Haelyon. Do not be discouraged by the sound quality of this first class. It gets better from here onwards. We have worked on this file with audio processing to make it as clear and easy to listen to as possible. We hope you will enjoy the series. Proper titles and descriptions for the ma'marim series are currently being prepared. Class Two. ACHDUS (some stories). Hashem Hu HaElokim according to ZOHAR. 3 levels in Hashem's names. Class Three. INTRODUCTION to the division of the maamar. The maamar is divided as follows: first is the posuk and three questions: how is the posuk related to leaving Mitzraim and entering aretz yisroel and how can it be explained that Havaye and Elokim are kula chad (one). Next comes the havamina that Havaye and Elokim are two separate entities with wills of their own and opposite agendas. The havamina teretz says that since Elokim blocks Havaye in order to reveal it they are one. This is quickly refuted by illustrating how Elokim certainly does block and reveal Havaye, but the amount and quality of the light of Havaye that it allows to be revealed is so little that it is not kula chad. Next the maamar goes on the the three terutzim as above with the first moshol, the first nimshal; the 2nd moshol; the 3rd moshol; followed by the 2nd and 3rd nimshals. Then the avoda section talks about tests, and parnussa. / There is also a discussion about Atzilus. Elokus allows for a connection between Hashem and us. In Atzilus are lights that are closer to Hashem and kelim that are closer to us. The lights go into the kelim. Adam Hatochton relates to Adam Haelyon (Atzilus.) Class Four. OROS and KEILIM- two opposite systems. Atzilus is the light of Hashem revealed. Here the Oros and kelim come together. There are 4 basic characteristics of each. The Ohr is 1) bli gvul (unlimited) 2) giluy (reveals its source) 3) Devekus (attached to its source) and 4) pshitus (plain not divided). The Kelim are the opposite. 1) gvul (finite) 2) helem ( hide the source) 3) nivdal (separated from their source) and 4) hishalkus (divided into many parts). Kelim hide the etzem of the light but in doing so the hitzonius of the light is revealed. Torah is the blueprint of the world and rules the world but not chas v'shalom Hashem. One can't say that Hashem must do something or can't do something. He has agreed to follow the rules set out in the Torah but He doesn't have to. Class Five. Hava Amina Teretz and refutation. (revealing through hiding). Elokim brings Havaye to us by blocking most of Havaye so the underlying chitzonius ohr can be seen. Moshol of white light that divides into a rainbow. Moshol of the Neshama as it is above vs the neshama in a guf with its differentiated powers. The Rebbe can communicate with our neshamas. We need to use words. Class Six. Etzem vs. Giluyi. The etzem CAN NOT be revealed. If something is revealed it is NOT the etzem. Ohr vs. Ha'arah. Each Tzimtzum is two tzimtzumim. The neshama as it is l'myla has one koach, whereas the neshama in the guf has 613. The 613 are also present when the neshama is l'myla (above) but they are covered over by an encompassing light from chaya and yechida that unites all the powers together. When the neshama goes in a guf the chaya and yechida depart and the remaining powers split up into their individual parts. A mathematical representation of seder hishtalshelus is now presented to illustrate how Elokim is revealing much less than one part in a million of the light of Havaye. This is certainly not kula chad (equal). Words reveal and conceal. Sanhedrin would deliberate all night in capital cases so as not to lose the etzem of their lines of reasoning. Hillel's teva is chessed while Shammai's teva is gevura. Both brought valid arguments and posukim to uphold their positions. KLAL GADOL: Etzem can NOT be revealed. Tzimtzum HaRishon - siluk (removal) of ohr, kav breaks through. Tzimtzum in seder hishtalshelus - quantitative diminution of light. Parsa - qualitative change in the Ohr. The light is called Ohr Ein Sof down to malchus of Atzilus and Ohr haneshama from there on down. Malachim are nivdal (separate) with a self identity. Sefiros are netiyos, lights of Hashem with no self identity, but are bittul to the Aibishter. Havaye and Elokim like right and left hand of a person. A Moshol M'chuvan is an exact moshol from the Torah chosen by the Rebbeim that conforms to the nimshal in every detail. A moshol bilti m'chuvan is an inexact moshol that can come from the world at large that only conforms to the nimshal in certain aspects to illustrate certain points. Adam Hatachton (us) is a Moshol m'chuvan for Adam Haelyon (Atzilus) because the powers of the neshama come from the sefiros of Atzilus and are nishtalshel from them. Koach HaMaskel includes koach to create new ideas and also koach to limit the ideas. Any line of reasoning taken to its extreme is wrong. Need balance. To pasken shailos - limit all pertaining ideas, then weigh them. What is Chassidus? 1) Haskala the point of which is ACHDUS of whole creation with Hashem and 2)Avoda the point of which is Ahavas Yisroel. - how we are one. The whole point is to live the achdus. What is the proof that Elokim blocks the infinite Havaye? We exist. Yarmulka: limitation must be imposed from outside. Can't cover head with own hand. Elokim can't block Havaye. Etzem can't block Etzem. Short history of Kabbalah. Havaye is Atzmus Ein Sof as much as Elokim is Atzmus Ein Sof. Proof that Elokim blocks Havaye is that we are here. But it is not 2 forces. It is only one thing so it is not a real blockage. 3 answers in the maamar. 1) Elokim blocks Havaye but not really (hand on head.) 2)Elokim blocks Havaye only to us. Hashem sees Himself. 3) Elokim blocks Havaye but through passing tests we can bring Havaye into the world. 1st moshol 1st teretz.: Mashpia - mekabel moshol. A rav can't give over his entire breadth and depth of his knowledge to the talmid because it will overwhelm him and he will get nothing. 3 rules of giluyi (revealation). 1) to a zulas. 2) Zulas gets it. 3) zulas determines what to learn. Ohr vs Haarah. Ohr me'ain ha maor. emphasis on the source. Haarah giluyi. emphasis on the mekabel. 3 rules on teaqching. 1) Limit what to teach 2) get to the point 3) use a moshol if necessary. A point of Torah consists of omek (depth) the etzem of the point, Orach (length) how the point comes down to lower levels, and Rochav (breadth) how the point relates to other points and the restof the Torah with the pnimius still intact.. The Rogachover sees the whole Torah as 10 points. The Rebbe as 1 point. A rav sees the Torah as a lattice work and gives over the seckel with all the links attached. A rav should NEVER lie to his talmid. Rav must use words very carefully to keep the pnimius and all the links intact. Rabbenu haKodesh wrote the Mishna very carefully with links and hints for future students intact. He saw the material as Ohr Yashor. The Amoraim that came after must work to see all the links. For them it is a light that comes from darkness an ohr chazor. Avoda: Intro to TESTS. Adam and Chava had one job - to eat fruit (do mitzvas). Originally Gan Eden was on the first floor and all bad kelipas in the basement. With the chet etz hadaas assiya fell down and klipa became mixed b'taaruvim in the world. Now there are 3 jobs to do. 1) do mitzvas (with memale kol almin) 2) do avodas habirurim with kelipas nogah (Sovev kol almin) and 3) Destroy the three completely impure kelipos to reveal Atzmus Ein Sof. All of these three jobs deal with some measure of light. These are not tests. A TEST is complete DARKNESS with no light at all. TESTS: absolute darkness. The Akeida. Rabbi Akiba. Mesiras Nefesh of Frierdiker Rebbe. Withstanding a test breaks the darkness and allows a higher revelation of light in the world. Story with wounded soldiers coming to visit the Rebbe. When faced with a TEST: STOP thinking and just DO. Avoda: Parnassa. Hashem will bless you in all that you DO. One needs to do - to make a keli on the one hand and to have emuna that everything comes from Hashem on the other. Hashem set the world up in a way that we get things through a memutza. They bring Hashem closer to us but also create barriers between us so it is harder to see Hashem's influence. There are 4 ways of looking as Hashem's relationship with us. 1) Achdus - Hashem does everything by Himself all the time. 2) Shtifus Angels are indirectly giving orders but do want Hashem wants. 3) Avoda Zora Hashem is distant and the memutzas do what they want. 4) Kefira - Apikorsim the only Truth are the Laws of Nature. Hashgacha protis: every time an apple seed is planted Hashem decides to grow an apple tree from it. Be careful not to start worshiping the garments, the HAND the feeds you. Remember to WHOM the hand is attached.
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