Chagiga 16A - II

1. Committing a sin: In public or in private?
2. Machlokes between Rabbeinu Chananel and Tosefos as to what the intention of the Gemara is in telling a person how to deal with uncontrollable temptation
3. Staring at rainbows, leaders and Cohanim

Chagiga 16A - 1

1. A hypothesis for a rational understanding of the nature of Shadim
2. Rabbeinu Chananel on what it really means to know God

Four who Entered the Pardes - XI

1. Acher, Doeg and Achisofel, great scholars...but...
2. How was Rebbe Akiva able to remain focused when entering the Pardes
3. Comparisons between Shadim, angels and people

Four who Entered the Pardes - X

1. Review of previous Gemara
2. What are the reasons Rebbe Meir felt justified learning from Acher
3. The metaphors of dates and pomegranates with regards to the Torah of Acher
4. How Rabbeinu Chananel understands the conclusion

Four who Entered the Pardes - IX

1. Acher after his death - where does he belong
2. The efforts of Rebbe Meir and Rebbe Yochanan to get Acher into Heaven
3. How as Rebbe Meir permitted to study from someone who had rejected Torah

Four Who Entered the Pardes - VIII

1. Opposite and Complementary creations
2. Did God create the mountains?
3. Acher and Rebbe Meir go for a Shabbos walk
4. Children share their pesukim with Acher
5. Continuation of Tosefos quoting the parts of the story from the Talmud Yerushalmi

Four Who Entered the Pardes - VII

1. Review of Tosefos on Acher's roots
2. Zohar's explanation of the perspectives of the four who entered:

• Ben Zoma entered with earth - complete self-nullification (leading to a side discussion on the sin of Adam)
• Ben Azai entered with wind - the struggle to comprehend the challenges of good and evil
• Acher entered with fire  - the creation of clear and distinct lines of delineation
• Rebbe Akiva entered with water - love and the power of unity
• Kabbalistic interpretation of how Acher could have seen deep within his being told that he could not return, was hidden the power to return

Four who Entered the Pardes - VI

1. Review of Gemara
2. Different views of the source of the name Acher
3. Why is there no "sitting" in heaven
4. The role of MTT in the Olam HaYetzirah, the World of Formation, and how it led to Acher's mistake
5. Tosefos telling over the expanded story from the Yerushalmi

Four who Entered the Pardes - V

1. What Acher saw when he arrived in the Pardes
2. The "punishment" given to MTT
3. Acher hears heavenly voice saying he will never repent
4. Acher leaves the fold and goes to find a harlot
5. Rabbeinu Chananel and Tosefos of why MTT was punished
6. Discussion about how our attitudes influence how we experience and interpret events
7. Where did free-will play a role in Acher's decision making

Four who Entered the Pardes - IV

1. Why didn't Ben Zoma stand for Rebbe Yehoshua
2. What distance separates the upper water from the lower waters?
3. Explanation of the Ben Yehoyada as to the meaning of three finger-breadths
4. What did Elisha ben Avuya see when he entered the Pardes?

Four who Entered the Pardes - III

1. Why didn't Rebbe Akiva want them to say water water?
2. The challenge of changing one's consciousness from a separation mindset to one of unity
3. The two halachic questions posed to Ben Zoma
4. May one castrate a dog?
5. Is a pregnant virgin permitted to marry a Kohen Gadol (High Priest)
6. Interpretation of Rabbeinu Chananel that the question is with regards to someone becoming pregnant through abnormal means becoming ritually impure
7. The Mitzvos in the Torah only address conventional situations

Four who Entered the Pardes: II

1. Rav Chaim Vital on the symbolism of the word שיש (marble)
2. Rav Dessler explaining the challenge of comprehending disembodied concepts.
3. Rav Dessler explaining the need to remove the self when engaged in contemplating the higher worlds.
4. Zohar on the unique approaches of each of the four sages and how they contributed to the results they got
5. Discussion on the meaning of the Four Worlds
6. Discussion of the four approaches to study of PRD"S
7. Suggestion as to why the approach of Elisha (Acher) led to his downfall

Four who Entered the Pardes: I

For those of you listening online, I would welcome any feedback you have. I received some valuable feedback yesterday and have made some adjustments.

1. The story of the four Sages who entered the Pardes and how each was affected.
2. An explanation from the Nazir (Rav Dovid Cohen) on why some are described as glancing, while Rabbi Akiva is described as entering.
3. What is the Pardes? How do we you get there?
4. Descriptions by Rabbeinu Chananel and the Maharsha as to what they each did and what went wrong (or right).

Four Who Entered the Pardes: Introduction

Chaggia 14B - Review of Previous Shiur

Chagiga 14A-B

1. There were honest people in Jerusalem only with regards to their Torah ignorance, but dishonest in business
2. Tanaaim traveling and discussing Maaseh Merkavah (Kabbalistic secrets) and the responses to their studies
3. Did these responses really occur, or were they visions?
4. Why did they see a rainbow?

Chagiga 14A - The 18 curses of Yeshaya

Chagiga 14A - The Hair and Thrones of God

1. Examining different verses about God's hair color
2. Discussion that these are visions that were planted in the brain by God and not an actual view of God
3. How man thrones are there?
4. A Kabbalistic explanation of the argument as to what the thrones symbolize
5. Discussion of the Kabbalistic concept of Malchus

Chagiga 13B - River of Fire

1. How is the river of fire created?
2. The function of the river of fire after people die
3. The connection between דונור  and ירדן
4. A suggestion as to how to connect the creation of the river and its connection to Yarden
5. The 974 lost generations...what exactly happened to them? Why?
6. Sources the explain where those generations manifested themselves in history

Chagiga 13B - The Wings of Angels

1. Which wings were missing from the angels after the Churban (destruction)
2. The symbolism of the missing wings according to the GR"A and Michtav M'Eliyahu
3. The symbolism of the missing wings according to R' Chaim Vital
4. The explanation of the Malbi"m as to the function of the wings covering the face and legs
5. Each experience of prayer and Mitzvah should have a different intent

Chagiga 13B - The Four Faces of the Merkavah (chariot)

1. Explanation of the Malbim with regards to the symbolism of each face (sidebar discussion on the need to create vessels (כלים) in order to receive Chesed (God's kindness)
2. The symbolic explanation of the Shela HaKadosh as to finding the name of Avrohom in the faces of the Merkavah
3. A suggestion as to the distinction between the big and little faces on the Merkavah

Chagiga 13B - Yeshaya and Yechezkel

Chagiga 13B - Yeshaya and Yechezkel

1. The distinction between what they each saw
2. Seeing the chariot
3. What could be seen during Temple times vs. what could be seen subsequently
4. The king of the animals...
5. What is real wealth

Chagiga 13B - Chashmal and the Malach Sandal--Phon (SP)

Chagiga 13B - Chashmal and the Malach Sandal--Phon (SP)

1. Times when Creation cannot express itself, times when it finds its individuality and expression
2. Chashmal - finding the place of choice within all the noise and storm
3. Explanation of the four worlds and the place of Chayos and Ofanim and their relationship with each other.
4. Why the Malach SP is referred to as Echad. What is his role within existence
5. What does the name SP mean? How does he bring prayers to God?

Chagiga 13A- 4

Chagiga 13A - 4

1. Review of discussion of age-appropriateness for Kabbalah study
2. What is חשמל - Chashmal
3. Explanation of Pesukim of Maaseh Merkavah

Chagiga 13A - 3

1. The appropriate age at which to study the deeper portions of the Torah
2. Creating a vessel (כלי) for one's knowledge
3. Did Rav Yosef mislead the Savi D'Pumbedisa? When would misleading be permitted? The slippery slope.

Chagiga 13A - 2

Chagiga 13A - 2

1. Teaching Torah to an Akum
2. Tosefos...and issues of Lifnei Eever
3. Maharsha - prohibition only applies to secrets of Torah
4. The approach of the B'er Sheva
5. Who, and at what age, is fit to study Kabbalah
6. Maharsha - Discussion on the balance between studying Kabbalah and other topics 

Chagiga 13A - 1

Chagiga 13A - 1

1. The relationship between Nimrod and Nevuchadnezzar
2. How "large" are the spiritual worlds
3. Rabbeinu Chananel explaining that these are not logical constructs but traditions received during Temple times
4. What are the qualifications for a student of the secrets of the Torah

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven - Concluding Overview

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven - Concluding Overview

1. Explanation of GR"A/Michtav M'Eliyahu as to how the seven heavens relate to ascending in spiritual stature. Comparison to יעלה ויבא
2. When we are taught to refrain from studying certain topics it does not include studying Kabbalah, on the contrary, one should.
3. Maharsha on scientific dilettantes 

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven - Part IV

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven - Part IV

1. The final five "heavens"
2. Review of some of the points made last week
3. Discussion of the nature of the טל ("dew") that will resurrect the dead

Chagiga 12b - 7th Heaven - Part III

Chagiga 12b - 7th Heaven - Part III

1. Understanding what are the 2nd through 5th heavens
2. The need to chew over things in order to get to the kernel of truth and understanding inside
3. Why is that all of these discussions have ended up in Chagiga. What is the connection?
4. Understanding the Brocha of שהשמחה במעונו
5. The question of the Chid"a on the issue of not interrupting Torah study

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven Part II

Chagiga 12B - Seventh Heaven Part II

1. Review of previous Gemara
2. Discussion of why we would have thought that שמים וארץ were divine names
3. Explanation of the Tzaddik as the foundation of the world
4. The Seven Heavens
5. Review of Ramaak and Maharsha who say they are spiritual, not physical
6. Rabbeinu Chananel who says that these are part of our Oral Tradition and not logically derived from verses
7. וילון and how it relates to the Sefirot
8. How does the "Vilon" cause there to be light, machlokes Rashi and Tosefos

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven

Chagiga 12B - 7th Heaven

Chagiga 12B - The Pillars of the Earth

Chagiga 12B - 1: The Pillars of the Earth

1. Why does the Torah twice insert the word את when describing Creation
2. On what does the world stand? Is this literal or metaphorical?
3. The need for scientific inquiry

Chagiga 12A - Which Came First?

Chagiga 12A  - Shiur 5  Which Came First?

1. Which was created first, the heavens or the earth?
2. How do we understand Machlokes in Agadta?
3. The etymology of the word שמים

Chagiga 12A- 4: the Name Shin-Dalet-Yud

Chagiga 12A - 4: The Name Shin-Dalet-Yud

1. Review of ten things with which the world was created
2. The world at Creation was expanding until God shouted at it and it stood still
3. The name Shadai means that he told the world "Enough!"
4. Explanation of the metaphor of the two spools of warp thread
5. Finding the balance between Chesed and Din
6. The relationship between the word שם (name) and two names of God
7. Each person has this desire to expand infinitely within
8. The expansion was taking the world further from God to allow room for people to exist, but hiding God's presence
9. For each person there is a limit to what he can do

Chagiga 12A- Shiur 3

Chagiga 12A-3

1. Review of Tohu VaVohu - added possible explanation for why בהו is described as "wet" stones from which "water" emanates
2. The light created on Day One was hidden away.
3. Explanation of the light and why hidden.
4. The ten things with which the world was created.
5. Comparisons with the Ten Sefirot
6. Why is Daat sometimes included among the Sefirot and other times it is replaced by Keter
7. Discussion that concepts are dynamic and not static and their status is dependent on a particular relationship

Chagiga 12A - Tohu VaVohu

Chagiga 12A - Tohu VaVohu

1. Review of 10 things created on Day One
2. Discussion about  חשך Choshech-Darkness
3. The Gemara defines and describes תהו ובהו - Tohu Vavohu
4. Comparing scientific description of existence at the beginning of the Universe and the description in the Torah
5. Raavad and Sefer HaBahir on Tohu
6. Rav Asher Yeshaya Zelig Margolis on Tohu, Binah and the Green Line
7. Discussion about the three upper Sefirot of Keser, Chochma, Bina

Chagiga 12A - Shiur 1

Chagiga 12A

1. Adam reached the heavens in height and stretched from one end of the world to the other.
2. The Gemara says these measures are identical. In what way is that so?
3. The mutual-reflection of the physical and spiritual worlds
4. Tosefos: What is hidden within the name ש-ד-י
5. Ten things created on Day One
6. What is Darkness

Chagiga 11B - Shiur 6

Chagiga 11B-12A

1. The source for the prohibition to explore outside the Universe
2. How big was Adam HaRishon
3. Is the prohibition referring to spiritual exploration or physical?
4. The Ariza"l extended the limits of what was considered acceptable in Kabbalistic study
5. Parallels between spiritual and scientific existence and inquiry

Chagiga 11B - Shiur 5

Chagiga 11B

1. Review of reason why עריות cannot be taught to three people
2. Discussion of why the lust for sex is more powerful than the lust for money
3. Discussion of what it means to give to God, God's perfection, Creation/Tzimtzum, the Schechina
4. Initial exploration of the Pesukim that limit our inquiry to within the Universe and not beyond

Chagiga 11B - Why Can't עריות (forbidden relationships) be taught to more than two people?

Chagiga 11b

1. Gemara's analysis as to why עריות, forbidden sexual relationships, should not be taught to more than two people at once.
2. A discussion about the proper pedagogical methods to prevent students from getting distracted.
3. Discussion about the meaning of the "Secrets of Forbidden Relationships." Is this referring to Halachic points, or spiritual secrets?

Chagiga 11b 3

Chagiga 11b

Review of Mishna

Begin Gemara's analysis of Mishna:

1. Gemara always focuses on clarifying ambiguous words in the Mishna prior to analyzing the source of the Halacha
2. Understanding how many people are being taught in the scenarios in the Mishna
3. Initial attempts at finding the source for the prohibition of discussing the laws of forbidden relationships to groups larger than three

Chagiga 11b. Continuation of the Mishna

Chagiga 11b. Continuation of the Mishna:

1. Is everything to be taken literally or metaphorically?
2. An exploration of the 42 letter name of God

Chagiga, Second Perek, First Mishna

Second Perek of Chagiga, First Mishna:

• Review of Introduction to the Perek
• Discussion about the concepts of Chesed and Din
• Explanation of Maaseh Berishis and Maaseh Merkava
• Explanation of Tohu and Tikun

 

Introduction to Second Chapter of Chagiga

Introduction to Second Chapter of Tractate Chagiga, covering:

1. The Ramchal's approach to understanding Agaddah 
2. Introduction to Kabbalah 
3. Introduction to the Sefirot