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