Rabbi Ashlag

What does the prayer “Write me in the book of life” really mean for me?

by Yedidah September 24, 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:34 — 13.5MB)

Can we say the prayer “ write us in the book of life” wholeheartedly? Most of us would simply say yes. But Rabbi Ashlag finds that this is not such a simple prayer as it seems on the surface. Life, does not refer to just physical life but actually means loving unconditionally and wishing to do good unconditionally. Which part of ourselves can sign up to that wholeheartedly, and what holds us back? The work of Elul for the High Holidays.

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Redemption: the Essence of Shavuot

by Yedidah June 7, 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:08 — 18.6MB)

Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, shares the same essence as that of the day of the final redemption, when all the tikkun of Creation will be complete, and the “Earth will be filled with the knowledge of God as the water covers the sea.” What are the elements that demonstrate this, and what is our role in bringing this great day nearer? A talk from the Zohar and the commentary of Rabbi Ashlag.

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Give us the Truth of Ya’acov: True Intentions Disguised by Actions

by Yedidah November 9, 2018

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:29 — 22.5MB)

The Zohar on the story of Jacob and Esau opens us to the real intentions of our forefather Jacob. We discover that his only desire was to bring righteousness about and to help Esau despite himself.

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Not Taking Torah Literally!

by Yedidah January 26, 2018

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:02 — 16.6MB)

The Zohar itself declares we should not use the Torah as telling literal stories. These are its words:
Rabbi Shimon said: “Woe to the man who says that the Torah comes to tell literal stories and stories of people like Esau and Laban and such like. For if this were so, even in these times we could make a Torah out of the words of ordinary people — even nicer stories than these.”
In this podcast we look at Rabbi Ashlag’s disappointment to such a use of the Kabbalah and how it fueled his resolve to bring out the true wisdom of the Torah for all .

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Root and Branch: The Language of Kabbalah

by Yedidah November 23, 2017

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:56 — 13.8MB)

When we read books of kabbalah, as for example English translations of the Zohar , or look at diagrams of the Sephirot, we often end up more puzzled than enlightened. This is because Kabbalah actually uses a specific language.

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The Words, Letters, and Sentences that Make up our Lives

by Yedidah June 19, 2017

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 15:38 — 14.4MB)

The words of the Torah are the vessels for its wisdom. They are written as black letters on the white parchment . The white is the light of the wisdom of the Torah, but if it were not for the letters we would not know what it says. Similarly our lacks and desires make up the words of our lives. By learning the meanings of the words of the Torah and of the Kabbalah we can understand our own desires more accurately . We look at “zivug”, the union of opposites and see how it applies to relationships.

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