Amdur on Yechezkel: Recent Episodes
Larry Loewenthal
Rabbi Harry Amdurer's series of shiurim on Sefer Yechezkel, sponsored by the Loewenthal family of Ra'anana, Israel in memory of Larry's parents Erry S. Loewenthal and Renee T. Loewenthal אפרים שמואל בן אברהם אריה הכהן ז״ל וחיה טובה בת אליעזר מנדל הכהן ז״ל
For the first time Yechezkel talks about the time of the Moshiach. He also continues the comparison between the Jews of Yehuda and those of the Northern Kingdom and the People of Sodom and Gomorrah
.
A discussion of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah
and why they were destroyed as compared to the Jews of Yehuda who in many ways were worse but were only exiled.
The parato ble continues comparing the Israelites to the Edomites and the Hittites and Sodom and Gemorrah!
God states that the Nation has stooped so low that they have to pay tp serve as a "harlot" (Avodah Zorah)
Continuing the March through Jewish history starting with King Achaz up to the Philistines.
God finishes reviewing the positive portion of the Jewish History and then starts the Fall and how they turned to idol worship
.
Further analysis of the baby growing up being a young woman who represents Israel and God's love for her.
Discussion of the fire that will devour the people. Also introduction to the next chapter.
Why is Iyov included with Noach and Daniel? Answered in this shiur and discussion of reincarnation.
Discussion of benching Gommel, four types of warnings and a discussion of three special people: Noach, Daniel and Job.
For the false prophets, the walls they create will fall upon them, the rains will fall and hailstones will rain down.
Yachezkel is given 2 new prophecies both basically telling the People that the time is here; no more delaying the destruction and exile as prophesied
.
God tells Yechezkel that a remnant of the Jewish People will be left to tell the world about Hashem.
Yechezkel is commanded to dig through the wall and carry out his articles of exile on his shoulders.
God tells Yechezkel to appear to the Jews as someone who has been exiled. Since they are not changing their ways since hearing the last prophecy, God chooses a different direction.
God promises to remove man's heart of stone (Yetzer Harrah) and replace with heart of flesh (Yetzer Tov)
God says in the lands to which they have been expelled, they will have a small sanctuary and God will return them to Israel.
The Jerusalemites declare that the Land of Israel has been given to them as an inheritance.
Yechezkel's vision continues and he now sees the faces of the 25 leaders who were practicing avodah zara and he tells them of the destruction of Yerushalayim and God has a special plan for them.
And God spoke but the sound only extended to the outer courtyard. And God commanded the man in linen to take the fire.
And the house with the Kiruvim was filled with a cloud and the court was filled with God's brightness.
Discussion of the Even Sapir and God's instruction to Gavriel to take hot stones from the Keruvim and throw them on yerushalayim
God has no pity on the people and the man (Angel) says he has carried out God's wishes. (Or has he!)
God has said that He will destroy the righteous with the wicked because they didn't admonish the People. This shiur has a lengthy discussion about when we are supposed to admonish our fellow Jew.
God tells the man in white to mark a Tax on the righteous people and then tells the 6 angels to destroy everyone else.
Chapter finishes with God stating that do to the previously stated abominations, the destruction is at hand.
God shows Yechezkel the fourth vision of about 25 men inside the Beit Hamikdash bowing down to the sun with their rears to the Kodesh Kedoshim.
God continues showing Yechezkel a vision in the Beit Hamikdash of more idols and the 70 elders offering incense.
Hashem takes Yechezkel by the Tzitzit of his hair and shows him the Beit Hamikdash with an Idol stand at the Entrance of Offerings.
Chapter 8 begins with an introduction to a prophecy of Yechezkel 15 months after his prophecy of the Merkava.
The people's gold and silver will be worthless , it will be unclean and given to strangers.
Total despair and paralysis will overtake the people and their gold and silver will not help them.
The rod blossoming is a connection to Korach and Aaron's staff giving forth almonds, which here symbolize a hastening for the destruction and punishment of the Jewish Nation.
God uses two terms for mercy (תחוס ואחמול) and leaves out one (רחמים). Reasons explained in this shiur.
God states that all with suffer both near and for and they shall know that He is Hashem.
God says he will destroy the mountains and the hills. The mountains refer to the Avot and the hills to the emahot.
The Maggid Shiur spent most of this session on passuk 12 and discussed his views on divided the punishment into 3 parts and comparing them to the destruction of the 1st Beit Hamikdash, the 2nd Beit Hamikdash and the present.
God tells Yechezkel a very dark message with the punishments that He is going to mete out to the Jews.
Deeper study of what the Jews are doing so badly that the Temple will be destroyed and they will go into exile.
Yechezkel states he never ate unclean food or improper sacrifices or questionable kashrut.
Yechezkel is to bind himself with ropes and then is instructed what to eat starting with a bread made from various grains.
Finish discussing the meaning of lying 390 years on Yachezkel's left side and 40 years on his right side including a minority view of the Abarbanel.
In depth understanding of why God tells Yechezkel to lie on his left side for 390 days and right side for 40 days.
Finish discussion of the Shamir and God instructs Yechezkel to speak what God says in his heart and to hear with his ears.
Hashem prepares Yechezkel for a very ominous prophecy and the Jewish people won't listen whereas were they other nations, they would.
Chapter 2 finishes with a discussion of why good people suffer in this world, why bad people have reward in this world and what is the punishment for evil doers. Chapter 3 begins with God commending Yechezkel to eat, God essentially force feeding Yechezkel to eat and Yechezkel eating and finding the food sweet.
Discussion of scroll Yechezkel is shown and surface area of universe compared to that of the Torah. Also explanation the the פרדס.
God tells Yechezkel that no matter what the Jewish people do, it is too late and the Temple will be destroyed and they will be expelled from the land. He states that the Jews are rebellious and arrogant but that he is still sending them a Prophet.
Discussion of humility of Yechezkel and Moshe, Meaning of Midaber referring to yechezkel overhearing Hashem speaking to himself, so to speak and the fact that the Jews were not just sinners but rebellious.
The fire and ice from the Re'kiya represents combination of the physical and the spiritual.
This verse shows that what emanates from above (God's Will) in the spiritual world down to the physical world also goes in reverse.
Further description of the relationship of the Chayot and the Ofanim and the interaction with God's Will.
Description of wings and 4 faces as compared to primordial man with 2 faces and man/woman after the separation with 1 face.
Completion of verse 10 with understanding layout of Beit Hamikdash as compared to the Merkava
Continuing discussion of the 4 faces of the Chariot and an introduction to four directions as related to the Beit Hamikdash
Discussion of the hands and wings of the creatures and beginning discussion of the faces.
Description of 4 Beings on the Mirkava and the meaning of the difference in the wings between Yechezkel's vision and that of Yeshiyahu. Also a discussion of the legs.
Continuation of last weeks discussion of verse #4 understanding the various levels surrounding the Chasmal.
This shiur reviews the Jewish timeline around and during the time of Yechezkel and briefly reviews when he lived.
This is the 2nd in what will now be a 3 part introduction to Sefer Yechezkel. The remaining parts will be including as we discuss the text itself.
This is the first of 4-8 shiurim that will deal with important aspects of the Oral Law that we ned to understand in order to appreciate Sefer Yachezkel (Ezekial)