Pardes of the Parsha: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz
Take a stroll every week into the Torah portion of the week, and see how the 4 layers of the Parsha, the Peshat, Remez, Drush, and Sod intermingle to reveal a beautiful orchard. A refreshing view of the Pardes (orchard) will give you the proper view of your present life conditions
BASED ON THE TEACHINGS OF R' YOCHANAN ZWEIG. WHAT DOOES IT MEAN TO BE AN "ADAM"? THE GREATEST BLESSING IS TO BE AN "ADAM" . THE GREATEST CURSE IS TO LOSE YOUR HUMANNESS.
BASED ON THE NOVEL INTERPRETATION OF R' MOSHE WOLFSON WHO EXPLAINS THE CONFLICTING TALMUDIC STATEMENTS IF THE BEN SORER U'MOREIR EVER HAPPENED ; AND WHAT THE TALMUD MEANS THAT THE BEN SORER U'MOREIR IS BETTER OF DYING INNOCENT INSTEAD OF DYING GUILTY.
WHY DID YAAKOV NOT MAKE MAKE A TREATY WITH AVIMELECH ? WHY DOES THE MIDRASH CONSIDER YAAKOV AS HAVING TO GO INTO GALUS BECAUSE HE INADVERTENTLY KILLED EISAV ? HOW WAS YAAKOV ABLE TO RAISE ALL HIS CHILDREN ON THE PATH OF JUDAISM. LERAN ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PUSHING AWAY EVIL VS. TRANSFORMING EVIL.
Why does the Talmud learn the laws of Marriage from the Burial of Sarah? 5 explanations based on a Pardes understanding of Marriage & Chasidic understanding of the first Mishne in Tractate Kiddushin.
How can we provide hospitality to guests nowadays during our affluent times ? Why does the Rambam rule that escorting a guest is greater than providing him with hospitality ? How can we bestow kindness upon a person, if that very kindness will cause him great pain ? We will explore Rav Dovid Kronglass' explanation of his understanding of the Rambam.
How is it possible that Avram would ask Sarah to say that "You are my sister" - putting her in grave danger? Is this the type of role model we are looking for in a husband ? Why are these words part of the first words which the Torah records Avraham as saying? What is the difference between the relationship of a spouse and that of a sibling ?
AN ANALYSIS OF WHEN TO APPLY THE STATEMENT OF THE BA'AL SHEM TOV: "SEEING THE EVIL IN OTHERS IS A MIRROR OF YOUR OWN EVIL." PERHAPS SEEING THE EVIL IN OTHERS IS MEANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF YOUR REQUIREMENT TO REBUKE OTHERS?. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT HASHEM'S INTENTION IS WHEN YOU SEE THE EVIL ? THE ANSWER LIES IN ANALYZING THE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT NOACH'S SONS REACTED TO HIS INDISCRETION AFTER HIS DRUNKENNESS.
Ba'al Hatanya encourages people who feel like the "hated spouse" in their relationship with Hashem, and should realize that the very problems with their Avodas Hashem are the solutions that will give him the "double portion" in bringing the Moshiach.
HOW DO THE 3 MITZVOS OF A JEWISH KING RELATE TO OUR LIVES ? WHY DID HASHEM REVEAL THE REASONS FOR THESE MITZVOS KNOWING THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE KING SHLOMO TO FAIL? WHY DOES AKING NEED 2 SIFREI TORAH ?