B"H 0:00:00 Introduction 0:02:52 What is Chassidut? 0:03:58 What is “a Crooked Thing that Cannot be Straightened”? (Chagigah 9a) 0:04:55 Necessity of a Daily Structured Torah Study Program 0:07:44 Torah Study is The Ultimate Way to Serve Your Creator 0:08:27 Learning Torah Compared to Other Mitzvot (Peah 1:1) 0:10:12 Evil Inclination Works Extra Hard to Get a Person to do Anything Except Learn Torah 0:11:15 A Person's Evil Inclination Seeks to Kill Him; Only G-d's Help Can Overpower It (Kiddushin 30b) 0:24:30 Imagine Yetzer Hara as a Giant Kozak with an Ax Trying to Behead You (Admor MiKotz) 0:25:43 If Someone Comes to Kill You, Anticipate Him and Kill Him First (Berachos 58a) 0:28:10 If He is Stone, He Will Dissolve, and If He is Iron, He Will Shatter (Kiddushin 30b) 0:29:02 An Avreich Survives False Imprisonment and Torture Through Hidden Torah Study 0:33:04 Rabbi Akiva Compares a Jew Without Torah to a Fish Out of Water (Berachos 61b) 0:41:58 Dancing Before Death 0:45:48 Leaving Torah Due to Challenges is a Facade; the Real Reason is Pursuing One's Lusts 0:48:01 Hashem's Decreed Challenges are a Path to Reward When Overcome 0:50:52 More Effort is Required to Go Back, as Yetzer Hara Fights Harder and Challenges Intensify 0:52:31 As Long as Fins are Moving, There's Still Life (Shabbos 107b) 0:57:27 If a Person Does Teshuvah but Lacks Daily Torah Study, They Boil Like a Frog 1:01:56 Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Addresses Students of the Possibilities of Torah Study 1:06:39 What is “a Crooked Thing that Cannot be Straightened”? (cont.) 1:10:32 Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev Addresses the Punishment of a Heretic Who Wrote a Book 1:20:23 Be'Ezrat HaShem: Hanukkah Campaign
IYH FAQ: Torah Study and the Evil Inclination 1. Why is daily Torah study so important, even for people who aren't Torah scholars? Daily Torah study is vital for all Jews, regardless of their background or profession. It's not just a recommendation or a hobby, but the ultimate way to serve God and connect with Him. The Torah is compared to a life-giving elixir, providing spiritual strength and protection against the negative influences of the evil inclination (yetzer hara). 2. How does the yetzer hara try to prevent us from studying Torah? The yetzer hara works tirelessly to distance us from God by tempting us with various distractions. It can be subtle, urging us to skip prayers or blessings, or more overt, presenting seemingly appealing opportunities that lead us away from Torah study. It waits for the moment we decide to engage in Torah and bombards us with distractions to derail our efforts. 3. What is the analogy of the "dancing fish" and what does it teach us about the dangers of abandoning Torah study? The "dancing fish" analogy illustrates how the yetzer hara deceives those who abandon Torah study. A fish out of water may appear to be dancing, but it's actually dying. Similarly, those who leave the path of Torah may appear happy, but they are spiritually dying. The yetzer hara shows us these "dancing fish" to entice us to join them, leading us further away from God. 4. What does the story of Rabbi Akiva and Papus Ben Yehuda teach us about the importance of Torah study even in dangerous times? This story highlights the paramount importance of Torah study, even when facing persecution. Rabbi Akiva continued to teach Torah publicly despite a Roman decree forbidding it. He argued that abandoning Torah study would be like fish leaving water - certain death. Papus, initially critical, later realized the profound truth in Rabbi Akiva's words, acknowledging that being imprisoned for teaching Torah was more praiseworthy than his own self-sacrifice. 5. Why is it dangerous to assume we can abandon Torah study after reaching a certain level of religious observance? Assuming we can stop learning Torah after achieving a certain level of observance is like a frog in gradually heating water. The frog doesn't realize the danger until it's too late. Similarly, we become vulnerable to the yetzer hara's increasingly sophisticated tactics without the continuous protection and strength gained through Torah study. 6. What does it mean to say that a person who abandons Torah study becomes "crooked and cannot be straightened"? The Mishna teaches that a person who abandons Torah study becomes "crooked" because they have deviated from the straight path of God's will. Even if they return to Torah study (teshuva), they can never regain the time lost, carrying the regret of that missed opportunity. The more they advance in their learning, the more acutely they feel the pain of their previous abandonment. 7. What is the significance of the fins in the analogy of the fish taken out of water on Shabbat? The fins, in this context, represent the tools and capabilities we have to return to Torah study after straying. As long as our "fins" are still functional, we have the potential to return. However, when we lose hope and believe there's no way back, we become like a fish with dried-up fins, unable to swim back to the life-giving water of Torah. 8. How can we apply the lessons learned about the importance of Torah study to our own lives? We must prioritize Torah study, making it an integral part of our daily routine. We should constantly seek to deepen our understanding and connection with God through learning. Recognize that the yetzer hara is relentless in its attempts to distract us and remain vigilant against its tactics. Finally, remember that the Torah is an endless source of wisdom and guidance, providing us with the tools to navigate life's challenges and fulfill our purpose in this world.
happy chanukah rabbi its rivkah from torah who dont wanna be me but am me and cant change the fact nor my name rebecca Eshter devorah noa elyahu ezekial garfunkel tribe of judah house of david carrier of elohim gene dna of immortsality the holy jewish grail the forbidden fruit for machiach only in emily dickinson poetry i learn torah am torah love moshe
Thank u for this shiur. The star analogy was great....n the fish parable
Happy Chanukah Rabbi Reuven, and also thank you for this lecture. Baruch Hashem. 🙏🏽
Thank you Rabbi!
CHAZAK U'BARUCH Rav!
Baruch HaShem
Amazing
❤B'H Blessed Be The GREAT-NAME ❤🎉🎉🎉
B"H
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:52 What is Chassidut?
0:03:58 What is “a Crooked Thing that Cannot be Straightened”? (Chagigah 9a)
0:04:55 Necessity of a Daily Structured Torah Study Program
0:07:44 Torah Study is The Ultimate Way to Serve Your Creator
0:08:27 Learning Torah Compared to Other Mitzvot (Peah 1:1)
0:10:12 Evil Inclination Works Extra Hard to Get a Person to do Anything Except Learn Torah
0:11:15 A Person's Evil Inclination Seeks to Kill Him; Only G-d's Help Can Overpower It (Kiddushin 30b)
0:24:30 Imagine Yetzer Hara as a Giant Kozak with an Ax Trying to Behead You (Admor MiKotz)
0:25:43 If Someone Comes to Kill You, Anticipate Him and Kill Him First (Berachos 58a)
0:28:10 If He is Stone, He Will Dissolve, and If He is Iron, He Will Shatter (Kiddushin 30b)
0:29:02 An Avreich Survives False Imprisonment and Torture Through Hidden Torah Study
0:33:04 Rabbi Akiva Compares a Jew Without Torah to a Fish Out of Water (Berachos 61b)
0:41:58 Dancing Before Death
0:45:48 Leaving Torah Due to Challenges is a Facade; the Real Reason is Pursuing One's Lusts
0:48:01 Hashem's Decreed Challenges are a Path to Reward When Overcome
0:50:52 More Effort is Required to Go Back, as Yetzer Hara Fights Harder and Challenges Intensify
0:52:31 As Long as Fins are Moving, There's Still Life (Shabbos 107b)
0:57:27 If a Person Does Teshuvah but Lacks Daily Torah Study, They Boil Like a Frog
1:01:56 Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Addresses Students of the Possibilities of Torah Study
1:06:39 What is “a Crooked Thing that Cannot be Straightened”? (cont.)
1:10:32 Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev Addresses the Punishment of a Heretic Who Wrote a Book
1:20:23 Be'Ezrat HaShem: Hanukkah Campaign
@@brians5122 just the perfect descriptions and sources. CHAZAK U'BARUCH Brian!
@@naasehvnishmaJH87 Thank you for the kind chizuk. Truly appreciated!
IYH FAQ: Torah Study and the Evil Inclination
1. Why is daily Torah study so important, even for people who aren't Torah scholars?
Daily Torah study is vital for all Jews, regardless of their background or profession. It's not just a recommendation or a hobby, but the ultimate way to serve God and connect with Him. The Torah is compared to a life-giving elixir, providing spiritual strength and protection against the negative influences of the evil inclination (yetzer hara).
2. How does the yetzer hara try to prevent us from studying Torah?
The yetzer hara works tirelessly to distance us from God by tempting us with various distractions. It can be subtle, urging us to skip prayers or blessings, or more overt, presenting seemingly appealing opportunities that lead us away from Torah study. It waits for the moment we decide to engage in Torah and bombards us with distractions to derail our efforts.
3. What is the analogy of the "dancing fish" and what does it teach us about the dangers of abandoning Torah study?
The "dancing fish" analogy illustrates how the yetzer hara deceives those who abandon Torah study. A fish out of water may appear to be dancing, but it's actually dying. Similarly, those who leave the path of Torah may appear happy, but they are spiritually dying. The yetzer hara shows us these "dancing fish" to entice us to join them, leading us further away from God.
4. What does the story of Rabbi Akiva and Papus Ben Yehuda teach us about the importance of Torah study even in dangerous times?
This story highlights the paramount importance of Torah study, even when facing persecution. Rabbi Akiva continued to teach Torah publicly despite a Roman decree forbidding it. He argued that abandoning Torah study would be like fish leaving water - certain death. Papus, initially critical, later realized the profound truth in Rabbi Akiva's words, acknowledging that being imprisoned for teaching Torah was more praiseworthy than his own self-sacrifice.
5. Why is it dangerous to assume we can abandon Torah study after reaching a certain level of religious observance?
Assuming we can stop learning Torah after achieving a certain level of observance is like a frog in gradually heating water. The frog doesn't realize the danger until it's too late. Similarly, we become vulnerable to the yetzer hara's increasingly sophisticated tactics without the continuous protection and strength gained through Torah study.
6. What does it mean to say that a person who abandons Torah study becomes "crooked and cannot be straightened"?
The Mishna teaches that a person who abandons Torah study becomes "crooked" because they have deviated from the straight path of God's will. Even if they return to Torah study (teshuva), they can never regain the time lost, carrying the regret of that missed opportunity. The more they advance in their learning, the more acutely they feel the pain of their previous abandonment.
7. What is the significance of the fins in the analogy of the fish taken out of water on Shabbat?
The fins, in this context, represent the tools and capabilities we have to return to Torah study after straying. As long as our "fins" are still functional, we have the potential to return. However, when we lose hope and believe there's no way back, we become like a fish with dried-up fins, unable to swim back to the life-giving water of Torah.
8. How can we apply the lessons learned about the importance of Torah study to our own lives?
We must prioritize Torah study, making it an integral part of our daily routine. We should constantly seek to deepen our understanding and connection with God through learning. Recognize that the yetzer hara is relentless in its attempts to distract us and remain vigilant against its tactics. Finally, remember that the Torah is an endless source of wisdom and guidance, providing us with the tools to navigate life's challenges and fulfill our purpose in this world.
Baal shem tov was a famous jewsh leader and he had students
happy chanukah rabbi its rivkah from torah who dont wanna be me but am me and cant change the fact nor my name rebecca Eshter devorah noa elyahu ezekial garfunkel tribe of judah house of david carrier of elohim gene dna of immortsality the holy jewish grail the forbidden fruit for machiach only in emily dickinson poetry i learn torah am torah love moshe
As long a mamzer returns the item/s and pays 10& it's ok.