Tzedaka as a key to building mitzva momentum.
This drasha was originally delivered on Shabbat Parshat Ki Tetze, Elul 5771, and was recorded on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
The haftara of Parshat Ki Tisa recalls the tensions within the Jewish People, and the manner in which Eliyahu, Moshe--and Ovadia--each grapple with the problem in the aftermath of an historic episode in Jewish History.
(Please note that the conclusion draws together the ideas of the shiur.)
The bestowal of the neshama yeteira reflects the renewal from above that is bestowed on the Bnei Yaakov every shabbat when they join with their 'father' identity Yisrael.
Despite the differences in their paths to serving Hashem, all of Bnei Yisrael unifies in the context of His revealed presence--whether in the space of the Beit HaMikdash, or within the time frame of Shabbat.
The inherent duality (shniyut) within the human being of the yetzer hatov (good inclination) and the yetzer hara (evil inclination)--and a vision of the end of the days of duality ("miketz shnatayim yamim") by experiencing peace and coming to realize the illusory nature of evil. Can we catch a glimpse of this every seventh day on Shabbat?
In memory of my grandmother, Eva Filler, Chava Bracha bat Ben-Tzion Halevi z"l.The relationship between Shabbat and Tosefet Shabbat: properly anticipating the onset of shabbat is an even greater challenge than experiencing Shabbat itself. Even though this sense of anticipation is a "child" of Shabbat, it exists independently. As such, it must be developed in its own right, during the mundane days of the week.
Refining the physical self establishes a balance between the body and the soul, which is experienced each shabbat via the neshama yeteira (additional soul)--depending on the degree of striving throughout the previous six days of the week.
The be'er mayim chaim (well of living waters) lies just beneath a large stone. On Shabbat, the mouth of the well is revealed to the world, providing ease of access to its depth. Those who live on a high spiritual plane--following the lead of Yaakov/Yisrael--can behold the imprint of Shabbat upon the rest of the days of the week.
The link between wearing distinctive clothing in honor of Shabbat, and the garments of the soul that result from good deeds.
Avraham blesses everything in the world, and this ability stems from Hashem's blessing of each of the avot with the attribute of kol (everything). We refer to these Divine blessings as ba-kol, mi-kol, kol, based on psukim (verses) that invoke these words in the context of each of the avot (Bava Batra 17a). Each of the avot are represented by each of the three shabbat meals on Shabbat--the day Hashem blesses as the day of the week which holds the blessing of shalom (peace). Shabbat Shalom.