You will be like God

נמצאו 3 תוצאות חיפוש

1. The Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   This lesson will examine the story about the tree of knowledge. Why wasn't man created with the ability to distinguish good from bad? Why must knowledge be gained through sin? If knowledge is sinful - why was the distinction of good from bad not taken away from Adam after the sin? Why was the tree of knowledge planted? Is man similar to God only because he ate from the tree of knowledge? And was the snake correct in his assessment that Adam and Hava would not die if they ate from the tree? These questions will be explored with the help of Ramban and Abarbanel's commentaries.

2. Implications of the Akeida Part 6: The Sefat Emet on Yir'a vs. Ahava

   Rabbi Ezra Bick | 31 דקות

   We will begin by reflecting, evaluating, and developing an idea found in the commentary of the Sefat Emet to the story of the Akeida. Why does the Torah mention that Avraham saw the place from afar?  The Sefat Emet's answer is that the distance is not geographical, but rather refers to the gap  between Avrham’s own inner commitment, understanding, and attachment and the thing he was about to do. There is a tension between loving God and fearing God. Avraham, the prime example of one who worships God out of love, is ultimately praised at the end of this episode because it is now clear that he fears God, too. 

   A thought-provoking explanation of the view that God never wanted Avraham to offer Yitzhak as a sacrifice. is that Avraham was nevertheless meant to think that God was asking him to do it.

   Knowing that the strand of ahava (love) and yira (fear) are sometimes contradictory on a psychological level will help us commit ourselves to both – to do what we know is right - as we are "made in the Divine Image," but also to subject ourselves to the will of the Master of the Universe.

3. God and the Righteous: Two-Way Communication

   The Structure & Story of Book V (107-150)

   Dr. Beni Gesundheit | שעה ו- 7 דקות

   God and the Righteous: Two-Way Communication

   What can we learn from the special structure and contents of the adjacent Mizmorim 111 and 112? How can these be compared to other mizmorim in Tehillim?    

   Mizmorim 111 and 112 are arranged in the same manner and appear to have a similar message, and therefore, they are considered to be “twin” mizmorim. While Mizmor 111 praises God’s manifestation in the world, Mizmor 112 describes the qualities of the Zadik who walks in His ways (“imitatio Dei”). These two mizmorim demonstrate that God and the Zadik function as twins.

   Contextual interpretation will be used to compare the twin chapters 111-112 to Mizmor 1 and to Mizmor 119, which are all similarly structured. This comparison reflects a fascinating spiritual, religious and psychological journey.