G-d in the World

In this final shiur (for the z’man) Rabbi Triebitz shows how the philosophy of the Leshem relates to the world. He shows how the Nefesh HaChaim’s view of the world, Torah and Mitzvos is based upon the Leshem’s understanding of the spiritual world (though the Leshem came later historically, his ideas are prior).

This is a very good summary of the past 10 shiurim and the purpose in learning the kabbalistic basis of hashkafa.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_11.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 11

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 11
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 11

Leshem Shiur

Worlds within worlds.

This shiur contains what seems to me to be a lot of complex mathematics and graph plotting of different parts of worlds and souls and their extensions into other souls.

Apparently it is all very simple, but it confused me. Good luck with it.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_10.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 10

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 10
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 10

Leshem Shiur

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_09.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 09

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 09
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 09

Souls of the Worlds

Rabbi Triebitz continues learning through Leshem Shevo ve-Achlama; Hakdamos u-Shearim, shaar beis, perek gimel (and half of dalet).

We learned last time about the five levels of soul within each world – Nefesh, Ruach, Neshama, Chaya and Yechida. Three of them are immanent within each world, and two are transcendental.

This week Rabbi Triebitz explains the Leshem’s understanding of these five souls in general and in specific. Within each soul of each world there are another five levels (giving ‘nefesh of nefesh in yetzira’ etc.) which allow for Elokus within even the most non-spiritual world, and a smooth continuum of spirituality across the worlds.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_08.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 08

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 08
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 08

Physics and Metaphysics

Rabbi Triebitz discusses the Leshem’s understanding of the relationship between the physical and spritual parts of the universe and the relationship between physics and metaphysics. And how does all of this relate to man.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_07.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 07

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 07
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 07

Three Worlds, Idea, Picture, Thing

Rabbi Triebitz continues with shaar 3 of the Leshem, Shearim ve-Hakdamos. The Leshem discusses the three worlds of pirud – Beriah, Yetzirah and Assiah, and connects them to Idea, Picture and Thing. The worlds parallel each otehr in an automorphic way so that the lower worlds have the stamp of the higher worlds.

Reality is wired (and must be) so that mankind can connect everything together. Each part of reality has its existence in every world.

Then the Leshem begins talking about Partzufim as the model in each world. Man is an Olam Katan, which mirrors the whole universe within each world.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_06.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 06

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 06
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 06

Interconnectedness and Man

In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz reviews and concludes shaar beis in Leshem Shearim u-Hakdamos. He discusses the horizontal connection within worlds in addition to the vertical connection between worlds. Also, from a human perspective, G-d is always changing, as the Eternal Present, and maintaining creation, ensuring that it does not remain static.

The role of mankind in the creation and purpose of the world is also explained, in addition to the contrast and comparison with Rambam’s view that we cannot claim that the world was created for any purpose – even man. Leshem affirms that the words of Moreh Nevuchim are holy of holies, but apply before the tzimtzum.

Rabbi Triebitz emphasizes the importance of sechel and reason in understanding the world.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_05.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 05

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 05
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 05

The Creation of Worlds

In Shaar 2 the Leshem explains the process of the creation of the worlds, how the Infinite Light descends from the highest worlds to the lowest worlds through expansion and contraction.

He begins with an explanation of the dichotomy between ‘form’ and ‘matter’, ‘body’ and ‘soul’. He then talks about how the ‘matter’ of a higher world becomes the ‘form’ of a lower world.

Rabbi Triebitz shows how these ideas are rooted in the Rambam (though he never discusses this idea of tzimtzum or the declension of worlds). He also brings other sources in the Leshem that explain this idea more fully (Chidushim u-Biurim p. 12b and Sefer HaKlalim 65b). The Leshem also explains the Rambam’s idea (which was discusses in one of the previous Moreh Nevuchim shiurim) that we cannot say that G-d created the world for the sake of man, or for any specific purpose.

Finally, Rabbi Triebitz shows how this idea is related to the neo-Kantian philosophy of Hermann Cohen, and quotes from the book “Rosenzweig and Heidegger” by Peter Eli Gordon.

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_04.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 04

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 04
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 04

Four Edifices

Rabbi Triebitz continues with chapters 7 and 8 of the first section of the Leshem. He concludes building the four foundations of the Leshem’s philosophy which he began last week.

The four are:
1. everything is revelation/creation. We can’t talk about G-d at all
2. there is no metaphor or nimshal. the revelation is irreducible
3. man connects with G-d’s Will in Atizilus when learning Torah
4. through uniting with G-d’s Will man brings about the perfection of the world.

Next week we will begin with Shaar Beis (IY”H)

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_03.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 03

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 03
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 03

Kabbalah is not a metaphor

The shiur begins with Rabbi Triebitz answering some questions from last week about the opinion of the Nefesh HaChaim and also about how Rabbi Triebitz is able to learn and teach both the Leshem and the Chasidic works that come from a totally different vantage point.

Rabbi Triebitz builds three edifices which underlie the thinking of the Leshem. One, from last week, is that we can’t know anything about G-d, but that all His names are creations. Two is that Kabbalah is not a metaphor – and the Leshem attacks the Ramchal for saying that it is. The third edifice will be discussed more fully next week.

Tune in next week for another exciting episode of the Leshem

Rabbi Triebitz reads from Sefer HaKlalim and Sefer HaDeah (sorry, not available online yet).

You can watch and download the shiurim below. As always please send any comments, thoughts, ideas or criticisms to admin at hashkafacircle.com

[flv:/leshem/leshem_02.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 02

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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 02
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Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 02