Author Archives: David Sedley

Taamei HaMitzvos 08

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Rationality Gives G-d Honour

Rabbi Triebitz learns through section III; chapter 30 and section III; chapter 31. Rambam looks at the book of agriculture of the Sabbateans and shows how G-d based His Torah on their rituals and beliefs. Torah and mitzvos come as an antidote to idolaty, and therefore share many similarities with contemporaneous pagan practices, rituals and beliefs.

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

[flv:/mnt/mnt_08.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 08

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Taamei HaMitzvos 08
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Taamei HaMitzvos 08

Leshem Shiur 06

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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

Taamei HaMitzvos 07

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Antidote to Avoda Zara

Rabbi Triebitz reads through section III; chapter 29, about Avraham Avinu, the difference between him and Moshe Rabbeinu, and how the mitzvos are the means to get away from Avoda Zara and allow one to do the true service of G-d which is just love and fear.

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[flv:/mnt/mnt_07.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 07

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Taamei HaMitzvos 07
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Taamei HaMitzvos 07

Leshem Shiur 05

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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

Taamei HaMitzvos 06

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The Sources of Monotheism

In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz uses Rambam in section III; chapter 29 in order to understand the textual underpinnings of Jewish monotheism. His reading of the Biblical text is a direct response to the claims of Biblical criticism that there is no source for the common belief that Avraham Avinu is the founder of monotheism.

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[flv:/mnt/mnt_06.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 06

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Taamei HaMitzvos 06
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Taamei HaMitzvos 06

Taamei HaMitzvos 05

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Olam HaBa – disembodied intellect

In this shiur Rabbi Triebitz uses a careful reading of Rambam section III; chapter 27 and section III; chapter 28 as a means of elucidating Rambam’s understanding of the fundamental issues of Olam HaBa (world to come), Techias HaMeisim (resurrection of the dead) and Yemos HaMashiach (the messianic era). His reading ties together Rambam’s discussion of these ideas in hilchos teshuva and hilchos melachim, introduction to Chelek and the letter to Luniel.

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

[flv:/mnt/mnt_05.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 05

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Taamei HaMitzvos 05
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Taamei HaMitzvos 05

Leshem Shiur 04

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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

Taamei HaMitzvos 04

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Rambam vs. Ramban

For many people the main knowledge of Moreh Nevuchim is when the Ramban on Chumash quotes him. The discussion of Taamei HaMitzvos is in Ramban’s commentary on Devarim 22:6 (p. 448-9 in the Chavel edition). Common wisdom has it that they disagree about whether or not there are reasons for the mitzvot.

Rabbi Triebitz learns the correct understanding in the argument between Rambam and Ramban. Rabbi Triebitz shows why this is clearly a false understanding, and goes on to explain the real point of machlokes between them.

It turns out that their real argument is the limits of negative theology, and whether mitzvot are acts of G-d, or creations of G-d.

Rabbi Triebitz then continues with section III; chapter 27 in Moreh Nevuchim.

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

[flv:/mnt/mnt_04.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 04

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Taamei HaMitzvos 04
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Taamei HaMitzvos 04

Leshem Shiur 03

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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

Taamei HaMitzvos 03

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General and Details, Reasons and Random

This shiur is on section III; chapter 26 in Moreh Nevuchim.

Rambam explains a statement of Chazal which appears to contradict his principle that there are reasons for the mitzvot. He resolves this by explaining that although the general principle of the mitzvot are rational, the details are arbitrary and without reason.

Rabbi Triebitz explains this dichotomy with reference to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle and quantum mechanics. But don’t worry if you don’t understand the physics, everything is explained in the end.

If you don’t believe me you can listen to it yourself.

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

[flv:/mnt/mnt_03.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 03

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Taamei HaMitzvos 03
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Taamei HaMitzvos 03