Author Archives: David Sedley

Leshem Shiur 02

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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

Taamei HaMitzvos 02

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Rational basis of the Mitzvos

This shiur continues with section III; chapter 25 in Moreh Nevuchim.

Here is a one sentence summary of the main points of the shiur from Rabbi Triebitz:

The main point that the Rambam is saying is that our belief of creation ex nihilo is not a contradiction to the idea that G-d created the world based upon a rational basis and because of that we necessarily have to understand that every act of creation has a rationale behind it – if not we make G-d into a grand cosmic idiot. In consequence we have laid the foundations for understanding that the mitzvot also have a rational basis and this is the true expression and the revelation of Toras Moshe Rabbeinu, which will be explained in detail in the remainder of Moreh Nevuchim.

Or 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_02.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 02

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Taamei HaMitzvos 02
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Taamei HaMitzvos 02

Leshem Shiur 01

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Leshem Introduction

This is Rabbi Triebitz’s introduction to the Leshem, and the Leshem’s introduction to the Hakdamos u-Shearim. (if you life in Israel you can purchase the book for around 70 shekel – http://news2.armoni.info/????_????_?????-???_???_??????_???_?-P109.aspx. In America it seems to be much more – http://nehora.com/index.cfm/product/5873)

Rabbi Triebitz explains that this series of shiurim is not a series of shiruim on kabbalah. But it is a general introduction to the concepts and ideas of kabbalah so that a person who wishes to learn kabbalah in the future will have the tools to do so.

He also explains the importance of this kind of learning. The Leshem explains that it is an important component of Torah learning, which is unfortunately ignored by many. Furthermore there are so many ideas of kabbalah and hashkafa and mysticism being touted nowadays that it is important to know what is acceptable Jewish belief and what is paganism or heresy. For the Leshem there is a very fine line between the two.

In addition to going through part of the introduction, Rabbi Triebitz makes a beginning of shaar 1. Since this is not yet available online, and you may not have had a chance (or the inclination) to purchase a copy I’m including the text here. Unfortunately I can’t get the columns to line up, so it may be a bit difficult to find the place when he skips to the second column.

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_01.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 01

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 01
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Leshem Hakdamos u-Shearim 01

Rabbi Triebitz and the Leshem

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I couldn’t resist putting this ‘mugshot’ online. Rabbi Triebitz is holding his coffee mug. The words read “I heart Leshem” (I don’t think they could fit “Leshem, Shvo ve-Achlama Hakdamot u-Shearim” on the mug). That just about sums it all up.

Hopefully the shiur will be posted online in the next couple of days.

Rabbi Triebitz and the Leshem

Rabbi Triebitz and the Leshem

Leshem Introduction

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This is the first page of the introduction of Leshem, Shvo ve-Achlama Hakdamot U-Shearim. This will be the source material for the first shiur of Rabbi Triebitz on the philosophy of the Leshem, which will hopefully be posted in a couple of days online.

Leshem Introduction

Taamei HaMitzvos 01

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Purpose of Creation

In these shiurim Rabbi Triebitz and the hashkafa circle will be examining the last section of Moreh Nevuchim (Guide for the Perplexed) in which Rambam explains the reasons for the mitzvot. These shiurim will cover the majority of section III in the Guide (iy”H).

As Rabbi Triebitz says, this part of Moreh Nevuchim is one of the least studied and most controversial sections, which is really only known to most people because parts of it are quoted by Ramban in Chumash (who argues with Maimonides).

Rambam begins section III; chapter 25 with an attack on the philosophy of the Ashariah which is an early part of the Islamic Kalam philosophy. They claim that one cannot ask “What is the purpose of creation?” Divine Will is ineffable, and cannot be questioned or understood.

Rambam takes issue with this, and explains that it is based on their lack of knowledge of science and philosophy.

However, as Rabbi Triebitz points out, Rambam himself, in Section III; chapter 13 says that one may not ask the purpose of creation!

Luckily, Rabbi Triebitz finds a resolution to this apparent contradiction.

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

[flv:/mnt/mnt_01.flv 240 180]
Video of shiur 01

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Taamei HaMitzvos 01
(you may have to right click on the link and click ‘save target as’)

Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Taamei HaMitzvos 01

Coming Attractions: Leshem and Rambam

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Next week (beginning if Iyar) we will begin again with two new series of shiurim from Rabbi Triebitz and the hashkafa circle.

On Mondays at 5:30 Rabbi Triebitz will be examining the Rambam’s explanations of taamei hamitzvos (the reasons for the mitzvos) which is the major theme of the third section of Moreh Nevuchim.

and on Thursdays, also at 5:30 Rabbi Triebitz will look at the hashkafa, philosophy and worldview of the Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv through selections from his book “Leshem Sh’vo ve-Achlama: Hakdamos U-Shearim”. Unfortunately at the moment only two of his other books are available online:
Sefer He-Biurim and Sefer Ha-Klalim
(there is a translation of part of Ha-Biurim into English on this website: www.thirtysix.org)

We are trying to get Hakdamos u-Shearim added to their website. (A word of warning – if you are looking to purchase the book make sure you don’t get one of the others by mistake – or the Shearei Leshem, which is a collection of his writings and seems to come up more often on web searches)

Here is a brief biography of the Leshem from Bezalel Naor

Rabbi Elyashev, a brilliant talmudist, had studied in the yeshivot of Minsk and Telz. After the death of Rabbi Isaac Haver (Wildman), Rabbi Elyashev emerged as the major exponent of Lithuanian Kabbalah. Rabbi Yizhak Eizik Haver of Suvalk (author of Pithei She’arim) was a student of Rabbi Menahem Mendel of Shklov, who in turn, had been apprentice to the Vilna Gaon, Rabbi Elijah, founder of the Lithuanian school of Kabbalah. (Concerning the personality of the Gaon, see the introduction of his foremost disciple, Rabbi Hayyim of Volozhin, to Be’ur ha-GRA le-Sifra di-Zeni-uta.)

There is also a Hebrew biography of him printed from pages 6-9 in Sefer Ha-Biurim.

Hopefully the shiurim will start going online next week. If you live in Yerushayalim and want to participate in the live shiurim please contact me and I will reveal the details of the ‘undisclosed location’ somewhere in Jerusalem.

Shabbat Shalom

History and Development of the Talmud 20

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Summary, History and Siyum

This shiur is basically a summary of the past 19 shiurim. Rabbi Triebitz reviews what we have covered in these shiurim, and clarifies a few points. The final date for the writing of the Talmud (and the change from an oral to a written culture) is approximately 960, just before Rabbeinu Chananel, and the Rif.

Rabbi Triebitz ends this series of shiurim discussing what mitzvah we have been doing for the past few months in learning about the history and development of the Talmud. Is it considered Talmud Torah? If not, what have we been doing and why?

This is the final shiur in this series. Hopefully we will begin a new series of shiurim after Pesach. This past series has been very successful. There has been lots of very positive feedback, and many new listeners and participants. The web site has received over 6500 hits in the past few months, which is a lot of people listening to shiurim. Baruch Hashem we have been able to spread Torah via the internet, and hopefully have encouraged people to think and to learn about Torah, history and the Talmud.

You can continue to send any questions, feedback (or donations) for Rabbi Triebitz via me. My e-mail address (one of many) is admin at hashkafacircle.com. Hopefully Rabbi Triebitz will be able to answer questions, but even if he doesn’t answer he certainly reads everything and is very keen to hear your thoughts and views.

See you all after Pesach.

[flv:/talmud/Talmud_20.flv 415 210]

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History and Development of the Talmud 20
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History and Development of the Talmud 20
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Negative Theology 20

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Rambam and Attributes – a resolution

In this final shiur Rabbi Triebitz answers the question he posed last week. He resolves the apparent contradiction in Rambam’s views of attributing qualities to G-d in a unique and original way.

In a sense this shiur is a summary of the past 20 shiurim.

Hopefully we will continue with a new series of shiurim after Pesach. Looking forward to seeing you all (and hearing from you) then.


Video of shiur 20

Click here to download the shiur as an flv file
Negative Theology 20
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Click here to download the shiur in audio mp3 format
Negative Theology 20

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