Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Hanoch Teller

When the Torah tells the story of the akeida, the greatest act of Jewish heroism, it says about Avraham, “V’ani v’hanaar nelech ad koh, I and the boy will go hither.” Why does the Torah use the term “koh” and not “sham?” “Koh” is a hint for “kaf heh.” We will walk towards the 25th of Kislev.

Where did the Macabees get their extraordinary courage? Our forefather Avraham embedded it within their genes. From where did Avraham derive his strength? The midrash tells a parable of a bandit who would sit at the crossroads and ambush people as they came close. A sagacious man, who noticed that the bandit had no feet, walked over and stood behind him. The bandit could do nothing, since he could not move.

Life is really a test. The bandit is our evil inclination. The clever man is Avraham who realized that the yetzerhara has no power unless the person himself activates it. He established that wisdom for his future descendants. The Macabees understood that they were being tested. They were determined to pass with flying colors. In life, if we understand that our trials are not truly real, but rather just Hashem’s way of gauging our reaction, then the challenge of the test is greatly diminished.

Another method of handling life’s challenges is to cultivate the power of gratitude. Feeling grateful for what we have, as opposed to being miserable for what we don’t have, helps us maintain our happiness. A bracha is about appreciation. Saying a bracha and meaning it will trigger feelings of gratefulness.

Another way to stay courageous is to utilize the concept of “bashert” – destiny. Many people use bashert to blame their failings or laziness on Hashem. Rabbi Dr. David Gottlieb explains the true meaning of this concept. An ego investment is investing time, energy, and effort into something that you hope will succeed. If it doesn’t, you may feel devastated. On the other hand, if you never try you’ll never succeed. Making bashert part of your repertoire will prevent you from feeling crushed when a project fails. In a sense the person says, “It’s not me who failed, it’s just my project. I’ve done all I could. My challenge is to take the experience and apply its lessons for the future.”

A third and final idea, advocated by the Chafetz Chaim, is kaparah – atonement for sins. The next time you suffer, think “This is an atonement for my sins.” Then you will have taken a painful experience and turned it into something meaningful.

On Chanukah, let us try to implement some of these strategies in our lives so that sparks of the extraordinary courage of the Macabees remain with us throughout the year.

As Yaakov nears the land of Israel, he sends angels as messengers to his brother Esav. The Shem MiShmuel finds several aspects about this incident puzzling. Why did Yaakov tell Esav, “I had an ox and a donkey in the house of Lavan?” Additionally, since he was met by the angels of Israel while the angels of Chutz L’aaretz were still with him, he selected angels from both groups to go to Esav. Why did he need both types of angels and what was the difference between them?

The Shem MiShmuel explains that there are seven inhabited continents that comprise the world. The land of Israel is at the center with three continents on each side. Shabbat, similarly, is the focal point of the week. We prepare for Shabbat during the three days that precede it, and we bask in the glow of the previous Shabbat for the three days that follow.

The Gemara says there are weekday angels and Shabbat angels. The Shabbat angels correspond to Eretz Yisrael, and the weekday angels relate to the other six continents.

The midrash on Breishit discusses a disagreement about the day on which G-d created angels. Rabbi Yochanan maintains that they were created on the second day, while Rabbi Chanina states that they were created on the fifth day. The Shem Mishmuel suggests that both opinions are correct. An angel’s mission is to be a conduit between the spiritual world of Hashem and the physical realm of man. An angel is supposed to connect Hashem’s infinite being with our finite world. Hashem sends his spirituality down to us. We elevate our physical world, delivering it back to Him. The angels participate in this process.

The angels who were created on the second day were very close to Hashem. The physical world was just beginning to take shape. These weekday angels were charged with the mission of transporting spirituality to the physical world. On the fifth day, Hashem created the Shabbat angels who would serve man, who would be created the following day.

Man’s purpose is to activate the spiritual dimension found within the physical world, and return it to Hashem. During the week we benefit from the spiritual power brought down by the weekday angels. On Shabbat, we take all the physical struggles of the week, and with the assistance of the Shabbat angels, create a holy gift for Hashem.

This movement from spiritual to physical also applies to our world. In the six continents, the weekday angels work to bring the life giving force from the higher spheres to the lower world. In the land of Israel, where there is a yearning to connect to Hashem, the Shabbat angels help transform the physical back into spiritual.

This pattern is also found with tzaddikim. One kind of tzaddik excels in serving Hashem through prayer and kind deeds. He elevates his physical existence to spirituality. There is another kind of tzaddik who is outstanding in Torah learning. He uncovers Hashem’s manifestation of spirituality as found in the Torah, and internalizes it within his physical form.

This is what Yaakov meant when he told Esav that he had an ox and a donkey. The ox symbolizes Yosef Hatzadik, who elevated physical to spiritual. The donkey refers to Yissachar, who excelled in Torah.
There are also two types of evil. The ox corresponds to the evil person who will destroy anyone blocking his path to power. This is psychological energy, derived from the ego, flowing from above downwards. The donkey represents immorality and unbridled pleasure. This is physical energy moving up.

The Eved Hashem fights the evil of power. The Torah scholar battles the evil of immorality. Esav, whose fundamental evil was tyranny, joined hands with Yishmael, who signified physical pleasure. Therefore, Yaakov sent him a message, “I had an ox and a donkey.” In a sense he was saying, “I have Yosef and Yissachar,” who can counteract your dual evil.

Yosef and Yissachar are typical of Jews throughout the ages. As we read the parsha describing the encounter of Yaakov and Esav we can discern what our purpose is – to bring heaven to earth and earth to heaven. May we merit to succeed in our mission.

In this shiur (Torah class) on Parshat Vayishlach,  Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the concept of Kever Rachel, and why Rachel is buried “baderech,” on the way.  This Torah class is available online in streaming video and for download in mp3 and ipod video formats.

Rabbi Hanoch Teller is back at Naaleh.com with a brand-new course, entitled The Mussar Revolution. This fascinating series will trace the origins and philosophy of the Mussar Movement, founded by Rav Yisrael Salanter. Click on the image below to view the first class.

We are pleased to announce that Rabbi Avishai David is back with his popular Tehillim course!

The new course, Tehillim VII,  begins with a survey of Hallel, the psalms of thanksgiving recited on holidays and Rosh Chodesh:

This week, Rabbi Moshe Nechemia Reichman resumes his Gemara Brachot class, with a new course beginning from Daf 13A of Gemara Brachot.

In this Torah shiur (class) on Gemara Brachot, Rabbi Moshe Nechemia Reichman begins learning daf 13A, with a discussion of the halacha which states that one who is reading from a Sefer Torah fulfills his obligation to recite Kriat Shma daily if he reads the Kriat Shma from the Torah.

Hilchot Shabbat

Rabbi Shimon Isaacson provides Naaleh.com users with an in-depth study of the Laws of Shabbat, focusing on both the Halachik underpinnings and reasoning behind the laws, and the practical details of their execution.

One student writes in about the class Candle Lighting as Kabbalat Shabbat

‘Brilliant Shiur! Thank you so much!! This is what I have needed for years!!’ -Anoymous

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayeira, we learn of the promise to Avraham that he be blessed with a son at the age of 100, and of Sarah’s laughter at hearing the news. Delve into various perspectives on this intriguing episode in the Torah:

Parshat Vayeira: Lessons of Laughter Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the theme of laughter which is connected to the birth of Yitzchak.

Parshat Vayeira: Laughter Lessons Mrs. Chana Prero compares Avraham, Sara, and Ishmael’s tzchok (laughter), to determine which laughter is appropriate in different situations. She also discusses Hagar’s behavior when she is sent out of Avraham’s home.

Seeds of Moshiach: Yehuda and Tamar

Mrs. Shira Smiles, renowned teacher of Chumush, Navi, and Parsha, has begun a new in-depth Chumash course, entitled:  Seeds of Mashiach:  Yehuda and Tamar.  This intriguing and difficult portion of Chumash Breishit will be elucidated and clarified through the use of tens of commentaries and sources. The episode of Yehuda’s marriage to Tamar, and the birth of his children Peretz and Zerach, is difficult to understand, yet contains within it the secret of the Davidic dynasty and the seeds of Mashiach.

The first class is the series is now available:

Parsha for Our Lives 5770

Mrs. Shira Smiles delivers a fascinating weekly shiur on selected topics in the weekly Parsha. Mrs. Smiles begins with a primary sources, usually a (pasuk) verse from the Torah, and delves into its meaning and message through extensive selections from both the Early Commentators of the Middle Ages and the Later Commentators of the Modern Era. Mrs. Smiles adds excerpts from classical works produced by both the Chassidic and Mussar Movements, and ties together all components of the lecture to bring home a new insight into our lives as inspired Torah Jews.

This week’s Parsha, Parshat Lech Lecha is now available. Parshat Lech Lecha: Ultimate Benefit. Mrs. Smiles delves into the deeper understanding of Avraham’s test of Lech Lecha.