Men, Women, Time, Space (audio)

Last week the Rebbe gave a couple of shiurim in the morning that I thought were simply AWESOME! Please pardon my enthusiasm.

The topics revolved around how men and women are built differently and how, if they stick to the way they were hardwired by Hashem, they can actualize their unique potential to the fullest. The particular contribution of men flourishes mostly in the realm of "time", while the unique genius of women comes out and thrives specifically in regards to "space".

This is a wonderful shiur for both men and women as it sheds light on each one's abilities. It helps crystallize individual purpose at the same time as it puts the other side of the coin into perspective, allowing each one to be appreciated as an equally essential component to healthy families and avodas Hashem.

Vayikra: Hashem Wants YOU!

אדם כי יקריב מכם קרבן לה' - ויקרא א, ב

אדם למה נאמר, מה אדם הראשון לא הקריב מן הגזל, שהכל היה שלו, אף אתם לא תקריבו מן הגזל - רש"י בשם ויקרא רבה

When a person from among you will bring an offering to Hashem. (Vayikra 1:2). Just as Adam brought from that which belonged to him, similarly, when you bring a korban it must belong to you and not be something stolen. (Rashi)

The concept of מצוה הבאה מעבירה, that you can not perform a mitzvah with something that you acquired by unethical means, is a rule applicable universally across all of Torah. The question is begged, why did the Torah need to single this out with the mitzvah of korbanos?

Shabbos Parshas Toldos 5772 (part 1)

Emulate, Not Imitate

 

At tish, the Rebbe told over how he once met a couple who, after stating the fact that they had done an "exhaustive research of Judaism", related that they decided to pick the mitzvos and ideals that "spoke to them". Essentially, they picked and chose what of Torah they valued and left the rest.

"And what do you hope from your children when they grow up?" asked the Rebbe.

"We would be pleased if they would follow suit and value the same things that we do."

"Well, " the Rebbe responded. "Forgive me for being the first to guarantee that they will do exactly as you did. You picked and chose what made sense to you, they will pick and choose what will make sense to them, and those two things are surely to be vastly different from each other. Children pick up which attitudes drive our decisions and actions. "How" we do something is much more important than the "what". That they know what speaks to you doesn't really matter; you are transmitting to them a "how" that cannot possibly sustain the ideals of Yiddishkeit through the next generation."