Sefirah

Shavuot: Expanding Reality

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This video is class 30 of 58 in the series Greatest of Gifts: Sefirat HaOmer and Shavuot.

In this shiur (Torah class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles points out that the Torah was supposed to be given on Friday, the fiftieth day of the omer, but was in fact given on Shabbat, the fifty-first. Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses some of the questions regarding this reality. Why did Moshe add an extra day of preparation at har sinai? If the world was waiting since creation for the acceptance of the Torah on Friday, how could Moshe push it off? If the Torah was given on the seventh day of Sivan, then why is the sixth day of Sivan referred to as the day we received the Torah?

Understanding Prophecy

Role of the Navi

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This video is class 29 of 30 in the series Nature of Prophesy.

In this Torah shiur (class) on the nature of Prophesy, Rabbi Avishai David explains the various roles a Navi fills in society. The prophet must inspire and guide the people to correct wrongdoings and strengthen mitzvot and halachot that have weakened. The impact of the Navi is felt because of the force of his personality and charisma. However, this magnetism stems from his perfection of character and self-development.

Understanding Prophecy

Prophesy in Israel

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This video is class 28 of 30 in the series Nature of Prophesy.

In this Torah class on Nevua, prophesy, Rabbi Avishai David discusses the centrality of the land of Israel to Jewish prophesy. All prophesies either took place in Eretz Yisrael or were about the Holy Land. Intersetingly, Rabbi David points out that the split between Yitzchak and Yishmael and Yaakov and Esav were both centered on ownership of Eretz Yisrael.