by micha · Published ג׳ באלול תשע״א – Fri, Sep 2, 2011 · Last modified Fri, Sep 2, 2011
… so that our greatest desire should be to do good to others, to individuals and to the masses, now and in the future, in imitation of the Creator (as it were). שיהיה אדיר חפצנו, להיטיב עם זולתנו, ליחיד ולרבים בהוה ובעתיד בדמות הבורא כביכול, We saw that Rav Shimon defines the goal of life in terms of perfection of...
by micha · Published א׳ באלול תשע״א – Wed, Aug 31, 2011 · Last modified Wed, Aug 31, 2011
Shaarei Yosher was written by Rav Shim’on Shkop (1860-October 22, 1939), and the body of the text deals with the principles by which doubt is resolved in court cases and in legislation, and the principles by which halakhah is set. We will be dealing, however, with the first part of the introduction. The introduction opens with an explanation of the...
3- Vayiqra / Qedushah / Shaarei Yosher
by micha · Published כ״ג בכסלו תשע״א – Mon, Nov 29, 2010 · Last modified Thu, Jan 5, 2012
(The following is based on a class I gave on Shabbat at Mussar Kallah IX, and is the further development of a number of ideas R’ Gil Student and I wrote for Mesuqim MiDevash.) The question of holiness is central to the title phrase of the sedra of Qedoshim. “Qedoshim tihyu hi Qadosh Ani – Be qadosh [holy, sacred] for...
by micha · Published כ׳ באייר תשס״ז – Tue, May 8, 2007 · Last modified Wed, Aug 31, 2011
I recently had the honor of translating the introduction to Rav Shimon Shkop‘s Shaarei Yosher. My love of this piece is only partly because Rav Shimon was the rebbe of my rebbe, Rav Dovid Lifshitz. In a few short pages, Rav Shimon defines holiness, gives the key to happiness and contentment, explains the path to chessed (lovingkindness), and the relationship...