Blog – Page 20 – Study Torah Online: Live and Interactive Torah Learning with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear

How to Make a Kulmus – a Superb Video

In this beautiful video, Dr Michael Khanin (Expert Sofer Stam) shows us how to make an Ashkenazi Kulmus. In addition, the viewer will see a lot more about the beauty of the letters that are written in the various sacred writings of the Torah. Sofrut must surely be one of the most beautiful and meaningful professions in the Jewish world and it can become a lifetime of activity for those who wish to bring holiness into all their work! Enjoy the video!

Lessons in Talmud – Tractate Berachot – Lesson 9 Daf 4b & 5a part 1 (using Koren Talmud Bavli)

If the Sages said that we must join the Geulah (Redemption i.e. the blessing that follows from the recitation of the Shema and precedes the Amidah prayer) directly with the Amidah prayer then we have a problem with regards to the way the prayers were fixed. In truth, in the evening prayers we recite two blessings after the Keriat Shema.

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – The Purpose of Evil – Lesson 13 of Section 3

What exactly are black-magic and sorcery all about?! These are the other powers of the spiritual worlds that God has created.

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 14 – Garments of the Soul – Chapter 4

We continue in Chapter 4 discussing the garments of the Godly soul and how we make use of them to connect with God. we must be aware that in the event that we transgress the Mitzvot that we literally give life to the forces of the Other Side (of holiness).

Lessons in Talmud – Tractate Berachot – Lesson 8 Daf 4a end & 4b part 1 (using Koren Talmud Bavli)

It seems from the wording of Tehillim that King David considered himself to be a Chassid (a pious, righteous person). Occupied with purifying women (validating that various blood markings were not to be considered impure) so that they would be permissible to their husbands and dealing with various cases of afterbirths, King David may have imagined himself to have been on the path of righteousness.

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 13 – Garments of the Soul – Chapter 4

We do a quick revision of the first few points in Chapter 4 before exploring the chapter in depth. Chapter four discusses the garments of the soul – thought, speech and action.

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – The Purpose of Evil – Lesson 12 of Section 3

We conclude the paragraph dealing with the use of God’s Names and making using of the Names of Angels to perform certain wonders.

Lessons in Talmud – Tractate Berachot – Lesson 7 – Daf 4a (Part 1) (Using Koren Talmud Bavli)

How did King David know when it was midnight so that he could awaken to pray and sing songs to God? If he knew, why did he need a “Kinor” to let him know?

Lessons in Derech Hashem – The Way of God – Using God’s Names (Part 3) – Lesson 11 of Section 3

Though there are means to making changes within the spiritual realms through the use of G-d’s Names and even interacting with angels, not everyone who uses the known methods will succeed. In addition, making use of the Names when not permitted is really forbidden and will ultimately cause problems at a later stage.

Lessons in Tanya – Lesson 12 – Daat – Attachment – Chap 3 Part 5 / Garments of the Soul – Chap 4

We conclude chapter 3 with the concept of Daat. Though translated as knowledge, in the mystical sense, Daat is really the concept of attachment. We process knowledge through a three stage process.