kabbalah – Page 11 – Study Torah Online: Live and Interactive Torah Learning with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear

Shaarei Kedushah – The Gates of Holiness – Lesson 3 Chapter 3 – The Path to Divine Inspiration

In Lesson 3 of this remarkable work of Rabbi Chaim Vital – the Shaarei Kedushah – we take a leap (perhaps a hint to the process of moving from the physical world to the spiritual – that sometimes we need to make a quantum jump!) and branch off from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3. We’ll be returning shortly to Chapter 1 – but the purpose of this jump is to show the viewer (the reader) what lies in store for those who wish to pursue the roads to holiness.

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan – Yahrtzeit 14 Shevat – Video Interview

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan (1935-1983) was a prolific writer on Judaism and was an outstanding educator in the United States. He is most known for his outstanding works and translations in Jewish mysticism. He brought Torah to the beginner, showing us all how we can tap into the mystical side of Judaism.

The Rashash – Rabbi Shalom Sharabi – Yahrtzeit 10 Shevat

The Rashash – Rabbi Shalom Sharabi (1720-1777) was one of the most influential kabbalists in the past few hundred years. Said to be a reincarnation of the Ari HaKadosh, Rabbi Shalom Sharabi would enlighten the eyes of Jewry with his commentary on the Eitz Chayim as well as show the kavanot (intentions) as they are to be practised through daily prayer. His Yahrtzeit is the 10th of Shevat. Rabbi Shalom Gadaev does an outstanding job of sharing a short biography of this great Tzaddik. For further information check out the link to the Wikipedia (underlined and in blue above.) Enjoy the video!

Baba Sali – Lighting Chanukah Candles – Rare Audio Track

The following is a rare audio clip just come to “light” of the Baba Sali – Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeira lighting the Chanukah lights. This clip was Chanukah 5744 (1983) when Baba Sali was 94 years old. It was his last Chanukah in this world. Enjoy the clip:

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Teachings From the Arizal – Washing One’s Hands in the Morning

The Shulchan Aruch clearly details the laws with regards to washing one’s hands in the morning after arising. Though that be the case, Rabbi Chaim Vital brings down the same process but also adds a reason as to the way washing should be done – which is not included in the Shulchan Aruch. Naturally – the Shulchan Aruch is a book about Jewish law – Halachah. As a result, only the law is dealt with. However, Rabbi Vital is here to teach us the hidden mysteries behind the law and therefore shares a reason for the process of washing as well. He also adds another point not mentioned in the Shulchan Aruch which adds further blessing to the way the washing should be done.

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Coming Home From Ramallah (Video)

Home Spring

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Teachings of The Arizal – Awaken at Chatzot to Study Torah

The Rema in the Shulchan Aruch – Orach Chaim 1:2-3 brings down as Halachah the importance of awakening at midnight in order to mourn the destruction of the Temple. Amazingly, though this is brought down at the very beginning of the Shulchan Aruch, most people will only really glance through it quickly to get through it in order to get to learn “real” Halachah.

Of course, this Halachah is just as equally as important as all the rest. In fact in terms of making a beginning to one’s day and one’s life, it is perhaps the most important thing one can do. Perhaps it is neglected because many don’t understand it well enough or perhaps because life in today’s times moves too fast to allow for people to get to bed early enough to awaken early enough to do the midnight prayers.

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Teachings of The Arizal – Place the Name of God Before You Always

In Shaar Ruach HaKodesh (Yichud 21) – teachings of the Arizal as compiled by his pupil Rabbi Chaim Vital, sharing some of the most beautiful secrets in one’s path to the acquisition of Divine inspiration, Rabbi Vital teaches us a secret he learnt from the Arizal regarding the Name of God.

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Teachings of the Arizal – The Importance of Praying Quietly

Rabbi Chaim Vital in the introduction to Shaar HaKavanot speaks about the issue of the manner of prayer. Here, Rabbi Chaim Vital introduces us to a vital area of our lives – the world of prayer. Those who daven with a Minyan regularly know well the challenges encountered. One most usually finds that everyone has something to say – and that doesn’t mean their prayer to God – it often means their approach to prayer which takes on outward signs of righteousness as opposed to inner calm and connection with the Divine. This – let alone the often unpleasant unnecessary noise of needless conversation, but that is for another time…

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Teachings of the Arizal – Love Your Fellow as Yourself Everyday

In the beginning of Shaar Hakavanot – the teachings of the Arizal regarding the intentions of should have during prayer, as codified by his main disciple Rabbi Chaim Vital, the Arizal teaches us a golden rule about prayer. While many enter a shul (or stay in their private room for prayer) and begin praying for their own selves, the Arizal teaches us a lesson which we must implement in our every day lives. Even if we aren’t striving to become the next outstanding Mekubal (kabbalist) of the generation, it is something which applies to each of us.

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