Friday, November 3, 2017

Rav Nosson, Rav Tzaddok and Komarna Video and a write up of Shem Mishmuel:, "I am Dirt and Ashes"

I must apologize that the person who posted mistakenly labeled three of these videos. They are on Vayera and present some powerful Torah that are short and sweet.
Rav Nosson Vayera 1
Ayeh and the Akeida
Rav Nosson on Vayera 2
Zohar on Anar, Eshkol and. Mamre; The Chamber of Exchanges

Rav Tzadok Kometz Hamincha on Vayera
Lott, his wife; redeeming soul of Moshiach through his daughters' pure intentions

Komara
The joy of Avraham during the Akeida; the Greatness of the Akeida; The Avodah of the Akeidah

The Anavah of Avraham
The Shem MiShmuel, zt”l, offers a brilliant explanation of a Mishnah in Bava Kama 21. “We find in the mishnah that if a dog or goat jumped from the roof and broke vessels, the owner pays full damage since it is mua’d, expected for this animal to act in this manner. The Kabbalists reveal that this mishnah alludes to Kayin and Hevel. We can explain this in light of how we have explained elsewhere that the very name, Kayin and Hevel allude to their essence. ‘Kayin’ means kinyan, acquisition, since he was full of himself and felt he was a real acquisition for the world. ‘Hevel,’ means breath or nothingness, since that is how Hevel felt about himself. He did not have the audacity to bring a sacrifice on his own, only after he saw that Kayin brought his.
“Each of these character traits has an important place in avodah. Surely, one must feel important and understand that what he does makes an indelible impression on the world to be successful. As our sages revealed in Avos, one must be as bold as a lion in his Divine service. He must ‘uplift his heart in avodas Hashem,’ as we find in the verse. We all must say that the world was created solely for me, as our sages tell us in Sanhedrin. This is why Chava called him Kayin, saying, ‘I have acquired a man with Hashem.’ She meant that he use this faculty of kinyan for avodas Hashem. In such matters, one must feel that he is a real acquisition and have immense self-confidence.
“Similarly, the character trait of Hevel is imperative for sincere avodah. Avrohom declared that he was dust and ashes and Moshe and Aharon said, ‘V’nachnu mah?’—‘What are we?’ Whatever wisdom has to crown its head, humility uses to adorn its heel. Yet one must beware the danger of inappropriate humility that leads to great despair, indolence and coolness in avodas Hashem. 
“This is why the mishnah tells us that they leaped from the roof. These character traits must be used in proper balance as appropriate. If one misuses one, he jumps from the roof of his potential to the lowest point, since misusing these character traits causes deep, great falls. Hashem should protect us and show us the right way to serve Him sincerely!”
[Shem MiShmuel, Chanukah, p. 208]