Rabbi Nasan Maimon. Birkhas HaPeyros; the four fasts; blessings on the fruits of Eretz Yisrael; the Seven Species; Noam HaElyon (spiritual splendor/closeness to Hashem).
00:00 – This shiur is dedicated by Michael Benmeleh to honor his mother – l’ilui nishmas Devorah Feiga Bas Reizel ע”ה – whose yahrzeit is on the 17th of Shevat.
*00:40 – PARAGRAPH 11. The four fasts instituted to commemorate the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (Holy Temple): Tisha B’Av, Tzom Gedaliah, Asarah b’Teves, Sheva’asar b’Tammuz.
05:00 – “Whoever mourns the destruction of Yerushalayim will merit to see its joy.”
05:51 – PARAGRAPH 12-13. When making a blessing on a fruit, the fruit must be held in the right hand.
07:02 – NOTE: announcement heard in background of the shiur, the passing of the Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk, Rav Meshulam Dovid b’Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik ז”ל.
10:08 – Sounding the trumpets during offerings in the Beis HaMikdash is an aspect of zikaron – remembrance.
11:10 – HALAKHA 4, PARAGRAPH 1. This halakha is based on Likutey Moharan 2, Torah 71: “Achas Sh’alti me’eys Hashem” – “One thing I ask of Hashem…” (Tehillim/Psalms 27). Noam HaElyon.
16:19 – The word “Noam” in gematria is 160. When one is added, it equals one of the expansions of Hashem’s Name EKYH, which corresponds to Binah.
17:05 – The main goal in making a blessing on food is to elevate the souls in the food.
18:55 – Reference to Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs).
20:50 – All blessings are an aspect of songs and praises to Hashem.
26:09 – The essential holiness of all food originates in Eretz Yisrael.
31:48 – PARAGRAPH 2.
38:45 – PARAGRAPH 3. The Seven Species of produce for which Eretz Yisrael is praised.
*42:40 – Eretz Yisrael. CLIP.
44:30 – The letters of the word “achas” are the first letters in the three things acquired only through difficulty: Eretz Yisrael, Chayey Olam Habah, and Torah.
45:20 – “There is no Torah like the Torah of Eretz Yisrael.” (Vayikra Rabbah 13:1)
45:54 – Moshe Rabbeinu’s deep yearning for Eretz Yisrael.
46:30 – Why did Moshe Rabbeinu long so powerfully to enter Eretz Yisrael? His desire wasn’t for the physical aspect of the fruits of Eretz Yisrael, but for the spiritual aspects of the Land’s fruit – the Noam HaElyon.
50:35 – QUESTION: why do we not make blessings on each specific fruit?
52:08 – QUESTION about Noam HaElyon.
54:26 – QUESTION about the diverse tastes of fruit being an indication of the array of Hashem’s splendor.
55:00 – REFERENCE to Yisod VeShoresh HaAvodah (Rav Alexander b’Rav Moshe Ziskind of Grodno): the different tastes of food are the nitzotzos (sparks) of kedusha (holiness)”
55:33 – Closing remarks and thank-you’s.
Podcast (shiurim): Download (Duration: 55:55 — 76.8MB)
