Hechsher Keylim 2 – 3 – Calling HaShem’s Name – More Energy by Saying Blessings on Food – Speaker: Rabbi Nasan Maimon.
Hechsher Keylim 2 is based on Likutey Moharan 61.
03:35 – Klipos (forces of destruction) can only draw sustenance from HaShem through keylim (vessels). They cannot draw from HaShem’s light directly.
04:33 – When Yitzchak Avinu prepared to give his blessing to Esav, he told Esav to bring keylim (tools, vessels). Similarly, the essential destruction of the Beis HaMikdash came about through the enemy capturing its vessels – the mizbeyach (altar), menorah, and all the other items used there.
06:43 – When klipos are attached to metal keylim, those who use these vessels do not have aitza sheleyma – their ability to make good decisions is impaired. The seven metals are related to the seven כוכבי לכת – “traveling” luminaries of the night sky (sun, moon, and five planets). The sohd ha’ibur (hidden Torah knowledge of the intercalation of the lunar and solar calendars) is based in the seven luminaries. Reference to Likutey Moharan 61 and Rebbe Nachman’s story: “The King Who Decreed Conversion” (also known as the story of “The Bull and the Ram”).
11:17 – “HaShem will overturn the counsel of the nations” (Tehillim 33:10). Through immersing metal vessels used for food, a Jew is protected from the negative influence of the 70 nations and Kingdom of Israel is no longer split apart.
12:54 – The Hebrew word for kingdoms – ממלכות – also refers to advice/counsel – עצות. As in מִלְכִּי יִשְׁפַּר עֲלָךְ – “May my counsel please You…” (Daniel 4:24).
14:11 – Netzach and Hod feed into malchus. Moshe Rabbeinu received nevuah (prophecy) from “…between the Keruvim” – that represented Netzach and Hod.
15:27 – Q&R – The same principles relating to the immersion of metal cooking utensils are also related to a person’s immersion in the mikveh. 40 seah minimum volume of water in a mikveh corresponds to Binah (Pirkei Avos 5:21). The Zohar explains that in the word Binah – discernment – the letter Beis stands for Binah , the Yud is for Yisod, the Noon is for Netzach, and the Hey is for Hod.
16:30 – The Jewish Kingdom was split through defective counsel, but will be unified through good counsel. The Zohar Hakodesh calls the 613 mitzvos of the Torah “613 pieces of good advice”. A Jewish king is obligated to write two sifrei Torah “…so that he and his descendants will have a long reign…” (Devarim 17:19-20). A Jew cannot benefit from the holiness of food he eats unless he sanctifies the vessels used in the preparation of his food.
20:26 – HALAKHA 3. INTRODUCTION. Halakha 3 is based on Likutey Moharan 56 – “U’veyom HaBikkurim”. The introduction is a very brief summary of several key elements in this teaching.
*26:00 – Q&R about the distinction between a tzaddik and a complete tzaddik. Account of Rebbe Nachman’s arrival in Uman and his first encounter with Jewish atheists.
30:35 – Continuing inside the text: according to the amount of daas (wisdom based on awareness of HaShem), so is the amount of parnassah (livelihood) and peace.
*32:22 – “Because people who are working are also learning Torah, Am Yisrael has an easier time earning a livelihood.”
*33:19 – Mikveh of Shavuos.
*35:21 – PARAGRAPH 1. Eating and drinking according to the Torah actually turns the food and drink into Torah.
*38:21 – The life-sustaining energy of food is placed there by HaShem.
*40:47 – Disregard for HaShem in science: “Two rocks collided in mid-air a billion years ago?” This disregard allows people to exist without any moral obligation to Hashem. In contrast, a Jew is not permitted to eat food until he praises the Name of HaShem.
42:21 – By reciting the blessing we’re connecting to the Name of HaShem and His life-giving energy in the food.
**42:51 – וְאָֽכַלְתָּ֖ וְשָׂבָ֑עְתָּ וּבֵֽרַכְתָּ֙ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ עַל־הָאָ֥רֶץ הַטֹּבָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָֽתַן־לָֽךְ: “You will eat and you will be satisfied…” (Ekev/Devarim 8:10) – the main satisfaction from food is achieved through saying the words of the blessings before and after eating. A Jew brings blessing to all the nations and even to all the animals when he makes blessings on food.
*44:18 – Q&R about the mikveh of Shavuos – is there a way we can bring that holiness into the rest of the year?
44:39 – Account of Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld zal (1938-1942): “If the mikveh can make a non-Jew into a Jew, imagine what it can do for a Jew!”
47:19 – Q&R about blessings and food.
48:34 – Q&R about non-Jews receiving blessing through Am Yisrael.
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