Likutey Halakhos, Yoreh Deah 1, Hilkhos Yayin Nesech 4. Topics: VaEschanah; The Purpose of the Torah; The Three Mitzvos. Speaker: Rabbi Nasan Maimon.
00:00 – Dedications.
00:01 – כָּל־מִצְוֹתֶ֥יךָ אֱמוּנָ֑ה – “All Your commandments are faith…” (Tehillim 119:86).
03:00 – The purpose of creation is for man to format the light of Hashem in way that benefits creation, to the extent that an individual’s consciousness permits. The 248 positive mitzvos and 365 negative mitzvos are ways that a Jew can format Hashem’s light in a productive, healthy way.
09:45 – The union between soul and body is life, and the purpose of the Torah is to protect and strengthen that union, thereby nurturing life. The Torah and the mitzvos are our life.
11:00 – Life is infinitely precious. Therefore one is not permitted to endanger or sacrifice his life for the sake of any mitzvah – with three exceptions (see below). וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־חֻקֹּתַי֙ וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֛ם הָֽאָדָ֖ם וָחַ֣י בָּהֶ֑ם – “You shall observe My statutes and My ordinances, which a man shall do and live by them…” (Vayikra 18:5, Acharei Mos).
14:30 – “[If necessary] it’s better to violate one Shabbos so that a person will live to keep others” (Shabbos 151).
*17:00 – וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּ֥ם מְאֹ֖ד לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם – “Protect your life very carefully” (Devarim 4:15, VaEschanan).
18:21 – The three exceptions to the principle of life above all are: idol worship, adultery, and murder. It’s better to allow oneself to be killed, rather than transgress any of these three sins.
20:30 – 1) עבודה זרה – Avodah Zara – idol worship. וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל – “…yet My nation exchanged their glory for what does not avail” (Yirmiyahu 2:11).
22:22 – 2) גלוי עריות – Gilui Arayos – adultery. כָּל־בָּ֖אֶיהָ לֹ֣א יְשׁוּב֑וּן וְלֹֽא־יַ֜שִּׂ֗יגוּ אָרְח֥וֹת חַיִּֽים – “…none who go to her return, neither do they achieve the ways of life…” (Mishlei 2:19).
25:10 – 3) שפיכות דמים – Shefikhas Damim – murder.
29:20 – Q&R – Even if a person transgresses these three sins, it’s possible to do teshuvah – to repent. Examples are brought from Jewish history.
31:13 – PARAGRAPH 15. Embarrassing someone is an aspect of bloodshed and can lead to actual murder.
35:00 – The Torah becomes poisonous when it’s taught or practiced by an adulterer, no matter how “religious” he may seem.
38:00 – The yetzer hara is constantly trying to convince a person to focus on the wrongdoing of others, even to the point where murder seems to become a mitzvah.
39:37 – The destructive force of makhlokes – conflict that is not for the sake of Heaven.
41:22 – Instead of finding fault in others, Am Yisrael is commanded to focus on the good in every Jew.
42:25 – The challenge is that the yetzer hara is constantly looking for the faults in others.
45:00 – The responsibility of Jewish leaders is tremendous. עַל־הָֽרֹעִים֙ חָרָ֣ה אַפִּ֔י – “My anger is directed against the shepherds…” (Zachariah 10:3).
46:41 – Closing blessings.
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