Ein Yaakov – Shabbat 156 -Astrology Does Not Dictate Jewish Destiny – the Brilliance of Rabbi Meir – Why a Jewish Man Covers His Head – Prerequisites of the Sanhedrin – Ain Mazal l’Yisrael – astrology does not dictate the fate/future of a Jew. “There is no horoscope for a Jew.” Prayer, charity and fear of Heaven can improve a Jew’s destiny. Rabbi Meir’s sharp mind. Why a Jew covers his head. Every rabbi of the Sanhedrin had to be able to find forty-eight (or one hundred and fifty) ways to permit an impure item.
Speaker: Rabbi Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld ז”ל.
00:00 – Most rabbis of the Gemara agree that Ain Mazal l’Yisrael. Three stories are given to illustrate. Prayer, charity and fear of Heaven all have the power to change one’s mazal (fate).
09:15 – Rabbi Meir was the greatest rabbi of his generation, yet the application of Torah law to practice is rarely as he rules.
*10:10 – The importance of a Jewish man covering his head. An account from the Gemara is related to illustrate.
12:35 – Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi: “My sharp mind is a result of having seen Rabbi Meir’s back”. What is the meaning of “having seen Rabbi Meir’s back”?
17:00 – One must learn Torah by looking at one’s Rabbi’s face. To whom is this statement attributed? Rabbi Abba received his sharp mind from Rabbi Meir.
22:50 – Rabbi Meir could give forty-eight reasons to permit a forbidden item and vice versa. The reason why this ability is necessary.
26:00 – If all rabbis in the Sanhedrin agree that an accused individual is guilty, the accused goes free. When does this apply? A rabbi must be able to finds ways to purify the impure.
29:30 – A student of Rebbe Nachman explains why a rabbi needs the ability to find 150 ways to permit a forbidden rodent. The power of the Tzaddik to vindicate a rasha (person who does evil).
32:10 – The worst, most poisonous bite of the Serpent is atzvut (sadness) which leads to yi’ush (depression/despair). Rabbi Meir had the power to bring light to those who had fallen into despair.
Podcast (shiurim): Download (Duration: 39:28 — 18.1MB)
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