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  Moshe -4 years ago

  Are we all separated?

  It is said that Hashem "married" the yidden at Har Sinai.  The Torah was the kesuba.  We were most intimate then especially with daily miracles,  the  Mishkan, Moshe, continuing revelation of more of  the  Torah, and later the neviim and the Beis Hamigdash. 

  One can say He married the yidden as a  collective whole or each yid separately. 

    Both the first golus after the  churban and the current second one are like a couple separated.  Again, either collectively or  individually. 

  We await reunion with the end of  golus, Moshiach and the third Beis hamigdash. That will end the separation. 

  It is said that there have been a few exceptional yidden who were, so to speak, not in golus. This shows that whereas Hashem "separated" from the collective and most individuals,  those few exceptional tzaddikim were not separated,  not in golus and were as we all were with Hashem and  the  shechina during the times of  the  Beis hamigdash.  

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• SM

  Sara Metzger -4 years ago

  18. And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man is alone; I shall make him a helpmate opposite him."

  A few more ways to look at this verse.

  1) "I shall make him a helpmate opposite him." or

  2) "A helper corresponding to him",

  3) or a "helper for him".

  The "helpmate opposite him" interpretaion has been told and retold in this shiur as in others. Basically "she will be oposed to him to fight him (Rashi on Genesis 3:3 (Sefaria) and Yevamos 63a; Rashi).

  "a Helper corresponding to him" is another translation/commentary . And it is said in Artscroll commentary. "If a man is worthy, the woman will be a helper, if he is unworhty, she will be against him"  (Rashi on Genesis 3:3 (Sefaria) and (Yevamos 63a; Rashi).

  " a helper for him" --- "The Gemara relates that Rabbi Yosei encountered Elijah the Prophet and said to him. It is written I will make him a helppmate. In waht manner does a woman help a man? Elijah sai to him: When a man brings wheat from the field, does he chew raw wheat? When he brings home flax, does he wear unprocessed flax? Hiswife turns the raw products into bread and clothing. Is his wife not found to be the one who lights up his eys and stands him on his feet?" (Yevamos 63a).

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  • SM

    Sara Metzger -4 years ago

    From one who is opposite, to one who is a helper or a figher, to one who "lights up his eyes and stands him on his feet"

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  Moshe -4 years ago

  Not good for Hashem to be "alone" either so He created creation and all of us especially yidden, but was it monogamy?

  The Alter Rebbe  explains that it wasn't  good for Adam to be alone so Hashen created a mate. But not a "yes woman", rather a well intentioned opposition. As a result of the inevitable friction he would improve,  not possible with yes people around him. (You hear, Donald?). 

  So too Hashem was "alone". No people over.which to be a king. No place lower down to dwell. No opposition (and wasn't Moshe Rabbeinu the greatest opposition and  arguer after all?). So He created Creation, people and especially the ultimate oppositionally  defiant,  stiff necked people, the yidden. 

  But wait. Hashem has an intimate relationship with each of us separately.  We often  daven, learn, do a good deed or a mitzvah with no other witnesses,  just us privately with Him. So Hashem has an intimate private relationship with, like, 15 million people  at once. (Even with those 6 million and all others who perished). 

  Yet with chazal as partners He forbade us to have more than 1 wife. Maybe cuz we can't handle more (Shlomo haMelech?) But He can!. 

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• M

  Moshe -4 years ago

  Two types of opposition

  One type of opposition is stam to oppose. He says X, she says not X. The second type, discussed in the maamer is constructive opposition, constructive criticism, eyc., designed to improve the original point, opinion, idea, desire, etc. To refine it..To complete it. 

  In parliamentary systems the opposition to the majority givernment in power is called "Her Majesty's LOYAL opposition". I.e. not only the majority government is loyal to Her Majesty, but even the minority opposition to that majority government is ALSO loyal to the same higher enitity. 

  So too with husband and wife. Both should be loyal to the higher entity of the marriage itself even while opposing the other. That reconciles being an opposition, a kinegdo, while also being a helper to reach and satisfy the higher common enitity. 

  And do with creation and Creator. We can stam oppose or we can oppose in such a way that Hashem has what He didn't have before creation, an "other" with which to have a relationship, a place to dwell and  a loyal opposition. 

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• S

  Shoshana -11 years ago

  eizer knegdo (Majesty of Friction shiur)
  Thank you, Rabbi Jacobson, for an enlightening shiur. 
  

  
  
  
  

  
  What is the motivation for the man to acquire a wife, knowing that 1) she will oppose him and 2) that he must humble himself in order to make his tikunim and 3) humble himself to her? 

  
  

  
   

  
  

  
  How does a woman oppose the man with love so he'll accept her insights and make his tikunim?

  
  

  
   

  
  

  
  Do you have archives of similar shiurim?

  
  

  
  

  
   

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  • A

    Anonymous -11 years ago

    Re: eizer knegdo (Majesty of Friction shiur)
    I am attaching here a link to an essay I wrote on this topic, based on this discourse of the Alter Rebbe, which I think will answer your questions.
    
    
    
    http://www.algemeiner.com/2... />

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Rabbi YY Jacobson

• January 3, 2013
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• 21 Tevet 5773
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• 3520 views

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