Feb 29, 2016

Raize Guttman 02-28-16 (19 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13, Verse 1.
Avraham comes out of Egypt to the land of Canaan with great wealth. Why is great wealth a test???

Feb 22, 2016

Raize Guttman 02-21-16 (12 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 14.

Raize Guttman 02-14-16 (5 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 12.

Raize Guttman 02-07-16 (28 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 11.
Upon coming down to Egypt, Avraham recognizes his wife Sarah's beauty. "Now I know that you are a beautiful women." The 5th of the 10 tests of Avraham. Rashi gives 3 explanations of this verse. The Zohar brings down the meaning and purpose of beauty.

Feb 21, 2016

Raize Guttman 01-31-16 (21 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 9.
We end a chapter of Avram's travels and begin the next test. We spoke of 3 tests so far, and begin the 4th.

Raize Guttman 01-24-16 (14 Sh'vat 5776)

Tu B'Shevat Shiur. We are going to have a sort of peros tish today - when all the different Chasidus sit by a big table and they have tons of fruit. Usually 15 kinds of fruit. The Rebbe makes blessings over the fruit, they sing the 15 Shir Ha Ma'alot (The Song of Ascents). Psalms 120-135. They signify a rising up. King Solomon had 15 steps that led up to his throne and they would sing on each step a different song of ascent when they went to speak to the King.

Raize Guttman 01-17-16 (7 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 8.

We spoke last week about the concept that Avraham pitched Sarah's tent first. The Alkabetz brings down a Rambam regarding this verse that says a man is supposed to love his wife like himself and honor his wife more than himself. A wife must honor her husband exceedingly. (Love for her comes naturally). This exceeding amount of honor is the secret formula for a successful marriage. Today we speak about Kavod (respect/honor), which is necessary in all relationships between all people - Anyone you want to have a meaningful relationship with.

Raize Guttman 01-10-16 (29 Tevet 5776)

Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat - time when you things start blossoming.

Raize Guttman 01-03-16 (22 Tevet 5776)