Jan 22, 2023

Raize Guttman 01-22-23 (29 Teves 5783)

Chodesh Shvat
Parshat Vayishlach Ch 33  V 15-16

Esav returns alone to Sair.  The  Midrash says that his 400 men abandoned him because they saw him try to bite Yaakov on the neck, trying  to kill him.   Hashem saw this and years later, when King David was escaping from the Amalekites, Hashem paid him with 400 men.   Hashem sees past, present and future, and responds to man, “measure-for-measure” (Midda K'negged Midda)(מידה כנגד מידה).


Todays shiur is dedicated to Dovid Benjamin ben Avraham Elyah zt"l (Janet's brother), who would have celebrated his 70th birthday this past week.  May his soul have an elevation in Gan Eden.

Jan 15, 2023

Raize Guttman 01-15-23 (22 Teves 5783)

 Parshat Vayishlach Ch 33  V 12-14

Esav is being very magnanimous says, "let us go and I will travel along side of you."   Yaakov replies, "My Master knows,  the children are very tender, and all  my cattle and sheep  depend on me, let my Master pass before me"  In other  words, "you first".

Important message that we can get along with people but this does not mean that we have to be their best friend, if they are not going to be a good influence on us.  Make sure it is good for you and your spirituality.  Yaakov knew who Esav was and  always who he would be.  A nice interaction and that is where it ended.  Don't get into sucked into relationships that are not good for us, even if a family member

Raize Guttman 01-08-23 (15 Teves 5783)

 Parshat Vayishlach Ch 33  V 8 - 11

The meeting  between Yaakov and Esav, and the dialogue between the two. Esav says, "I have  a lot," while Yaakov says "I have everything."  This is the  different philosophy between the Jew and the world  out there.

Jan 1, 2023

Raize Guttman 01-01-23 (08 Teves 5783)

Parshat Vayishlach Ch 33  V 1-7

Yaakov was coming to Esav  and he saw his wives and children and he set them up in a specific order.  In the back he put Yosef and Rachel.  We understand from this that Yaakov loved them so much, that GD forbid something would happen to them.

Rashi says that Yosef  said my  mother is a beautiful woman, maybe that Rasha is going to put his eyes on her and I  am going to stand in front of her and prevent him from looking  at her.  

Yosef was a small child, how could he block a grown woman? Yosef did what he could and Hashem did the rest.  The commentaries say that he actually grew.

Amazing concept, in Judaism reality is supernatural, because we are supernatural.  Don't let the yetzer hara tell you that you can't.  Don't say I can't, say I will try my best.


Our class today is dedicated to Necha Golda's mother,  Ruchel Zlateh bas Yehoshua Chaim.  May her neshama have an aliyah.

Raize Guttman 12-25-22 (01 Teves 5783)

 No recording of shiur today.

A freilichen Chanukah!