Tag Archives: Pride

Did the Talmud Predict Today’s Crisis in Israel? (Video)

Within a passage of Messianic prophecies, the Talmud speaks of a future struggle in Israel involving lawmakers and judges. In this class, we explore a handful of lesser-known ancient Biblical and Talmudic prophecies that have been fulfilled in our days, and whether the current crisis in Israel was actually foreseen by the ancient Jewish Sages millennia ago.

Also discussed: the current thaw in Arab-Iranian relations, and what this might mean in the context of End of Days events as described in ancient texts, as well as why God gave control of the Holy Land to the Muslims specifically for 1300 years. And, what is special about the year 1909?

For lots more on prophecies fulfilled in our days, see here.

On the class that was mentioned about the prime ministers of Israel in prophecy, see here.

For more on the spiritual role of Iran and its alliance with Russia, see here.

On the significance of 1909 in the lead-up to the Messianic Age, see here.

Stages of Spiritual Development

Last week, we discussed the distinction between body and soul, and the need to develop each in its own way. The pure soul must be freed of the kelipot that encapsulate and suppress it, while the animalistic body must be refined and strengthened, both externally and internally. We are reminded of this again in this week’s parasha, Ekev, where Moses famously poses “What does Hashem, your God, ask of you?” The answer is to fear God, walk in His ways, to love Him, and to serve Him with all of one’s heart and soul, as well as to fulfill His mitzvot. We are then told to metaphorically “circumcise our hearts” (Deuteronomy 10:16). This, too, is an allusion to the kelipot, those spiritual “foreskins” that must be removed.

What we didn’t discuss last week is how exactly this process of refinement is accomplished. Aside from the general directive to fulfill mitzvot, what specifically needs to be done at each level of spiritual development? How does a person know whether they are in the “nefesh” stage, or the “ruach” stage? Should one focus on “neshamah”, or are they ready for “chayah”? This is what we will examine this week. Continue reading →