Rabbi Eytan Hampton

 B"H In Shaare Kedusha, R Hayim Vital warns us about kabbala maasit.  He mentions severe judgments which occurred because of those who engaged in kabbala maasit.  This week's sidra has a similar instance. Parashat Naso says the woman accused of being a sota has the guarantee of having children if she is vindicated.  This seems like a quick and easy segula.  However, to do so she must risk her life and test having a terrible fate in the case that she behaved improperly.  Of course in the case she has not committed adultery this is no problem.  Furthermore, even if she has committed adultery, but her husband has as well the sota ritual is ineffective; she neither dies nor merits the segula.  Additionally, even if she has some merit to buy time so that she does not die immediately sota ultimately results in the death of the guilty parties in a case of actual adultery. Likewise, we cannot be so certain to test ourselves by other instances of kabbala m...

 B"H Once a Habad shaliah in Casablanca sent a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe zsl asking what he should do about the fact that Jews in Morocco used etrogim on Sukkot which were not in accordance with Shulhan Arukh haRav. The Rebbe responded that Jews in Morocco had a strong tradition built by estimable hakhamim on which to rely, and Habad should not dare interfere.  In this week's sidra we see Am Yisrael divided into tribes, and each tribe carries it's own flag and has it's own leaders. However, this is done during the lifetime of Moshe Rabbenu. In this instance there is a clear Gadol haDor; this is Moshe Rabbenu who even hears Torah directly from G-d. However, G-d still sees it as appropriate for the tribes to have their own leaders apart from Moshe. This has a profound lesson for us.  Today there are numerous nosahim. There is Nosah Ashkenaz, Nosah Sefard, Nosah Edot haMizrah, Nosah Livorno, Nosah Romani, Nosah Temani, etc. Furthermore, there are different variation...

B"H Today is an eventful day for Lubavitchers.  Those who learn one perek of Mishneh Torah per day, completing Mishneh Torah at a rate of about once every three years, today began learning Mishneh Torah again.  This is a wonderful occasion.  While most Lubavitchers learn three perakim per day rather than one (it was the custom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe zsl to learn three perakim per day), it is always good to celebrate completing mitsvot and new beginnings in mitsvot.  While I am not Lubavitcher, and I do not learn Mishneh Torah according to a schedule, I feel there is something to gain by joining the applause of this major achievement.  However, in a sobering act during this joyful moment I must ask what the goal is when learning Mishneh Torah.  It is on this that I would like to elaborate. The Lubavitcher Rebbe says in geula Mishneh Torah de facto will be established halakha.  He says this is inevitable, because Mishneh Torah is the only written work ...