Shiur Hashkafa 5784 – Divrei Hashkafa by Rav Mayer Twersky

Shiurim in this series are listed below.

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See the table below the audio player for the full list of shiurim in this series, with links to transcripts

Track	Title	Date	Description	Transcript
1	Nach-pe-sa…v'nachkora	2023-08-31	3 explanations of “Nach-pe-sa…v’nachkora…v’nashuva”1) Shaarei Teshuva, Shaar 3: have to take inventory of what sins I have, then look at the magnitude of each sin. The magnitude of the sin has to be reflected in the teshuva and in the magnitude of busha one feels.2) Zohar: nachkora == figuring out how to correct the cheit and how do make sure not to do it anymore.3) Cheit has a context & root. Nachkora == figuring out how this cheit happened. This and Zohar are 2 sides of the same coin.	View
2	Busha. Realtive Severity of Different Types of Aveiros.	2023-09-07	– The degree of busha in teshuva, and in both asking and receiving mechila, should be proportionate to the magnitude of the aveira. – D'oraysa more chamur than d'rabbanan because d'oraysa HKB"H communicated directly to us, more of a chutzpa to ignore. Same type of difference between mefurash b'kra and understood via a drasha. – One often goes agaisnt a d'rabbanan due to taking it lightly, and that attitude is rebellious (like zakein mamreh) and very chamur.	View
3	Divrei Chachomim. Schar for Mitzvas Aseh.	2023-09-14	Shaarei Teshuva, Shaar 3:6. – Severity of transgressing divrei chachomim. – Observing dinei d'rabanan a fuller expression of yiras Shomayim – Reward only for mitzvos aseh or lo sa'aseh as well. Machlokes, explanation.	View
4	Approach to Miztzvos Aseh, Lo Sa'aseh. Lifnim Mishuras Hadin.	2023-09-21	– Why reward for miztvos aseh isn't specified. – Severity of being dismissive of mitzvos. – Nature of the obligation to go lifnim mishuras hadin.	View
5	Yiras ha'Onesh, Yiras ha'Romemus	2023-10-12	– yiras ha'onesh, yiras ha'romemus – can't skip yiras ha'onesh – must have a knowledge-based sustained awareness of yiras Hashem – why is yiras ha'onesh not mentioned in Mishna Torah, and yiras ha'romemus not mentioned in Sefer Hamitzvos?	View
6	Daily Teshuva & Living Reflectively	2023-10-19	– Two different reasons to always do teshuva: 1) should die b'kedusha v'tahara and 2) to LIVE that way – Yetzer Hara works naturally without premeditation. Yetzer hatov comes from reflection. If one coasts through life, Yetzer hara will be dominant. Daily teshuva defined as not drifting away from HKBH, each day and instead coming closer each day	View
7	Introduction. Ikar #1.	2023-10-26	– What's the difference between one not knowing the 13 ikarim vs. any other part of Torah? – Why aren't they presented as a list by Chazal? – First ikar: no existence independent of HKB"H.	View
8	Yichud Hashem. Incorporeality.	2023-11-02	– ikar #2: yichud Hashem, unique and singular. – ikar #3: HKB"H isn't physical. Torah uses anthropomorphisms to describe Him to make it easier for us to grasp various points better.	View
9	Ikar #3 (Incorporeality of HKB"H) and #4 (HKB"H Coming Before All Else)	2023-11-09	See Hilchos Teshuva 3:7, Hilchos Shechita 4:14, Hilchos Mamrim 3:1,3. Machlokes Rambam & Ra'avad in Teshuva 3:7 if someone can believe in minus without having a din of a min. Rambam: Torah doesn't expect everyone to figure out Elokus on his on, but does expect us to defer to those who are greater than us, hence one is a min for believing that HKB"H is corporeal.	View
10	Ikar 5, 6	2021-11-16	– Ikar 5: serve only Hashem. No intermediaries. Davening for others. – Ikar 6: nevuah. Definition of nevuah is that it's experienced by an adam hashalem.	View
11	Ikar 7	2023-11-23	– Ikar 7: nevuah of Moshe is different in kind, not just degree. Details of the differences.	View
12	Ikar #8 – Torah Min haShomayim	2023-11-30	– Torah today is that same Torah. – Torah she'bal peh & b'ksav. – Difference between peirushim ha'mekubalim and halacha l'Moshe misinai? Why the later not mentioned in ikar 8? – How does navi fits in? – the immutability of Torah.	View
13	Ikarim 9 – 12	2023-12-07	9 – Torah doesn't change 10 – HKB"H knows ma'asei bnei Adam and exercises hashgacha (both included on yediah) 11 – sechar v'onesh, the former really being in olam haba. Why not listed on perek 3 of teshuva? Included in yediah. 12 – yemos hamoshiach (not only melech hamoshiach).	View
14	Beginning of Hakdama to Perek Chelek	2024-01-18	Sechar v'onesh is widely misunderstood in terms of what olam haba is, what mashiach brings, etc. Rambam discusses the correct understanding, as well as the definition of ahavas Hashem and lishma.	View
15	The Eternal vs. the Finite	2024-02-15		View
16	Attitude Towards Mitzvos	2024-02-22	Our attitude towards mitzvos is an essential part of our fulfilling them. Kiyum haMitzvos == to do it lishma, mei'ahava.	View
17	Techiyas Hameisim, Moshiach	2024-02-29	– after techiyas hameisim, people will die again – how the world will function during yemos hamoshiach – the melech hamoshiach – the process leading up to moshiach	View
18	Being Human, Reaching Olam Habba	2024-03-07	– the ultimate goal is olam habba. How does one get there? Serve HKB"H out of love. – to be truly human is to serve HKB"H, which is what differentiates us from animals, and leads us to olam habba. – have to teach the klalim before can get into the subtleties and nuances, so don't complain about the Rambam not filling out every last detail.	View
19	Definition of Apikores, Other Causes for Losing Olam Habb	2024-03-14	– apikores = zilzul towards yesodos haTorah or talmidei chachomim. There is no greater zilzul than not believing in ikraim. – Why does the mishna mention spcifically teschiyas hameisim and Torah min haShomyaim? – What is uniquely bad about wasting time by reading koreh b'seforim chitzonim? – locheish el makkos, writing names of melachim in mezuzos, etc. – reducing Torah to some kind of first aid kit, etc.	View
20	Shem "Yisroel"	2024-03-21	– shem "Yisroel" depends on being a ma'amin, and the chiyuvim bein adam lachaveiro applying depend on the recipient being a Yisroel. Only b'Toras Yisroel does one have a chelek in olam habba. – Hilchos De'os – ahavas Yisroel more limited, while in Hilchos Aveilus more expansive because dealing with achicha b'mitzvos. Mechayev in De'os is keeping one's own middos good, in aveil it's v'ahavata l'rei'a'cha kamocha.	View
21	Hakdama to Mishna Torah: Torah vs. Mitzvah	2024-03-28	– What’s Torah vs. mitzvah? Torah is b’ksav, mitzvah is b’al peh.– “Torah b’ksav” describes both the cheftza and how it is passed on. “Torah she’B’al peh” only describes how it is passed on, but the cheftza is “peirush”.– there are many pesukim in which Rambam gives multiple different peshatim in Mishna Torah; pesukim are intended to mean multiple things.	View
22	Hakdama to Mishna Torah, 2: Why Torah She'b'al Peh is Referred to as "Mitzvah"	2024-04-04	Mitzvah – command, interpretation, legacy from generation to generation. Rambam using all these meanings, and this answers many questions.	View
23	Hakdama to Mishna Torah, 3: The Chain of Masorah	2024-04-11	– Avos 1:1: the chain of masorah. Mesorah entrusted in each generation to specific ba'alei masorah. – What they say misevara is a part of the mesorah	View
24	Hakdama to Mishna Torah, 4: Mesiras haTorah	2024-05-02	– Rambam explains why R' Yehuda Hanassi changed the teaching of Torah she'b'al peh to be b'ksav, but didn't explain why Gemara was written since the change is mesiras haTorah had already been made beforehand. – Differences between halacha and agadata in mesiras haTorah. – The authority of batei din after chasimas hatalmud, the authority of Talmud Bavli.	View
25	Berachos 28b – death of R' Yochanan ben Zakkai	2024-05-30	Berachos 28b – death of R' Yochanan ben Zakkai – Why does the talmidim's presence trigger his crying? – Who someone is at a given point is a result of all he has done in life until then. – Morah shomayim & basar vadam. – Ahava & yirah with respect to mitzvos aseh & lo sa'aseh.	View