Maharal (R. Judah Lowe of Prague)

Exile and dispersion produced a miracle. It brought out an organic, irreducible oneness of our people that could not otherwise be imagined.

Jewish life in Poland. Rabbi Moshe Isserless. The Maharsha. Rabbi Shlomo Luria. Rabbi Joel Sirkes and Rabbi Meir of Lublin. Va'ad Arba Aratzos. Jewish economic activity. The shtetl. The Maharal of Prague. Other Torah centers.

Which world is more real? The world of action, or the world where we perceive the effects of our actions?

This class covers the early modern period in Eastern Europe, where Jewish communities flourished under the self-governance of the Council of Four Lands, but were later devastated with the Chmielnitzki Massacres in 1648.

The story is told of when the Maharal of Prague invoked the mystical teachings of Kabbalah to create an awesome superhero to save the Jewish people. (Starring Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek's "Mr. Spock")

Question: Why did Joseph die before his brothers? After all, he was the second youngest. According to the mitzvot he did – honoring his father and being his brethren's savior – should he not have lived a long life? Why did his brothers outlive him? Answer...

The common reason is that the simple little top was used during the Chanukah era to preserve Judaism.

Sources: Tanya, Shaar HaYichud VehaEmunah, ch. 9;Derech Mitzvosecha,Mitzvas HaAmanas Elokus, chs. 3-4,Shoresh Mitzvas HaTefillah, chs. 28-30;the series of maamarim entitled Yom Tov Shel Rosh HaShanah 5666 , pp. 167-168 Once R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev ...