Flagship Course
Reshis
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Course syllabus
Reishis Course Syllabus: the journey to spiritual maturity
Module 1: Our Spiritual Design & Purpose
The opening narratives of the Torah are not simply a chronological record of what happened first. Rather they reveal the psychological, emotional, and spiritual threads running through the entire human story that continue to shape history. This course identifies and follows them as they continue to weave our story.
Lesson 1:
What Does It Mean To Be In A “Relationship” With Hashem?
The onlyness of Hashem, understanding our place within Hashem's reality, the mechitza between “ruchnius” & “gashmius”, our perception of separateness, the source of our sense of self, how to understand death and heaven and hell.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Echad · Ein Od Milvado · The Divine “Pregnancy” · Makom · Tzimtzum · Mechitza
Lesson 2:
What should I know about Hashem and His relationship with me?
What we can and cannot know about Hashem. The reason vs the purpose of creation.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Ratzon Elyon · Kavod · YKVK · Rachamim
Lesson 3:
What should I know about how I am designed?
The mandate to achieve spiritual maturity. What is my nishmah, my neshama, my nefesh?
KEY CONCEPTS:
Bechira · Nishmas Chaim · Nefesh & Neshama · Tahor & Tamei
Lesson 4:
What should I know about bechira and hashgacha?
What is actually in our range of free choice? free choice vs free will, tug of war bechira, loss of bechira, My truth vs THE TRUTH
KEY CONCEPTS:
Yediah vs. Bechira · Chelek · Bechira vs. bechira · Hashgacha · Chibut Hakever · Olam Habba
Module 2: History Before the Jews
The opening narratives of the Torah explain how we can highjack and misuse our divine design and all of its potential. this is followed by a catalogue of societies attempts to cope with their state of spiritual malfunction. The same mistakes of these earlier societies continue to be repeated and follow the same pattern of self destruction. Humanity was in a tragic loop until Avraham appears on the scene.
5. Understanding Spiritual immaturity and The psychology of sin
This class explores the deeper meaning of the Etz HaDaas story. It explains spiritual malfunction and how we find ourselves operating in survival mode. It maps out why humanity keeps cycling in predictable patterns of self destruction.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Ish · Isha · Nachash · Etz HaChaim · Death · Sadness · Yetzer Hara · Emes & Sheker vs. Tov & Ra · Galus hashechina, Zuhama shel Hanachash · Kayin vs. Hevel· Mabul · Migdal Bavel · Sedom
Module 3: The Stages of Am Yisrael’s Development
The Torah now introduces us to Avraham, the most influential person that ever lived. In the next 4 classes we will trace his breakthrough spiritual understanding and how his descendants and followers were able to break out of the patterns that still drive individuals and societies into survival mode and its terrible fate. We will follow the spiritual development of Am Yisrael from infancy through childhood, adulthood to complete maturity in the times of Moshiach.
6. Tikkun Begins The Founders of Am Yisrael
Avraham understands the erroneous thinking behind human misery, and develops a new way of thinking that saves humanity. He emerges as an army of one and founds a protest movement against the prevailing survival mode mentality. He discovers, teaches and embodies the “derech Hashem”, the core values and priorities that are the pillars of Yahadus Amon, Moav, Eisav, Yishmael, opt out of the “derech Hashem’ while the family of Yaakov descends into Mitzrayim, the Kur HaBarzel, the crucible in which our national character is forged.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Nachlas Goyim · Ivri · Hikir · Tikun · Derech Hashem · Chessed · Tzedaka U’Mishpat · Imahos · Emunah · Hashgacha · Sefer Habris · 49 Levels of Tumah · Kur habarzel
7. National Birth & Spiritual Infancy
Am Yisrael is born through Yetzias Mitzrayim and Matan Torah when we intentionally opt out of survival mode. We commit to advance towards spiritual maturity to be a light unto nations to help guide all of humanity eliminate the “snake's poison”. The Torah then highlights examples of spiritual immaturity such as the Egel, Kivrot HaTaavah and the meraglim and the tragic ramifications of remaining in that state.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Sefer Habris · Naaseh V’nishma · Paska Zuhama · mountain over our heads · Bcharta Bchaiyim · Neshama Yeseira, Mitzvos · Egel meraglim · Kivros taavah · 13 Middos Harachamim
8. National Childhood
The first 1,000 years of our national story are our childhood/chinuch years, we have entere Eretz Yisrael our “parents” home. Hashgacha is obvious and observable. Nevuah and nissim function as direct educational tools, teaching us Hashem’s expectations through immediate feedback. Our successes and failures are met with clear corrections. Our Sifrei Neviim preserve the crucial lessons we needed to learn in order to develop into Reishis Tevuaso.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Nevuah · Hashgacha · Bracha · Klalah · How to read Sifrei Neviim · Early vs. Latter Neviim · Dor Deah
9. Emerging Adulthood
Eventually childhood comes to an end and we must take our first big step into adulthood. The destruction of the First Beis Hamikdash initiates the slow withdrawal of overt chinuch and begins the transition into national adulthood. Purim and Chanukah are key milestones in which Am Yisrael are pushed to step into our adult shoes and take responsibility to represent Hashem in His world. Our latter neviim assure us we will eventually succeed at achieving dazzling spiritual maturity and experience mashiach.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Churban Bayis I · Purim · Bayis II · Chanukah · Churban Bayis II · Loss of Nissim & Nevuah · Hester Panim · Shachar · Chochma vs. Nevuah · Yeridas Hadoros · Kol Kevodah Bas Melech P’nima · Tehillim 73 · Emunah
Module 4: Moshiach and the Perfect World
The long Galus has proven that we have internalized our chinuch, the value system of Avraham is very much alive in us, we are a nation known for intelligence, kindness, charity, justice and respect for all of Hashem's creations, we hold ourselves to our higher standard and we have proven that we will never abandon our calling. We have elevated a significant part of humanity by our influence and Jewish values are now common knowledge. Mashiach will usher in an era of justice, peace, wisdom, and pure Torah values. All of humanity will turn to us for guidance and enlightenment.
10. What to expect in times of Mashiach
How the Rambam teachings on the times of Mashiach foretell exactly where society is right now. We will discuss the implications of ai, robots, the lack of needing to work, social justice, the explosion of human potential and the shift towards a world consumed by discovering Hashems wisdom.
KEY CONCEPTS:
Tzelem becomes Dmus · Tzion B’mishpat Tipadeh · Nachash=Mashiach · Nekama · Bechira · Hashgacha · Feminism
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