The 5 Fundamentals
Our Divine-Human Design and our Purpose
Topics:
- The Torah that preceded the world and our Torah
- How the Torah acts as our backstory
- What is the Neshama/soul, Shamayim/heavens and the Tzelem Elokim/likeness to G-d and the Mechitza/partition?
- What are Malachim/angels?
- Why are we not automatically aware of Hashem?
- The Mashal of the baby in the womb
- Divine concealment or Tzimtzum Bechira and the one choice that is in our hands
- What is Din/judgment, Emes/truth and Onesh/punishment?
Our Human Challenges and Failures
Topics:
- Rambams' explanation of the Gan Eden/ Garden of Eden story.
- Where and what is Gan Eden?
- What and where is the Etz Hadaas/tree of knowledge and the Etz Hachaim/tree of life?
- Who and what is Adam?
- Who are the Nachash/serpent, Ish/ male & Isha/female?
- What is the Yetzer Hara &Yetzer Hatov/evil and good inclinations?
- What is chet/sin and death?
- Survival mode, Creator mode, the "curses" and the path back to Gan Eden.
The Gifts of the Founders of Judaism
Topics:
- What were the roles of the founding Avos/fathers vs the Imahos/mothers
- What is Chessed? What is Tzedek Umishpat, Gevurah, Rachamim and Emes?
- How do all these forces work in balance?
- What creates a secure attachment?
- Love and Awe vs Hedonism and Nihilism.
- Prohibitions are not limitations, Reishis Tevuaso- the first of the nations to spiritually ripen.
- What is the the key to a secure attachment to others and to Hashem?
From Sinai till today: The role of the Jews among and for the nations
Topics:
- What was purpose of the exile and persecution in Mitzrayim/Egypt?
- Iyov and the suffering of the innocent
- The forming of our national character
- What is Emunah?
- What happened at Sinai?
- The Kol/sound that we heard The meaning of Naaseh V'nishma, and the mountain over our heads
- The rejection of Torah by the other nations
- What are the stages from birth to maturity in our historical journey?
- What is “YeridasHadoros/ the concept of diminishing of the generations”
Achieving the Destiny of Mankind: Mashiach and Beyond
Topics:
- Why Antisemitism?
- What will the Geulah/redemption be similar to?
- What is Divine Nekama/revenge?
- What are the messages of Purim and Chanukah for our national destiny?
What will the times of Mashiach be like? - How does AI and technology fit into the picture?
What is Olam Habba/the world to come?
The V'nishma Fundamentals course will be in a hybrid online/live format. There will be a start date, IH after Pesach so that all participants will begin the course together. You will be able to go through the 5 fundamental lessons at your own pace. Each lesson will be broken down into digestible segments and will include visuals, summaries, review questions and a live presentation of the entire lesson. Each week, over the course of the 5 weeks, there will also be a live-zoom Q&A review session. Once you complete the Fundamentals course, you can progress to the Advanced course, which will have the same format.
Once you complete both, you will be able to join the Master Class courses.
All those who have taken the original V'nishma and/or the Fundamentals for Elul and/or the currently offered Advanced class, will be given access to this course for free.
