Hashem’s Presence in Exile
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller introduces the book of Yechezkel, emphasizing Yechezkel’s uniqueness as a navi, prophet, in exile. The vision that Yechezkel had is a giluy, a revelation, of Hashem’s Presence in Exile.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller introduces the book of Yechezkel, emphasizing Yechezkel’s uniqueness as a navi, prophet, in exile. The vision that Yechezkel had is a giluy, a revelation, of Hashem’s Presence in Exile.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller begins learning through the first perek of the Sefer, with the famous Merkava vision, in which Yechezkel sees a vision of G-d and His ministering angels. Rebbetzin Heller applies this vision to the concepts of serving Hashem even while in Galut, exile.
Rebbetzins Heller speaks about Yechezkel’s prophecy of the four forces.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller continues with the second and third perakim of the sefer.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perek 4 in Sefer Yechezkel. Yechezkel is told to perform all sorts of symbolic actions as both a prophesy of future events and as a way to be mechaper (to atone) for the sins of Klal Yisrael before the Churban (destruction of the Beit Hamikdash).
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains how the prophecies will take place.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains the pesukim describing Hashem’s command to Yechezkel to shave his hair as a sign of the impending destruction of Yerushalayim.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains the nature of false prophets, and their destructive influence on the Jewish people.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller describes Yechezkel’s vision of the destruction of Yerushalayim and its causes, and shows how these prophesies are still relevant today.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perek 9. This perek deals with the difference between a heavenly decree before and after it was finalized, and also shows that everything in this world comes from direct Divine planning and intervention, and not through the laws of cause and effect.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perakim 10 and 11, which deal with the prophesies of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem and the devastation of the Jewish people.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perek 12, which describes the exile of the Shechina, the Divine Presence, from Yerushalayim, and shows how the calamity of exile is also the beginning of the path to redemption.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller relates the causes for people’s rebellion against Hashem, the ramifications of such rebellion, and why tzaddikim (righteous people) get punished when they did not sin.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches chapter 13, in which Yechezkel describes the damage done by false prophets, and those who offer false mystic escapes to sin and punishment.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discusses the dangers of bad leadership, as described by the prophet Yechezkel. The harm of false leaders is so great that even people who are great enough to maintain their level despite the opposition of society, such as Daniel, Noach, and Iyov, can’t rescue anyone but themselves from destruction.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches Perek 15, which speaks about what makes people follow the false prophets.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller continues Perek 15, speaking about why we turned away from Hashem and attached ourselves to strange forces.
Rebbtzin Tziporah Heller teaches chapter 16, which portrays a detailed parable of a rejected newborn, abandoned in the field. Hashem recognizes the beauty of the Jewish people even in their infancy, and raises them up to be his chosen children. Unfortunately, the Jewish ‘maiden’ stumbles and abandons Hashem.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller completes chapter 16, which describes the unfaithful behavior of the Jewish people to Hashem.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perek 17, which relates Hashem’s promise that he will send the two eagles of destruction, Bavel and Mitzrayim, to reduce the Jews’ status to one of a downtrodden nation, ‘Am Shfela’. Eventually Mashiach will come and return us back to our original selves.
Rebbetin Tziporah Heller teaches chapter 18, in which Yechezkel shows the way to move beyond the sins of one’s past and develop a new level of self-definition.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains the two parables presented by Yechezkel in chapter 19. The parables speak of two lions who misuse their abilities and of a vine that could have been fertile but is no longer. Both meshalim (parables) refer to the end of the independent monarchy in the Land of Israel, and the reality of exile.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches perek 20, which relates how the elders attempted to disengage from Hashem and Hashem’s response in which he narrates the cause and affect of the covenant.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the terrible prophesy of the siege of Jerusalem, and the terrible slaughter which accompanied its fall.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller talks about the deeds which spiraled out of control, causing destruction and defeat of the Jewish people.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the famous parable of two wayward wives, Oholiva and Ohola, and their subsequent downfall. This parable is adapted by the Kalir in the Kinnot of Tisha B’av. The rebellion of Ohola and Oholiva are a parable for the assimilation of the two kingdoms of Israel, that of the Ten tribes and that of The Kingdom of Judea
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches chapter 24, which describes the siege of Jerusalem and the life of Yechezkel as a symbol for the fate of the Jewish people.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches chapter 25. This perek talks about the future destinies of Edom, Amon, Moav, and Plishtim.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the prophesy regarding the future fall of the nation of Tzur and the relevance of these prophesies to the Jewish People.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller talks about the nation of Tzur and its fall from power. Tzor’s defeat teaches an ageless lesson, that consumerism and materialism lead to defeat and disillusion.