Shavouot 5768 - The Light of Shavouot
Rav David Daniel Hacohen שליט״א
Summary
The Rav explains the teaching of the Arizal, quoting the Zohar, that whoever stays up all night on Shavuot learning Torah is assured of a good year. He asks why this should be so, since the judgment takes place on Rosh Hashanah. Drawing on the Bnei Yissachar, he explains that the Heavenly Court judges strictly according to truth, but that Hashem, as a father, can set its decision aside, as when Raphael both healed Avraham and rescued Lot. He illustrates this with stories told about Rabbi Yehuda Fetaya, who drove out dybbukim, and with the story of a woman who took her own life but was not judged by the court. Staying up to learn is not an obligation in halakha, so those who do it go beyond what is required, and Hashem treats them in turn with extra mercy. The Rav ends with a prayer that the nations stop interfering with Israel.
Highlights
- 0:06 The Zohar: whoever learns all night on Shavuot is assured of a good year Shavuot Torah study The Arizal
- 1:09 The question: judgment is on Rosh Hashanah, not on Shavuot Shavuot Rosh Hashana
- 1:55 Hashem judges with truth, yet is also a merciful father Faith Character traits
- 3:14 The three angels who visited Avraham and the Bnei Yissachar's questions Angels Healing The Patriarchs
- 6:42 The Heavenly Court and the rescue of Lot from Sodom Angels The Patriarchs
- 10:37 Rabbi Yehuda Fetaya and the dybbukim of Baghdad Kabbalah The soul Tikkun
- 17:35 The angel's story of the woman judged with mercy by the court Angels The soul
- 19:53 Who sits on the Heavenly Court: the judges are the deceased tsadikim Secrets of the Torah The righteous
- 21:41 Hashem can set aside the court's decision for those who go beyond what is required Shavuot Halacha Character traits
- 22:56 Preparing to receive the Torah with joy and by doing more Shavuot Torah study Joy
- 23:49 Prayer that the nations stop interfering with Israel Current events Redemption