The Seven Ways Podcast

“This is the true story … of five families … picked to live in a hospital ... with their therapists … to find out what happens ... .” What use is Abraham's kindness if the recipients are not human? How can we observe people in their natural habitat, do make better plans to help them? #abraham #bereishis #sarah #genesis #chumash #genesis #bereishit

Avraham Avinu (Abraham), Kayin & Hevel (Cain and Able), Adam the first Man, some people "get it" and others don't. The work is 'individuation' and 'differentiation', not to be emotionally sunken into a group. Be yourself, reduce conflict, and become a better...leader...parents...everything. (Works for Lech-Lecha (Ch. 12) and Bereishis (Ch. 2) #lechlecha #bereishit #bereishis #torah #chumash #genesis #abraham #cainandabel #adam

In this episode we explore how society needs to be fixed in a particular order, as outlined by Sefer Shoftim. I also connect each shofet's middah with the parallel middah in the 7 Roim/Ushpizin. Osniel ben Kenaz: strong, albeit temporary, leaders can give hope for change.  Ehud: be rid of relativistic reality/postmodernism; establish goal of objective reality. Shamgar: eliminate division, connect people to each other. Devorah: take back control of the media and the messaging. Emphasis on filtering for morality and reality. Gidon: introduce and teach about morality, verbally and socially fighting for justice and morality. Tolah: increase personal, emotional care for others.  Yair: increase innovation and confidence in economic gain and individual entrepreneurship.   Yiftach: introduce strong leaders who keep groups united, show strength to foreign leaders, but are reflective of the population.  Ibtzan, Alon, Avdan: make sure peoples’ healthy visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and ego faculties displace their jealousy, physical desires, desire for honor, and arrogance.  Shimshon: Bring together disparate leader ship and root out infiltrators to the country, be them spiritual, external, or negative influence. (Samson, Deborah, Gideon, sefirot, sefiros, shoftim, judges).

Shmuel HaNavi's message and achievements shed light on the only solution to the Shoftim Problem: Netzach as unabashed religious adherence.  (Netzach, shoftim, judges, Shmuel, Samuel, philistines, plishtim.)

Society further breaks down on micro and macro levels. As Jewish Law wanes and idolatry waxes upon entry into Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel), Bnai Israel (People of Israel) expect to feel free and to follow the whims of their heart; unfortunately, lawlessness turns to aggression, as always.   What caused the Levite's concubine to run away from him? Why does his father-in-law placate him for so many days? Why does he leaves the man's home so late in the day? Why does Bnai Yisrael feel so compelled to respond to the atrocity by attacking all of Benjamin, and so strongly at that?  (Pilegesh, concubine, Levi, Yehudah, Ephraim, Efraim, Levite, fathers, husband marriage, Benjamin, Binyamin).

What led Micha to cause one of the worst creations and incidences on Biblical record? Why would a Levi act as a Cohen? Why are these men called both "Ish" and "Na'ar"?  Societies break down on both macro and micro levels. The 'Idol of Micha' incident teaches us where to look to solve these problems on a familial level. (Yesod, Gevurah, Ephraim, Mensashe, Dan, Micha, Mikah, Michah, Michayahu, idol, molten idols, teraphim, Shoftim, healthy masculinity, male-female, male, female.).

Why does Shimshon have a weakness when it comes to women? What are we supposed to learn from his action-oriented achievements? What is the message behind Shimshon using a donkey's jaw? Buckle your seatbelts as we study the rest of Shimshon's dramatic story and extract its lessons to use to solve the world's problems. (Middos,  Plishtim, Philistines, Samson, Shimshon, Delila, Delilah, Lilith, Lilit, Lilis, yesod, gevurah, malchus, gayva).

What is Shimshon's achievement vis-a-vis Shoftim & Malchus? What is his personality and why does he need to be a Nazir Shimshon? Where does his strength come from? Understand why Shimshon can be seen as the epitomal Shofet/Judge, as the hero who may be out of line (sometimes), but he is right. (Middos, keter, kesser, binah, chochma, daas, daat, Plishtim, Philistines, Samson, Shimshon, kinah, tayva, kavod, gayva).

(Re-edited 11/7/2021 to add more inspiration, clarity, and ideas). Yiftach is crowned as a temporary "chief", bringing fortunate victories, but, along with his boldness, tragedy arrives. Understand how leaders who lack knowledge and are full of hubris negatively impact our lives, and why we should demand more. See how Yiftach, Ibtzan, Elon, and Avdon bring us flashes of potent middos, Keser, Chochma, Bina, and Daas, and temporary salvation for Bnai Yisrael (Jewish People).  Shevet Ephraim and Yiftach bring powerful messages about when to speak up in life, how to carry a 'chip on one's shoulder' for motivation, and not accepting stifling or unideal relationships. (Middos, keter, kesser, binah, chochma, daas, daat, Jephthah, Hillel, kinah, tayva, kavod, gayva). 

What is the crime of the Migdal Bavel (Tower of Babel)? Why is the punishment having their language changed and being scattered about? Nothing is new under the sun, as this infamous incident provides us with *immediate* lessons about modern times, on government, freedom, and dissidence.   (Noach, Bible, Noah, Chumash, tyranny, government, control, freedom, freedoms, Nimrod, Avraham, Abraham, Chesed, Malchus, Gevurah, Midrash).