Knowing God's Plan # 1

• Brief intro to the Ramchal
• Challenge: Rav Hirsch on why philosophical inquiry in the incorporeality of G-d and His unity is a waste of time.
• Ramchal (See second pg of intro), 3 reasons, 1. Obligation to understand the ways of Hashem 2. To allow us to settle our minds in our faith that all happens for the good etc 3. To appreciate the significance of the mitzvos.
• Rav Hirsch alludes to the significance of taamei hamitzvos vis vis kabbalah
• For the moment, my primary objective is reason # 2. Many of us are advanced in respective fields, and widely read, but what does authentic Torah tradition have to say about the problems of faith?
• V’hashevosa el l’vavecha means to broaden our horizons to include a framework and structure for seeing the world through Hashem’s eyes.
• Ramchal in Maamar Havikuach: Understanding the interface between G-d and man.
• Too often, we simply leave everything beyond our own understanding to “it’s beyond me”. Ramchal provides us with a framework that allows us to begin to see a system.
• Ramchal (opening of Klach) Kabbalah is one thing: Understanding how everything comes from God
• Being open to hearing G-d’s version of things via the tradition of the Torah, prophets and scholarly, though divinely sanctioned interpretations.
• Listen first, and try and see how it impacts your worldview second…