Panim el Panim
The Torah says God spoke to Moshe ‘panim el panim,’ -face to face. This is fascinating, especially since God does not have a physical form. Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman as he explores the various times the Torah uses the word ‘panim’ and we can best understand the relationship between God and the subject in those instances.
Panim el Panim: Panim el Panim
Hello Everyone,
“Panim el Panim”- “Face to Face”; that is the title of this series of classes. The Torah says that Hashem spoke with Moshe Rabbeinu “face to face.” What does this mean? Hashem emphasizes over and over again that there is no image which can represent Hashem. So why does the Torah describe the relationship which existed between Hashem and Moshe Rabbeinu with an apparently misleading (if not blasphemous) choice of words?
In these four meetings I hope to learn with you some of the answers which are given to this important question.
Panim el Panim: Panim el Panim
Hello Everyone,
In last week’s session we talked about the significance of understanding the unique nature of Moshe Rabbeinu’s relationship with Hashem. The Torah emphasizes in several places that the relationship that Moshe Rabbeinu had with Hashem was totally exceptional. It was a relationship that the Torah describes as one of “פנים אל פנים.”
Today we will talk a bit more about this description “פנים אל פנים.” What does it mean? Literally, פנים אל פנים means “face to face.” But obviously Hashem has no face, so what is the Torah telling us when using a phrase that cannot be taken literally?
I hope to share some of the answers to that question with you today.
Panim el Panim: Panim el Panim
Hello Everyone,
These sessions on the subject of “פנים אל פנים” are an exploration of the relationship between Hashem and Moshe Rabbeinu. One of the most important episodes in this relationship is the discussion that Moshe Rabbeinu had with Hashem, in which he made two requests of Hashem. The first request was “.הודיעני נא את דרכיך” The second request was “.הראני נא את כבודך”
What was Moshe Rabbeinu asking for when he made these requests? The Rambam explains them briefly in Mishneh Torah and at greater length in Moreh Nevuchim.
Today we will study the Rambam’s explanation of these two requests Made by Moshe Rabbeinu.
Panim el Panim: Panim el Panim
Hello Everyone,
For the past few weeks we have been discussing the phrase “פנים אל פנים” according to the interpretation of the Rambam in his מורה נבוכים.
The Rambam’s explanation is, as he says, best understood by those who immerse themselves in the study of hashem. The Rambam gives us a parable of people seeking Hashem by attempting to find the entrance to a palace.
The Rambam is, as many have already noted an elitist.
Some people in last week’s session asked what place is there in the Rambam’s view for “simple faith” ? I said last week that today we will see the most famous opponent to the Rambam’s view, and that was Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.