Derech HaShem with Rabbi Aryeh Shulman

1.1: Book 1 Chapter 1

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:37:24 -0000

1.2: Book 1 Chapter 2 Episode 1

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:40:44 -0000

1.3: Book 1 Chapter 2 Episode 2

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:42:45 -0000

1.4: Book 1 Chapter 2 Episode 3

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:43:38 -0000

1.5: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 1

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 21:44:50 -0000

Episode Notes

The beginning of Chapter 3 may be back at the end of the previous episode.

1.6: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 2

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:35:48 -0000

1.7: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 3

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:37:04 -0000

1.8: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 4

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:40:13 -0000

1.9: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 5

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:41:22 -0000

1.10: Book 1 Chapter 3 Episode 6

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:42:30 -0000

1.11: Book 1 Chapter 4 Episode 1

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:43:38 -0000

Episode Notes

The beginning of this chapter is to be found at the end of Chapter 3.

1.12: Book 1 Chapter 4 Episode 2

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:45:00 -0000

1.13: Book 1 Chapter 4 Episode 3

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:46:12 -0000

1.14: Book 1 Chapter 4 Episode 4

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:47:45 -0000

1.15: Book 1 Chapter 4 Episode 5

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:48:55 -0000

1.16: Book 1 Chapter 5 Episode 1

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:50:32 -0000

1.17: Book 1 Chapter 5 Episode 2

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:51:35 -0000

1.18: Book 1 Chapter 5 Episode 3

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:53:20 -0000

1.19: Book 1 Chapter 5 Episode 4

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 20:54:49 -0000

1.20: Book 2 Chapter 1

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 21:09:28 -0000

1.21: Book 2 Chapter 2 Episode 1

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:37:28 -0000

1.22: Book 2 Chapter 2 Episode 2

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:40:39 -0000

1.23: Book 2 Chapter 2 Episode 3

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:45:24 -0000

1.24: Book 2 Chapter 3 Episode 1

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:54:12 -0000

1.25: Book 2 Chapter 3 Episode 2

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:55:06 -0000

1.27: Book 2 Chapter 3 Episode 4

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:58:21 -0000

1.26: Book 2 Chapter 3 Episode 3

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:04:30 -0000

1.28: Book 2 Chapter 3 Episode 5

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:11:55 -0000

1.29: Book 2 Chapter 4 Episode 1

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:12:43 -0000

1.30: Book 2 Chapter 4 Episode 2

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:21:07 -0000

1.31: Book 2 Chapter 4 Episode 3

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:22:16 -0000

1.32: Book 2 Chapter 5 Episode 1

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:23:39 -0000

1.33: Book 2 Chapter 5 Episode 2

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:26:14 -0000

1.34: Book 2 Chapter 6

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:29:23 -0000

1.35: Book 2 Chapter 7

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:31:55 -0000

1.36: Book 2 Chapter 8 Episode 1

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:34:03 -0000

1.37: Book 2 Chapter 8 Episode 2

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 22:35:54 -0000

1.38: Book 3 Chapter 1 Episode 1

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:32:35 -0000

1.39: Book 3 Chapter 1 Episode 2

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:33:39 -0000

1.40: Book 3 Chapter 1 Episode 3

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:34:44 -0000

1.41: Book 3 Chapter 1 Episode 4

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:35:44 -0000

1.42: Book 3 Chapter 2 Episode 1

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:39:40 -0000

1.43: Book 3 Chapter 2 Episode 2

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:41:21 -0000

1.44: Book 3 Chapter 2 Episode 3

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:42:16 -0000

1.45: Book 3 Chapter 3 Episode 1

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:43:59 -0000

1.46: Book 3 Chapter 3 Episode 2

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:44:47 -0000

1.47: Book 3 Chapter 4 Episode 1

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:46:36 -0000

1.48: Book 3 Chapter 4 Episode 2

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:47:34 -0000

1.49: Book 3 Chapter 5 Episode 1

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 21:49:02 -0000

1.50: Book 3 Chapter 5 Episode 2

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 17:30:12 -0000

1.51: Book 4 Chapter 1

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 17:57:27 -0000

1.52: Book 4 Chapter 2 Episode 1

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:36:28 -0000

1.53: Book 4 Chapter 2 Episode 2

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 21:27:16 -0000

1.54: Book 4 Chapter 2 Episode 3

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 21:38:42 -0000

1.55: Book 4 Chapter 3

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 18:38:47 -0000

1.56: Chapter 4 Book 4 Episode 1

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 23:39:48 -0000

1.57: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 2

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 22:19:50 -0000

1.58: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 3

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 22:23:30 -0000

1.59: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 4

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 22:24:01 -0000

1.60: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 5

Thu, 23 Dec 2021 14:36:04 -0000

1.61: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 6

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 18:25:31 -0000

1.62: Book 4 Chapter 4 Episode 7

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:36:10 -0000

1.63: Book 4 Chapter 5

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 18:11:03 -0000

1.64: Book 4 Chapter 6 Episode 1

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 02:52:41 -0000

1.65: Book 4 Chapter 6 Episode 2

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 00:01:38 -0000

1.66: Book 4 Chapter 6 Episode 3

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 18:22:35 -0000

1.67: Book 4 Chapter 6 Episode 4

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 23:42:40 -0000

1.68: Book 4 Chapter 6 Episode 5

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:39:52 -0000

1.69: Book 4 Chapter 7

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:03:50 -0000

1.70: Book 4 Chapter 8 Episode 1

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 18:20:45 -0000

1.71: Book 4 Chapter 8 Episode 2

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 18:02:10 -0000

1.72: Book 4 Chapter 8 Episode 3

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 22:46:05 -0000

1.73: Book 4 Chapter 8 Episode 4

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 22:47:28 -0000

1.74: Book 4 Chapter 9

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:44:53 -0000

2.1: Derech Hashem B'Iyun: Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 1a

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 20:57:58 -0000

2.2: Derech Hashem B'Iyun: Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 1b

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 17:30:17 -0000

2.3: Derech Hashem B'Iyun: Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 2a

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:25:09 -0000

2.4: Derech Hashem B'Iyun: Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 2b - 4

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:21:27 -0000

2.5: Derech Hashem B'Iyun: Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 5a

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:34:18 -0000

2.6: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 1 Part 5b - 6

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:17:45 -0000

2.7: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 1a

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:18:28 -0000

2.8: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 1b

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:42:17 -0000

2.9: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 1c

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 23:59:10 -0000

2.10: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 1d

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 23:29:33 -0000

2.11: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 2a

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:17:21 -0000

2.12: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 2b

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:54:16 -0000

2.13: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 3

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:32:32 -0000

2.14: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 3b

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:39:01 -0000

2.15: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 4a

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 18:47:45 -0000

2.16: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 2 Part 4b - 5

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:23:27 -0000

2.17: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 1

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 19:48:11 -0000

2.18: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 2a

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:23:53 -0000

2.19: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 2b

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 18:33:26 -0000

2.20: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 3

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:11:38 -0000

2.21: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 4 - 7

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 23:40:08 -0000

2.22: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 8

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 23:31:20 -0000

2.23: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 9

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:20:52 -0000

2.24: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 10 -11

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:46:59 -0000

2.25: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 11b

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 17:11:35 -0000

2.26: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 12

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:37:30 -0000

2.27: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 13a

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:14:27 -0000

2.28: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 3 Part 13b

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:16:48 -0000

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/dh-biyun-1-3-13b-20260324-141501-outline-20260324-141618.pdf

2.29: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 4 Part 1

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 22:20:07 -0000

This dvar Torah frames Perek 4 as an investigation into the human condition in this world through two lenses: the inner structure of the person and the external environment in which he lives. Using the Gemara’s language of **“שאור שבעיסה ושיעבוד מלכויות”**, it connects these two forces to Pesach: the internal “yeast” (yetzer hara) that puffs up the dough from within, and the external oppression of surrounding cultures and empires. The shiur then maps the path of inner revolution—through **חכמה, בינה, דעת** and through **חסד, גבורה, תפארת**—and ends by probing the deeper mechanism: physicality’s inherent “opacity” and “darkness,” the opposite of deveikut to Hashem.

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/dh-biyun-1-4-1-20260401-221913-outline-20260401-221946.pdf

2.30: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 4 Part 2

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:16:05 -0000

This dvar Torah (learning session) develops the Ramchal’s description of the נשמה entering the גוף as an inherently asymmetrical struggle: even when the powers are “balanced,” the battlefield is the body’s “home court,” so the soul experiences exile in a foreign environment. Because the soul-body partnership is permanent (death is only temporary until תחיית המתים), the soul must invest in a lifelong process: first weakening the הגוף’s darkness and then elevating the גוף to rise together with the נשמה. The session concludes by previewing the next layer of difficulty: not only is the body physical, but the entire world is physical and “dark,” constantly arguing that physicality is all that is real.

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/dh-biyun-1-4-2-20260418-001456-outline-20260418-001544.pdf

2.31: 4

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:27:34 -0000

This dvar Torah traces the Ramchal’s argument that a human being is immersed in physicality on three fronts: our bodies, our world, and our daily involvements. That physical immersion creates an “asymmetrical” struggle: the body is compulsory and immediate, while spirituality is not forced upon us. Yet the Ramchal’s key chiddush is that **from the depth of Hashem’s wisdom**, this very lowliness becomes the engine of human greatness—because transforming physical darkness into spiritual light is what generates the highest kavod Shamayim and the deepest dveikus.

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/4-20260423-192629-outline-20260423-192707.pdf

2.32: Derech Hashem B'Iyun Book 1 Chapter 4 Part 4

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:40:09 -0000

This dvar Torah develops a central Ramchal idea: Hashem embedded *גבולים* (definitions) and *סדרים* (relational structures) within the physical world so that human engagement with physical objects can become a vehicle for spiritual growth rather than distraction. When a person uses the world according to the object’s spiritual “design,” within the proper frameworks (time, combinations, procedure) and with proper *כוונה*, the physical act itself becomes an act of *שלמות*. The shiur then addresses a key tension: since death was decreed after Adam’s sin, purification cannot fully actualize in this world—but every mitzvah still strengthens the soul and purifies the body “in potential,” to be revealed later. A passage from Rav Chaim Volozhiner clarifies that at the moment of a mitzvah a person becomes “encircled in holiness,” and Olam HaBa is the permanence of that revelation.

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/dh-biyun-1-4-4-20260423-193902-outline-20260423-193955.pdf

2.33: D_H biyun 1-4-5_7

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 03:14:46 -0000

This dvar Torah learns Derech Hashem’s framework that mitzvot are not external rules imposed on man, but the very “boundaries and relationships” (גבולים וסדרים) custom-designed for human perfection and דביקות בה׳. It then defines the root of all avodah as a constant orientation toward the Creator, expressed through conquering the yetzer and guiding all actions to that goal. Finally, it introduces a second category beyond commanded mitzvot: everyday necessities (eating, sleep, livelihood) that can become mitzvot when done within halachic limits, with genuine health-need, and with the intention of enabling the soul’s service of Hashem.

Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/dh-biyun-1-4-57-20260428-031328-outline-20260428-031417.pdf