Ep. 500: How Should We React to the Rescue of the Four Hostages?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: MyLife: Chassidus Applied Episode 500  Tribute to Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky a”h  How should we react to the rescue of the four hostages?  What happened on this day 3336 years ago?  Why is it important for us to honor it?  What is Torah?  What is Torah from G-d's perspective?  Why was the Torah not given at the beginning of creation?  Why is it called Mattan Torah? Why is G-d giving us a gift?  Why did the Jews have to restrain themselves for three days before Mattan Torah?  Why don’t we dance with the Torah on Shavuot as we do on Simchat Torah?  Did we receive the Torah willingly or were we coerced?  Why is saying naaseh v’nishma considered such a big thing?  Why were crowns placed on the heads of the Jewish people at Sinai, and why did the angels and not G-d Himself place these crowns on their heads?  What is the significance of a crown (keser)?  What is the difference between the two levels of Keser, arich and atik?  How does the Rebbe Rashab explain the idea of keser in Hemshech Ayin Beis?  Why did G-d offer the Torah to the other nations?  Was it possible that the Jews could have chosen not to receive the Torah?  What lessons do we learn from Mattan Torah in our present lives and challenges?  What shape were the tablets?  Why do we read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot?  Is the last week of Sefirah, when we focus on malchus, connected with Moshiach?  What does Shavuot teach us today?