2026-06-03 – LH8 – CM2 – Pikadon 4 – Para. 13-16a – Parshas Mishpatim – Kabbalah Course – Light of Sekhel vs. Darkness – Obligations of a Watchman

Pikadon 4 – Parshas Mishpatim – Kabbalah Course – Light of Sekhel vs. Darkness – Obligations of a Watchman – Speaker: Rabbi Nasan Maimon.
Hilkhos Pikadon 4 is based on Likutey Moharan 1.
00:00 – PARAGRAPH 13. A watchman needs to take an oath if he claims something he was guarding was lost. “A fool shuns wisdom” (Mishlei). Damage arises from the kingdom of evil.
06:00 – Reference to Sefer HaMidos: When something a watchman is responsible for is damaged, this indicates that something is wrong with his daas.
07:30 – Kabbalah Course. Shomer vezochor – male and feminine aspects of Shabbos. [Ed. Note: see also Sipurey Maasios – Story of the Lost Princess.]
10:00 – Malkhus indicates constriction of consciousness/darkness. Chokhmah indicates expansion of the consciousness/light.The letter Ches represents Chokhmah.
12:30 – ***Spiritual aspects of night. “When sekhel isn’t functioning, the brain is in darkness.” Damage is caused through the forces of evil.
14:00 – ***Torah study strengthens the sekhel.
15:00 – Torah study protects a person, as in בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ׀ תַּנְחֶה אֹתָךְ בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ – “When you walk, it shall lead you; when you lie down, it shall guard you, and when you awaken, it shall speak for you” (Mishlei 6:22).
17:00 – PARAGRAPH 14. Obligations of a watchman.
18:30 – The Torah discourages a person from watching something for another. Although it’s permitted, it’s not advised to take on the responsibility because there is so much potential for harm.
22:00 – A person constantly experiences harm to his material possessions because they contain sparks of holiness.
27:00 – The purpose of the material world is to see the sekhel in each thing.
27:30 – Q&R about guarding the possessions of others: why is it more difficult than watching one’s own possessions?
32:00 – Q&R about how to deal with feeling tired. When a person’s fatigued, he needs to recognize that he’s prone to making mistakes. Therefore, he needs to pray for more protection from HaShem. NOTE about a young person in the religious community trying to withstand social pressure to do things that will harm him spiritually and physically.
32:00 – PARAGRAPH 15.
45:00 – PARAGRAPH 16. Parshas Mishpatim. וְנִקְרַב בַּעַל־הַבַּיִת אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים – “…the homeowner shall approach the judges, [to swear]…” (Shemos 22:7, Mishpatim).
50:30 – בְּחָכְמָה יִבָּנֶה בָּיִת וּבִתְבוּנָה יִתְכּוֹנָן – “A house is built with wisdom, and it is established with understanding” (Mishlei 24:3). A person builds a home for the sake of HaShem to fulfill His Torah, as in כֻּלָּם בְּחָכְמָה עָשִׂיתָ – “…You have made them all with wisdom…” (Tehillim 104:24).
54:00 – Closing blessings.

Indexing and Notes by S.Y. Wurtzel. Timings approximate.