Except for the Tzaddik

Before you is a summary of the topics from the daily lesson as delivered by our teacher, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a – yesterday after the Maariv (evening) prayer, Sunday night, the 16th of Teves 5786, Parshas Shemos:

1. It is written in Maseches Taanit (Tractate Taanit) that on Tu B'Av (the 15th of Av) and Yom Kippur, the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance.
2. Even the one with the most expensive dress had to exchange her dress with that of her friend [so as not to embarrass those who had nothing].
3. The Bnei Yissaschar (Rabbi Zvi Elimelech of Dinov) explains that Tu B'Av is exactly forty days before the 25th of Elul, the day the world was created, which is when they announce in Heaven, "The daughter of so-and-so is destined for so-and-so." The Tzaddik (righteous leader) is the one who brings about all the shidduchim (marriage matches).
4. Why did they go to the funeral of Yaakov Avinu (our forefather Jacob) with a chariot of horsemen? Because Tzepho, the son of Eliphaz, did not agree to let Yaakov be buried [in the Cave of Machpelah].
5. Tzepho conquered Italy from the Greeks through the power of the blessing of Yitzchak (Isaac).
6. For 717 years, Jews had no access to Me'aras HaMachpelah (the Cave of the Patriarchs).
7. Chana prayed 717 years before Chanukah that the Chashmonaim (Hasmoneans) would be victorious over the Greeks.
8. Why did Avraham send Yishmael to the Paran Desert? Should he have sent him to Halhul?
9. Rivka (Rebecca) understood [the true nature of Esav] even though he was her son. She was not confused; only the men get confused.
10. The men tore the earrings from the women's ears during the Sin of the Golden Calf; therefore, the women received Rosh Chodesh (the New Month) as a special holiday.
11. The bier of Rashbi (Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) flew through the air until it reached the cave. The snake allowed his son, Rabbi Elazar, to enter, but they did not allow the grandson to enter because he had not experienced the "tza'ar me'arah" (the suffering of the cave).
12. Today, "tza'ar me'arah" (the suffering of the cave) refers to anyone who traveled to Uman during the time of the Iron Curtain.
13. How could David HaMelech (King David) marry two sisters? One must know the Ketzos HaChoshen (a classic work of Jewish law) on this sugya (Talmudic topic).
14. Everyone should study Likutey Halachos (the magnum opus of Reb Noson of Breslov), Laws of Gifts (Hilchos Matana) 5, regarding the fact that Yitzchak thought Esav was [like] David, and Shmuel (the Prophet) thought David was [like] Esav. Except for the Tzaddik, no one knows the truth.