Online Torah Classes with Rabbi Mendy Goldberg
Torah Classes on a variety of subjects, including the weekly Torah portion, meditation, the afterlife, and contemporary Jewish ideas. These classes will give you the tools to have a more meaningful and spiritual whole life. These are live recordings of classes given at Lubavitch of the East End.
Episodes
Are My Prayers Being Answered?
VAESCHANANAre My Prayers Being Answered?Why did Moshe pray 515 times to enter the Land of Israel when it was clear Hashem was not answering him - and where did all those unanswered prayers go? Why continue praying for redemption after two thousand years of silence?
Who Are You, To Criticize?
DEVARIMWho Are You, To Criticize? Moses, after forty years of loving, patient leadership over Israel, suddenly delivers harsh rebukes in his final speeches in Deuteronomy, something he never did before, even when the people sinned gravely (the Golden Calf, the spies, constant complaints) and were sentenced to wander the desert for forty years. Normally partings involve reconciliation, not harsh wo
Can't We All Get Along?
MATOS- MASEICan't We All Get Along?This weeks Torah reading contains a striking anomaly: the Torah records the precise date of Aharon's death - the first of Av -even though his passing was already described in Parashas Chukas without any date.The Rebbe explains this is deliberate: the Torah wants us to encounter Aharon's yahrtzeit at the moment we read this parashah, which always falls
The Mystery of Elijah the Prophet
PINCHUSThe Mystery of Elijah the ProphetPinchas and Elijah the Prophet are the same person - the only individual in history to conquer death and live forever in this world. The Torah's promise of a "covenant of peace" to Pinchas is understood by our Sages on multiple levels, the deepest being that Pinchas himself became Elijah, the eternal herald of the Redemption reading supported b
Anger Management
CHUKAS - BALAKAnger ManagementThe Torah portion deals with two central themes: the sin of "Water of Complaint" and the Red Heifer. The central message is that anger reflects a lack of faith, one who truly believes in Divine Providence does not lose control, knowing that everything is guided from Above toward a good purpose. Moses's sin, according to Maimonides, was anger itself, whil
When Jealousy is a Good Thing.
KORACHWhen Jealousy is a Good Thing.Jealousy is not an evil impulse to be suppressed, but rather a powerful engine that needs proper direction. Using Korach as the central example, we see how a person of immense potential and spiritual gifts can fail when he tries to become someone else rather than channeling his unique strengths into his own role. Korach's tragedy was not that he felt jealous
Seeing Yourself in Others
SHELACHThis week we receive a deeply meaningful lesson from the sin of the spies. The unforgivable mistake of the spies was not the fear itself. The challenge of conquering the Land is genuinely daunting - no one knows this better than we do, to this very day. The essential sin was that their fears about the Land reflected what was already happening inside them. Long before the Land threatened the
Is Retirement an Option?
BAHALOTECHAIs Retirement an Option?Summer is upon us, and with it a season of rest for some.Nevertheless, a Jew needs to live in constant upward motion. He must break into new territory, advance beyond himself, and move the world toward a better place. Rather than going with the flow and waiting for miracles to happen, a Jew pushes against the current and expands the boundaries of his influence.
How the "Great" have fallen
NASOHow the "Great" have fallenLife is one big escape act, with the "evil inclination"acting as the world's most sophisticated smuggler. Despite our best morning intentions, we find ourselves exhausted within hours, outsmarted by our own inner adversary that prevents us from completing even a single task properly. Every couple of months, we witness another public scandal —
From Ruth to King David
SHAVUOTFrom Ruth to King DavidOne woman merited what no one else did. Ruth the Moabite-a convert from the nation of Moab-became forever bound with the Torah itself, to the point that her story is read each year on Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah. More than anyone else, Ruth teaches the secret of truly receiving Torah and cleaving to it.
Why Segregate the Jews to 12 Tribes?
BAMIDBARWhy Segregate the Jews to 12 Tribes?The Torah portion of Bamidbar, always read before Shavuot, delivers a foundational message: every person has a unique path and purpose. The meticulous separation of the twelve tribes, each with its own flag, colors, and symbols, teaches that spiritual life is not a competition. Just as the angels surrounding the Divine Throne each have distinct roles wit
Unstoppable Prayer, Real Relationship.
Lag BaomerUnstoppable Prayer, Real Relationship.One of the most famous blessings associated with Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai (Rashbi) is his power to help childless couples. The Jewish people have long attributed a special spiritual remedy to Rashbi and to Lag B'Omer — his day of joy — specifically in the matter of being blessed with children. At the heart of this topic is a remarkable Midrash, wh
"G-d is Talking To You!"
EMOR"G-d is Talking to You!"The answer to all of life's questionsis right in front of you, how do you hear that voice?How does the Torah become a sharp and clear compasswithin a world full of noise and distractions?A powerful and moving lesson on the power of the Torah,the Torah reading that encompasses all of the Holidays — and the how to perpare for Shavuot."
The Ultimate Sacrifice
ACHAREI - KEDOSHIMThe Ultimate SacrificeLet's explore the concept of mesirut nefesh (self-sacrifice) and its role in Jewish education. The purpose of remembrance is not merely to mourn the fallen, but to inspire future generations of heroes. Drawing from the Akeidah (the Binding of Isaac), the martyrdom of Rabbi Akiva, and modern soldiers like Matan Aberjil, who threw himself on a grenade to s
The Power of A Good Word
TAZRIA -METZORAThe Power of A Good WordA small but powerful step each of us can take is to stop the spread of this negativity. To challenge mistaken ideas-yes-but not to despair of the people who hold them, and not to define them with absolute, hopeless labels. Instead, we must find the way to highlight the potential within every Jew to return and to repair their actions.A fundamental question in
The Antidote to Negativity Bios
TZAVThe Antidote to Negativity BiosAs we learn the laws of the Thanksgiving offering, we come to learn its differences from all other scarifices.As well as we look at the Seder table we see the Matzah is unique from everything else that is 4, there are only 3 matzos, why? The Seder, means order and perspective, giving us an outlook that will forever change the way we look at anything in life, and
Humility's Greatness
VAYIKRAHumility's Greatness Moses, who is described as the humblest person who ever lived, symbolized by the small letter aleph in the word "Vayikra." The central paradox is examined: how could Moses, who stood head and shoulders above all humanity in spiritual greatness, genuinely feel smaller than everyone else? The answer offered is that true humility is not self-negation or low s
Shabbos, A Gift of Time?
VAYAKHEL - PEKUDEIShabbos, A Gift of Time? Notice how all the recent event happened on Shabbos, why then? What is so unique about the Shabbos?Why does Moshe preface the laws of Shabbos, before telling the Jews about the construction of Tabernacle? Especially that when G-d instructed him about the Tabernacle, it was only afterwards, that he was told about the laws of shabbos?As we will come to lear
An Inebriated Relationship
PURIMAn Inebriated RelationshipThis is the secret of Megillat Esther: a story with no open miracle, yet entirely one great miracle. The long introductions and seemingly incidental details are themselves the revelation of providence. That is why Hallel is not recited on Purim — because the Hallel is the Megillah itself, the act of tracing the chain of events that reveals how, even outside the Land
Responsa from the future
Lesson 6Responsa from the futureCould Artificial Intelligence decide Jewish law? Is lab-grown meat kosher? See how Jewish law is addressing the questions posed by tomorrow’s cutting-edge technology. Cases JERUSALEM, 2003; MAALEH ADUMIM, 2009; NEW YORK, 2015; BEIT SHEMESH, 2022
Answering the whole person
Lesson 5Answering the whole personRules don’t always translate easily into reality. See how sages account for the practical, social, and emotional realities around a question to ensure their ruling leads to its intended outcome. Cases CAIRO, 1173; BARCELONA, 1300; LODMIR, 1615; LUBAVITCH, 1871; BROOKLYN, 1954; MANCHESTER, 1963
When the exception is the law
Lesson 4When the exception is the lawExplore unexpected rulings that reveal the hidden fallback mechanisms built into Jewish law. These cases show how the law itself protects deeper values like human dignity and family harmony. Cases PAVIA, 1450; SALONIKA, 1550; KRAKOW, 1570; LIOZNA, 1790
Where's Moses?
TETZAVEHWhere's Moses?Why is Moshe's name absent from this week's Torah Reading?What is so special with the 7 Adar? What was greater the day of his passing or birth?What was the overriding factor that convinced Haman to make his plot in the month of Adar?Learn to reveal the Moses in you.
Faith Verses Reality
TERUMAHFaith Verses RealityOne of the great struggles in life is that what we see and feel feels more real than what we believe.A religious person lives with tension. On one hand, we believe in a G-d who is beyond anything physical. On the other hand, we are physical beings. We experience the world through what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. And whatever we can see and feel feels powerful
How to Make a Living
MISHPATIMHow to Make a LivingThere’s a Jewish idea that money is not something we earn; money is something we receive from Heaven. Money is the most influential force in the world, and Hashem does not release it freely.Behind every coin there is a guiding hand that determines the address at which it will land. Therefore, in order to “make money,” we must understand the values that guide the Holy O
How the Torah stays relevant
Lesson 3How the Torah stays relevantSee inside the process that enables the Torah’s ancient code to guide life in an ever-changing world. Witness the precise process of applying Talmudic precedent. Cases BARCELONA, 1300; VALENCIA, 1380; PAVIA, 1478; BEREZHANY, 1908
Is Faith A Commandment?
YISROIs Faith A Commandment?What is the meaning of the statement “I am Hashem your G-d”? Is faith a commandment? Can one separate from it or violate it? And more broadly, what is the point of commanding faith? If it exists naturally, there is no need to command it; and if it does not exist, what good is a command? After all, one who does not believe, Heaven forbid, does not believe in commands iss
The Quest For Facts
Lesson 2The quest for factsDo sages make assumptions about how reality works, or do they investigate the facts? Follow rabbis as they conduct five fascinating investigations worldwide. Cases CAIRO, 1548; ALTONA, 1709; HAMBURG, 1772; JERUSALEM, 1866; BROOKLYN, 1958
The people who asked the questions
The people who asked the questionsWhat do these questions reveal about our ancestors? What did they think, feel, and value? Explore five fascinating stories to find out. Cases BARCELONA, 1300; ALGIERS, 1450; MODENA, 1530; ALGIERS, 1732; AUSCHWITZ, 1944
Seeing Beneath The Surface
BESHALACHSeeing Beneath The SurfaceThe most important clarification in a person’s life is the question: what am I chasing after?Am I merely nursing my wounds, or am I pursuing what I truly need?There is a cycle of need–wound–quick solution that only deepens the wound. A person does not receive what they need, a sense of lack is formed, and the wounded self chooses an immediate, available solution
The Bitter Exile. How Long?
After a long and bitter exile, the unimaginable miracle occurred and the walls of Egypt collapsed before the Jews. A vast people went out to eternal freedom, on its way back to the inheritance of its forefathers.The Torah looks back and summarizes the number of years during which we left the Land of Israel and suffered in Egypt: 430.But there is a problem: it is impossible that we were in Egypt fo
Egypt. Iran. The Mystery of the Ten Plagues
VAEIRAEgypt. Iran. The Mystery of the Ten Plagues There are parallels between the biblical plagues of Egypt and Iran's current crises. Just as Egypt suffered from water contamination, darkness, locusts, and hail, Iran now faces a decade-long drought causing water shortages, widespread power outages due to non-functioning power stations, an agricultural catastrophe from dried lakes and rivers,
Where’s Your Donkey?
SHEMOSWhere’s Your Donkey?There’s always been a tension between the divine and the profane; the spiritual and the material.Are they meant to be in a state of perennial conflict? Can there – and should there- be harmony between the body and the spirit?What is the Torah’s fascination with donkeys? Why does the Torah accord such prominence to the donkey, which among animals that carry humans is the s
The Virtue of Discipline
VAYECHIThe virtue of discipline. What were the odds of such a promise? Among the people of Israel there were many distinguished dynasties, and not one of them survived. The upheavals of history created especially formidable threats against the descendants of the House of David. Enemies struggled to annihilate them, and almost no descendant remained. Yet each time, a single survivor slipped away fr
Did Yosef Forgive His Brothers?
VAYIGASHDid Yosef Forgive His Brothers?This Torah class examines whether Joseph truly forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. It begins with a provocative parallel: a terrorist stabs someone, but doctors discover a life-saving tumor during surgery - does the attacker deserve gratitude like Joseph suggested to his brothers when he said God meant it for good? The text presents two opposin
Why the Macabbees found the oil.
CHANUKAHWhy the Macabbees found the oil.Matisyahu and the Chashmonaim confronted a challenge that remains deeply familiar: the difficulty of being different. A Jew stands apart in a world that values what can be seen, measured, and rationally grasped, while Torah speaks in the name of Elokus that transcends human intellect. Matisyahu embodied the courage to declare loyalty to a G-d beyond reason,
I Mean Something, Therefore I Am
Lesson 6I Mean Something, Therefore I AmBefore you do anything, you are worthy. Discover Judaism’s empowering understanding of your inherent worth as an individual and as a Jew, and how it calls us to even greater achievement.
The Shepard v/s the Entrepreneur
VAYEISHEVThe Shepard v/s the Entrepreneur As we read in the Torah this week, Yosef has dreams of him and his brothers, they cause animosity and discord amongst them.How is it that these holy men, the eventual tribes of Israel can have such discord and commit to such hatred?We learn the back story of what was going on, what the dreams and their effect had, that cause the brothers to react as they d
Meaning in the Unchosen
Lesson 5Meaning in the UnchosenSome things are clearly meaningful, but what if everything is? Explore a vision of life where every event and circumstance catalyzes growth and leads to greater purpose.
The Fear of the Dark
VAYISHLACHThe Fear of the DarkWhy does Yaakov speak with a diminished sense of self and disparage his spiritual merits precisely at the most difficult moments of his life, when he needs immense kindness from Heaven?Yaakov knew that this is how it works. One must go through a fall in order to leap upward, and that fall was about to happen now. Therefore he asks for mercy, that the temporary shrinki
Meaning in the Rhythms of Time
Lesson 4Meaning in the Rhythms of TimeAs time flies by, is it just more of the same? Discover the rich texture of Jewish time, and how attuning ourselves to each moment’s message enables profound spiritual purpose.
The Beauty of Imperfection
VAYEITZEIThe Beauty of ImperfectionThe turbulent marriage story of Yaakov with Rachel and Leah, and the Torah testifies that Hashem looked into the depths of Leah’s heart and saw that she felt hated.Hashem’s compassion was aroused for her, and her womb was opened to give birth to the main children of Yaakov.Although Leah wasn’t actually ‘hated’, the Torah emphasizes twice that Yaakov loved “also R
Meaning in the Mundane
Meaning in the MundaneEven if it happens every day, daily life needn’t feel ordinary. See how every part of the day can be as significant as your highest aspirations.The Kabbalah of MeaningJewish wisdom for finding the purpose that connects all parts of lifeLife is busy. What connects it all? Join this six-session course to discover Judaism’s timeless approach to meaning in life. You’ll hear answe
What's With The Wells
TOLDOTWhat's With The WellsWe read in this weeks Tora Reading as Yitzchok dug wells. Why is this the only ting the Torah tells us about Yitzchok's life at length?Why dud he dig all these wells ?What lesson does this have for us in our lives?
To Make or Not to Make Meaning
To Make or Not to Make MeaningWhen life lacks luster, should we invent a more meaningful way of seeing things? Or is there already a purpose hiding in plain sight?
Following the Script
CHAYEI SARAFollowing the Script The concept of living with equanimity and faith through the life of Sarah, the matriarch.This introduces the central message: our lives are not stories we write ourselves, but rather stories that G-d orchestrates. We are actors on His stage, and our role is to do our best while trusting that the true good unfolds according to His plan, which sees far beyond our imme
The Meaning We Seek
Lesson 1When we have it all, we still need something more: purpose. Discover four fundamental human qualities that provide lasting fulfillment.------------------The Kabbalah of MeaningJewish wisdom for finding the purpose that connects all parts of lifeLife is busy. What connects it all? Join this six-session course to discover Judaism’s timeless approach to meaning in life. You’ll hear answers to
More Than Hospitality
VAYEIARAMore Than HospitalityWe are living through a crisis of meaning. What people need more than anything today is a sense of value—to feel important and needed. We live in a world where most people are not searching for food. Existence itself is taken for granted: water flows from the tap, and medicine provides solutions to most health problems. The struggle for existence today is about the que
What’s in a name?
LECH LECHAWhat’s in a name?We’ve all heard the stories about baby-naming. Name after a grandparent? The meaning of names is an important topic. We all give names to our children for long life, and today we wish to discuss: what is a good name? And how does one even choose a name?We must therefore carefully examine the secret and meaning of names, and we will do so by looking at a major question in
What With The Water?
NOACHWhat With The Water?The Flood is a strange story; Let us consider two fundamental questions about the story.First: Why destroy civilization through water?! Why would Hashem choose to bury existence by means of rain? We’re used to thinking of rain as a blessing, so why use a tool of blessing for curse?Second: why save Noach through an ark? Would it not have been simpler to transfer him to Eret
Why The Drama?
Why The Drama?What’s Kol Nidrei all about?Kol Nidrei is the most well-known prayer. It has become a symbol of Jewish identity and fills the synagogue seats even with people who do not set foot there the entire year. But the phenomenon is puzzling: what is the connection between its stirring melody and its content? What is it in it that awakens the soul?“Kol Nidrei” is nothing more than a legal for
What’s with the Apple?
Rosh HashanaThe way to open the gates of Heaven is to do the right action at the right time. When we turn to Hashem at the time when the gates are open and perform the precise deed that draws down the energy we need, it is possible to bring about miracles and salvations that change lives.Our sages revealed to us a wondrous secret: Rosh Hashanah is the head of the year, and on it Hashem determines
Seeing the Miracles Everyday
TAVOSeeing the Miracles EverydayThe Land of Israel is the home and palace in which the Holy One, blessed be He, dwells. And a home is a place that is renewed at every moment. It does not endure by inertia or by memory, but rather comes into being anew together with the person who himself is renewed each morning. A person changes every day, and life is different each hour, and true love bursts fort
With Faith We Will Prevail
TEITZEIWith Faith We Will Prevail We explore the themes of faith, resilience, and the significance of Psalm 27 during the month of Elul. The ongoing struggles faced by individuals and nations, drawing parallels between personal challenges and larger conflicts. Through the story of Sapir Cohen, who found strength in Psalm 27 during her captivity, the discussion emphasizes the power of faith in God.
You Are The Judge
SHOFTIMYou Be the JudgeNo, really, you are the judgeThe month of Elul begins and we are all filled with desire for change, but we are also tired of past “Eluls” that led nowhere. We are exhausted from attempts to improve that did not succeed and from problems that have grown old with us.To succeed in truly effecting change, we must examine the ways in which we act and ask whether we are using the
Seeing Life's Choices
RE'EHSeeing Life's ChoicesAs Moshe gives his last will and testament to the Jews before entering the dessert. He tells them SEE the choices you have, blessings and curses. How can the blessings and curses run along to one another , while they are two opposing ideas and ways of life?What was Moshe giving the Jewish people?
Secret of the Number Forty
EIKEVSecret of the Number FortyWe will explore the secret and power of the number forty, and we will do this by examining one of the great idea in the Torah: Moses's ascent to heaven three times, where each time he ascends for forty days and lives there as a hybrid creature - half human and half angel. The obvious question is: why did it take so long? Why did the G-d, perform such an enormous
Having Your Prayers Answered
VAESCHANANHaving Your Prayers AnsweredThe 15th of Av is a unique holiday, that the Mishna refers to it as one the greatest holidays for the Jews. What is so special about this day?Why was is this day that Moshe pleads with G-d 515 times to enter the land of Israel?Were Moshe's prayers unanswered?What can we learn form all of this.
Making It Happen
DEVARIM - NINE DAYSMaking It HappenWhat else could possibly happen for us to see Moshiach’s arrival? We are standing at the end of a year of wonders, in which, alongside the deep pain, we touched the heavens day after day. In the last twelve months alone, many of our greatest arch-enemies have been eliminated or neutralized, many in an astonishingly wondrous fashion.The feeling was that G-d was sh
Making It Happen
DEVARIM - NINE DAYSMaking It HappenWhat else could possibly happen for us to see Moshiach’s arrival? We are standing at the end of a year of wonders, in which, alongside the deep pain, we touched the heavens day after day. In the last twelve months alone, many of our greatest arch-enemies have been eliminated or neutralized, many in an astonishingly wondrous fashion.The feeling was that G-d was sh
The Yartzeit the Torah tells us about.
This upcoming Shabbos presents a unique event: a meeting between the weekly Torah Parsha and the date of the day itself; we will read in the Torah about the very day on which the Parsha is being read. This Shabbos will be Rosh Chodesh Av, and in the Parsha we will read about the death of Aharon, which occurred “in the fifth month, on the first of the month”—on Rosh Chodesh Av.This rare alignment i
Embracing the Joys of Life.
PINCHUSThe saying goes “Life is what happens to us while we’re busy making other plans.”Reality presents us with challenging situations that tear us between the life we want and the life we receive.We find ourselves in a dispute with Divine Providence over what could have been different.However, life becomes joyful when we manage to ride the wave and accept what is happening— when we let go of wha
Chasing that Prophecy
BALAKChasing that ProphecyIt’s not crazy to say that perhaps we are approaching the ‘end of times’. The loose ends of history are tying together, and the entire picture is becoming clear. It is no coincidence that the recent military operation from Israel was named borrowing language from Bilaam’s prophecy: “like a lion rises,” thereby demonstrating the depth of that man’s vision.Bilaam is the fir
Why So Harsh?
CHUKASWhy So Harsh?In the Torah Reading of Chukat, Moshe and Aron are punished that they will not enter the land Israel. Their sin, hitting the rock to give water to the Jewish people. Why so harsh, everyone else can do Teshuvah, repentance, why were Moshe and Aharon not afforded the same opportunity?Why was G-d insistent that Moshe not enter the land of Israel?
From Cyrus To Trump
KORACHFrom Cyrus To TrumpNew days have arrived; in ways unlike ever before, the most powerful nation in the world aligns itself with the Jewish nation, even taking up arms for her sake.Sure, the US and Israel have always enjoyed a very strong bond and close alliance, but something unprecedented just took place.When the reactor in Iraq was bombed, America firmly opposed it and imposed sanctions. Wh
The Mystery of Challah
SHLACHThe Mystery of ChallahWhy are Challah Bakes all the rage? Somehow from all the many mitzvos, this simple mitzvah seems to have captured the imagination of women (and beyond) in every community.Challah bakes in honor of someone, in memory of another, for the war, the hostages, before Rosh Hashana, and on… but what is Hafrashas Challah and why is it so special?Challah is a declaration of faith
Developing a Positivity Bias
BAHALOTECHADeveloping a Positivity BiasHow can people stand before the most uplifting events in history and cry over trivialities?How is it possible to cross the sea and receive bread from heaven, to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai and witness the Divine Presence resting upon the Tabernacle—and complain that there’s no garlic and onions to spice the fish?Because the mind plays tricks on us. The b
Unsung Heroines
Unsung HeroinesA businesswoman saves thousands from the Inquisition and rebuilds Jewish life across the Mediterranean, and a female Torah scholar shapes Halachic discourse while raising a family, feeding students, and caring for the sick—see the secret ways women shaped Jewish history.
Heroes and Hostages
Heroes and HostagesFour rabbis are captured by 10th-century pirates, Germany’s foremost Jewish leader is held for ransom, and thousands of East European Jews languish in Ottoman slave markets—how did Jewish communities respond?
Are we "really" the chosen ones?
SHAVUOSAre we "really" the chosen ones?How can we declare that Hashem "chose us from among all nations and gave us the Torah," when in fact He offered the Torah to other nations first, and only gave it to us after theyrefused?Even more puzzling — how could He offer it to others after already telling us in Egypt, "I will take you to Me as a people"?
Influential Jews
Influential JewsSpain’s top Torah scholar leads a Muslim Army, an Amsterdam rabbi with a printshop talks England into readmitting Jews, and a rabbi teaches a Catholic scholar and saves Central Europe’s Jewish books— how did they integrate Judaism into their influence?
Don’t Just Learn – Sweat!
BECHUKOTAIDon’t Just Learn – Sweat!Health requires hard work. A healthy person is one who puts in effort, breaks a sweat at the gym, and exerts his body, beyond what is comfortable. In contrast, a person who lives the couch-potato easy life, is more prone to injury, and just general debilitation.In much the same manner, spiritual health also depends on toiling in Torah Parshat Bechukotai promises
The Two Greats - Moses and Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai is a singular phenomenon throughout the generations.There is no other gravesite or yahrzeit of an individual that draws the masses as Rashbi, Meron, and Lag BaOmer do. Compare this to Rashbi’s teachers and colleagues: few visit the grave of the great sage of the generation during the time of the Beis Hamikash’s destruction, Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai. Not everyone visits th
Courageous Converts
A Roman prince outwits his uncle to study Torah, an Italian priest studies his way to a new life, and a Polish noble meets an old Jew studying Talmud on a Paris park bench—see their journey to Judaism and what came next.
How to agree with those that disagree with you.
ACHAREI - KEDOSHIMHow to agree with those that disagree with you.It is no secret that we are living in a highly polarized era. Everything is treated as a zero- sum game. It's either you think like me, or you are unworthy of existence.Surveys show that people boycott businesses and products because of opposing views.Another survey shows that hostility within the Jewish people today is greater t
Why Gossip Sells
TAZRIA-METZORAWhy Gossip SellsWhat makes gossip, or lashon hara so irresistible, to the point that, as the sages say, “it is impossible to be saved from it”?What’s the pleasure in Gossip? Why do we feel compelled to vent and share every flaw we discover in others?We must dive deeper and understand a revolutionary fact: lashon hara fulfills a psychological need.It is an essential tool for coping wi
Your Journey to Personal Refinement
SEFIRAT HAOMERYour Journey to Personal RefinementCan a person in our generation attain the feeling to holiness described in so many stories of old? Is it possible to learn to love and reach a level where we rejoice in the merit ofspending money on matzah for Passover, tefillin for a child, or a coin for the poor, just as we do when buying a new piece of furniture?The question also arises in the op
4 Cups of Wine, 3 Matzot. It's Meaning & Message.
PESACH / TZAV4 Cups of Wine, 3 Matzot. It's Meaning & Message.The structure of the Seder raises an intriguing question: why does the Seder revolve around the number four, while the most important element — the matzah — specifically comes in a set of three?Four cups of wine… Four different verses command the telling of the Haggadah and teach that the explanation should be directed toward fo
Does G-d Care About My Prayers?
VAYIKRADoes G-d Care About My Prayers?As the book of Leviticus begins with and and mostly discusses Sacrifices that were brought daily in the Holy Temple. Today we pray in place of the Sacrifices. How does prayer really take its place? Does prayer really work? Does G-d really care if I pray?
Make Time Count.
PEKUDEI/ HACHODESHMake Time CountThe Previous Rebbe once said: "The clock is a silent moral preacher." Without uttering a word, the clock pierces the soul and awakens a sense of the elevated life one can live and ofthe fleeting moment that will never return.To learn to listen to the voice of the clock, we will need to dwell on the first question raised in the Torah: How did the mitzvah of sanctify
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