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The Shmuz

The Shmuz

JewishPodcasts.fm 1 363 episodes Nov 8, 2026

The Shmuz Podcast offers a daily dose of inspiration, encouragement, and positivity rooted in Jewish thought. Each episode, or shmuz, is designed to help listeners grow spiritually and face life with greater clarity and motivation. The show draws on timeless Torah wisdom to address everyday challenges and personal development. Listeners are encouraged to visit TheShmuz.com for hundreds of additional motivational talks.

Episodes

Life Lessons from Eisav HaRasha
Life Lessons from Eisav HaRasha Nov 8, 2026 01:04:41 In this compelling class with Rabbi Shafier, explore a startling midrashic insight: how Esav—a wicked man who rejected spirituality—excelled in honoring his parents to a degree that humbled the great Tanna Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel. By unpacking how a man devoid of faith could still hold such profound, unbridled gratitude for his father, Rabbi Shafier reframes our understanding of parental sacrifi
Toldos: Eisav's Busy Day
Toldos: Eisav's Busy Day Nov 8, 2026 56:45 If you don’t appreciate it, you may as well not have it. Isn’t that a disturbing thought? Of course, appreciation is at the core of kibud av v’eim, a mitzvah that Eisav HaRasha excelled in. Think about it. By the age of fifteen, Eisav had already killed a man, lived with a married woman, renounced mitzvos, techias hameisim and olam haba. Devoid of morality, it seems puzzling that he was so careful
The Shmuz on the Parsha: Toldos
The Shmuz on the Parsha: Toldos Nov 8, 2026 50:58 By the age of fifteen, Eisav had already killed a man, lived with a married woman, denied the Torah and renounced mitzvos, techias hameisim and olam haba. Devoid of morality, it seems puzzling that he was so careful to honor his father Yitzchak. In this captivating Shmuz, Rabbi Shafier tackles the subject of appreciation. Tune in to discover why kibud av was so instinctive to Eisav, how we can get
Shmuz - 328 - Akeidas Yitzchak - Anatomy of a Nisayon
Shmuz - 328 - Akeidas Yitzchak - Anatomy of a Nisayon Nov 4, 2026 33:26 Akeidas Yitzchak. An event that continues to shape the Jewish People, giving us endless zechuyos and molding our collective character for all time. What sets the Akeidah apart from, l’havdil, some of the death cults of our enemies? What was the purpose of the test? Why was Avraham’s response so mind-blowing? Think about it. He got up early in the morning to kill his child. The answers give you the
Chayei Sara: Finding Your Unique Tafkid
Chayei Sara: Finding Your Unique Tafkid Nov 2, 2026 01:01:00 In this week’s Shmuz on the Parsha, Rabbi Shafier delves into the epic tafkid of Sara Imeinu. Despite her incredible, spiritual accomplishments, we learn that Sara Imeinu’s role was primarily to become the mother of Am Yisroel through Yitzchak Avinu. It wasn’t until she was ninety years old that she started fulfilling her purpose in this world. For your own life, this delivers some hard-hitting t
The Shmuz on the Parsha: Anatomy of a Nisayon
The Shmuz on the Parsha: Anatomy of a Nisayon Oct 29, 2026 01:10:04 You know what’s right. But in the middle of a nisayon, your reasons for making an exception can sound remarkably convincing. Discover three principles from Akeidas Yitzchak that can change how you approach your own challenges: understand why your tests are uniquely yours, recognize the rationalizations that cloud your judgment, and look beyond the pressure of the moment. Listen now to discover how
A Day in the Life of Avraham Avinu
A Day in the Life of Avraham Avinu Oct 29, 2026 40:50 Avraham Avinu was one of the wealthiest, most powerful and influential men of his generation. Yet at 99 years old, recovering from his bris milah and in considerable pain, he ran to welcome three complete strangers, bowed before them and personally waited on them. Why does the Torah devote so many precious pesukim to the details of a meal, yet barely mention Avraham's extraordinary power and influ
The Shmuz #327 Acquiring Olam Haba the Easy Way
The Shmuz #327 Acquiring Olam Haba the Easy Way Oct 29, 2026 58:09 Avraham Avinu risked his life to rescue Lot, yet afterward he was terrified. Had the miraculous victory used up all his reward in Olam Haba? How could one of the greatest tzaddikim who ever lived even consider such a possibility? Rabbi Shafier reveals a fascinating perspective on the true cost of the pleasures you enjoy in this world, and why your intentions can make all the difference. Learn how
Vayeira: Olam Chesed Yiboneh
Vayeira: Olam Chesed Yiboneh Oct 27, 2026 53:23 The news is relentlessly, deliberately unnerving, and the steady drumbeat of divisive ideologies keeps pushing against Klal Yisroel, challenging our collective resilience. What to do? In moments like this, you can look to Avraham Avinu, who also lived in insanely turbulent times. He faced a culture immersed in avoda zara, survived being hurled into the flames by a brutal ruler, and witnessed socie
Shmuz - 326 - Noach: Ani Maamin V'Aino Maamin (Why do we keep making the same mistakes?)
Shmuz - 326 - Noach: Ani Maamin V'Aino Maamin (Why do we keep making the same mistakes?) Oct 23, 2026 01:02:51 You know you shouldn't lose your temper. You've promised yourself you won't do it again. And then, before you know it, you've done exactly the same thing. Why is it so difficult to act on what you know? Rabbi Shafier explores a fascinating question about Noach that reveals why even the greatest tzaddikim struggle with the gap between knowledge and action. Learn how your own mind can work against y
For those working with young couples: How to assess a marriage
For those working with young couples: How to assess a marriage Oct 20, 2026 01:18:24 You're a kallah teacher...a new Rov...a LCSW...and someone comes to you with a marriage issue. What's your next move? In his latest high-impact webinar, Rabbi Shafier reveals the exact blueprint he uses to guide couples through crisis. Here’s what you’ll discover in the replay: * The #1 phrase that instantly destroys trust (NEVER say this!) 😬 * The deadliest mistake to avoid when helping couples ❌
Lech Lecha: A Diamond With a Flaw
Lech Lecha: A Diamond With a Flaw Oct 17, 2026 01:04:17 Imagine two diamonds. One is completely flawless. The other has a tiny imperfection. Which is worth more? The answer might surprise you. Rabbi Shafier shares a powerful lesson from Avraham Avinu about the danger of becoming so consumed by our shortcomings that we lose sight of everything we've accomplished. Through the remarkable story of a struggling yeshiva bochur and the extraordinary example o

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