Chinuch

Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 5

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This video is class 5 of 49 in the series Rebbetzin's Perspective.

This Torah shiur (class) by Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller deals with the challenges and conflicts that exist in today’s society. As in the previous classes in this series, Rebbetzin Heller continues to answer real questions that have been sent to her by Naaleh students across the world. This class answers questions relating to mothering young children, balancing obligations to a husband’s Torah learning, dealing with the struggle of superficiality and materialism, Kavana during prayer, and developing empathy to fellow Jews.

Chinuch

Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 4

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This video is class 4 of 49 in the series Rebbetzin's Perspective.

In this question and answer session by Rebbetzin Heller, Jewish women throughout the world reach out with their daily challenges. Rebbetzin Heller addresses each question with sensitivity, wisdom, and humor. Some of the question included in this class are how to feel ready for judgement without attending shul on Rosh Hashana, how to cope with children who are struggling with their Judaism, and how one should deal with the attraction of secular novels and music.

Contemporary Issues

Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 1

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This video is class 1 of 49 in the series Rebbetzin's Perspective.

Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers questions from Jewish women on topics such as relating to Hashem, focusing on family, the challenges of work, and home responsibilities. Questions range from how to relate to difficult relatives to how to include tefillah in one’s busy schedule. Rebbetzin Heller answers all questions with humor, sensitivity and clarity.

Basic laws and customs

The Treatment of G-d’s Names

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This video is class 7 of 15 in the series Practical Judaism.

Rabbi Jacobson continues discussing proper treatment of Hashem’s Names, both spoken and written. Particular emphasis is placed on brachot l’vatala and pages with Hashem’s name on it. Interesting facts include the writing of Hashem’s name in a foreign language, using Hashem’s name in a letter or other correspondence, correct means of disposing of papers with a form of Hashem’s name on them, how to handle published Sifrei Kodesh (holy books), and the difference between a bracha l’vatala (a brocha in vain) and a bracha she’eina tzricha (an unnecessary bracha).

Dating

Shidduchim: How to Find Your Soul Mate

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In this class in honor of Tu B’Av, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller talks about Dating and Marriage. She discusses the concept of Bashert in Judaism, and relates the key principles for searching for ones soul mate. Rebbetzin Heller also talks about how to suggest shidduchim for others, and guidelines for whether one should reveal or hide compromising information.

Chassidut on the Parsha

Parshat Devarim: The Spiritual Wars of Israel

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In this class on the Chassidic thought on Parshat Devarim, Rabbi Hershel Reichman elaborates on the interpretations of the Shem Mishmuel to Parshat Devarim. In this shiur, Rabbi Reichman discusses why the appointment of judges is part of the story of the Meraglim, and explains that Jewish wars involve a spiritual war as well as a physical war. Rabbi Reichman expands the topic with an analysis of the two types of yetzer hara, and reveals how the method of defeating all yitzrei hara is commitment to truth.

In Memorial: Response to Tragedy

Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 4

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This video is class 4 of 4 in the series Mishnayot Taanit.

Rabbi Hershel Reichman teaches the final chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, perek 4. The perek speaks about the times of Birchat Kohanim, special holidays of the Temple Era such as the holiday of completing the wood-chopping for the mizbe’ach, the fasts of Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av, and the holiday of the fifteenth of Av in memory of Jean Relevy, 68, of Jerusalem, who was killed by a brutal terrorist on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5768, in the infamous Jerusalem Bulldozer Attack.

Chassidut on the Parsha

Parshat Masei: Two Approaches to Evil

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In this week’s Parsha, Parshat Masei, Rabbi Hershel Reichman discusses the significance of the Torah’s listing of all of the places where the Jewish People camped during their 40 year sojourn in the desert. The stops in the Desert are symbols of confrontations with evil, either by fleeing from evil or by confronting it. Yosef Hatzadik’s test in Egypt can be seen as reflecting the two methods. In conclusion, Rabbi Reichman discusses living in Eretz Yisael and conquering the forces of evil.

In Memorial: Response to Tragedy

Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 2

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This video is class 2 of 4 in the series Mishnayot Taanit.

In the second chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, our Rabbis teach us the prayers for rain during fast days in Israel, the rules for the Kohanim on duty in the Temple, and rules for Jewish people on the watch in the Temple. The Chapter also discusses minor holidays of the Second Temple Era. May the learning of this class be a zchut for a refuah shleima for Yehoshua ben Esther, who was seriously injured in the second Jerusalem bulldozer attack.

In Memorial: Response to Tragedy

Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 1

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This video is class 1 of 4 in the series Mishnayot Taanit.

In the first chapter on Mishnayot Taanit, the Rabbis describe praying for rain in Israel, and the procedure for declaring public fasts and days of repentance during times of drought in memory of Batsheva bat Nechama Unterman, a 33 year old kindergarten teacher from Jerusalem, who was killed by an Arab terrorist on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz 5768, in the infamous Jerusalem Bulldozer Attack.

Jewish Unity

The Mitzvah of Rebuke

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This video is class 4 of 5 in the series Collective Soul: Perspectives on Jewish Unity.

Rabbi Shimon Isaacson develops the theme of Jewish Unity and collective responsibility with a discussion of the requirement to rebuke one’s fellow Jew when he transgresses a Torah law. Rabbi Isaacson speaks about both the Halachot and the Hashkafot, perspectives, that one should have, especially in a case where one knows that his rebuke will be ignored.

Chassidut on the Parsha

Parshat Matot: The Power of Speech

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In this class on Parshat Matot, Rabbi Hershel Reichman talks about the Shem Mishmuel’s discussion of the Torah law permitting personal vows and promises. These personal nedarim do not violate the commandment not to add any commandments to the Torah. The Shem Mishmuel develops this discussion into an exposition on the power of any words uttered by a Jew. Included in this shiur is a discourse on the two types of holiness, individual and communal, and the two types of Jewish leaders described by the Shem Mishmuel.

Women in Tanach

The Power of the Jewish Woman

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This video is class 13 of 13 in the series In the Merit of Righteous Women.

In her final shiur (Torah class), on Righteous Women in Tanach, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller reviews the characteristics of some special women, showing how today’s Jewish woman can reach for these levels as well. Included in this class are a discussion on how to bring people together in marriage, the importance of Jewish burial, and the distinct categories of the righteous women discussed in the course.

Basic laws and customs

In the Ways of Gentiles

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This video is class 3 of 15 in the series Practical Judaism.

Regarding dressing in the morning, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch states the prohibition of dressing in the ways of the Gentiles. Rabbi Jacobson expands on this concept with numerous examples to provide a complete picture of the prohibition of “bechukoseihem lo teilechu”. Included in this class is a discussion on Thanksgiving dinners and the special laws applying to left-handed people.

Jewish Unity

Ahavat Yisrael: What is One’s Obligation?

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This video is class 2 of 5 in the series Collective Soul: Perspectives on Jewish Unity.

Is loving one’s fellow Jew an obligation from the Torah? Rabbi David explores this topic, tracing the mitzvot relating to Ahavat Yisrael starting from the pesukim in the Torah. He then discusses the comments of the Rambam and the Ktav V’Hakaballah on the application of these mitzvot, including examples of the levels of Ahavat Yisrael that were reached by great Jews like R’ Aryeh Levine.