One Hundred Brachot
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Rabbi Jacobson discusses the halacha of completing one hundred brachot a day. Additionally, he explains the halacha of safek brachot l’hakel, what one should do when in doubt of making a bracha.
Turning Evil into Goodness
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In this shiur (Torah class) Rabbi Reichman discusses the idea of teshuva, where past misdeeds have the ability to actually become merits.
Parshat Shoftim: Shema Yisrael
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This week’s Parsha, Parshat Shoftim, discusses the Torah concept and details of war. Rashi writes that the merit of Shema Yisrael will protect Jewish soldiers. Rabbi Reichman explains this idea, based on the Shem MiShmuel, in terms of the connection between the mind and the heart of every Jew.
Hashem as a Witness to Teshuva
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman reveals the the oath aspect of teshuva and the new bris between Hashem and the individual created via teshuva, as discussed in Sefer Al Hateshuva.
Parshat Re’eh: Dwelling of G-d: Shilo vs. Jerusalem
Posted onThis week’s Parsha of Re’eh, the Torah discusses a dwelling for G-d within this world. In this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Reichman compares the spiritual significance between the Mishkan in Shilo and the Beis HaMikdash in Jerusalem based on the explanation of the Shem Mishmuel.
Parshat Eikev: Mind and Heart United
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman teaches Chassidut on the parsha, Parshat Eikev. The elements of mind and heart often conflict with one another. Yet, the Torah teaches how to combine mind and heart creating one powerful drive in the service of G-d.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 9
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In this Torah shiur (class) on Achieving Balance, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers real questions from Naaleh students across the globe. This class answers questions about living in Israel, reaching out to kids with limited Jewish education, the role of leisure in Judaism, and more.
Two Processes of Teshuva
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) Rabbi Hershel Reichman discusses the two forms of Teshuva described by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik in his sefer, Al Hateshuva. Rabbi Soloveitchik speaks about intellectual teshuva and emotional teshuva as two possible processes of teshuva, and describes the nature of each process.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 8
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), on challenges of contemporary Jewish women, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers real question that have been sent to her by Naaleh students across the world. This class answers questions on how to deal with being single when one’s friends are all married, understanding people who complain a lot, how to give support to a troubled child outside one’s family, how to react to a daugher’s unconventional wedding plans, and more.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 7
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) dealing with the daily struggles and challenges of contemporary Jewish women, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers real questions that have been sent in from Naaleh students all over the world This class discusses emunah, tzniut, and other relevant topics of the day.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 6
Posted onThis Torah shiur (class) by Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller deals with the challenges and conflicts that Jewish women face 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 in-law relations, obligations to friendships, coping with an eating disorder, getting along with roommates, and developing a positive self image.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 5
Posted onThis 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.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 4
Posted onIn 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.
Atonement of the Individual vs. Atonement of the Community
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In this Torah shiur (class) Rabbi Hershel Reichman begins his course on Al Hateshuva with an explanation of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s essay on the Atonement of Yom Kippur today and in the times of the Beit Hamikdash, and the differences between communal and individual kaparah.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 3
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller addresses questions and struggles shared with her by our female members. This shiur (class) touches on many topics, including women’s education, personal conflicts in keeping the halachot of tzniut, getting ready for Shabbos, bitachon and doing chessed outside the home.
Themes of Rosh HaShana
Posted onRabbi Taubes discusses the obligation for prayer. He points out that Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are specifically designated as days of prayer. However, these days are also deemed as days of joy.
Questions and Answers for Todays Jewish Women, Part 2
Posted onIn the second part of this series, 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. Rebbetzin Heller answers all questions with humor, sensitivity and clarity.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 1
Posted onRebbetzin 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.
The Treatment of G-d’s Names
Posted onRabbi 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).
Respecting G-d
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Rabbi Jacobson discusses the prohibition of using G-d’s name in vain in various different venues.
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.
Parshat Devarim: The Spiritual Wars of Israel
Posted onIn 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.
Preparing Oneself for G-d
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Rabbi Jacobson goes through the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch regarding the preparation and environment for davening.
Rejoicing Upon the Downfall of the Wicked
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Antidote to Lashon Hara
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Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the proper mindsets that enable a person to have a greater sensitivity towards others.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 4
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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.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 3
Posted onRabbi Hershel Reichman learns the third chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, which discusses other fasts for national catastrophes and the story of Choni Hamaagel in memoryof Lili (Devora bat Hillel) Goren Friedman, a 54 year old teacher and mother who was killed during the Bulldozer Attack in Jerusalem on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, 5768.
Covering One’s Head
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Rabbi Jacobson discusses the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch’s statement of the necessity of a man wearing a head covering at all times. Reviewing the issue from the times of the Gemara until the present day, Rabbi Jacobson provides a complete overview of the “yarmulka”.
Parshat Masei: Two Approaches to Evil
Posted onIn 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.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 2
Posted onIn 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.