Path to Teshuva
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Rabbi Hanoch Teller continues his theme of Teshuva, repentance, in this shiur (Torah class). The class discusses examples of true teshuva, and a discussion of what can be expected of us over the Days of Awe.
Soul Food
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the “Al Chet” for items concerning food and drink, and focuses on the mindset one must develop through proper brachot, etiquette of eating, and netillat yadayim (washing of the hands).
Rectification of the Recalcitrant
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Rosh Hashana, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines what we are actually davening for in the prayers for Rosh Hashana.
Blowing the Shofar on Motzei Yom Kippur
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Yom Kippur, Rabbi Avishai David explores the origins of the tradition to blow the shofar on motzei Yom Kippur, bringing to light ideas about Yom Kippur and teshuva.
Perception and Purification
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Yom Kippur, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines the reasons for reading Sefer Yonah on Yom Kippur, to gain a deeper understanding of what Yom Kippur is about.
Yom Kippur: Sin of Swindling
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Yom Kippur, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the prayer of Neilah, and in particular, the line that says that we should “refrain from the repressiveness of our hand.”
Yom Kippur: A Gift Of Clarity
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses the holy day of Yom Kippur.
Lag BaOmer: Balancing the Individual and the Nation
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman explains the spiritual characteristics of Lag BaOmer. Taken from the Shem MiShmuel, this class describes the lessons taught by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and how one can incorporate those teachings in our present day lives.
Pesach Sheini
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In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach Sheini, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines how we can access the message of the day, and how it connects to the fifth week of Sefirat Ha’omer, the week of Hod.
Cecilia Part 1
Posted onIn this class Rabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the heroism of the kids that have gone through the holocaust
The Symbols of Pesach
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In this Torah shiur (class) on the holiday of Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson looks at some of the symbols used at the Seder, such as the matza, called lechem oni, and the charoset. Rabbi Isaacson also discusses the seeming interruption of Hallel for Shulchan Orech, the eating of the festive meal.
Swiss Holocaust Rescuers
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller speaks about how the atmosphere in Europe worsened as the infamous Krystallnacht took place.
Sacrifice and Prayer
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Rebbetzin Heller addresses the question: How do sacrificial offerings help us connect to G-d?
Themes of the Hagaddah
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Ari Jacobson discusses some of the major themes in the Hagadda. Rabbi Jacobson provides a general understanding as well as specific insights in the Hagaddah.
Seven Identities of the Yetzer Hara
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In this class on the Netivot Olam of the Maharal, Rebbetzin Heller explains the answer to the perplexing question: What does it mean that tzaddikim have the strongest Yetzer Hara?
The Pesach Experience
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In this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen presents the Pesach experience. Rabbi Cohen animatedly explains how to truly experience Pesach on a spiritual level.
The Evian Conference
Posted onRabbi Teller discusses the first steps in the Holocaust: the Nuremberg Laws, Anschluss, and world reactions.
Pesach: Transformation
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) on Pesach, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about some aspects of transformation that we can feel through the dynamic and spiritual aspects of the seder.
Germany Between the Wars
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the various factors that led the German people to support Hitler in prewar years.
Shema Yisrael, Declaration of Faith
Posted onIn this class on the Principles of Jewish Faith, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explores the concepts of Hashem’s Unity and His constant Involvement in the Running of the World.
Lessons from the Four Sons
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In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg learns lessons in chinuch and avodat Hashem from the questions and answers of the four sons of the Hagaddah. The class emphasizes the need to ask sincere questions throughout our lives.
Chessed: The Mighty Weapon
Posted onRebbetzin Heller discusses two effective methods which the Maharal offers to combat the Yetzer Hara: Torah and Chessed.
Lessons from the Splitting of the Sea
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) about the last day of Pesach, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains how Kriat Yam Suf (the splitting of the sea and the drowning of the Egyptian army), was different from the miracles of Egypt, why this added salvation was necessary for the Jewish people, and what we can learn from it.
Hitler’s Rise to Power
Posted onRabbi Teller attempts to explain the glaring question of why the world ignored Hitler’s rhetoric.
Parshat Mattot-Masei
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Based on the verses in the Book of Numbers, it seems as if the tribes of Reuben and Gad placed more importance on their livestock than their children. Through an in-depth analysis and exploration of the text as well as various commentaries, we will understand the mistake these tribes made, their true intentions, as well as the tremendous lessons that may be derived from this narrative regarding priorities in life.
The Mitzvah of Eating Matzah
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Avishai David surveys the halachic opinions of the Ibn Ezra, Rambam, the Vilna Gaon, the Chizkuni, and others, in regards to the Mitzvah of Eating Matza on the night of the Seder and for the rest of the holiday of Pesach. This class thoroughly covers the topic of eating Matzah from a halachic and hashkafic perspective.
Intro to the Holocaust Course
Posted onRabbi Teller discusses his course on the Holocaust as well as his teaching style.
Introspection
Posted onMrs. Smiles discusses Parshat Balak.
The Well of Miriam
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles provides a description of the personality and legacy of Miriam within the Torah, and the deeper meaning of her lifetime connection to water.
Purity of Motive
Posted onParshat Korach serves as a model for how we can behave properly and with the correct middos in life. This parsha also teaches us about the behavior of envy.