Derech Eretz Kadma l’Torah
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses some of the ideas of Sefirat HaOmer, and in particular Rabbi Akiva’s students.
The Jewish calendar is chock full of special days that have a unique influence on us and help us come closer to Hashem. The Torah calls the holidays, moadim, times of meeting with Hashem. This series of classes explores the transformative power of Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, the fast days, and other Jewish holidays around the year. Popular classes include insightful lectures on The Days of Awe which takes a comprehensive look at this emotionally charged period, particularly focusing on the Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur prayers, explaining their structure, logical sequence, meaning, and symbolism. Students also examine Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik’s important work on Jewish Thought, Al HaTeshuva, which discusses repentance and self-improvement as a means to growth and ascension in service of Hashem. In Jerusalem: Echoes of Lament, a range of Naaleh teachers explore such thought-provoking questions as what were the causes of this destruction? What should we do to return to our former glory as G-d’s Holy people? How can we deepen our appreciation of Jewish unity in order to rectify the sin of disunity that caused the destruction? Other topics include classes on Chanuka, Tu B’shevat, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, Sefira, Lag B’aomer, and the Three Weeks.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses some of the ideas of Sefirat HaOmer, and in particular Rabbi Akiva’s students.
In this class Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discusses the importance of taking advantage of this special time of year
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson speaks about the concept of not bundling mitzvot together, which comes up in a number of areas in the Seder.
in this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira smiles discusses the Holiday of Purim
In this shiur (Torah class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles points out that the Torah was supposed to be given on Friday, the fiftieth day of the omer, but was in fact given on Shabbat, the fifty-first. Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses some of the questions regarding this reality. Why did Moshe add an extra day of preparation at har sinai? If the world was waiting since creation for the acceptance of the Torah on Friday, how could Moshe push it off? If the Torah was given on the seventh day of Sivan, then why is the sixth day of Sivan referred to as the day we received the Torah?
In this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Shimon Isaacson discusses the lessons of Sefer Yonah, which is read on Yom Kipur. Rabbi Isaacson delves into the many messages of the sefer, and how they relate to the essence of Yom Kippur.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Avishai David explores the piyut of Vayehi B’Chatzi Halayla, which is said at the end of the Pesach Seder.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Purim, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the Gemara that asks where Haman, Mordechai, and Esther are hinted at in the Torah. Mrs. Shira Smiles also examines the mitzvah of Mishloach Manot.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines the different names of the holiday, to get a better understanding of what our service on Shavuot is about. Additionally, Mrs. Smiles speaks about why we have the custom of reading Megillat Rut on Shavuot.
In this Torah shiur (class) on the Pesach Seder, Mrs. Shira Smiles how, on a festival that represents an erratic type of movement, we call the first night of Pesach Leil HaSeder, the night of order.
In this Torah shiur (class) on the month of Adar, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about what we can learn from having two months of Adar. Mrs. Smiles also speaks about the sign of Adar, the fish.
In this shiur (Torah class), Rebbetzin Shoshie Nissenbaum provides guidance on how to prepare oneself to receive the Torah on Shavuot.
In this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discusses the depth of Maftir Yona which is read on Yom Kippur
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson discusses the mitzvah of matza, and the idea of ‘lechem oni.’
In this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses Happiness as the essence of Purim.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg speaks about the striking facts that the Torah does not give a date for Shavuot, and that there is a disagreement over the actual date of matan Torah.
Yom Kippur
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson discusses some of the halachot and some of the hashkafa surrounding the mitzva of four cups of wine.
In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the Holiday of Purim.
In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses why Rosh Hashana is a two day holiday.
In this shiur (Torah class) on preparing for Shavuot, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains how Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah) at Har Sinai formed the core of our Emunah, demonstrating that Hashem is the Source of everything in this world, including what is usually described as Nature.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller speaks about the splitting of the sea, which took place on the seventh day of Pesach.
In this shiur (Torah class), by Rabbi Michael Taubes, the halachic nature of the Megillah reading is discussed. Rabbi Taubes differentiates between the reading at night and the reading during the day, and why each one is significant.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the idea that receiving the Torah is re-enacted every year on Shavuot.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson discusses the mitzva of reciting Hallel at the Seder.
In this class (shiur) Dayan Shlomo Cohen discusses the business approach to Rosh Hashana.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Parshat Zachor, Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the mitzva to eradicate Amalek.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the custom of decorating our homes and shuls with greenery on Shavuot.
In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses Rosh Hashana.