Elul: Roses of Love
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In this shiur (Torah class), Mrs. Shira Smiles examines three different acronyms used to describe the month of Elul. In this class, Mrs. Smiles focuses on the verse, “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li.”
Category: Jewish calendar
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.
The Three Weeks
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Rabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the mournful atmosphere of the Three Weeks, the causes for the destruction, and how we can attain redemption.
Surmounting Sinat Chinam
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on the Three Weeks, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines the issue of sinat chinam, one of the things that led to the churban, and how we can begin to rectify the sinat chinam.
Overview of Megillat Eicha
Posted onIn this class on the Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av, Rabbi Avishai David discusses the background, content, purpose, and structure of Megillat Eicha. Rabbi David discusses the Tannaic disagreement over whether the Megilla is written as a rebuke or as a lament, and if it was written before or after the actual destruction of Yerushalayim. Rabbi David then reviews the content of each perek of the Megilla, and contrasts Perek Bet, which focuses on the Beit Hamikdash, with Perek Daled, which speaks about the fate of Klal Yisrael. Rabbi David ends this overview with an examination of the hopeful element found throughout the Megilla.
Growing in Ruchniyus During the Three Weeks
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on the three weeks, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses a few different ideas relating to the time between the seventeenth of Tamuz, and the ninth of Av.
Feeling the Churban
Posted onRebbetzin Heller speaks about the sad atmosphere of the Three Weeks, and how we can feel the reality of destruction and exile.
The Three Weeks: Attaining Dveikut
Posted onIn this guest lecture, Rabbi Alexander Cohen of Shearim College of Jewish Studies for Women discusses the opportunity for gaining dveikut with Hashem during the Three Weeks.
Why Cry?
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller talks about what we are mourning for on Tisha B’Av, and how to feel the tragedy of the Churban today.
Tisha B’Av – Short Idea with Big Impact
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles gives us a deeper understanding of Tisha B’Av, the day that we mourn the destruction of the two Batei Hamikdash, Holy Temples.
Halachot of Tisha B’Av: A Window to the Essence of the Day
Posted onIn this shiur on Tisha B’av, Rabbi Shimon Isaacson demonstrates how the halachot of the day are designed to arouse one to awareness of our national tragedy and feelings of mourning for our loss.
Chodesh Av – Focus on Faith
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles explores the message of the month of Av.
Personal and Communal Mourning
Posted onIn analyzing our obligation of personal and communal mourning of the Churban (destruction of the Beit HaMikdash), Rabbi Avishai David gives us a legal and philosophical understanding of the Torah’s approach to mourning.
Elul: Island of Refuge
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In this shiur (Torah class), Mrs. Shira Smiles examines three different acronyms used to describe the month of Elul. In this class, Mrs. Smiles focuses on the verse, “Ina Le’yado, V’Samti Lecha”. Mrs. Smiles explains how Elul is the place we run to when we realize how inadequate our service of Hashem has become. Through ELul, Hahem fills the vacuum created by our failings, and helps us to rise to our true potential.
Elul: The Sweetness of Tikkun Hamidot
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Elul and repentance, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller describes the sweetness of returning to Hashem through correcting one’s character traits, and outlines four systems for Tikun Hamidot. The methods of the Rambam, the Ba’al HaTanya, Sefer Cheshbon Hanefesh, and R’ Nachman MiBreslov are all described in detail.