Perek 8: Quality of Life
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Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller talks about how living a life of morality and awareness makes life better in this world, even though we often see Tzaddikim who suffer n this world.
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.
Megillat Kohelet: Perek 7, Part 2
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller continues an anaylsis of Perek 7.
Megillat Kohelet: Perek 7
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller explores Perek 7.
The Big Picture
Posted onRebbetzin Tzipora Heller continues teaching the fifth perek (chapter) of the megilla. Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) speaks about seeing the big picture as one lives one life and finding proper focus in both material and spiritual areas.
Guard Your Words
Posted onOn Megillat Kohelet, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller reads and explains the fifth chapter of the Megilla. This chapter begins with admonishments not to speak disrespectfully of Hashem if one doesn’t understand His ways, and of the importance of keeping one’s word.
Justice and Brotherhood
Posted onOn Megillat Kohelet, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the fourth perek of the Megilla. In this perek, Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) discusses the falsehood of this material world and its accompanying fantasies, the tikkun (fixing) of Gehinom (Hell), and the strength of togetherness and positive human relationships.
A Time for All Things
Posted onOn Megillat Kohelet, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller discusses our relationship with time. Time is a backdrop for many of life’s challenges. If we respond to our current challenges with a realization that our response forms us, we will be able to maximize the opportunities we encounter.
Returning to G-d
Posted onRabbi Michael Taubes discusses the fundamental aspects of the Yom Kippur Davening (prayers), in particular Kol nidrei and viddui (confession).
Megillat Kohelet, Perek 1, Part 2
Posted onOn Megillat Kohelet, continuing the first perek (chapter) and the beginning of the second perek
Megillat Kohelet, Perek 1
Posted onOn Megillat Kohelet, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller discusses the uniqueness of the five Megillot, and the specific theme of this Megilla. She begins learning the first perek (chapter) inside the text, analyzing the words of the pesukim and delving into their timely messages.
Crowning Our King
Posted onRabbi Michael Taubes discusses the Musaf prayer of Rosh HaShana, which contains essential themes of the holiday.
Shofar: A Call to Return
Posted onRabbi Taubes discusses the significance of the Shofar that is blown during the Rosh HaShanah davening. Rabbi Taubes also discusses the custom to eat the simanim, the signs of Rosh Hashana.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 4
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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.
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.
The Three Weeks: Continuous Crying
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In this Torah shiur (class), Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the underlying theme of the Three Weeks of Mourning between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’av.
The Causes of Churban Habayit
Posted onRabbi Moshe N. Reichman discusses the causes for the Churban, as discussed in the Gemara, and how we can correct ourselves to bring the Geulah.
Lag BaOmer: Connecting to Our People
Posted onThe Shem MiShmuel explains the significance of Lag BaOmer and it’s practical relevance for our lives.
Halachot of Sefirat Haomer
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), Rabbi Shimon Isaacson examines whether Sefirat Haomer is a Torah law or a Rabbinic law, and the halacha regarding one who misses a day of counting.
Megillat Esther, Perakim 7-10
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller finishes her discussion of Megillat Esther, and reviews the four mitzvot of Purim.
Perakim 6 & 7: Hidden Intervention
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller speaks about ‘hester panim’, hashgacha, and the effect of Tzadikim on their generation.
Esther: True Royalty
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains how Esther became the epitome of Midat Malchut (characteristic of kingship), and why she needed preparation for this role.
Returning from the Depths
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller speaks about the nature of doing Teshuva by looking at the methods used by Esther and Mordechai.
Spiritual Battle
Posted onIn perek 3, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller examines Hashem’s Hashgacha, the purpose of Amalek, and the spiritual forces at battle.
Eternal Struggle: Mordechai and Haman
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller examines Perek 2, with an introduction to Mordechai and Esther, and a deepening of our understanding of the galut, exile, and the specific roles of Haman and Mordechai.
Luxurious Exile
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller describes Megillat Esther as a means of understanding our relationship to everything the Persian exile represents, and Hashem’s plan in exposing us to it.
Sefirat HaOmer: Liberation of the Mind
Posted onRedemption from slavery in Egypt freed us from purposeless work to embrace a life of purpose with the Torah. Achieving happiness is a battle of self control. Rabbi Teller discusses how reducing expectations, and feeling gratitude for what we have, will lead us to realize true appreciation, and this will put us on the road to living a life full of happiness. That is real liberation. Available online in streaming video. To purchase mp3 downloads of Rabbi Teller’s classes, go to www.ishiur.com.
Parshat Vayechi & The Tenth of Tevet
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Mrs. Shira Smiles talks about the fast day of the Tenth of Tevet, as well as the parsha for this week, Parshat Vayechi.
Light Up the Soul
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In this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen expounds upon the idea that understanding the obligation of beautifying the mitzvah of Chanuka helps us understand the miracles that took place in the time of Chanuka.
Parshat Mikeitz: Yosef and Chanukah
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In this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman talks about how Parshat Mikeitz – which is read during Chanukah – is uniquely connected to the themes of the Chanukah holiday.