Chanuka: Humble Warriors
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Rabbi Avishai David expounds on the various miracles of Chanuka, and on the anava (humbleness) of the Maccabees, which was the responsible for their victory.
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.
Chanuka: Expansion of I
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles examines the symbolism of putting the mezuza on the right, the channukiah on the left, and the person lighting the candles in the middle.
Greek Fragmentation and Jewish Unity
Posted onRebbetzin Heller speaks about the Greek way of thinking, which is a fragmented outlook on the world, versus the Jewish unified perspective, and how this distinction relates to the miracles of the war and the lights.
Chanukah: Essence of the Joy
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Rabbi Avishai David discusses the background of Chanuka, the distinctions between Chanuka and Purim, Pirsumei Nisa, the Yesod of Chanuka, and the difference of order between the Rambam and the Shulchan Aruch, in memorial of the Mumbai victims.
Chanukah: Revealing the Essence
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles reveals its essence and inner depth in memory of the Mumbai Victims.
Joy of Repentance
Posted onRabbi Michael Taubes explores the final moments of the Yom Kippur davening (prayers) and the joy that comes with true forgiveness.
Recognizing Reality: Summary of Megillat Kohelet
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Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller sums up the philosophical truths and principles of life that are presented by Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) in Sefer Kohelet.
True Atonement
Posted onRabbi Michael Taubes examines how the bulk of the Yom Kippur davening (prayers) is comprised of Mussaf, in which the details of the Yom Kippur service are described.
Physical Transience vs. Spiritual Eternity
Posted onRebbetzin Tzipora Heller speaks about the transience of all physical goals and even our own bodies’ eventual demise. Only Yirat Hashem endures.
Solving the Complexities of Life
Posted onRebbetzin Tzipora Heller shows how complex people and situations can be remedied by using the mind, heart, and body in the right way.
Perek 9: The Fate of the Righteous and the Wicked
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller explores the difficulty in resolving the seeming similarity between the fate of the Tzaddik and Rasha.
Perek 8: Quality of Life
Posted onRebbetzin 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.
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.