Reflection and Response
Posted on
In this shiur (Torah class), Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses what we can learn from the recent world events in Mumbai, how to reflect on them, and what our response should be.
Category: Machshava
This series explores a wide ranging number of thought provoking topics on Jewish thought including the 13 Principles of Faith, how to connect to Hashem, understanding prophecy, the nature of the Chosen People, perspectives on Jewish unity and exile, overcoming adversity, the meaning of trust, reward and punishment, and the centrality of Torah Study.
In Principles of Faith, Reb. Tziporah Heller analyzes Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Faith as well as the philosophical discussions of the Maharal on faith. In Bitachon: Meaning of Trust, she expounds on the concept of trust in G-d as the ultimate provider of all of Man’s needs, how to focus on joy as the key to developing a trustful relationship, and ways to properly face the challenges of life. In The Centrality of Torah series, Reb. Heller examines the role of the Torah as the source for directing the Jewish nation in their unique task in this world and how it defines the path towards the ultimate redemption.
Additional classes include a comprehensive study of Netivot Olam and Netzach Yisrael, by Rabbi Yehuda Loewe, the Maharal of Prague, a seventeenth-century rabbi who authored many books of Jewish philosophy. Rebbetzin Heller examines the nature of the evil inclination.and how to combat it. Further classes focus on the causes of suffering, and how it serves as a catalyst for growth, the nature of discord, and the inherent qualities of peace, the causes of the destruction of the First and Second Temples, and the changes in perspective and behavior that must occur in order to rectify this damage.
Torah Study: Attaching Oneself to G-d
Posted on
Rebbetzin Heller explains how Torah gives a person an attachment to Hashem’s Will and Wisdom. Torah study transforms the way a person can cleave to Hashem both individually and in his family life.
Based on Sefer Maalot Hatorah.
The Wisdom of the Torah
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller speaks about Torah as the source of Dveykut to Hashem. By bonding to the Torah’s wisdom, we come closer to Hashem’s Will, and ultimately are given the told with which to emulate G-d.
Based on the Sefer Maalot Hatorah by the brother of the Vilna Gaon
Chanukah: Essence of the Joy
Posted onRabbi 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.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 10
Posted on
In this Torah shiur (class) on Achieving Balance, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers real questions from Naaleh students across the globe. This class answers questions about how to raise happy children, how to fight the urge to speak lashon hara, coping with mental illness, developing bitachon despite not having a model of loving parents, finding the strength to forgive someone who has not apologized for wrongdoing, and more.
Chanukah: Revealing the Essence
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles reveals its essence and inner depth in memory of the Mumbai Victims.
Blueprint of the World
Posted onRebbetzin Tzipora Heller defines what Torah is and what our relationship to Torah should be.
Recognizing Reality: Summary of Megillat Kohelet
Posted on
Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller sums up the philosophical truths and principles of life that are presented by Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) in Sefer Kohelet.
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.
A Woman’s Relationship to Torah
Posted onRebbetzin Heller discusses how women can connect to this mitzvah, and what women can experience on Simchat Torah.
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.
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.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Woman, Part 7
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) dealing with the daily struggles and challenges of contemporary Jewish women, Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller answers real questions that have been sent in from Naaleh students all over the world This class discusses emunah, tzniut, and other relevant topics of the day.
Questions and Answers for Today’s Jewish Women, Part 5
Posted onThis Torah shiur (class) by Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller deals with the challenges and conflicts that exist in today’s society. As in the previous classes in this series, Rebbetzin Heller continues to answer real questions that have been sent to her by Naaleh students across the world. This class answers questions relating to mothering young children, balancing obligations to a husband’s Torah learning, dealing with the struggle of superficiality and materialism, Kavana during prayer, and developing empathy to fellow Jews.
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.
Antidote to Lashon Hara
Posted on
Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the proper mindsets that enable a person to have a greater sensitivity towards others.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 4
Posted on
Rabbi Hershel Reichman teaches the final chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, perek 4. The perek speaks about the times of Birchat Kohanim, special holidays of the Temple Era such as the holiday of completing the wood-chopping for the mizbe’ach, the fasts of Shiva Asar B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av, and the holiday of the fifteenth of Av in memory of Jean Relevy, 68, of Jerusalem, who was killed by a brutal terrorist on Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 5768, in the infamous Jerusalem Bulldozer Attack.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 3
Posted onRabbi Hershel Reichman learns the third chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, which discusses other fasts for national catastrophes and the story of Choni Hamaagel in memoryof Lili (Devora bat Hillel) Goren Friedman, a 54 year old teacher and mother who was killed during the Bulldozer Attack in Jerusalem on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, 5768.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 2
Posted onIn the second chapter of Mishnayot Taanit, our Rabbis teach us the prayers for rain during fast days in Israel, the rules for the Kohanim on duty in the Temple, and rules for Jewish people on the watch in the Temple. The Chapter also discusses minor holidays of the Second Temple Era. May the learning of this class be a zchut for a refuah shleima for Yehoshua ben Esther, who was seriously injured in the second Jerusalem bulldozer attack.
Mishnayot Taanit, Perek 1
Posted onIn the first chapter on Mishnayot Taanit, the Rabbis describe praying for rain in Israel, and the procedure for declaring public fasts and days of repentance during times of drought in memory of Batsheva bat Nechama Unterman, a 33 year old kindergarten teacher from Jerusalem, who was killed by an Arab terrorist on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz 5768, in the infamous Jerusalem Bulldozer Attack.
The Mitzvah of Rebuke
Posted on
Rabbi Shimon Isaacson develops the theme of Jewish Unity and collective responsibility with a discussion of the requirement to rebuke one’s fellow Jew when he transgresses a Torah law. Rabbi Isaacson speaks about both the Halachot and the Hashkafot, perspectives, that one should have, especially in a case where one knows that his rebuke will be ignored.