Kabbalah explains how to prepare for Shavuot to receive the Torah again

Kabbalah explains how to prepare for Shavuot to receive the Torah again

Duration of class: 1:11:39          

May 17, 2020 at 7:51 PM 0 comments

The Differences We Have in Common

The Differences We Have in Common

“…Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses…” – Bamidbar 1:2 שְׂאוּ אֶת רֹאשׁ כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם – במדבר א, ב The census taken in the beginning of the Book of Bamidbar seems paradoxical. On the one hand, a tally of the entire nation, in which […]

May 17, 2020 at 11:06 AM 0 comments

The Miracle of Freedom

The Miracle of Freedom

“…Who redeemed us and redeemed our ancestors from Egypt…” (The Haggadah) אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָנוּ וְגָאַל אֶת אֲבוֹתֵינוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם – הגדה של פסח The Torah instructs us to relate to our children in every generation that, “G-d acted on my behalf when I went out of Egypt” (Shemos 13:8). This indicates that our freedom today is not only the result of G-d’s redemption of our ancestors; […]

April 8, 2020 at 2:54 AM 0 comments

Why is the Wicked Son at the Seder?

Why is the Wicked Son at the Seder?

“…The wicked one, what does he say? “What is this worship to you?” …Say to him: “It is for this that G-d did for me when I left Egypt;” i.e., ‘for me,’ but not for him. If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed…” (The Haggadah) רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזּאֹת לָכֶם..וֶאֱמוֹר לוֹ בַּעֲבוּר זֶה […]

April 8, 2020 at 2:15 AM 0 comments

Pesach – Will we go out of exile this year?

Pesach – Will we go out of exile this year?

A powerful class how to prepare to Pesach to make sure this is the last one in Exile   Duration of class: 1:06:13              

April 8, 2020 at 1:46 AM 0 comments

Pesach – How to achieve real freedom?

Pesach – How to achieve real freedom?

Duration of class:1:15:52              

April 5, 2020 at 4:56 PM 0 comments

It’s All in the Aleph

It’s All in the Aleph

“…And He called to Moshe…” – Vayikra 1:1 וַיִּקְרָא אֶל משֶׁה – ויקרא א ,א The word ויקרא, and he called, concludes with a paradoxical letter א. The letter’s name, aleph, parallels the word aluf, meaning chieftain—an allusion to G-d, “Chieftain of the universe” (Likkutei Torah, Tazria 23c). (In addition, the letter א used here distinguishes G-d’s communication with Moshe […]

March 22, 2020 at 3:30 AM 0 comments

The Two-Headed Year

The Two-Headed Year

“…This month shall be to you the head of the months; to you it shall be the first of the months of the year…” – Shemos 12:2 הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם לְחָדְשֵׁי הַשָּׁנָה – שמות יב, ב The Jewish calendar year has two starting points. Rosh Hashana, on the 1st of Tishrei, marks the start of […]

March 22, 2020 at 2:20 AM 0 comments

What Do You Crave? – Parashat Vayikra

What Do You Crave? – Parashat Vayikra

“…But he does not know, he is guilty and shall bear his transgression…” – Vayikra 5:17 וְלֹא יָדַע וְאָשֵׁם וְנָשָׂא עֲוֹנו – ויקרא ה, יז Why is it necessary to atone for transgressions that were committed unknowingly, especially if one is doubtful if he transgressed at all? Chassidus explains that although the actual transgression was not committed intentionally, yet its […]

March 22, 2020 at 1:05 AM 0 comments

Preoccupied – Parashat Vayakhel

Preoccupied – Parashat Vayakhel

“…Moshe assembled the entire community… “these are the things that g-d commanded to be done” – Shemot 35:1 וַיַּקְהֵל משֶׁה אֶת כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. . אֵלֶּה הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה’ לַעֲשׂת אֹתָם – שמות לה, א After prevailing upon G-d to wholeheartedly forgive Bnei Yisrael for the sin of the Golden Calf, Moshe descended from Mount Sinai, bringing with him the […]

March 16, 2020 at 1:36 AM 0 comments

Self-Construction

Self-Construction

“…And it came to pass in the first month, in the second year, on the first day of the month, the Mishkan was erected…” – Shemos 40:17 וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן – שמות מ, יז A seven-day training and initiating period for the Kohanim preceded the official erecting of the Mishkan on the 1st day of […]

March 15, 2020 at 2:04 AM 0 comments

Don’t Sacrifice Your Heart – Parashat Tetzaveh

Don’t Sacrifice Your Heart – Parashat Tetzaveh

“…You shall not offer upon it any other incense, burnt-offering, or flour-offering, and you shall pour no libation upon it…” – Shemot 30:9   The Inner Mizbei’ach, the golden altar which stood in the sanctuary of the Mishkan, was used exclusively for the offering of Ketores, incense. All other Korbanos, the animal and grain offerings, were brought only on the […]

March 1, 2020 at 2:38 AM 0 comments

Sounds from a Distance – Parashat Tetzaveh

Sounds from a Distance – Parashat Tetzaveh

“….And its sound shall be heard when he enters the Holy before G-d and when he leaves, so that he will not die….” – Shemos 28:34-35   וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ בְּבֹאוֹ אֶל הַקֹּדֶשׁ לִפְנֵי ה’ וּבְצֵאתוֹ וְלֹא יָמוּת – שמות כח, לה The hem of the Kohen Gadol’s robe was adorned with bells, which chimed as he went about his service […]

March 1, 2020 at 12:24 AM 0 comments

The Altar of Anonymity – Parashat Tetzaveh

The Altar of Anonymity – Parashat Tetzaveh

“…You shall make an altar for burning incense…” – Shemot 30:1 וְעָשִׂיתָ מִזְבֵּחַ מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת – שמות ל, א The Inner Mizbei’ach, the golden altar for incense which stood in the sanctuary of the Mishkan, is described at the conclusion of Parshas Tetzaveh. Its placement here is somewhat peculiar, considering that the construction of the Mishkan and the other utensils […]

February 29, 2020 at 1:14 AM 0 comments

Baby Face – Parashat Terumah

Baby Face – Parashat Terumah

“…And you shall make two golden cherubim…” – Shemos 25:18 וְעָשִׂיתָ שְׁנַיִם כְּרֻבִים זָהָב – שמות כה, יח The Keruvim had facial features like those of a baby (see Rashi). This symbolized G-d’s affection for the Jewish people, which is comparable to the love one has for a small child. As the Baal Haturim on this verse cites from the […]

February 26, 2020 at 1:32 AM 0 comments

A Reason to Celebrate – The month of Adar

A Reason to Celebrate – The month of Adar

“…From when Adar arrives, joy is increased…” – Talmud, Taanis 29a משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה – תענית כט,א The month of Adar is a season of joy and good fortune. For this reason, our Sages taught that if one has a court case against a gentile, he should try to schedule the trial for the month of Adar, as the […]

February 23, 2020 at 1:05 AM 0 comments

It’s Not All about You – Parashat Mishpatim

It’s Not All about You – Parashat Mishpatim

“….And you shall worship Hashem, your G-d… There will be no bereaved or barren woman in your land; I will fill the number of your days…” – Shemot 23:25-26 וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֵת ה’ אֱלֹקֵיכֶם . . לֹא תִהְי’ מְשַׁכֵּלָה וַעֲקָרָה בְּאַרְצֶךָ אֶת מִסְפַּר יָמֶיךָ אֲמַלֵּא – כג, כה-כו These verses contain profound insight and guidance in the struggles that many people […]

February 17, 2020 at 2:58 AM 0 comments

Are You All Ears? – Parashat Mishpatim

Are You All Ears? – Parashat Mishpatim

“….But if the bondsman says, “I am fond of my master, my wife, and my children. I will not go free”…His master shall pierce his ear with an awl and he shall then serve him forever….” – Shemot 21:5-6 וְאִם אָמֹר יֹאמַר הָעֶבֶד אָהַבְתִּי אֶת אֲדֹנִי אֶת אִשְׁתִּי וְאֶת בָּנָי לֹא אֵצֵא חָפְשִׁי . . וְרָצַע אֲדֹנָיו אֶת אָזְנוֹ בַּמַּרְצֵעַ […]

February 16, 2020 at 2:40 AM 0 comments

Free to Steal – Parashat Mishpatim

Free to Steal – Parashat Mishpatim

“….If you buy a Hebrew slave he shall work for six years; in the seventh he shall go out to freedom without charge…” – Shemot 21:2 כִּי תִקְנֶה עֶבֶד עִבְרִי שֵׁשׁ שָׁנִים יַעֲבֹד וּבַשְּׁבִעִת יֵצֵא לַחָפְשִׁי חִנָּם – שמות כא, ב The portion of Mishpatim, which immediately follows the Torah’s account of the awesome revelation at Sinai, opens with the law […]

February 16, 2020 at 1:20 AM 0 comments

The power of growth – Tu Bishvat

The power of growth – Tu Bishvat

On the 15th day of Shvat we celebrate the holiday of Tu Bishvat. In this short lecture Rabbi Anava explains the source for the holiday and what we should learn from it                          

February 2, 2020 at 8:05 AM 0 comments