Why Cry?
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Rabbi Hanoch Teller talks about what we are mourning for on Tisha B’Av, and how to feel the tragedy of the Churban today.
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.
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.
Mourning Over the Real Jerusalem
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on the Three Weeks, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg explains what the true mourning for Jerusalem should be, a yearning for the deep spirituality that was once intrinsic to the city, and is no longer there. True mourning for Jerusalem will help us merit its rebuilding.
Expressing Pain
Posted onFollowing last week’s class, Rabbi Avishai David delves into the philosophical perspectives on mourning and consolation.
The Pesach Seder and Matan Torah
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses the connection between the Pesach seder and Matan Torah.
The Three Weeks, A Recurring Pattern
Posted onIn this guest lecture by Rabbi Ilan Segal of Afikei Torah Seminary in Jerusalem, Rabbi Segal explores Bein Hamitzarim as part of a pattern of three week time periods which recur in Nissan and Tishrei. For more information about Afikei Torah, go to www.Afikeitorah.org.
Message of Hope
Posted onIn this class, Rabbi Avishai David discusses The Haftarot of the seven weeks following the Ninth of Av as a poignant Torah message of hope and comfort to the Exiled Jewish Nation. Rabbi David gives an in-depth analysis of these portions of Navi.
Reality Of Redemption
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the underlying message of the 3 weeks.
Overview of the Three Weeks, Part 2
Posted onIn this guest lecture in honor of the Three Weeks, Rabbi Ilan Segal of Afikei Torah Seminary of Jerusalem completes his overview of the period of mourning between the 17th day of Tammuz and Tisha B’av. For more information about Afikei Torah, go to www.Afikeitorah.org.
The Halochot Of The 3 Weeks
Posted onElul: 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.”
Pesach And Spring
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In this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses the correlation between Pesach and Spring
Why Destroy Our Sanctuary?
Posted onIn this Torah class (shiur) on the Three Weeks of mourning between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains the causes for the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash.
Shabbat Chazon: Valuable Vision
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, known as Shabbat Chazon, and expounds on the nature of Shabbat Chazon and how it characterizes what the three weeks is about.
Sukkot: Achieving Joy
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller speaks about how to attain real happiness in honor of the joyous festival of Sukkot.
Nachamu Nachamu Ami: Our Destiny
Posted onIn this Torah class on the aftermath Tisha B’Av, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the prophesies of Yishayahu Hanavi which describe the Redemption.
Destructive Divisiveness the 3 Weeks
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the 3 weeks.
The Proper Mentality For The 3 Weeks
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discuses the Proper Mentality For The 3 Weeks
Odyssey of Obliviousness
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on the Three Weeks, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the concept of sinning doubly, getting punished doubly, and being comforted doubly.
Holiday of Distance
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Tisha B’av, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about accessing the aveilut of the churban, when we are so distant from the reality of it. Mrs. Smiles also examines why the keruvim (the angelic figures above the aron) were facing eachother when the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, when we know that keruvim faced each other when the Jewish People were doing Hashem’s will.
The Unique Joy of Adar
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Rabbi Eliezer Miller describes the unique inner joy that comes with this month.
From Apher to Pe’er
Posted onIn this guest lecture on Tisha B’av, Mrs. Shoshie Nissenbaum explains the secret of redemption hidden within the destruction of Tisha B’av.
The Three Weeks
Posted onRabbi 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.
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.