The Torah Learning on this site is dedicated in memory of Rochel Leah bas R' Chaim Tzvi and R' Yisrael Menachem ben R' Binyamin.
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.
In 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.
Following last week’s class, Rabbi Avishai David delves into the philosophical perspectives on mourning and consolation.
In this Torah shiur (class) on Pesach, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses the connection between the Pesach seder and Matan Torah.
In 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.
In 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.
Rabbi Eliezer Miller describes the unique inner joy that comes with this month.
In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the underlying message of the 3 weeks.
In 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.
In 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.
In 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.
In this Torah class on the aftermath Tisha B’Av, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the prophesies of Yishayahu Hanavi which describe the Redemption.
Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the first chapter, discussing Elimelech’s abandonment of the Jewish People and the effect of his desertion on his family’s future.
In this class (shiur) Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses the 3 weeks.
In this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discuses the Proper Mentality For The 3 Weeks
Rabbi Hanoch Teller speaks about how to attain real happiness in honor of the joyous festival of Sukkot.
In 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.
In 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.
In this guest lecture on Tisha B’av, Mrs. Shoshie Nissenbaum explains the secret of redemption hidden within the destruction of Tisha B’av.
Rabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the mournful atmosphere of the Three Weeks, the causes for the destruction, and how we can attain redemption.
In 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.
In this class on the Three Weeks and Tisha B’Av, Rabbi Avishai David discusses the background, content, purpose, and structure of Megillat Eicha. Rabbi David discusses the Tannaic disagreement over whether the Megilla is written as a rebuke or as a lament, and if it was written before or after the actual destruction of Yerushalayim. Rabbi David then reviews the content of each perek of the Megilla, and contrasts Perek Bet, which focuses on the Beit Hamikdash, with Perek Daled, which speaks about the fate of Klal Yisrael. Rabbi David ends this overview with an examination of the hopeful element found throughout the Megilla.
In this Torah shiur (class) on the three weeks, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses a few different ideas relating to the time between the seventeenth of Tamuz, and the ninth of Av.
Rebbetzin Heller speaks about the sad atmosphere of the Three Weeks, and how we can feel the reality of destruction and exile.
In this guest lecture, Rabbi Alexander Cohen of Shearim College of Jewish Studies for Women discusses the opportunity for gaining dveikut with Hashem during the Three Weeks.
Rabbi Hanoch Teller talks about what we are mourning for on Tisha B’Av, and how to feel the tragedy of the Churban today.
Mrs. 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.
In 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.
Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the message of the month of Av.
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.
