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.
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.
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.
Ramifications of Desertion
Posted onRebbetzin 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.
Sukkot: Achieving Joy
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller speaks about how to attain real happiness in honor of the joyous festival of Sukkot.
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.
Pesach And Spring
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In this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses the correlation between Pesach and Spring
Overview of Megillat Eicha
Posted onIn 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.
Growing in Ruchniyus During the Three Weeks
Posted onIn 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.
Feeling the Churban
Posted onRebbetzin Heller speaks about the sad atmosphere of the Three Weeks, and how we can feel the reality of destruction and exile.
The Three Weeks: Attaining Dveikut
Posted onIn 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.
Why Cry?
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller talks about what we are mourning for on Tisha B’Av, and how to feel the tragedy of the Churban today.
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.
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.