Series: Greatest of Gifts: Sefirat HaOmer and Shavuot
Rabbi Akiva’s Students – Sefirat HaOmer Vort
Posted onIn this class, Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses a great Torah lesson to be learned from the story of Rabbi Akiva’s students, who were illustrious scholars and who perished during Sefirat HaOmer.
Shavuot: True Acceptance of Torah
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), in honor of the holiday of Shavuot, Rabbi Cohen explains the nature of true acceptance and performance of Torah.
Shavuot: Acceptance, Action
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the idea that receiving the Torah is re-enacted every year on Shavuot.
Lag Baomer
Posted onIn this Torah class Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller-Gotleib discusses the special day of Lag Baomer
Spiritual Counting
Posted onRebbetzin Heller discusses how Sefirat HaOmer teaches us to utilize the Middot (attributes) of Hashem, in our attempt towards self perfection.
Lag Ba’omer
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Lag Ba’omer, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller discusses the essence of Lag Ba’omer; why it occurs when it does, the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s students, and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai himself.
Torah Leadership, Part 1
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller speaks about the life of Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky.
Shavuot Milchig Mystery
Posted onMrs. Shira Smiles Discusses Shavuot.
Har Sinai: Foundation of Emunah
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) on preparing for Shavuot, Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller explains how Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah) at Har Sinai formed the core of our Emunah, demonstrating that Hashem is the Source of everything in this world, including what is usually described as Nature.
The Halachic Essence of Sefirat HaOmer
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Michael Taubes delves int the exact halachik nature of the mitzva of counting the omer. Through an understanding of it’s halachik definition, one comes to understand the purpose of this mitzva.
Lag BaOmer: Balancing the Individual and the Nation
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class), Rabbi Hershel Reichman explains the spiritual characteristics of Lag BaOmer. Taken from the Shem MiShmuel, this class describes the lessons taught by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and how one can incorporate those teachings in our present day lives.
Torah Leadership, Part 2
Posted onIn this Shavuot inspired class, Rabbi Hanoch Teller continues his discussion of the gadol, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky.
The Counting of The Omer
Posted onRebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses Sfirat Haomer.
Making Ourselves a Vessel for Receiving Torah
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class), Rebbetzin Shoshie Nissenbaum provides guidance on how to prepare oneself to receive the Torah on Shavuot.
Sefirat Haomer: Joy and Mourning
Posted onIn this class on Sefirat Haomer, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses the dichotomy of sefirat haomer; on one hand, it is a time of joyous anticipation before Matan Torah, and on the other hand, it is a time of mourning for the deaths of the students of Rabbi Akiva. The class explains how it all fits together.
Lag BaOmer Vort: Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s Legacy
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class), Mrs. Shira Smiles explains that Lag BaOmer awakens within us a passion to understand the significance of our personal importance to G-d, and recognize His Love and Devotion to us. She urges us to use this time of intimacy with G-d to pour out our hearts through supplication, prayer and Torah.
Propitious Prayer
Posted onRebbetzin Shira Smiles discusses the Holiday of Shavous.
Every Day is Matan Torah
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg speaks about the striking facts that the Torah does not give a date for Shavuot, and that there is a disagreement over the actual date of matan Torah.
Sefirat HaOmer: Striking a Balance
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) on Sefirat HaOmer, Mrs. Shira Smiles delves into the commentaries that speak about the death of Rabbi Avkiva’s students, thereby getting a sense of the depth and breadth of Torah.
Shavuot
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses the holiday of Shavuot.
Shavuot: Naaseh V’Nishma
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) in honor of Shavuot, Rabbi Beinish Ginsburg discusses three possible ways to understand the words ‘Naaseh V’Nishma’, the declaration made by the Jewish People as they accepted the Torah. Rabbi Ginsburg explains how these words can help each individual prepare for their personal Kabbalat HaTorah on Shavuot.
Re- Experiencing Receiving of The Torah
Posted onRebbetzin Leah Kohn discusses the Holiday of Shavous.
Shavuot & Rut: Inner Dimension
Posted onIn this Torah shiur (class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles examines the different names of the holiday, to get a better understanding of what our service on Shavuot is about. Additionally, Mrs. Smiles speaks about why we have the custom of reading Megillat Rut on Shavuot.
Dimensions of Sefirat HaOmer
Posted onIn this class, Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses that we cannot get caught up only in the technical requirements of counting each night of the Omer and the customs of mourning during this time. Sefirat Haomer is a time for spiritual accounting in preparation for receiving the Torah, specifically in the areas of loving one’s fellow man and increasing our consciousness of G-d.
Everlasting Experience
Posted onIn this class (shiur) Rebbetzin Shira Smiles discusses the Holiday of Shavuot.
Shavuot: Torah Throughout Our Lives
Posted onRabbi Hershel Reichman explains three divrei Torah concerning Shavuot from the Shem MiShmuel.
Shavuos: Orpa Left, Ruth Stayed
Posted onThe Nations rejected the Torah, while the Jewish People said “Na’aseh V’nishma.” Exploring the secret of those who say “Hineini!”
Shavuot: Expanding Reality
Posted onIn this shiur (Torah class) on Shavuot, Mrs. Shira Smiles points out that the Torah was supposed to be given on Friday, the fiftieth day of the omer, but was in fact given on Shabbat, the fifty-first. Mrs. Shira Smiles discusses some of the questions regarding this reality. Why did Moshe add an extra day of preparation at har sinai? If the world was waiting since creation for the acceptance of the Torah on Friday, how could Moshe push it off? If the Torah was given on the seventh day of Sivan, then why is the sixth day of Sivan referred to as the day we received the Torah?
Sefirat HaOmer
Posted onRabbi Avishai David examines the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer, and discusses the two types of “zecher le’mikdash”.

