9 Short But New Ideas on the Haggada for your Seder Table

Everyone needs chiddushim (new ideas) every year for their Seder, and this class supplies that need, including timely ideas for our present war with Hamas and relating to the non-religious.

Decoding the Shofar Code

This class (in easy Hebrew) decodes the difference between the t'kiya and t'ruah sounds (shvarim is just another t'ruah, as written in the Talmud), giving many practical examples from everyday life where these two sounds are differentiated. This fits in perfectly with other philosophic and kabbalistic ideas on the topic.

The Road to Heaven is Paved with Good Intentions

Our sages say that God "counts" good intentions, but doesn't "count" bad intentions. On the other hand, the Talmud Yerushalmi adds that this is only for Jews, not gentiles, where the opposite is true. And the obvious question is: why? If intentions are serious, they should always "count", and if not, they should never be considered! Rav Kook explains that Teshuva is the easiest of all mitzvot, where even a thought is enough to erase decades of mistakes! On the other hand, it's also difficult, and we must analyze the differences.(Ayn Aya Shabbat v, 32)

Pre-Selichos 5779: The One Condition

Pre- Slichos Divrei Hisorirus

The Simcha of Teshuva

For Shavuot: "Rav Kook on The Necessity for Humility to Learn Torah"

Humility is always important but Rav Kook stresses here and proves it's essential necessity for Torah study.

Tu B'Shvat- Israeli Fruit's Vitamins of Holiness!

The Bach, Chatam Sofer and Rav Kook elaborate on the "Vitamins of Holiness" found in the produce of Eretz Yisrael, who's consumption brings us closer to God & spirituality. The class discusses practical applications of this idea, as well as explaining why we say Shir HaMa'alot/Al Neharot Bavel before bentching; why is it called "Canaan Land"; why there is detailed significance in the order in which we eat the 7 species of fruit of Israel; why the manna only stopped when we began eating Israel's produce; a in-depth analysis of the Al HaMichya blessing, and an unforgettably unique explanation of the term: "Land of Milk & Honey". For Rav Shvat's tune to learn Al HaMichya by heart, see: https://www.halachayomit.com/rabasalhamichya.html

Can Maccabees and Hellinists Get Along?

For Chanuka: Rav Kook on: Adopting the Positive Without the Negative of Greek/Western Culture Chanuka is a good opportunity to study Rav Kook's detailed advise regarding how exactly to adopt the good from the Western and modern world without the problematic and negative aspects. The class gleans many sources on this central topic of Rav Kook's various books and summarizes the Who, What, Where and How of this basic issue for religious-Zionist and Modern-Orthodox Jews.

Shabbat that Elevates Not Just the Secular but Even the Foreign

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 8

It's common knowledge that Shabbat elevates the secular to be holy, but Rav Kook writes that the ideal Shabbat will elevate even concepts which are foreign to Judaism.

A Deeper Take on Shabbat: Why is This Allowed & That Prohibited?

Ein Aya Shabbat 4, 4

This important lecture helps answer the classic question we all ask: Why are certain things allowed on Shabbat and others forbidden? Rav Kook, based on Kabbalistic sources, explains that the 6 days of creation and the Mishkan- the 2 classic "constrictions" (Tzimtzum) of God, are the anti-thesis of Shabbat. Accordingly only and precisely those 39 types of labor which were done to construct the mishkan correspond to the 6 days of creation, from which we want to rise above on Shabbat, to get a taste of the original Shabbat which preceded creation, and the final Shabbat, when all of creation will be like Shabbat. This basic and beautiful idea is clarified here in a very understandable way

The Second Giving of the Torah

The giving of the Torah happens every year and if we merit we can achieve great things from these days.

Nearing "the day that is completely Shabbat"

How did Rabbi Alfiya know when the Independence of the nation of Israel will come 20 years older?

A Tale of Two Fathers

After his first Shabbos ends with an unspeakable tragedy, Shimon Ilan’s resilience & faith paves the way for an unexpected friendship and inspires Yaakov Shwekey’s latest hit song Ein Davar Ra.

Heroes Of Israel Day

What did The Rebbe of Lubavitch say to the soldiers who were injured in their duty in the IDF? And what is the right attitude towards this day?

President Herzog visits Rabbi Wein

A special Chag get-together of Rabbi Berel Wein and President Mr. Isaac Herzog speaking about his grandfather Rav Herzog ZT"L and giving a blessing in honor of Pesach.

Make The Call

A powerful story about courage, humility and forgiveness, that will change your Yom Kippur. When Nancy Baida and Harry Ashkanazi ran into an argument at a Chinese Auction, they never expected it to end the way it did.

Do You Hate Shabbat?

Is your Shabbat an out-of-this-world spiritual experience? Here's how to make it one.

You Are No Less Than All Those Who Ruled The World

It's interesting that "Arur Haman" and "Baruch Mordechai" have the same numeric value, but what is the depth of this idea?

Is There A New Israel?

In the Purim story, Achashverosh, Ahasuerus, dresses himself as the High Priest in the Holy Temple. What did he hope to gain by doing this?