Rabbi Eli Stefansky – Shares for before the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) to take on a new stricture of not speaking during the Kaddish which he timed at 30 seconds. Can we stay quiet for 30 seconds? Simple, not easy.
Rabbi Eli Stefansky – Shares about today’s daf yomi daf (131) about the concepts of terumah and maaser – the percentages one must give of his produce (or earnings) to the Kohanim, Leviim, and the poor. There are very helpful illustrations and videos explaining these concepts. If you are interested in learning the daily daf (Daf Yomi) – R’ Stefansky makes it easier for both beginners and experts alike. A good segula to take in for the new Jewish New Year.
Rabbi Breitowitz – Shares a very good summary of the selichos service that Ashkenazi Jews started on motzei Shabbat (Saturday night). This extra service is patterned after more familiar regular services which different stages that the Rabbi explains. They continue until Yom Kippur.
Rabbi David Kaplan – Shares in this small clip about why someone who responds amain to some else’s blessing gets a larger reward than the one who actually says the blessing. The common answer is that one is affirming the blessing, but there are two other important reasons: 1. Doing something you are commanded to do is higher than doing something voluntarily. 2. The one who says the blessing does something after (for example before eating food) so they get a reward after the blessing, whereas the one who says amain doesn’t get any benefit so he gets a higher spiritual reward.
Rabbi Goldscheider – In the spirit of Rav Kook, the Rabbi shares that the best way to avoid sin is to spend your free time helping others through many mitzvot. In our current times, unlike years ago, we have a lot of free time on our hands which is fertile ground to get involved in sin. Elul is a good opportunity leading up to Rosh Hashanah to focus our free time on serving others.
Rabbi Chaim Gross – Shares a very moving mashal (parable) of a Father knocking on his son’s door to be let in to give gifts but the son won’t let him in. Hashem is knocking on our door during the month of Elul leading up to Rosh Hashanah. Will we let Him in and accept His gifts.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about some of the Jewish religious societal differences between someone who was born religious (FFB – Frum From Birth) versus being newly religious (Baale Teshuva). These differences bring up various challenges from both perspectives – both societal and individual.
Rabbi Kalman Flaks – Shares about the importance, the necessity of doing mitzvot (including prayer and saying blessings) with simcha (happiness). This activates the mitzvot and brings them to life.
Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky – Shares about the details of Judaism and why they really matter – being analogous to the details of the laws of nature and how they matter. For example, fire is hot and nature shows us that if we put our hand in the fire it will get burned. Furthermore, there are spiritual laws which also involve an action and a reaction.