Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus – This is a re-posted lecture from a year about when Rabbi Kalmus had just moved to Eretz Yisroel (Israel). He shares a clear and concise blueprint of the path to inner peace. This can be a major stress reducer and path to freedom to those of us who struggle with day to day life. Highly recommended!
The first video focuses on a commonly discussed topic, Tzedaka (Charity). It’s always good to get several different viewpoints to learn the various aspects of this important mitzvah.
The second video focuses on the Sfira (the current daily counting period we are currently in between Pesach and Shavuot) and what the Jews are trying to rectify during this time period.
Tzedaka – Charity | Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
Weekly Hashkafa Shiur #94 | The Tikun Process of Passover – Part 4 – Removing the Zohama | Rabbi Mendel Kessin
Two great podcasts where Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz shares with us how the World we leave in is designed with both male and female attributes on both a macro and micro level. This natural balance gives us a whole new perspective and how Torah and Mitzvot serve as the foundation of this paradigm.
Torah Cause of Reality – Written Torah
The second podcast is a bit early as it talks about Shavuot which is coming up in about a month and a half, but again the paradigm shift it reveals that Torah is not a reflection of what we see in this World, but that this World is a reflection/projection of the Torah itself (i.e. that Torah is the cause of reality).
Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus – In this video Rabbi Kalmus explains the concept of the upper tzaddik and the lower tzaddik. Some examples are: Moshe and Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and that G-d’s presence rests between these pairs. Also, an interesting perspective about why G-d’s presence is hidden today and a major cause is people learning for alterior motives.
Rabbi Trugman – Shares really interesting word re-arrangements from existing words in the Torah and Tanach. For example, one name for Pesach (Passover), which is coming up shortly, is “Chag Aviv” (Holiday of Spring). If you take the first letter of the word Aviv which is Alef (one) that represents Avraham, the second letter which is Beit (two) represents Yitzchak and Yaakov, the last two letters Yud and Beit (twelve) are the twelve tribes. This all is the start of the Jewish people which happened in the first month of Nissan in Egypt where we became a nation. Additionally, the same word Aviv can be divided the first two letters Aleph plus Beit or Av which means father and the last two letters Yud and Beit which means twelve equals the father of the 12 or the first of the twelve months of the Hebrew calendar which is again the first month of Nissan where the Jewish calendar started as a nation in Egypt. Many more neat examples in the video.
Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit – Shares some nice illustrations on how to connect with Hashem and four examples of when the opportunity to connect is at its highest.
Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz – Lots of interesting questions and answers in this regularly occurring Q&A with the Rabbi. Lots of great information and straightforward answers to some commonly asked but sometimes complex questions about Judaism.
Rabbi Mendel Kessin – Shares a unique perspective about Eisav (Jacob’s twin brother) and how he was originally supposed to be one of the Avot (Forefathers) and even be responsible to bringing forth the six of the twelve tribes. He had the spiritual potential to actually do this but due to his sins this never manifested and Jacob ended up being the father of the twelve tribes. Haven’t heard this part of the story before and how it affects us today.
Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz – Great video going into detail about the three daily prayers and the source evidence of why we do it and where the sources for them. This is combined with the weekly Torah portion (Veyazei) that the Rav weaves into those sources.
Personal Thoughts – I learned a lot of new ideas that I can use in my daily prayers and the prayers in between. The more I learn the richer the experience which is why there is such a big stress to learn Torah because learning leads to new insights and new actions (mitzvot) which is what the whole World rests on.
Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus – Shares with us how an attitude of gratitude for all the blessings in our life and how little we know can free us from all types of despair. The Rav’s example mashal of a seeing a bug on a leaf and how small it is in the vast universe that seems so big being analagous to us being that bug not knowing the vastness of Hashem and what He has in store for us and that its for our greatest good.
Rebbetzin Rochel Silber – Shows us the various ways to use gematria to find out the deeper meanings of our names. This is more of a participation video where you can find out more about the sources of your name and the nuances it can add to your life’s goals.
You’re Doing Something Big. Keep Fighting! by Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus
Rabbi Kalmus shares with us how all despair comes from belief in nature versus belief in Hashem gives them life force. Anxiety and Fear versus Faith and Comfort. Hashem created nature and can change it if He chooses. Also, that all sadness comes from (excess of the mind) – like eating the peel instead of the fruit. Everyday in our prayers Jews say that Hashem re-creates the World everyday. Chassidus teaches that every detail is all Hashem (even including a simple leaf turning the air). If these concepts interest you watch the video (~34 minutes).
Newsletter – Rabbi Kalmus’s organization, Tzion Breslov Project, also started a newsletter that comes out before Shabbat – you can sign up for that free here as well:
Weekly Hashkafa Shiur #72 | The Blueprint of Creation – Part 1 AUDIO by Rabbi Mendel Kessin
Rabbi Kessin shares with us the buidling blocks of creation. For example, the seven attributes of creation “down here” so to speak and the real lack of knowledge we don’t have about the creation “up there” (fascinating discussion). Once we have the basics of creation down we can better understand what our role is and how we can do our responsibility to fulfill the purpose of creation.
Personal Thoughts – I like how the Rabbi doesn’t pontificate and claim to know about all the details of creation or what Hashem wants and quite humbly states there is a lot we just don’t know about the whats and whys of this very esoteric subject.
