Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Relatively short lecture about how important various partnerships are in our lives, including practical advice on how to improve our relationship with our significant other.
Watch the first 1/2 hour of this video by Rabbi Mizrachi for the true reason behind the phenomena of the past and current Arab terror perpetrated against the Jews:
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Shares about how Jewish Law views suicide and its implications. We learn from the story of young Jews who were captured by the Romans and were about to be sent to Rome to be abused by their captors and they asked a Tanna (a Rabbi leader of that generation) whether they will still have a share in the World to come if they commit suicide instead of be being abused by their captors and he replied yes. We deduce from this that in other cases Jewish law forbids suicide since life is given by Hashem and only He can take it from us. To see exceptions to this law (and there are quite a few) please view the video.
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – The first hour of this shiur (class) is packed with very helpful information of the blessings and prayers we say everyday and the actual sources in the beginning part of the Torah in Breisheit (Genesis).
Personal Thoughts – I have really been enjoying Rabbi Mizrachi’s shiurim (classes) on Breisheit (Genesis) and the vast knowledge the Rabbi brings to how it is really intertwined to my daily life.
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Shares with us great Torah learning about the book of last Shabbat’s portion, Breisheit (Genesis).
Personal Thoughts – First time I heard Torah shiur (class) from Rabbi Mizrachi on Breisheit (Genesis) and really enjoyed the perspective and the depth of Torah that he reveals from the first parasha (portion) of the Torah that we just started the cycle again.
Although these two videos are from the readings at the end of the Torah they still have some relevant ideas we can take into the post Chagim (Jewish Holidays) timeframe. Both present some valuable information to improve ourselves in this New (Jewish) Year. Our Sages emphasize for us to take what we learned during the Chagim (Jewish Holidays) and sprinkle those ideas throughout this upcoming Year so that what we learned is not only internalized but dispersed in practice through higher mitzvah observance and improved Midot (character traits).
Vezot HaBracha – Growing Through Deuteronomy (Rabbi Trugman):
Rabbi Mizrachi – This is an excerpt from the Rabbi’s lecture on the amazing capacity of the human soul and its ability to record everything and anything it comes into contact with. Fascinating stuff!
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Shares some really interesting insight and stories about the Pirkei Avot chapter we read this Shabbat. (Each week during the summer months our Rabbis instituted learning chapters of Mishna to fill the extra time we have during the long summer Shabbatot).
Personal Thoughts – Although this lecture took place several years ago the content really brings this Pirkei Avot chapter alive and relevant to everyday life. Sometimes learning these Mishnaot can be somewhat dry but Rabbi Mizrachi brings them alive with his concise explanations and colorful stories.
Rabbi Yosef Mizrachi – Shares with us strong Mussar (ethics) perspective on the overall importance of Torah study above all else and how the benefits derived from this greatly outweigh other worldly considerations.
Personal Thoughts – It is certainly a great challenge to change my ways and unlearn what society and culture has taught me during my lifetime. Open-mindedness to a Torah-based perspective is more and more relevant as I get older and realize what to focus on (and de-focus on) for my own benefit.