Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman – Explains the concept of “measure for measure” or otherwise commonly known and cause and effect – that governs the law of nature. Rabbi Trugman shows us examples of some instances of this concept in our history and also how contemporary science views it today and how that was already laid out in the Torah. Fascinating explanation of the variance effect of pure cause and effect corresponding to the addition of mercy and grace to strict justice.
Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus – Nice motivational video on the inherent good in each one of us regardless of our circumstances and the destructive “Western thought” that is taking away that goodness. In reality there is no despair at all, just be happy! Being joyful always IS the solution.
Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz – Interesting take on when did the Jewish people really receive the Torah and why it’s not necessarily accurate that we received it specifically on Shavuot like we typically celebrate. Most important however is how and why G-d gave us the Torah to help in forming the Laws instead of just telling us exactly what to do.
Rabbi Asher Baruch Wegbreit – On these two short videos Rabbi Wegbreit shares with us on how we can greet others and listen to the Torah reading on receiving the Torah both with kavanah (intent) to help elevate our Shavuot experience and connect to Hashem.
Rabbi Mendel Kessin – Fascinating (final) class on the Pesach/Shavuot role in the tikun process which culminates this Saturday night on Shavuot. Rabbi Kessin explains how Adam (HaRishon “the first”) was so closely connected to Hashem at the very beginning of his existance until he lost that connection after the sin of eating of the fruit of the tree of good and bad. After that sin, he was then separated from Hashem. Before the sin he knew at an intrinsic level that he was nothing and there is only Hashem, after the sin he lost that knowing. Then not only was (and the rest of mankind subsequent to that) required to work for their sustenance, unlike before when work was not necessary at all, but that very work has an additional punishment in that it causes man to thinking that its him alone providing his sustenance and Hashem is separate from that process. Man lost his very knowing that there is only Hashem. To try to claw that knowing back we now need to do mitzvot (which were given on the original Shavuot and through the 2nd set of tablets) and/or through suffering. The mitzvot help us to reconnect and humble ourselves to do Hashem’s will even if we don’t “think” its the right thing to do which gets us closer to fixing our reality that there is just Hashem. Then there is suffering which does the same thing because it forces us to know we are nothing because we cant help ourselves out of suffering which makes us feel powerless and again gets us closer to know that there is only Hashem. Both are the tikunim collectively and individually for that original sin of Adam HaRishon. Shavuot is the giving of the Torah which is a gift to get back to the original state before the sin.
Rabbi Mendel Kessin – Really interested class on the Ramchal (in honor of his Yahrtzeit – day of his passing) and the Kabbalah that he taught that we reference today. He did this while being under pressure not to share Kabbalah.
Rabbi Moshe Pinto – Shares with us the goal to achieve kedusha (holiness) can only occur when both elements combine (the physical/material and the spiritual). Without one of these elements our level of connection to Hashem is always incomplete. To bring the geula (redemption) we need not ignore the physical/material but to incorporate and elevate it towards a spiritual goal. Pesach was physical redemption and Shavuot is spiritual redemption – the time in between (the Omer period) is the way to connect them both. Powerful lecture by Rav Pinto.
Rabbi Alon Anava – If you have kids no matter what age Rabbi Anava shares what prayer parents can say that is specific to this day (Rosh Chodesh Sivan – the first of the month of Sivan) to bring down the energy leading up to the Jewish holiday of Shavuot. This energy is the same energy as the original ancient energy when the Jewish people received the Torah at Har (Mount) Sinai that becomes available to us every year at this time.
The prayers Rabbi Alon Anava references are available in both Hebrew and English here:
Rabbi David Yisrael Kalmus – Great video about how we can access and release and divine sparks that are trapped via prayer, saying blessings, and helping another Jew. Rabbi Kalmus further explains how when you are called upon to help another Jew to run at the opportunity because it means your soul to attached to their soul and the divine sparks released benefit both (help others really means help yourself as well).
Rabbi David Aaron – A simple short three minute paradigm shift video about how to re-orient our focus from taking to receiving resulting in improving our spiritual condition.
