Accessing Your Best Self with Devorah Vale

In this class we explore the midda of endurance. Tenacity, Resilience and perseverence are traits that we embody as a nation and we need to develop personally to actualize our potential. We learn from the greats! Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai who figure prominently during this time in the Jewish calendar and teach us these great lessons .

Purim is the only holiday our Rabbis teach, that we will continue to celebrate after Mashiach comes. It will still be relevant when all other holidays no longer are needed. Purim lights our way through the darkness of exile and its spiritual lessons will continue to reverberate forever in the future.

Having hakpada is a very negative trait and makes us transgress many positive mitzvot in the Torah . We must get rid of it the way we rid ourselves of chametz before Pesach. By striving for greater humility we become more like the matza which is the bread of freedom metaphorically and in reality.

Seeing Hashem in the miraculous is not hard! It's seeing Hashem in the everyday that is a challenge! Recognizing the good that He does for us and that others do for us is a character trait called Hakarat HaTov! It is more than just saying a perfunctory thank you! It requires us to get rid of expectations that others should do for us and also realize that by acknowledging the good, we are now left owing and that is often why we would rather ignore it.

In this class we discover the origin of the light at the beginning of Creation. This same hidden light is the same one that we illuminate in the month of Kislev, the darkest month of the year. Removing the darkness of false ideologies which the Greeks gave us is the work of Hannukah that continues to this day.

This is a world of tests. Hashem tests each one of us in a specific way in order that we actualize our potential. Passing a test is a miracle, its a flag that we raise when we have overcome. By working on bitachon, and asking Hashem to help us when we are dealing with difficult people or situations, we are more assured of success.

God tells Avraham to leave everything behind and go 'to a land that I will show you'. This is the first of Avraham's 10 tests . What we learn from Avraham is to have bitachon in Hashem - to trust Him in the deepest way possible. That happens when we don't give up hoping to Him even when things don't turn out the way we expect they should.

In this class we examine different verses in the book of Genesis to learn more about G'd and His reason for creating the world and specifically Man. Was it a good idea to create a fallible creature with the free will to behave badly? What do the angels have to say about this? Listen and find out more about why we are here!

When the Jewish people said Na'aseh v'Nishma they became like angels who know the secret of total compliance to Hashem's will. How can we use this principle of doing without understanding, accepting without knowing all the details in our daily relationships with spouses and children?

Humility is the antidote to all negative traits. During this time of Omer we have been refining ourselves in order to be ready to receive the Torah on Chag HaShavuot. The Or HaChaim teaches 3 lessons we can learn from the verse in Shemot that describes the B'nai Yisrael's journey towards Har Sinai . They are the prerequisites for sucessfully receiving the Torah. Listen and find out.

This is the week of HOD. Hod is the midda of Humility. In order to reach true greatness, we have to admit our shortcomings and work on being grateful to others and to Hashem. Being humble should not be confused with low self esteem. You cannot be humble without good self esteem. Rabbi Akiva who began with 5 students teaches us resilience which is fueled by humility.

Iyar is the month of illumination. It is a bridge between Nissan and Sivan and is represented by the letter vav - the letter of connection. 'If you are connected above, you don't fall down below' is a Yiddish expression. In this month, there is more light and more air available to us to broaden ourselves and prepare for the giving of the Torah on Shavuot? How do we access it? What do we need to understand about ourselves and the world around us to gain greater connectivity to Hashem and His Torah.

Counting the Omer is something that only YOU can do!!! It is a mitzva that no one can do for you.! That's because Hashem wants you to know how important you are to the Jewish people and to HIM. These days of counting are opportune days to return to your authentic self. Who am I and what do I have to contribute to the Jewish people, to our mission as a people. How can I radiate my light and shine the light the Torah to the world which so desperately needs light and healing??? I matter! I make a difference!!!

Why can't we just eat matza without getting rid of every speck of chametz? Aren't they the same thing? Flour and water? OK we ate matza when we left Egypt - I get that! But what does chametz have to do with MY EXITING EGYPT THEN OR NOW? To all my devoted listeners: I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Chag Kasher v'Sameach and invite you to be in touch with me at devorahvale@yahoo.ca. I welcome any questions and comments, and a complimentary coaching session . What are your unique challenges? How can I help you to access your own wisdom to free yourself from your own personal Mitzrayim? l am here to help you to access your best self through the Torah's wisdom for living. Enjoy the holiday and stay well!!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness as the saying goes. Is spring cleaning part of the mitzva of getting rid of every speck of chametz or is it going above and beyond. How do you know how much cleaning is enough. Like every pleasure, there is a point of diminishing returns. Make sure you don't reach this place and destroy not only the chametz before Pesach but yourself and everyone in your path.

'When wine enters, the secret comes out' says the Gemarra in Sanhedrin. What is the secret? Through wine we can change our consciousness and elevate ourselves and the world around us. Or we can use wine negatively to escape our purpose and mission in this world. Learn how the Purim story taught us how to use wine properly towards kedusha and how Pesach through the 4 cups helps us continue this process . Wine can help us return to our true and higher selves.

Why is this day called the Fast of Esther? Esther's fast took place in Nissan. What is the purpose of fasting in general and what can we accomplish when we begin everything with a spiritual plan and then take action?

Who is Amalek? Why do we have a mitzva to remember what he did and never forget? How do we eradicate Amalek or evil in this world? It begins with uprooting Amalek from ourselves. Emuna is the antidote to Amalek and Doubt. Being God - centric and creating a world ruled by the ethics, morals and values of our Torah spells the end of Amalek.

In this final class on the Shema we discuss the power of the eyes and heart that leads us astray! How do we become holy like Hashem? What does Holiness mean? As we conclude the Shema we reaffirm our commitment to our mission as a Jew in this world.

The Gemarra asks, 'where do we find Haman in the Torah?' He is found in the verse in Genesis when G-d asks Adam and Chava if they ate from the tree that was forbidden. What is the connection between the two?

Why do we need to wear tzitzit? What do the white threads represent? What does the blue thread represent? How is the wearer of tzizit protected and supported in his observance of all the mitzvot? The Talmud lists 5 commandments mentioned in the 3rd paragraph. What are they?

King Solomon says in Mishlei, 'He who loves money will never be satiated by money'. Whether its fashion, the news, or addiction to food, Taiva creates a pursuit - we chase after whatever it is we think will bring us satisfaction and tranquility...but instead it leads to more desire. The soul can never be filled by the material pleasures of the world. They are meant to bring us tranquility. If they are not, the we need to ask why and create more balance in our lives.

In this episode we focus on the second paragraph of the Shema which deals with reward and punishment. What we do matters! Hashem responds. Our material well being and whether the Land of Israel remains in our hands is dependent on the mitzvot that we do. . We are in the driver's seat. Deciding to learn Torah and do mitzvot is the one thing that is completely in our control in a world that seems, now more than ever, out of control!!! o

In this class we go deeper in exploring the role of pleasure in avodat Hashem. We need a certain amount of it to help us to do mitzvot and overcome challenges which is the purpose of life. acciording to the Ramchal. When we become addicted or a slave to certain pleasures, when pleasure becomes a form of escapism or distraction from our purpose, that is when we need to ask ourselves, 'Is this really taking me closer or further from my spiritual goals?

Why do we wear tefillin and put a mezuza on our door? How does this increase our love and connection to our Creator? Being G-d obsessed means that the Torah animates your very thoughts and all your activities. .When you are lying down and getting up, whether you are at shul, inside your home or out and about, involved in the business of the day. The Torah lifestyle encompasses every aspect of life. ''Where is God?' asked a great Rabbi. His answer: Wherever you let Him in!!!

Each of us is unique and we have our own distinct battles and challenges. For one person it is staying away from the urge to fall victim to emotional eating, while for another it is refraining from that nasty comment which your intellect knows has no place in a relationship you are trying to build. Taiva is characterized by 2 thoughts. Before the act, you think, 'I really shouldn't do this! And after the fact you ask, why did I do that? Torah wisdom teaches us how to develop more self control.

The theme of Paragraph 1 of Shema is to love Hashem with your heart, soul, and all your possessions! Throughout history, Jews have given up their lives to sanctify G'ds name. As hard as that is, to die for Hashem, to live for Hashem is often even more difficult. Dying is a one time act, living is constant devotion and direction towards all one's thoughts, feelings, and actions being devoted to Him Alone. Not so easy!

Where does Haman's name appear in the Torah? When does the yetzer hara come into a human being? At birth or conception? In this class we explore the challenges that impulsivity create? The past and the future disappear when one is caught in the moment of taiva - desire. How do we escape or channel these impulses and develop more control?

How can we be commanded to love Hashem? In this class we explore loving Hashem with both our hearts - the yetzer tov and the yetzer hara. The yetzer tov is called good but the yetzer hara is called 'very good'. Love grows when we give, when we are grateful and when we learn G-d's Torah. The soul longs for closeness and to be in a loving relationship with its Creator.

How do the 4 elements of earth, water, wind and fire interact with Taiva, the need to control our desires? In this new series we will examine how impulse control is a key feature of Jewish life and becoming a successful and elevated human being.

In this series of classes we will go through the Shema Prayer and try to understand its meaning more clearly and in depth. The Shema is the Jewish Pledge of Allegiance to God. It is our mission statement and rallying cry. We wake up every morning and go to sleep at night with this prayer on our lips. It is the prayer we say before we die. Join me as we learn more about the centrality of this prayer and Jewish belief.

Practicing bitachon and achieving tranquility of the soul is a constant skill that needs to be reinforced. When the sea split, says Rabbeinu Bachye, it split step by step and not all at once. It was an ongoing challenge much like the pandemic we find ourselves in. It is only knowing that Hashem is walking with us through the waters with each step that we can reach the other side with our connection to G-d deepened along the way

In this episode we explore the idea of yissurim me'ahava. How can a loving G'd cause me so much pain and suffering? In order to understand this, we need to identify primarily as souls who are in this world against their will and will leave this world against their will. A look into the Ramchal and Mesillas Yesharim will help us crystallize this idea.

The month of Teves is one of three sad months in the Jewish year. With a fast day on the 10th that commemorate all the atrocities of that month, it is a dark time both physically and spiritually. And yet, Teves has the holiday of Channukah in it. The light of Channukah spills over into this month teaching us to find the light in the darkness, hope in the midst of challenge and pain.

In this episode we discuss the qualities of good leadership as seen through Yehuda, Dovid HaMelech and the eventual Mashiach! We are called Yehudim because gratitude and admitting our mistakes are 2 hallmarks of the greatness of the Jewish people. L'hodot means to thank and to admit. These are crucial traits for leadership.

In this class we discuss the tremendous potential of the fire element to reach higher in our personal growth and leadership abilities. From the story of Channukah,and great figures like Yosef and Yehuda we learn about the power of great leaders who fuse fearlessness and humility and awe of God to channel their fire in a constructive way.

The element of wind is intellect, thought, and speech and how we use it. In its lower form, it is used for gossip, idle talk, and mindless banter. In its elevated form, it is the pursuit of truth, spiritual understanding and the intellectual honesty to stay faithful to your values and beliefs based on the Torah. Yaakov Avinu, known for representing Torah truths stands as a counterforce to those great intellects who built the Tower of Bavel, intent on getting rid of Godliness, morality and conscience, much like the Greeks of yesteryear and the modern day tyrants of today in all its forms. Moral relativism and other 'isms' are the battle we continue to wage since the time of Avraham Avinu,

In this episode we discuss that water represents emotion. Water also represents the human need for pleasure. The question is how to use the pleasures of the world in a positive way towards deeper connection with G-d and relationships with the people in our lives. Water can nourish or destroy. The generation of Noach teaches us what can happen when pleasures lead to destruction. Yitzchak and Rifka come to teach us how to harness the power of water and be master over our pleasures.

What does the name Kislev mean? How does the tribe that corresponds with this month reveal more about what the energy of this month is all about. Join me as we learn about the 36 candles that we light on Chanukah and how this relates to the month of Kislev.

How do the 4 elements of earth, water, wind and fire relate to the stories in the first book of the Torah? And what do these stories teach us about our own inner struggles? Discover how Cain kills hi brother because of his 'scarcity mindset, the negative manifestation of earthiness. Learn how Avraham and Sarah demonstrate an abundance or emunah mindset as an antidote.