Daily Life of a Jewish Mystic

The 1st class in new series of shiurim on the powerful commentary of the Karliner Rebbe on the Pesach Haggadah.

Today we seek to begin the process of understanding what the Zohar meant when it speaks of the attribute of awe or fear of God. Why do I always strangely translate this important Hebrew word as two words slashed together (awe/fear). Come and find out!

Today we continue learning selections from the introduction of the famous sefer (book) Reishit Chochmah. Today we learn a piece of zohar looking at the nature of the Torah in our lives as well as a Talmudic tale about who is truly is good in our complicated world.

Reishit Chochmah Ahavah 1: Embracing God's Joy We begin to learn about love of God through the eyes of R. Eliyahu DeVidas. We also learn about 10 daily reminders of the imperative to connect to our love of God. What's different about a love relationship with God? Come, learn and head into shabbat with love!

Reishit Chochmah Gate of Awe 1: Have you lost the keys to the treasure chest? Today we continue our learning in the sefer (book) Reishit Chochmah and begin the chapter on the attribute of awe/fear of God. We will begin to dive into why this attribute is so important to spiritual life and Jewish practice.

Reishit Chochmah Introduction 1: Point of Torah is Good Deeds and Repentence I'd like to begin a new project to learn and the teach the holy 16th century kabbalistic sefer Reishit Chochmah. Please feel free to walk with me and learn the profound wisdom of the great Tzfat mystic R. Eliyahu DeVidas. Today we introduce the the reasons for this new project, the book and work to absorb the first paragraph of the book.

We look into the Divrei Chaim (R. Chaim Halberstam of Sanz) on our parsha. How is the journey of Yaakov similar to his father and grandfather? How can we find meaning in the dark times of our lives? When times are bad for those who are good we need chizuk (inspiration) to pull through.

We look into the spiritual difference between Jacob and Esau according to the mystical tradition through the lens of R. Nachman of Breslov.

Lessons on the Zohar, Petach Eliyahu: A Unity Like No Other We continue to explore the beautiful prayer of Eliyahu the prophet in the beginning of the section of Zohar called, Tikkunei HaZohar. We work to understand what is meant by the unity of God what are our relationship is to it. (2nd Lesson, Intro to Kabbalah)

A quick thought on the topic of The private and public domain- originally an idea from Jewish law (halachah) on shabbat, now interpreted by the kabbalah of the Ari'zal. What does this concept of private and public domain tell us about God and how we as human beings should interact with ourselves and our neighbors today. (Apologies, forgot to use the good quality mic today!!)

Today, in the wake of the massacre in Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, we dive into parshat Chayeh-Sarah, specifically, the incident where Rivkah sees Yitzchak and falls off her camel! The Divrei Chaim of Sanz will be our guide today as we seek to explore how to respond to the daily frustrations of life as well as great tragedies that stop us in our tracks. How to respond to the Pittsburgh Massacre...

Ever been curious about Jewish mysticism, specifically kabbalah? Ever wanted to learn the Zohar? Together, 20 minutes every Wednesday, we will learn the foundations of Kabbalah by learning the famous prayer of Elijah from Tikkunei HaZohar "Petach Eliyahu." Come and learn!

Who does God appear to? Why did Abraham run to take care of those travelers? How do we see the Godliness in others, even those we don't like so much! ;) A few thoughts on our parsha to start the week off right!

We ask the question today, are we to our relationship to God, as the Eternal's servant or child? We explore how living a life of service can be truly meaningful and transcendent for a modern person. We also delve into struggles one might have with these ways of relationship. Come and listen!

We will continue to learn this holy sefer- diving into the question of the meaning of obligation. Why is it put on such a high pedestal in Jewish spiritual life? We will discuss these questions today and more! Come and listen

What was God's purpose in creating humanity? What is a human beings role in relationship to the Creator? What becomesthe most important things in our lives? Does God need our praises? We will talk about all that today right here!

Today we begin the learning of the holy sefer Yesod V'Shoresh HaAvodah by R. Alexander Ziskind (late 18th-early 19th century Eastern Europe). We will be introduced to the foundations of R. ZIskind's spiritual path and hopefully be inspired to walk with him.

How do I connect to God through Torah study? Do I have to know the right answer to all questions to be a "good Jew". Is sacred wisdom about knowing the answers? If you have ever asked those questions (or haven't thought to ask them yet), listen live to this new episode!

Orot HaKodesh: Holy Tomfoolery! Is there a place in spiritual life for foolishness? Come listen to find out! Feel free to comment below how humor or foolishness has led to wisdom in your life!

"Food has never failed us" has always been a saying in my family, joyfully announced every year at my childhood family Passover seder. What can eating teach us about spiritual life? We learn another teaching from R. Kook entitled "Spiritual Digestion" and I will discuss my struggles with internalizing spiritual meaning-what's worked and what hasn't! Come and listen for a couple minutes!

Today we will explore two different ways of connecting to meaning and divinity within the world. Rav Kook will discuss the importance of both models in our life. We will discuss how this plays out practically in our real lives.

How does one deal with perceived obstacles that stand in one's personal journey? I delve today again into trying to live the Torah of Rav Kook. I will talk about my own personal struggles with embracing instead of resisting what is uncomfortable to me. Please let's struggle and grow together!

The Moral Life- A Vision to Life the World (R. Kook, Shmoneh Kevatzim 1:128) by Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein

Teaching from Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook from Orot HaKodesh, Book 1 pg. 66-7.

Connecting all of our feelings and emotions with God. In order to fix the problems we see within our reality, we must love and have faith within those realities first. Rav Kook explains...

More learning from Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook from Orot HaKodesh. We learn today how to utilize knowledge of the physical world and physical things to strengthen our connection with God and holiness.

Again we engage in the spiritual wisdom of the great giant, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhcak HaKohen Kook. Today we engage with Rav Kook's deep philosophy of stepping away from regret. Judaism is about connecting more deeply to the world and community around us not running from it.

Pearls of Torah from R. Avraham Yitchak HaKohen Kook on the theme of love. We explore in this podcast a teaching of R. Kook on the idea that Godliness is found within the soul of each human being. According to his understanding, it is impossible therefore to disconnect with love of God for that would mean to disconnect with the goodness found throughout of reality.

How do we deal with our negative thoughts? What is the place of sorrow in spiritual life? More advice from the Baal Shem Tov!

More Advice from the Baal Shem Tov- Here the Besh't explains the most important kabbalistic formula we say before sacred actions: לשם יחוד קדשא בריך הוא ושכינתיה (In order to unify the Holy Blessed One with His indwelling presence (shechinah)) Today we try to unpack the meaning of this formula and it's application in helping us walk with God. Come and join!

Another lesson in advice from the Baal Shem Tov. Today we learn how a famous rabbinic passage the laws of marriage can be a guide to the inner dimension of a life with God.

Learning in the sefer (book) Keter Shem Tov, advice from the Baal Shem Tov. We learn today of the value of living according to one's own soul. The Besh't warns us against trying to be someone else. ~20 minutes to bring meaning to your day!

To know God: Mission Impossible? Deep meaningful wisdom from the Baal Shem Tov. A more meanignful live in ~20 minutes!

The second of our learning on the 4 essentials of the baal shem tov! 1. Serving God w/ simpleness, wholeness and intention 2. Intention, discipline and importance of reciting the sh'ma 3. Immersing in the mikvah, the importance of being able to press restart 4. Shabbat

Learning on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov from sefer Keter Shem Tov. Lesson 1