Podcasts about all jews

“The Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief.” As Jews around the world mark Tisha B'Av, we're joined by Columbia University professor and award-winning poet Owen Lewis, whose new collection, “A Prayer of Six Wings,” offers a powerful reflection on grief in the aftermath of October 7th. In this conversation, Lewis explores the healing power of poetry in the face of trauma, what it means to be a Jewish professor in today's campus climate, and how poetry can foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and resist the pull of division. *The views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the views or position of AJC.   Listen – AJC Podcasts: The Forgotten Exodus: Untold stories of Jews who left or were driven from Arab nations and Iran People of the Pod:  Latest Episodes:  An Orange Tie and A Grieving Crowd: Comedian Yohay Sponder on Jewish Resilience From Broadway to Jewish Advocacy: Jonah Platt on Identity, Antisemitism, and Israel Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War: The Dinah Project's Quest to Hold Hamas Accountable Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've appreciated this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, and rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Transcript of the Interview:   Owen Lewis:   Overheard in a New York Restaurant.   I can't talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    I can't not talk about Israel tonight.    I know.    Can we talk about . . .   Here? Sure. Let's try to talk about here.   Manya Brachear Pashman:   On Saturday night, Jews around the world will commemorate Tisha B'av. Known as the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, the culmination of a three week period of mourning to commemorate several tragedies throughout early Jewish history.  As a list of tragedies throughout modern Jewish history has continued to grow, many people spend this day fasting, listening to the book of Lamentations in synagogue, or visiting the graves of loved ones. Some might spend the day reading poetry.  Owen Lewis is a Professor of Psychiatry in the Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics at Columbia University. But he's also the award-winning author of four poetry collections which have won accolades, including the EE Cummings Prize and the Rumi Prize for Poetry.  His most recent collection, A Prayer of Six Wings documents in verse his grief since the October 7 terror attacks. Owen is with us now to talk about the role of poetry in times of violence and war, what it's been like to be a Jewish professor on the Columbia campus, and a Jewish father with children and grandchildren in Israel. And also, how to keep writing amid a climate of rising antisemitism. Owen, welcome to People of the Pod. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much, Manya. Manya Brachear Pashman:   So you opened with that short poem titled overheard in a New York restaurant. I asked you to read that because I wanted to ask whether it reflected how you felt about poetry after October 7.  Did you find yourself in a place where you couldn't write about Israel, but yet you couldn't not write about Israel? Owen Lewis:   Among the many difficult things of that First Year, not only the war, not only the flagrant attacks on the posters of the hostages one block from where I live, 79th and Broadway, every day, taken down every day, put back up again, defaced. It was as if the war were being fought right here on 79th and Broadway.  Another aspect that made this all so painful was watching the artistic and literary world turn against Israel. This past spring, 2000 writers and artists signed a petition, it was published, there was an oped about it in The Times, boycotting Israeli cultural institutions.  And I thought: artists don't have a right to shut their ears. We all need to listen to each other's grief, and if we poets and artists can't listen to one another, what do we expect of statesmen? Statesmen, yeah, they can create a ceasefire. That's not the same as creating peace. And peace can only come when we really listen to each other. To feel ostracized by the poetry community and the intellectual community was very painful. Fortunately, last summer, as well as this past summer, I was a fellow at the Yetzirah conference. Yetzirah is an organization of Jewish American poets, although we're starting to branch out. And this kind of in-gathering of like-minded people gave me so much strength.  So this dilemma, I can't talk about it, because we just can't take the trauma. We can't take hearing one more thing about it, but not talk about it…it's a compulsion to talk about it, and that's a way to process trauma. And that was the same with this poetry, this particular book.  I feel in many ways, it just kind of blew through me, and it was at the same time it blew through me, created this container in which I could express myself, and it actually held me together for that year. I mean, still, in many ways, the writing does that, but not as immediately and acutely as I felt that year.  Manya Brachear Pashman:   This book has been praised as not being for the ideological but for the intellectually and emotionally engaged. So it's not it's not something that ideologically minded readers will necessarily be able to connect to, or is it actually quite the opposite?  Owen Lewis:  Well, it's very much written from the gut, from the experience, from in a sense, being on the ground, both in Israel and here in New York and on campus, and trying to keep a presence in the world of poetry and writers. So what comes from emotion should speak to emotion. There are a few wisps of political statements, but it's not essentially a politically motivated piece of writing.  I feel that I have no problem keeping my sympathies with Israel and with Jews. I can still be critical of aspects of the government, and my sympathies can also be with the thousands of Palestinians, killed, hurt, displaced. I don't see a contradiction. I don't have to take sides.  But the first poem is called My Partisan Grief, and it begins on October 7. I was originally going to call the bookMy Partisan Grief, because I felt that American, Jewish, and Israeli grief was being silenced, was being marginalized. And I wanted to say, this is our grief. Listen to it. You must listen to this. It doesn't privilege this grief over another grief. Grief is grief. But I wanted ultimately to move past that title into something broader, more encompassing, more humanitarian. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And did that decision come as the death toll in Gaza rose and this war kept going and going and the hostages remained in captivity, did that kind of sway your thinking in terms of how to approach the book and frame it?  Owen Lewis:  Yes, but even more than those kind of headlines, which can be impersonal, the poetry of some remarkable Palestinian poets move me into a broader look. Abu Toha was first one who comes to mind Fady Joudah, who's also a physician, by the way. I mean his poetry, I mean many others, but it's gorgeous, moving poetry.  Some of it is a diatribe, and you know, some of it is ideological, and people can do that with poetry, but when poetry really drills down into human experience, that's what I find so compelling and moving. And that's what I think can move the peace process. I know it sounds quite idealistic, but I really think poetry has a role in the peace process here. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I want to I want to unpack that a little bit later. But first, I want to go back to the protests that were roiling Columbia's campus over the past year and a half, two years. What was it like to be, one, writing this book, but also, teaching on campus as a Jewish professor?  Owen Lewis:  Most of my teaching takes place up at the Medical Center at 168th Street. And there I have to say, I didn't feel battered in any way by what was happening. I had a very shocking experience. I had a meeting that I needed to attend on, or that had been scheduled, I hadn't been quite paying attention. I mean, I knew about the encampments, but I hadn't seen them, and I come face to face with a blocked campus. I couldn't get on the campus. And what I'm staring at are signs to the effect, send the Jews back to Poland. I'm thinking, Where am I? What is this? I mean, protest, sure. I mean we expect undergraduates, we expect humans, to protest when things really aren't fair. But what did this have to do…why invoke the Holocaust and re-invoke it, as if to imply the Jews should be punished? All Jews.  And what it fails to account for are the diversity of Jewish opinion. And you know, for some Jews, it's a black or white matter, but for most thinking Jews that I know, we all struggle very much with a loyalty to Israel, to the Jewish people, to the homeland and larger humanitarian values. So that was quite a shock. And I wrote a piece called “The Scars of Encampment,” in which I say, I can't unsee that. " And I go to campus, and, okay, it's a little bit more security to get onto campus. It's a beautiful campus. It's like an oasis there, but at the same time, I'm seeing what was as if it still is. And in a way, that's the nature of trauma that things from the past just roil and are present with almost as much emotion as when first encountered. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So did you need to tune out those voices, or did that fuel your work? Owen Lewis:  No, that fueled my work. I mean, if anything, it made me feel much more, a sense of mission with this book. And a commitment, despite criticism that I may receive, and no position I take is that outlandish, except to sympathize with the murdered on October 7th, to sympathize with their families, to resonate with what it must be like to have family members as hostages in brutal, brutal conditions. Not knowing whether they're dead or alive. So I really felt that the Jewish voice must be heard, not because it's more right or less right, but it's there. The suffering is there, the grief is there, and human grief is human grief. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Owen, if you wouldn't mind reading another poem from the collection. Of course, many of us remember the news out of Israel on Thanksgiving Day 2023, right after October 7th. And this poem is titled, “Waiting for the Next Release, Reported by the New York Times, November 23 2023”. Owen Lewis:  Waiting For the Next Release, Reported N.Y. Times, Nov. 23, 2023    Maybe tomorrow, if distrust  doesn't flare like a missile,  some families will be reunited.    How awful this lottery of choice; Solomon would not deliberate. Poster faces always before my eyes,   Among them, Emma & Yuli Cunio.  Twins age 3, Raz Katz-Asher, age 4, Ariel Bibas, another four year old.    What do their four year old minds make  of captivity? What will they say? What would my Noa say?    What will the other Noas say?  Remembering Noa Argamani, age 26,  thrown across the motorcycle    to laughter and Hamas joy.   I have almost forgotten this American day,  Thanks- giving,   With its cornucopian harvests,  I am thinking of the cornucopian  jails of human bounty.    (What matter now who is to blame?) Manya Brachear Pashman:  Really beautiful, and it really captures all of our emotions that day. You have children and grandchildren in Israel, as I mentioned and as you mentioned in that poem, your granddaughter, Noa. So your grief and your fear, it's not only a collective grief and fear that we all share, but also very personal, which you weave throughout the collection.  In another poem, “In a Van to JFK”, you talk about just wanting to spend one more hour with your family before they fly off to Israel. And it's very moving.  But in addition to many of the poems, like the one you just read, they are based on and somewhat named for newspaper headlines, you said that kind of establishes a timeline. But are there other reasons why you transformed those headlines into verse? Owen Lewis:  Yes, William Carlos Williams in his poem Asphodel, says, and I'm going to paraphrase it badly. You won't get news from poems yet, men die every day for wanting what is found there. And I think it's a very interesting juxtaposition of journalism and poetry. And I mean, I'm not writing news, I'm writing where my reflections, where my heart, goes in response to the news, and trying to bring another element to the news that, you know, we were confronted.  I mean, in any time of high stress, you swear off – I'm not watching any more TV. I'm not even gonna look at the newspaper. And then, of course, you do. I can't talk about Israel today. I can't not talk about it. I can't read the paper. I can't not read the paper. It's kind of that back and forth. But what is driving that? And so I'm trying to get at that next dimension of what's resonating behind each one of these headlines, or resonating for me. I mean, I'm not claiming this is an interpretation of news. It's my reaction, but people do react, and there's that other dimension to headlines. Manya Brachear Pashman:  That seems like it might be therapeutic, no? Owen Lewis:  Oh, totally, totally. You know, I'm very fortunate that having started a career in medicine, in psychiatry, and particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry. I always had one foot in the door academically. I spent, you know, my life as, I still teach, but I'm very fortunate to have, maybe 10+ years ago, been introduced to a basically a woman who created the field of Narrative Medicine, Rita Sharon. And now at Columbia in the medical school, we have a free-standing Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, of which she's chairman.  So I've had the fortune of bringing psychiatry and medicine and writing together in a very integrated way. And yes, writing is therapeutic, especially, I could say in medicine, which has given itself over to electronic medical record keeping, but our whole society is moving towards the electronic. And what happens when you sit and write, and what happens when you then sit and read, you reflect. Your mind engages in a different way that is a bit slower than the fast pace of electronic communications and instant communications and instant thinking. And now with AI, instant analysis of any situation you want to feed data from.  So that's sorely lacking in the human experience. And the act of writing, the act of reading has huge therapeutic values, huge salutary benefits for humans in general, but particularly in times of stress. In a lot of work on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, finding an outlet, an artistic outlet, it doesn't have to be writing, but that's often a way of transcending the trauma.  And medicine is filled with trauma. People trying to come to terms with acute illnesses, chronic illnesses. Doctors and caregivers trying to come to terms with what they can and can't do. And you know, we're coming up against limitations. But how do you make peace with those limitations? And it's not that it's a magical panacea, but it's a process of engagement, not only with the subject, but with yourself in relation to the subject. Manya Brachear Pashman:  I mean, I imagine dialogue is really the healthiest way of conversation and speaking through and interacting with a topic. And so I would imagine poetry, or, as you said, any art form, responding to news reports, it makes that a two way conversation when you're able to process and it's not just the headlines shouting at you, you're actually interacting and processing it by writing and reaction, or painting and reaction, whatever you choose to do. Owen Lewis:  Exactly. Manya Brachear Pashman:  You have said that poetry can serve a purpose during times of war. Is this one of the purposes to to be therapeutic or are you talking more in terms of what statesmen could learn from it?  Owen Lewis:  Well, yes, of course, what statesmen could learn from it, but it's human nature to want to take sides. I mean, that's kind of just what we do. But I think we can always do better than that. So I'm really talking about the people. I mean, there are also many Jews who are so angry at Israel that they can't listen to the story of Jewish grief. They should be reading mine and others poetries from this era. I wish the Palestinian poets were. I wish the Palestinian people. I mean, of course, in their current situation, they don't have time when you're starving, when you're looking for your next glass of fresh water. You don't have time for anything beyond survival.  But once we get beyond that, how long are these positions going to be hardened. I mean, I think when the people of all sides of the dilemma really listen to the others, I mean, they're, I mean, if, unless as Hamas has expressed, you know, wants to push Israel into the sea, if Israel is going to coexist with the Palestinian people, whether they're in a nation or not in a nation, each has to listen to the other.  And it's, you know, it's not one side is right, one side is wrong. It's far too complex a history to reduce it to that kind of simplicity. And I think poetry, everyone's poetry, gets at the complexity of experience, which includes wanting to take sides and questioning your wanting to take sides and moving towards something more humanitarian.  Manya Brachear Pashman:  You said earlier, you recommend Abu Toha, Fady Joudah, two Palestinian poets who have written some beautiful verse about– tragically beautiful verse–about what's happening. But there have been some really deep rifts in the literary world over this war. I mean, as you mentioned before, there was a letter written by authors and entertainers who pledged to boycott Israeli cultural institutions. Some authors have refused to sell rights to their books to publishers in Israel. So why not reciprocate? And I know the answer. I think you've already addressed it pretty well. What's wrong with that approach? Owen Lewis:  In any conflict, there are at least three sides to the conflict. I mean, claims to nationhood, claims to who shoved first, who. I mean, you don't entangle things by aggressively reacting. I mean, if we learned anything from Mahatma Gandhi, it's what happens when we don't retaliate, right? And what happens when we go the extra mile to create bridges and connections.  There are a host of people in Israel who continue to help Palestinians get to medical facilities, driving them back and forth, working for peace. I mean, there's a Palestinian on the Supreme Court of Israel, and well, he should be there. You know, that's the part of Israel that I am deeply proud of. So why not retaliate? I think it entrenches positions and never moves anything forward. Manya Brachear Pashman:  So have you gotten any negative feedback from your writing colleagues? Owen Lewis:  Some cold shoulders, yes. I mean not nothing overtly. I haven't been slammed in a review yet. Maybe that's coming. But when I publish pieces, I tend not to look at them. I had an oped in the LA Times. I've had some other pieces, you know, that precipitates blogs, and I started to read them.  And the first blog that came off of the the LA Times oped was, God, is he an opportunist, just taking advantage of having a daughter in Israel? And trying to make a name for himself or something. And I said, You know what, you can't put yourself out and take a position without getting some kind of flack. So occasionally, those things filter back, it's par for the course. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Right, not really worth reading some of those. You included Midrash in this book. You also spelled God in the traditional sense in the poems. Why did you choose to do that? Owen Lewis:  Well, I felt it honors a tradition of Jewish writing. It mean we have yud, hey, vav, hey, you know, which in English comes down as Yahweh, but it's unpronounceable. The name of God is unpronounceable. And, you know, yud, hey, vav, hey is just a representation. It isn't God's name. And there's a tradition that the name of God, when it's written down, can't be destroyed. And it's a way of honoring that tradition. Millennium of Jewish writers, you know, it's similar to say Elokim, instead of Elohim when the text is written. To sort of substitute. We know what we're talking about, but really to honor tradition, to pay respect and sort of to stay in the mind frame that, if there is a God, he, she, they, are unknowable. And somehow it creates, for me, a little bit of that mystery by leaving a letter out. It's like, G, O, D, seems more knowable than G-d. It's leaving that white space right for something bigger, grander, and mysterious, for the presence of that  right in the word itself. Manya Brachear Pashman:  And what about including Midrash? Owen Lewis: That's a very interesting question. You know Midrash for me, when you steep yourself in traditional Midrash, there's stories that exemplify principles and they fill in gaps. I mean, some of the most important. I mean, we have this notion of Abraham breaking the idols of his father before he left. No. That's Midrash, thats not in the Torah. And yet, nine out of ten Jews will say that's in the Torah, right? So, it kind of expands our understanding of the traditional text. But it also very much allows a writer to creatively engage with the text and expand it. It's like a commentary, but it's a commentary in story, and it's a commentary in terms that evoke human responses, not necessarily intellectual responses. So frankly, I think it's every Jews' responsibility to write Midrash. That reinvigorates the stories, the texts, and the meanings, and then we write midrashes upon midrashes. And you know, we get a whole community buzzing about a single story. Manya Brachear Pashman:  Which is very much what you've done with this collection, you know, writing poetry in response to news stories and engaging it in that way. It's very Jewish response, I would argue.  Do you observe Tisha B'av? Owen Lewis:  You know what I do. You're gonna laugh. My grandmother always warned us, don't go in the water on Tisha B'av, the sea will swallow you up. So I'm a big swimmer. I love swimming. I don't swim on Tisha B'av, because I hear my grandmother's voice, I'm going to be swallowed up. Manya Brachear Pashman:  If you could please wrap up this conversation by sharing a poem of your choice from your latest collection. Owen Lewis:  A poem I love to read again starts with a headline.   2000 Pound Bombs Drop, Reported N.Y. Times, Dec,, 22 2023.   In Khan Younis, the call to prayer  is the call of a dazed Palestinian child crying baba, standing at the brim of a cavernous pit of rubble   biting his knuckles–baba, baba . . .  It's so close to the abba of the dazed  Israeli children of Be'eri, Kfar Azza. There is no comfort. From his uncles   he's heard the calls for revenge– for his home and school, for his bed  of nighttime stories, for his nana's  whisper-song of G-d's many names.   His Allah, his neighbor's Adonai,  cry the same tears for death  and shun more blood. No miracle these waters turning red. Who called forth    the fleets of avenging angels? By viral post: Jewish Plagues on Gaza! A firstborn lost,  then a second, a third. What other plagues  pass over? Hail from the tepid sky?   From on high it falls and keeps falling.  Though we've “seen terrible things,” will you tell us, Adonai, Allah, tell us– do You remember the forgotten promise?   From the pile once home of rubble stone, a father's hand reaching out, baba, abba crushed by the load. We know the silence  of the lost child . . . G-d “has injured us   but will bind up our wounds . . .” Mothers  Look for us, called by the name yamma, calling  the name imma. Our father of mercy, not the god of sacrifice. Our many crying heads explode. Manya Brachear Pashman:   Owen Lewis, thank you so much for talking to us about how this book came about and for sharing some of these verses. Owen Lewis:   Thank you so much. Manya Brachear Pashman: If you missed last week's episode, be sure to listen to my conversation with Israeli comedian Yohay Sponder on the sidelines of AJC Global Forum 2025. Hear how his Jewish identity shapes his work, how his comedy has evolved since the Hamas terror attacks, and what he says to those who try to silence him.

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It's one thing to read about or watch news coverage about Israel, and another to experience it. In this episode with Neil in Israel we talk about a new Archeological find called "The Steps".  In the Torah there certain of God's Holidays (Holy Days) which require a "pilgrimage" toi Israel for ALL Jews.  Passover is of course one as is Shavuot (Also known as PENTECOST).   During these pilgrimages the visiting Jews would need to go to the Temple to give an offering and pray. Well there is much doubt that this even happened because NO evidence has ever been found that it was even possible for a very very large group of pilgrams to visit the temple in the required time.....UNTIL NOW!

Torah Class - Parshat Vayigash: What Motivates Mutual Responsibility? What does a loan guarantor have to do with loving our fellow Jews? And what really lies behind the expression "All Jews are responsible for one another?"

Today we see how France has fallen, how South Korea’s President faces Impeachment, how Ukraine will soon be lost to Russia and much more. We also take a closer look at Barry Wunsch’s new vision called “Dismantling the Establishment is at Hand”. 00:00 – Establishment is at Hand 13:18 – Ukraine is Lost 18:39 – Russia Warns United Nations 22:19 – All Jews must come Home 24:44 – No Means to shoot down Russia

Today we see how France has fallen, how South Korea’s President faces Impeachment, how Ukraine will soon be lost to Russia and much more. We also take a closer look at Barry Wunsch’s new vision called “Dismantling the Establishment is at Hand”. 00:00 – Establishment is at Hand 13:18 – Ukraine is Lost 18:39 – Russia Warns United Nations 22:19 – All Jews must come Home 24:44 – No Means to shoot down Russia

Our goal will be accomplished one drop at a time so as to never bring suspicion upon ourselves. This will also prevent them from seeing the changes as they occur.    Clips Played:  Why Israel was Created (youtube.com)    Why did over 2,000 Yemenite babies disappear in 1950s Israel? | Al Jazeera World Documentary – […] The post The Ringworm Children – Jewish Genocide for ALL JEWS except Ashkenazi.  USA funded Genocide same way it funded RWANDA.  Stealing Yemens children to populate.  The push to make Israel the right kind of Jewish State. appeared first on Psychopath In Your Life.

Watch the Sneak Peek of this Support Team Study, All Jews are Messianic, where Nehemia learns why Israeli newspaper columnist Elon Gilad insists the controversial title of this episode is true. I look forward to reading your comments! PODCAST VERSION: … Continue reading → The post Support Team Study SNEAK PEEK! All Jews are Messianic appeared first on Nehemia's Wall.

Question: If only those in the church are resurrected and taken to heaven at the Rapture, when do Old Testament saints get resurrected? If at the Rapture, then wouldn't they be in the church?Response: Before Christ's resurrection, the souls and spirits of Old Testament believers went upon death to “Abraham's bosom” (Lk 16:22-23), where Christ's soul and spirit went upon His death as did the believing thief crucified with Him: “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Lk 23:43). When Christ ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He took these believers with Him.It cannot only be those who died in faith in Christ since His resurrection, but Old Testament believers as well, who are described as the “saints” who come back with Christ at the Second Coming to the Mount of Olives (Zec 14:4-5; Jude 14), “those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thes 4:14) and “the dead in Christ” (v. 16) resurrected at the Rapture. If Abraham, who “rejoiced to see [Christ's] day” (Jn 8:56) and David and Isaiah, who foretold the Crucifixion and Resurrection, are not raised from the dead at the Rapture, they never will be resurrected.The only other mention of a resurrection of believers is of those who “were beheaded [by antichrist]…which had not worshiped the beast” (Rv 20:4), completing the “first resurrection” (Rv 20:5). Old Testament saints must therefore be resurrected at the Rapture, and are in the church.All Jews and Gentiles who believe in Christ before the Second Coming are in the church. Those who (whether Jews or Gentiles) only believe when they see Christ return at Armageddon will continue alive into the Millennium as the earthly people.

Bava Metzia 113 : Marc Chipkin : 2024-06-20 A lender or an agent of the court entering the borrower's house to take a collateral.Tthe need for two beds. All Jews are considered as princes.

התוכן עה"פ בתחילת פ' וישב "וישב יעקב" פרש"י "ביקש יעקב לישב בשלוה קפץ עליו רוגזו של יוסף". והנה מכיון שהקב"ה הבטיח ליעקב "היטב איטיב עמך" הנה בודאי התמלאה בקשתו בפועל. וכמובן מדברי רש"י עצמו, שהרי "רוגזו של יוסף" הי' י"א שנה לערך אחרי חזרת יעקב לארץ כנען, שבתקופה זו ישב בשלוה. ויתירה מזו: בחמישי דפ' וישב מסופר גם אודות הצלחתו של יוסף במצרים וכו' – התחלת ביטול רוגזו של יוסף, ובפרט עפ"י ביאור הצ"צ עה"פ "ויהי (יוסף) איש מצליח" שענין ההצלחה הוא כאשר השפע נמשך מלמעלה מסדר השתלשלות, בלי לעבור את סדר ההשתלשלות, שאז נמשך השפע למטה תיכף ומיד בלי עיכוב. וזהו"ע ד"יפוצו מעיינותיך חוצה", שהמעיינות עצמם מגיעים באופן ישר להחוצה – "הצלחה" בתורה. וההוראה: עפ"י מאחז"ל ש"כל ישראל נק' ע"ש יוסף" מובן שבכח כ"א להצליח בעבודה ד"יפוצו מעיינותיך חוצה", ובפרט שנשיא דורנו נק' "יוסף", ונמשכות ההצלחה והברכות למטה מטה בפועל, עד לגאולה אמיתית והשלימה.משיחת יום ה' פ' וישב, י"ט כסלו ה'תשמ"ח ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=06-12-2023 Synopsis On the pasuk at the beginning of Parashah Vayeshev, “and Yaakov dwelt” Rashi explains, “When Yaakov sought to dwell in tranquility, the trouble of Yosef sprang upon him”. Being that Hashem promised Yaakov that “I will surely do good with you,” we must say that this wish of Yaakov was fulfilled. We can understand this based on Rashi's explanation that the “trouble of Yosef” took place eleven years after Yaakov returned to the land of Canaan – during which he “dwelt in tranquility.” Moreover: the fifth aliyah of Vayeshev discusses Yosef's success in Egypt etc. – which marks the beginning of the nullification of the “trouble of Yosef”. Especially based on the Tzemach Tzedek's explanation on the verse “and he was a successful man” – that “success” is when Hashem's brachos comes down from above seder hishtalshelus, without passing through seder hishtalshelus, in which case they come down below directly without delay. And this is also the idea of “spreading the wellsprings to the outside” – that the wellsprings themselves come straight to the outside. The lesson is: Our Sages taught that “All Jews are called by the name Yosef”; thus it is understood that every Jew has the ability to succeed in the service of spreading the wellsprings to the outside, especially being that the name of the leader of our generation is Yosef. And all the success and brachos will come down below practically, to the point of the true and complete Redemption.Excerpt from sichah of Thursday, Parashas Vayeshev, 19 Kislev 5748 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=06-12-2023 לזכות הרב יעקב בן הינדא שי' צירקוס ליום ההולדת שלו כ"ג כסלולשנת ברכה והצלחה ואריכות ימים ושנים טובות

Dedicated in Honor of Jack Terzi There are hundreds of thousands of Jews in danger at this moment- Mothers who said goodbye to their children going to battle, not knowing if they will ever see them again. People being held hostage by the cruelest beings on the planet. Tens of thousands of people mourning the losses of their loved ones. Frantic parents continue to search for their children, and thousands of people are injured, many of whom are fighting for their lives. It is incumbent upon us to do whatever we can to help. Baruch Hashem, people from all over the world are sending supplies and food, and in most cases it's Pikuach Nefesh . People who are home-bound are literally out of food. Ashrechem Yisrael ! People are doing everything in their power to help those in need. Rabbi Menashe Reisman quoted from the Chatam Sofer in Parashat Baha'alotcha that the first Sedaka everyone has to perform is giving of their hearts to their fellow Jews. We have to be Noseh B'Ol Im Havero and feel the pain that our brothers are suffering. How can we enjoy ourselves with the regular pleasures of life when so many people are suffering? When it comes to things as simple as sitting in the car and listening to music, a person should say, How can I relax and enjoy myself when my brothers and sisters are worried about their very lives? Every moment of enjoyment and relaxation that we give up, to share in their pain, goes a very long way. Taking time out to go to tehilim gatherings and chizuk gatherings rather than going out for dinner, are wonderful things that show that we are sharing in their pain, aside from all of the zechuyot that they are bringing about. The Chatam Sofer writes in Bamidbar יא that although every person who experiences difficulties is supposed to accept them with love and happiness, everyone else around them is supposed to feel pain for them. And even if we see that the people suffering are accepting it with joy, we don't say, ‘ Baruch Hashem, they're accepting it, so everything is fine.' No! Everybody else's Avodah is to feel the pain that they should be experiencing. From the words of the Chatam Sofer, it sounds like the more others feel the pain, the easier it becomes on the ones going through the difficulty. If, Lo Alenu , a missile hit a certain area, a parent whose child is there will call to see if the child is okay. When the child answers the phone, the parent will breathe a sigh of relief. But the parent can't just go back to sit on the couch like before, because many others have been affected by that missile. Many whose lives will never be the same. The more our hearts feel for others, the less they will have to suffer. The pasuk says, when Hashem called to Moshe from the burning bush, He said, “ Moshe Moshe ,” andis there is no break between the first Moshe and the next one as there is when Hashem called to Avraham twice. The Midrash explains this with a mashal of a man who is carrying an extremely heavy load, and calls out to a friend walking by, to help him. When he calls him, he calls his name twice “ Yosef, Yosef, please! I need your help !” If the Midrash didn't use this mashal , we wouldn't be able to say it, but kal v'yachol, the nimshal is that Hashem was in such pain over the slavery of the Jewish people that He was calling to Moshe to help Him relieve some of the burden. When someone shares the pain, it takes away from the one experiencing it. Our family is hurting. It's up to us to remove some of their pain. This is a great form of Sedaka . B'Ezrat Hashem, if Hashem sees us uniting in such a deep way, it will arouse Him to bring the Geula . Let us all keep this upcoming Shabbat the best we ever did. And may the zechut of Shabbat stand for us and protect us. Shabbat Shalom. URGENT APPEAL From iTorah.com https://itorah.com/campaigns/ special "Kol Yisrael Arebim Zeh La'zeh" All Jews are responsible for one another. Please donate to and provide for your brothers and sisters in Israel who are suffering and need your help! Our campaign will be used to fund purchases of… • Providing 2,000 meals PER DAY to IDF Soldiers around the country • Sisiyot and Siddurim for the soldiers • Supplies for the displaced • Battle Gear for families for protection • Food & Necessities • Financial Aid to Families whose wage earners have been taken from work and deployed into battle.

URGENT APPEAL for ISRAEL from ITORAH.COM https://itorah.com/campaigns/ special We can not go about our days regularly while there's a war going on with our people. Those who do not normally attend Minyan should be attending Minyanim now. Those who do not normally learn Torah should be learning Torah now. Those who may be lax in certain areas of kashrut must be extra careful during these times. Rav Shach said to his yeshiva before an impending war that the only advice was for everyone to improve themselves, especially in the areas of Limud Torah, Kashrut and Shemirat Shabbat. Those who are learning already have to learn better . They have to use every minute of their learning time for learning and not talk about other things. Someone who has difficulty doing any particular mitzvah should say to himself, ‘ I must strengthen myself now and do that mitzvah to help the situation. I have to be strong and overcome my laziness and Yetzer Harah.' Someone once went to the Chafetz Chaim for a beracha and the Rabbi replied, “ You're better off asking Shabbat for Beracha because it is the true source of all blessing.” Rav Shach said keeping Shabbat properly will save us from war. This Shabbat, we all have the opportunity to keep it the best we ever did, and that includes utilizing the time for learning and spirituality. The pasuk in Parashat Ki Tese says, כִּי ה' אֱלוֹהֶיךָ מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּקֶרֶב מַחֲנֶךָ לְהַצִּילְךָ וְלָתֵת אֹיְבֶיךָ לְפָנֶיךָ That Hashem will walk in the midst of our camp and save us from all of our enemies. וְהָיָ֥ה מַחֲנֶ֖יךָ קָד֑וֹשׁ וְלֹֽא־יִרְאֶ֤ה בְךָ֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת דָּבָ֔ר But first, our camp has to be holy and that comes about through dressing modestly. Anyone who has difficulty with this mitzvah can help bring about protection and salvation by accepting to do the mitzvah properly. And even if the person is not able to do it permanently, at least do it now . We have the greatest power of all- the One who created the world, the One who obliterated Mitzrayim , and the One who has defeated our enemies time and time again throughout the course of history. All we need to do is His will. The first thing we have to realize is that we have nothing other than Hashem. There is no army that can help us. There are no powerful countries that can help us. The pasuk says, אִם ה׳ לֹא־יִשְׁמׇר־עִ֝֗יר שָׁ֤וְא ׀ שָׁקַ֬ד שׁוֹמֵֽר If Hashem does not guard the city, then all the efforts of the guards will be in vain . We may have the best military personnel, the best strategies, the most sophisticated weapons and tanks, but if we don't have Hashem guarding, all of it is worthless. Chazal tell us, in the end of days, the days preceding Mashiach, we must come to the realization of אין לנו להשען אלא על אבינו שבשמים that we have nothing else to rely upon other than our Father in heaven. We could accomplish that right now, in our own minds. We need to work on ourselves not to feel confident in the powers of man, but rather to know that all of man's strengths only come from Hashem. Whatever He says goes. The armies will just be carrying out His will. If we really believe that, then we'll do our utmost to improve our deeds because that is what He wants. B'Ezrat Hashem , in that zechut , we should see the Geula Shelemah B'Karov, Amen! URGENT APPEAL From iTorah.com https://itorah.com/campaigns/ special "Kol Yisrael Arebim Zeh La'zeh" All Jews are responsible for one another. Please donate to and provide for your brothers and sisters in Israel who are suffering and need your help! Our campaign will be used to fund purchases of… • Providing 2,000 meals PER DAY to IDF Soldiers around the country • Sisiyot and Siddurim for the soldiers • Supplies for the displaced • Battle Gear for families for protection • Food & Necessities • Financial Aid to Families whose wage earners have been taken from work and deployed into battle.

URGENT APPEAL for ISRAEL from ITORAH.COM https://itorah.com/campaigns/special איכה ירדוף אחד אלף - How could it be that the enemy was able to kill so many of our people? Our hearts are breaking for all the families whose lives have been turned upside down. Our stomachs are churning, hearing about the atrocities that are taking place. We yearn for the day that Hashem will exact vengeance from our enemies. We yearn for the day when the Mashiach will stand upon the roof of the third Bet Hamikdash and tell us, הגיע זמן גאולתכם ואם אין אתם מאמינים ראו באורי שזרח עליכם “ The time for your redemption has come. And if you don't believe me, look at my light that I'm shining upon you.” At that moment, Hashem will shine the light of the Mashiach upon us and we will live in complete bliss and tranquility. Now we are experiencing the birth pangs of Mashiach. The Vilna Gaon asks why the Geula is compared to Ayelet Hashachar- the point of night closest to dawn. As the night progresses, it becomes darker and darker. And before dawn it becomes the darkest. That is also the way it is in child labor. The closer it becomes to the time of delivery, the harder the contractions become. When the contractions are almost unbearable, then the baby finally comes out. So too with Mashiach, when the pains become unbearable, as we are witnessing right now, we know the Geula is imminent. The world is not a free-for-all. Nobody can harm us unless it is the will of Hashem. Throughout history, the enemy was only able to infiltrate because of our shortcomings. When we do what's incumbent upon us, our enemies will have no power. One of the things we need to improve in is being unified with each other, to end the machloket , to make peace with everyone. Now is the perfect time. Everybody's hearts are a little softer. We all want good for each other. When the Jewish people are unified, we are untouchable. How beautiful it is to see the hundreds of thousands of Jews gathering across the world to say Tehilim , crying out to Hashem from the bottom of their hearts. When the Jews were in trouble during the days of Haman, Esther said to Mordechai, “ Go and gather all the Jews together.” Our power is in unity . And when we are unified in helping each other do the Ratzon Hashem , there is nothing greater than that. Call the person you haven't been speaking to and tell him, “ Let's make peace to help our brothers and sisters in Israel.” It is so beautiful when we look out for each other. Somebody told me his cousin was on the Gaza border fighting to protect us, and he was shot in the stomach. He had his own car there and ran to it to go get help. But before he got there, he saw a fellow soldier who was shot in the face. He stopped to help bring this soldier to his car. They managed to escape the scene and go to a hospital. Baruch Hashem, they are both alive and stable. The parents of the other soldier thought for sure their son died there on the border. They had no idea that he escaped. When they finally found him alive in a hospital and found out that this other soldier risked his life to save him, they cried tears of thanks and praised this soldier to no end. Am Yisrael Chai. We are a nation who cares about each other. Let us perform the ultimate display of care and make peace with our ‘ enemies ' for the sake of peace. And of course, let us improve in any way we can in our Avodat Hashem, and may we see the Geula B'Karov, Amen. URGENT APPEAL From iTorah.com https://itorah.com/campaigns/special "Kol Yisrael Arebim Zeh La'zeh" All Jews are responsible for one another. Please donate to and provide for your brothers and sisters in Israel who are suffering and need your help! Our campaign will be used to fund purchases of… • Providing 2,000 meals PER DAY to IDF Soldiers around the country • Sisiyot and Siddurim for the soldiers • Supplies for the displaced • Battle Gear for families for protection • Food & Necessities • Financial Aid to Families whose wage earners have been taken from work and deployed into battle.

Israel has declared war following the horrific Hamas terrorist attack. All Jews are now on the front lines of battle, be it spiritually, physically, or both. How can we ensure our success in this war and what does Hashem want from us with it?

Yechezkeil describes a vision of the Kohanim of the future. This includes a list of what appears to be laws of the Kohanim. But, if you look closely, it is a strange list for 2 reasons. (1) This list has new laws that didn't exist in the Torah. (2) This list features the prohibition of eating Niveilah/Treif--a rule that ALL Jews must follow. That doesn't sound like a description of Hilchos Kohanim...

You must resist the temptation to conclude that the Jews, whom Paul was addressing in Romans 9-11, “will not be saved.” All Jews are God's people who have been born to an inheritance called the birthright, which bestows a leadership role. However, Paul cautions these Jews that unless they overcome the sin of pride, they will be found unworthy of the special inheritance although they will still belong to God with a lesser inheritance.

Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In Today's Torah talk we discuss why Hevel's Karbon was accepted, and the lesson we learn about adherence of Mitzvos.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk: Pairing together a beautiful Rashi, with an insightful Ramban we develop the idea of manifesting our greatness. (Based on the wisdom of Rav Yerucham Levovitz)Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we explore why people seemed to have lived much longer during Torah times, and two possible answers from Rambam and Ramchal.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In Today's Torah talk we discuss a fundamental idea learned out from Parshas Noach about the power and efficacy of just one person.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Today marks four years since America's deadliest antisemitic attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, which left 11 dead and wounded six others. Over the last few weeks, the appalling antisemitic conspiracy theories and threats from rapper Kanye West serve as a reminder of the normalization of antisemitism in America and how hate can be translated into action or violence. Listen to former Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on what it was like to witness the pain inflicted on a community, a city, the country when a stranger walked into a prayer service, declared "All Jews must die," and ended 11 lives that Shabbat morning. ___ Episode Lineup: (0:40) Bill Peduto ___ Show Notes: Tree of Life Synagogue Shooting: 4th Anniversary video 5 of Kanye West's Antisemitic Remarks, Explained Music credit: Sad Child by Dee Yan-Key is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License. Listen to our latest podcast episode: Campus Antisemitism – What's Happening at UC Berkeley? Follow People of the Pod on your favorite podcast app, and learn more at AJC.org/PeopleofthePod You can reach us at: peopleofthepod@ajc.org If you've enjoyed this episode, please be sure to tell your friends, tag us on social media with #PeopleofthePod, and hop onto Apple Podcasts to rate us and write a review, to help more listeners find us.

In Today's Torah talk we clarify the concept of long term growth, and why with some determination- it's very possible this winter.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk: An in depth look at the study of mussar, and why it is needed. An eye-popping vort ending with a valuable "take-home" lesson. Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Dvar Torah and Torah talk we examine why we learn the Mitzvah of marriage from Adam and Chava if their marriage seemingly went a bit awry. The answer holds a valuable lesson. Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we discuss the first Rashi in all of Torah, and draw out one important lesson.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we discuss the possible heights a human could reach, and the lowly valley's we could G-D forbid descend to. Choose Wisely.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

An important idea following the Holidays and Kedushah we have experienced during this past month.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we discuss two timeless tips in the study of Chumash.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk, we explore what is perhaps the main theme and practical lesson from this holiday season.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In todays's Torah podcast: A packed three days of spiritual energy awaits us, here is one thing to keep in mind. A Gut Yom Tov! Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

One original insight on the holiday of Sukkos based on the wisdom of Rav Yerucham Levovitz. Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

One foundational insight from Rav Yisrael Salanter, based on a Tosafos, and critical reading of a Pasuk. This Torah thought is a valuable vort to keep handy.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk, we discuss a deeper look at the "Daled Minim", and how the saintly Rav Zundel of Salant viewed them.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

We are commanded to be totally happy the entire holiday of Sukkos, this mitzvah was described by the Gaon of Vilna as the hardest mitzvah to fulfill, let's explore one avenue to help us celebrate Sukkos in total simcha.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

What was Rav Raphael Soloveitchik out searching for on Erev Sukkos. This Torah talk discussed one essential aspect of this Yom Tov that is often overlooked.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

A story with the Satmar Rebbe concludes with one thought provoking inspiring vort. One of the evil inclinations favorite tricks is exposed in this Torah talk.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

The month of Tishrei is packed with mitzvos and holidays. It seems disproportionate, with so few holidays dispersed throughout the rest of the year. Based on the wisdom of the Chazon Ish we suggest one approach to this question.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

The holiest day of the year is here. We stand before G-d in angelic fashion pleading for forgiveness. In today's torah talk we discuss one approach to Yom Kippur teffilah.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

On the cusp of the holiest day of the year we cite the Rambam, my father, and Rabbi Twersky all in one powerful teshuvah insight.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Gut Vuch! As heard from my saintly father, we develop in this Torah talk a plan to help us judge others favorably. Based an a Mishnah in Mesechta Avos, this idea opens our eyes to something often forgotten.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Read on Yom Kippur in the Haftorah, Yonah attempted to flee from Hashem and ignore his heavenly mission. It is precisely here that we learn about the most important thing in life. Heard from Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe, quoting Rabbi Avraham Grodzinsky, this idea will give you a different perspective on life.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

A truly fascinating insight from the Saba of Slabodka brings us to one crucial vort in our Avodas Hashem. What saved lot from perishing along with Sodom and Gomorra, leads us to a remarkable Torah idea.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible.Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah insight we discuss the immediate and necessary effort needed to smile at anyone you meet. Torah giants from previous generations spoke time and time again on this topic, and it remains as important as ever.Check out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha, and Follow us on WhatsApp for even more Torah content.The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible. Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we discuss the most important character trait one should posses, and the unique power it holds.JetpackThe bulldozer of evilCheck out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha!Follow us on WhatsApp to watch the Motivation Congregation Broadcast every morning!The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible. Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

In today's Torah talk we discuss the importance of searching after teshuvah during these days, and how it should look.Have you seen my keys?Search, seek, and probeCheck out our other content!SUBSCRIBE to The Torah Podcast for a weekly Dvar Torah on the Parsha!Follow us on WhatsApp to watch the Motivation Congregation Broadcast every morning!The Torah Podcast for ALL Jews!Consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help fund our Torah outreach and content distribution. Your Partnership makes it possible. Click here to donate. Questions or Comments? Email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

According to Torah law, a person who lent money to somebody before Shemita (the seventh, or "sabbatical," year) may not collect the debt after that year; the year of Shemita eliminates all debts.While many people are quite familiar with the agricultural aspects of Shemita, the prohibition against farming during the Shemita year, fewer people are aware of the monetary implications of the Shemita year. The cancellation of debts applies both in Israel and in the Diaspora, and is not restricted to those who own farmland. All Jews are bound by the prohibition against collecting debts after the Shemita year.It has become customary to write a special document called a "Prozbol" toward the end of the Shemita year in order to allow lenders to collect their debts after Shemita. In Talmudic times, the great sage Hillel observed that many wealthy Jews refused to lend money out of concern that the debt will not be repaid before Shemita, in which case they would lose the money. Hillel therefore enacted the concept of Prozbol, whereby a person signs a document transferring to the Bet Din all the debts owed to him. The law of "Shemitat Kesafim" (the remission of debts) applies only to individuals, and not to public bodies such as Bet Din. Hence, the transferred loan is unaffected by the Shemita year, and one may then act as the agent of Bet Din to collect his debts after Shemita.It is therefore imperative that anybody who had lent money before the Shemita year signs a Prozbol document before Rosh Hashanah, in order that he be allowed to collect his debts after Rosh Hashanah. One who does not sign such a document may not collect his debts after Rosh Hashanah.Summary: Anybody who had lent money before the Shemita year may not collect the debt after the Shemita year unless he signed the Prozbol document before Rosh Hashanah. This applies to all Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora.Over the next few days, our Halachot will offer more in depth details as to which types of loans require a Prozbul and which do not.Visit www.iTorah.com to download the Prozbul form.

DEFINING THE TERMSCanon – a set of texts (also called "books") which a particular Jewish orChristian religious community regards as part of the Bible. Greek – “rule”,“measuring stick”Urtext - In Biblical studies, the Urtext is the theorized original, uniform text ofthe Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), preceding both the Septuagint (LXX) andthe Masoretic Text (MT). An original or the earliest version of a text.Vorlage - A Vorlage (from the German for prototype or template) is a priorversion or manifestation of a text under consideration.Inspiration – All Scripture is “God-breathed”… (2 Tim 3:16)Inerrancy – The Bible is without error in its original manuscriptsOur Protestant “Tradition” - 66 Books in the Bile39 Old Testament Books27 New Testament BooksJEWISH CANONSMasoretic Text (MT) – Rabbis (descendants of the Pharisees) - the Hebrew Bible numbers thesame books as 24. The Hebrew Bible counts Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as one bookeach, and the 12 minor prophets are one book, and also Ezra and Nehemiah form a singlebook. This is the same Canon as the 39 Books in Protestant OTs. No ApocryphaWhen? AD110-125 – Rabbinic/Talmudic JudaismSeptuagint (LXX) – 52 OT Books (13 more that the MS), OT Apocrypha, Psalms of Solomon –When? 250BC – 2nd Temple JudaismEthiopian Jews (Beta Israel) – Testaments of Abraham, Isaac and JacobEssenes/Qumran Community/Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs (affirmEnoch!) – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).WHAT ABOUT "THE TESTAMENTS OF THE PATRIARCHS"?ALL Jews believed that all the patriarchs from Adam to Aaron (37+) were prophets that wrote “Testaments ”.2nd Century - Rabbis believed they were lost. REJECTED – Why??1600s – Found in an Armenian Orthodox Bible – REJECTED as “too Christian” (see below)Essenes / Dead Sea Scrolls - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi,Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).**Quoted/referenced by Paul in the NT (1 Thes 2:16, Rom 12:18, 21, 2 Cor 7:10 and Eph 5:6)**Fragments from 8 other “Testaments” of these were found in the DSS. (Enosh, Enoch, Lamech, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Kohath, Amram) Christian "Content" in the "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs" -Messiah = Son of God -Messiah is God incarnate-Levi's Priesthood ONLY until Messiah comes-Levi's ordinances and sacrifices ONLY until Messiah comes-Messiah born of a virgin-Messiah will be worshipped-Messiah will be sinless -Messiah would die for our sins to reconcile us to God-The Levites would crucify Messiah -Messiah would be resurrected-Messiah would ascend-Messiah would create a new priesthood-Veil of Temple would be torn -Apostle Paul – called from Jews to Gentiles, his writings = inspiredCHRISTIAN CANONS-Muratorian Canon (AD 170) – The Apocalypse of Peter-Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330) – LXX OT – includes OT Apocrypa & Shepherd of Hermas, Epistle of Barnabas (29 NT Books)-Codex Alexandrinus (AD 400) – 1st and 2nd Clement-Protestants - 39 OT Books / 27 NT Books = 66 Books / Martin Luther-Ethiopian Orthodox – OT Apocrypha + 2 Edras, **Book of Enoch** (only one) – 81 books total (35NT, LXX and Enoch) also “Didache - Teaching of the 12 Apostles”, Book of Jubilees-Armenian Orthodox – Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs-Catholics & Orthodox – OT Apocrypha (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Additions to Daniel & Esther)-Orthodox – add 1 Edras, 3 Maccabees, Prayer of Manasseh (Russian Orthodox – 2 Edras)DISPUTED TEXTS (DISAGREEMENTS)6 Disputed New Testament Books 1. The Didache (or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)2. The Shepherd of Hermas3. The Apocalypse of Peter,4. The Epistle of Barnabas and 5. The First Epistle(s) of Clement.6. The Second Epistle of Clement* EVERY BOOK THAT HAS EVER BEEN CONSIDERED SCRIPTURAL CANON HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE PAST FEW SLIDES * NEVER the Gnostic Texts!!! (Gospels, Epistles) - i.e. Gospel of Thomas (2nd Century)*No Roman Catholic Conspiracies! PART 2 – BEWARE OF THE LEAVENJesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6)BACKGROUND of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes-175BC – Antiochus IV Epiphanes conquered Israel – Seleucid Dynasty. Deposed rightful High Priest (Zadok Priesthood ended) – outlawed Jewish religious rituals (i.e. circumcision), desecrated the Temple (slaughtered a pig), ordered Jews to worship Zeus-166BC – Maccabean Revolt – successful, cleansed Temple, Hanukkah established! Hasmonean Dynasty began ruling.-153BC – High Priest, Jonathan the Hasmonean – NOT a Zadokite! Hasmoneans had NO TIES to the line of David – so illegitimate priesthood and rulership (kingship)! Later – King Herod-110BC – Got Rome to recognize the Hasmonean Kingdom – start conquering surrounding peoples, forcing them (Gentiles) to convert to Judaism (especially Gentiles)TWO GROUPS FORMED1. Pharisees - against this forced practice (Oral Torah – Talmud)2. Sadducees – Hellenized Jews (follow the government) & Sons of Zadok THIRD GROUP - THE ESSENES / QUMRAN COMMUNITYBeliefs/Practices of the Qumran Community / Essenes- Separated themselves (1st Century “Remnant”)- Broader Canon - Dead Sea Scrolls - LXX – Apocrypha, Enoch, Testaments- Temple leadership corrupt (not from the Sons of Zadok/non-Levitical)- Government corrupt – not from the line of David (i.e. King Herod). - Change in the calendar – Pharisees and Sadducees followed the pagan lunar calendar. All Jewish rituals were therefore corrupt/unacceptable.- Solar Calendar predicted the coming of Messiah between 10BC and 4BC. - Messiah would be God in the flesh - Two Comings of ONE Messiah – once to die as an atoning sacrifice for sins, 2nd time to judge the world (Melchizedek Document)- Messiah would “make the dead live” (Messianic Apocalypse)/Matt. 11:5-Prophecy continued…(No “Cessationism”) - Matthew 11:13 – “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied UNTIL JOHN”- Were waiting and ready for the Messiah when He cameWHAT WAS "THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES"?Beliefs of the Pharisees - TWO Messiahs – first one only a man to liberate Israel – NOT for the Gentiles!!! - Accepted both the Pagan Lunar Calendar and the non-Davidic Priesthood (Feasts? Temple?)- Cessationists – Prophecy ended  (400 silent years – from Malachi?)- Rejected “Testaments of the Patriarchs”- Oral Torah (“Tradition”) over and against God's written word (Talmud)- 2nd Century Rabbis – Narrowed the Canon, Tampered with the OT Text, radically ANTI-CHRISTWHAT WAS "THE LEAVEN OF THE SADDUCEES"?- Stopped believing in the supernatural (angels, afterlife) – Theological liberals- Accepted the Pagan Lunar Calendar - Capitulation to culture / compromise- “Romans 13ers”  of the 1st Century - Romans 13:1-2 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. - Disappeared in history MATTHEW 16:1-12And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So, he left them and departed. 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.APPLICATION for the Remnant todayWhat is today's “teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees”?   1. Believe the prophets!    2. Don't capitulate to the political – Critical Race Theory (CRT), Cultural Marxism, "Safe & Effective", "Free & Fair Elections"  3. RE-think your idea of Canon – especially in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS)  4. Essenes (1st Century “Remnant”) = the only ones able to discern the “fake news”  5. Essenes recognized and accepted Jesus as the Messiah  6. The Remnant will be “ready and waiting” for the Messiah when He returns

Rabbi Arie Hasit shares his story of officiating a bar-mitzvah when religious extremists disrupted prayers at the egalitarian section of the Western Wall.  And Dan Elbaum of the Jewish Agency for Israel discusses the recently passed resolution that demands the Kotel be safe for ALL Jews to worship. With Teisha Bader.