Podcasts about Baal Shem Tov

R' Joey Rosenfeld explores teshuvah, Motzei Shabbos, and the Eitz HaChaim through the teachings of Rav Tzadok, the Baal Shem Tov, and Rebbe Nachman—revealing the etzem haluz, the indestructible core of emunah that can never be erased.Support Reb Joey's Torah: ⁠⁠⁠https://inwardtorah.org/support⁠⁠

Drawing on Rebbe Nachman, the Baal Shem Tov, and the Rebbe Rashab, Reb Joey explores joy not simply as an emotion, but as a deep awareness of Hashem's ever-present goodness—a freedom that comes through letting go of self, relinquishing the need to control, and learning to receive life as a gift.Support Reb Joey's Torah: ⁠⁠⁠https://inwardtorah.org/support⁠⁠

Rabbi Jonathan Rietti continues the series on Likutey Moharan, Torah 4, with Shiur #15 — mapping the three levels of Vidui Devarim and answering, head-on, the charge that Breslov's practice of confession was borrowed from the Church. Rebbe Nachman taught that the only way to take back the malchus we hand over to the nations is Vidui Devarim before a talmid chacham amiti. That teaching earned Breslov the nickname "Viduniks" — and 200 years of criticism from within Klal Yisrael. In this shiur R' Rietti shows that vidui devarim is not just older than Catholic confession, it is a mitzvas asei d'Oraisa that runs from the third chapter of Bereishis straight through the korbanos of Vayikra. Covered in this shiur: • The three levels: vidui before HaKadosh Baruch Hu, vidui before a tzaddik / talmid chacham, and vidui at the tzaddik's kever• Rabbi Tovia Singer and the FBI counterfeit-detection analogy — why you don't need to be a bokie in Christianity to answer it• Adam HaRishon: "Ayekah" as an invitation to say one word — "Chatati" — and what the world would have looked like had he said it• Chava's missed moment, and Rashi/Midrash on why Hashem asked questions He already knew the answers to• David HaMelech before Nasan HaNavi: one word that lifted a death sentence• Kayin: the first depression in the Torah, and the difference between "Lamah" and "Madua"• Yehuda and Tamar: how "Tzadka mimeni" earned the crown of malchus and the Davidic dynasty• The Golden Calf: Moshe Rabbeinu doing vidui on behalf of Klal Yisrael — "mecheini na misifrecha"• Korbanos: semicha and vidui in front of the kohen, thousands of times a day, for over a thousand years• "Ashrei hador shehanasi shelo mevi kapara al shig'so" — why we want leaders with the courage to admit a mistake• Reb Zusha's talmid, the search for "the tzaddik whose followers do vidui," and the scene outside Rebbe Nachman's room• The Baal Shem Tov's talmid who refused to confess three times — the story behind Torah 4• Q&A: If you can go straight to Hashem, why go through a tzaddik? Avraham Avinu and "v'nivrechu becha kol mishpechos ha'adamah"• Hisbodedus, Rebbe Nachman's openness about his own falls, why there is no yeridas hadoros for the individual, and emunah vs. daas Next week b'ezras Hashem: the Rambam's lashon in Hilchos Teshuvah, and vidui before a talmid chacham when the tzaddik is no longer in this world. Recorded live at Breslov New Hempstead, August 16, 2026. CHAPTERS0:00 Intro, dedication, and review of Torah 4 §1–34:00 Vidui devarim before a talmid chacham amiti5:17 "Viduniks" — the criticism of Breslov6:10 Catholic confession: 1,700 years vs. 3,3387:17 The three levels of vidui devarim8:24 There is nothing original in Christianity9:41 R' Tovia Singer and the FBI counterfeit-bill test13:38 The first vidui in the Torah — Adam HaRishon15:00 Moshe Rabbeinu transposing Yehuda's vidui16:44 A tzaddik who is mechaper for his generation17:57 Why we shied away from the tzaddik for 1,800 years21:45 "Ayekah" — an invitation to a conversation24:57 Adam blames Chava; the blame game29:33 David HaMelech: "Chatati LaShem"31:46 Kayin's korban and the first depression in the Torah34:39 "Lamah" or "Madua"? Which direction the question faces38:33 Kayin kills Hevel — the second invitation, refused42:20 "Tzadka mimeni" and the crown of malchus45:43 The Golden Calf — Moshe's vidui for Klal Yisrael50:54 Korbanos: semicha and vidui before the kohen54:14 "Ashrei hador shehanasi shelo mevi kapara"58:35 Reb Zusha and the Viduniks60:25 The Baal Shem Tov's talmid who refused to confess63:39 Q&A: Why go through the tzaddik at all?68:03 Hisbodedus, and Rebbe Nachman's honesty about falling71:07 No yeridas hadoros for the individual73:49 Emunah vs. daas — the pilot analogy77:11 Closing

Uma viagem fascinante pelo mundo do Baal Shem Tov, fundador do movimento chassídico, através de histórias extraordinárias repletas de emuná, milagres, Hashgachá Pratit e amor ao próximo.Histórias que revelam como, por trás de acontecimentos aparentemente simples, existe uma direção Divina — e como cada pessoa, cada encontro e cada momento podem carregar uma missão especial.Uma aula para fortalecer a fé, despertar a alma e enxergar a presença de Hashem em cada detalhe da vida.Curtiu a aula?Faça um pix RABINOELIPIX@GMAIL.COM e nos ajude a darmos sequência neste projeto! #BaalShemTov #Chassidut #Emuna #HashgachaPratit #Milagres #HistoriasChassidicas #Hashem #Torah #Judaismo #Espiritualidade #Fe #Chabad #Lubavitch #RabinoEliahuStiefelmann #sipur #besht

This letter explores the custom of adding three chapters of Tehillim during Elul, tracing its origins from Achia HaShiloni through the Baal Shem Tov to modern practice. It explains how the tradition evolved and highlights its deep connection to Jewish continuity and anticipation for redemption. https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/005_devarim/005_shoftim/015

Why Do People Reject The Truth | Sold Out Night In NYChttps://youtu.be/iQfRHBrSwAgIn what turned out to be a jam-packed night in NYC, where some had to stand for 3 hours, people couldn't get enough of Rabbi Yaron Reuven's teaching. Bringing new insights from the Baal Shem Tov about the supernatural reasons why some people are simply rejecting the truth even when it's clear. This was followed by a powerful questions and answers session that simply changed lives. Tune in and don't be surprised if you end up watching it over and over again. Baruch HaShem.#NYC #brooklyn #NewYork #Torah #Jewish #RabbiYaronReuven #Jews #God #inspiring #motivation #OrthodoxJudaism #Judaism

Why Do People Reject The Truth | Sold Out Night In NYChttps://youtu.be/iQfRHBrSwAgIn what turned out to be a jam-packed night in NYC, where some had to stand for 3 hours, people couldn't get enough of Rabbi Yaron Reuven's teaching. Bringing new insights from the Baal Shem Tov about the supernatural reasons why some people are simply rejecting the truth even when it's clear. This was followed by a powerful questions and answers session that simply changed lives. Tune in and don't be surprised if you end up watching it over and over again. Baruch HaShem.#NYC #brooklyn #NewYork #Torah #Jewish #RabbiYaronReuven #Jews #God #inspiring #motivation #OrthodoxJudaism #Judaism

How can we serve Hashem without constantly measuring ourselves through the imagined judgment of others?In this shiur, R. Joey Rosenfeld explores the healing light of the Baal Shem Tov as a path toward emunah, inner calm, self-acceptance, and holy confidence. Each person possesses a unique spiritual path, hunger, and offering that cannot be brought into the world by anyone else. Learning to say, “For me the world was created,” means becoming grounded in our own relationship with Hashem rather than living beneath the expectations—real or imagined—of others.Through a story of a ravenously hungry guest at the Baal Shem Tov's Shabbos table, we learn to honor our hunger for Torah, closeness, healing, joy, and spiritual life without shame.Topics include:• The healing light of the Baal Shem Tov• Emunah as a response to anxiety and uncertainty• Accepting ourselves with holy confidence• Each soul's unique spiritual path and offering• “For me the world was created”• Living beyond comparison and the imagined judgment of others• Holy confidence versus arrogance• False humility as a form of concealment• Authenticity and vulnerability before Hashem• Honoring our hunger for Torah and closeness• The Baal Shem Tov's story of the hungry Shabbos guest• Choosing life, joy, and spiritual well-beingExplore more teachings and resources:https://joeyrosenfeld.comSupport the preservation and expansion of this Torah:https://joeyrosenfeld.com/support

This week I have three stories for you. The first is about a mother whose family goes through an unimaginable accident, and years later, a dream her son has the night before a big test. The second is about a young chassid of Rabbi Baruch of Mezhibuz who becomes convinced his own Rebbe might be even greater than the Baal Shem Tov himself. The third is about Rabbi Sholom Rokeach, the first Rebbe of Belz, stranded at the Russian border with his money running low, and the "work tools" he decides to unpack. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Link to Two Cups of Tea, my first story video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d48AFirymU Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/the-rebbes-work-tools To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Is G-d Exaggerating when He Wants Us to Love Him with All Our Heart?This is the first class in a series on a Maamar of the Altter Rebbe, "Reah Anochi," which he said on Shabbos Parshas Reah, 29 Av, 5558, August 11, 1798, published in Likkutei Torah Reah. It explores the four letters of Hashem's name embedded in each soul. This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson on Monday, Parshas Re'eh, 20 Av, 5786, August 3, 2026, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This class discusses the Yud and Hay engraved in our soul and what that means in our lives: the experience of surrender, and the understanding of Hashem's oneness. We discussed how religion can be an external experience, and how the trauma of exile has snuffed out from so many the internal embodied experience of the Divine. We also explained why Hashem asks us to love Him with all our hearts and souls; is that not exaggerated? What if the deepest pain you carry — beneath the marriage, the parnassah, the worries about the children — isn’t what you think it is? In this breathtaking article, based on Rabbi YY Jacobson’s class on the first maamar in Likkutei Torah, Parshas Re’eh, the Alter Rebbe reveals a secret that changes everything: at Matan Torah, Hashem embedded His very name — the Yud and the Hei, “two friends who are never separated” — into your soul. It’s why even the most distant Jew is flooded with regrets he never invited; it’s why we numb ourselves with a thousand distractions. We aren’t broken. We’re homesick. And once you see it, you can never unsee it. This is the Torah the Baal Shem Tov came to reveal — the heartbeat hidden in the holy books all along — brought down by the Alter Rebbe in one of the classic maamarim of Chassidus, and opened up by Rabbi YY with warmth, humor, and stunning honesty. You’ll discover why “k’lo chashiv” doesn’t mean you are nothing — it means nothing can distract you from how deeply okay you are; why your soul’s stubbornness is your greatest gift; and how five seconds a day of this truth can make your soul dance with the very simchah the Baal Shem Tov revealed. Read it slowly. Read it twice. This one is life-changing — and liberating. The first maamar in Likkutei Torah on Parshas Re’eh is one of the classics of Chassidus — a foundational maamar the Rebbe would reference again and again, because it explains how the very name of Hashem is embedded in the soul. The Alter Rebbe delivered it on Shabbos Parshas Re’eh, Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul, in the summer of 1798 — 5558 — the last Shabbos of the era we call “before Petersburg.” Weeks later, he would be arrested and taken to the capital; after his liberation on Yud-Tes Kislev, his maamarim underwent a major transformation. What follows is Torah from that first era, and it goes straight for the heart.View Source Sheets: https://portal.theyeshiva.net/api/source-sheets/9975

This video is part of Chassidic Spirituality, a series exploring the timeless wisdom of the Chassidic masters and the inner spiritual teachings of Torah.What if one of the deepest forms of idolatry isn't bowing to an idol—but refusing to believe in the soul that Hashem gave you?Drawing on the teachings of Rav Kook, the Baal Shem Tov, and Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, we explore how exile can cause us to lose faith in ourselves, become trapped by our past, and forget the greatness Hashem placed within every Jewish soul. True emunah isn't only believing in God—it's believing that God believes in you.May these teachings strengthen our emunah, help us break free from the stories that hold us back, and inspire us to serve Hashem with confidence, courage, and joy.Thank you for learning Torah with me.#Judaism #Torah #ChassidicSpirituality #RavKook #BaalShemTov #RabbiShlomoCarlebach #JewishSpirituality #Emunah #PersonalGrowth #JewishLearning #MentalHealth #Faith

This class explores the Baal Shem Tov's interpretation of Ashur and Mitzrayim as metaphors for prosperity and oppression, Moshe's warning against forgetting Hashem in times of abundance, and the unifying themes of Chamishah Asar B'Av as a festival of peace and connection. https://www.torahrecordings.com/classes/by_parsha/005_devarim/003_eikev/004

This week I have two stories for you. The first is about Reb Motele of Tchernobyl and the richest miser in a village — a man who would do anything to avoid giving tzedakah. The second is about a poor father in Mezhibuzh who the Baal Shem Tov tells to promise two thousand rubles he doesn't have — and a wealthy merchant in a forest far away who made a vow he forgot. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Link to Two Cups of Tea, my first story video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d48AFirymU Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/eighteen-rubles To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

The 3rd Hand Yaad Ramah is sweetening the Judgments by following the Advice of Rebbe Nachman ben Faiga Simcha and clapping during prayer, aka Tefilah. Thereby expanding the Consciousness & memory- learning Weekly Likutei Moharan 46:4 at Shirat David Efrat...Cover

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Parshas Matot-Masei: Follow God on the Journey of Life https://jewishprolifefoundation.org/pro-life-blog/parshas-matot-masei-follow-god-on-the-journey-of-life פרשת מטות מסעי: ללכת בעקבות האל במסע החיים https://jewishprolifefoundation.co.il/%d7%a4%d7%a8%d7%a9%d7%aa-%d7%9e%d7%98%d7%95%d7%aa-%d7%9e%d7%a1%d7%a2%d7%99-%d7%90%d7%9c-%d7%aa%d7%93%d7%90%d7%92%d7%95-%d7%94%d7%99%d7%95-%d7%a7%d7%93%d7%95%d7%a9%d7%99%d7%9d/ We learn in Genesis 9:6-7 that when we destroy 'man within man,' a baby, we destroy the image of God.  https://www.sefaria.org/Contemporary_Halakhic_Problems,_Vol_I,_Part_II,_CHAPTER_XV_Abortion_in_Halakhic_Literature.11?lang=bi The Baal Shem Tov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjwJFC4wYPg the baby in the womb learns the entire Torah https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/the-torah-learning-and-activity-of-a-fetus-in-its-mothers-womb/ At the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation, we're making the original pro-life religion pro-life again! News, education, enlightenment and spiritual renewal. Saving Jewish Lives & Healing Jewish Hearts by providing the Jewish community with Pro-Life Education, Pregnancy Care and Adoption Referrals, and Healing After Abortion.   To learn more visit https://jewishprolifefoundation.org/ Banned 3.18.26. No longer Follow us on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JewishProLifeFoundation/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JewishProLife Follow us on YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk8B3l4KxJX4T9l8F5l-wkQ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishprolife Follow us on MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/cecilyroutman  Follow us on Gab: https://gab.com/JewishProLife  Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecily-routman-3085ab140/  Banned 3.18.26. No longer Follow us on Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/cecilyroutman/  Follow us on Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/prolifececily 

Please fill out this short survey. Go to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠unpacked.bio/podsurvey⁠⁠⁠⁠. We want to hear from you! What does it mean to be at home in your own body? Rabbi Josh Feigelson draws on Hillel the Elder and the Baal Shem Tov to show why spiritual life starts with syncing our minds and bodies, and guides a body scan meditation you can return to anytime you feel disconnected. Here is a link to Kathleen Hooper Home In My Body: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14e6G8823rFWe5fh15JaRoj60dp1Omb5q/view?usp=sharing  Be in touch at josh@unpacked.media. This episode is sponsored by Jonathan and Kori Kalafer and the Somerset Patriots: The Bridgewater, NJ-based AA Affiliate of the New York Yankees. --------------- This podcast is brought to you by Unpacked, an OpenDor Media Brand.For other podcasts from Unpacked, check out:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewish History Nerds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stars of David with Elon Gold⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Unpacking Israeli History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wondering Jews⁠⁠

The Kissing of Souls through Tefilah and Torah - Yaakov Avinu and Rochel Emainu Yichudim & Sincere Prayers. The Hugs of Mitzvot and revealed Abundant Love - Learning Lessons in Tanya Weekly Chapter 45-6... at Shirat David Efrat...Cover

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Learning Likutei Moharan 46:2 Weekly at Shirat David Efrat with abundant Divine Providence, we continue with this clapping

In Parshas Matos/Masei, the Torah records the forty-two journeys of Klal Yisrael through the Midbar. At first glance, the list seems like history that will never happen again. But the Baal Shem Tov teaches that every person has his own forty-two journeys.In this shiur, delivered by Rav Burg in Camp Morasha, we explore why the Torah records not only the places where Klal Yisrael succeeded, but also the places where they failed: Refidim, Kivros HaTaavah, and the painful stops along the way.Through Rashi's mashal of the father reviewing the journey with his healed son, we discover a powerful way to look at our own failures. Denial says, “I cannot look.” Shame says, “I looked, and now I cannot get up.” Torah teaches a third way: I was there, but I traveled from there.Failure does not have to define us. It can become part of the map that shows us how far we have come.

Tes-Zayin Tammuz (22:22)

The Rebbe strongly objects to the decision not to allow girls into the shul in Kfar Chabad, stating it has no basis. He urges the community to reflect on the Baal Shem Tov's teaching about G-d's boundless love for every Jew and encourages inclusive conduct. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/006/4145

The Rebbe writes that every sight and sound a Jew encounters is a lesson in serving Hashem, referencing the Baal Shem Tov's teaching. He encourages clarity in all dealings and reminds to leave Torah books for the community's benefit when traveling. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/007/4262

The holiest thing you can say is I don't know.Reb Shlomo teaches something that cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a spiritual person. We spend so much energy thinking we know what other people need. What their tikkun is. What mussar they need to hear. What they should do with their lives.But here's the truth. We barely know ourselves.The Baal Shem Tov was choosing a son in law. He sent a great tzaddik to test Reb Tzvi. The tzaddik asked him questions on every masechta, every section of the Shulchan Aruch. And Reb Tzvi kept saying I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.The tzaddik came back to the Baal Shem Tov. Was there even one thing he said he knew?Not once.The Baal Shem Tov said, gevalt. What a son in law.The not knowing wasn't a weakness. It was the whole point.The more we are honest about how little we know, the more open we become to hearing Hashem in our lives. A full vessel can't receive anything new. But emptiness, real humility, that's where the light gets in.Focus inward. Know your own neshama. And from that place, maybe you can truly see someone else.This is Part 2 of the Essence of Jewish Spirituality series, based on the teachings of Reb Shlomo Carlebach from Pitchei Sharei HaLev.#Judaism #Torah #Chassidus #RebShlomo #Kabbalah

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

This week I have one long story for you. It's about Reb Adam Baal Shem of Ropshitz — one of the most powerful hidden masters of the generation before the Baal Shem Tov — and what he did when the king of Prague issued harsh decrees against the Jews. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Link to Two Cups of Tea, my first story video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d48AFirymU Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/we-are-not-helpless To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Learning weekly Lessons in Tanya chapter 44 at Shirat David Efrat. The Essential Love, the Baal Shem Tov's teaching of No Seperation from Hashem, a real relationship responsibility, like a Son to a Father.Cover pic

התוכן דוקא באותם דורות שבהם הי' מצב של יאוש וכו' נתגלו רזין דרזין דאורייתא (בתורת החסידות) עד לאנשים פשוטים. כי – היא הנותנת: מצד גודל אהבת הקב"ה לכאו"א מישראל – כידוע מאמר הבעש"ט שאהבת הקב"ה לכאו"א מישראל היא שלא בערך יותר מאהבת הורים זקנים לבנם יחידם שנולד להם לעת זקנותם – נותן ה' את ה"אבן יקרה" שבכתר המלך, רזין דרזין דאורייתא, כדי להציל על ידה את "בן המלך". וזה מתגלה ע"י תורת הבעש"ט והולך ומיתוסף מדור לדור. ומכיון שביאת המשיח תלוי' ב"יפוצו מעינותיך חוצה", הרי ככל שמתקרבים לביאת המשיח צריך להוסיף בזה ולהציל בכך בנו של הקב"ה ממות לחיים ממש. זהו רצון ה'! והכלי לזה הוא אהבה לכאו"א מישראל בלי הבדל, שהרי בכאו"א מהם ישנה נשמה שהיא חלק מאותו עצם, ודוקא עי"ז בנקל יותר לעורר את עצם הנשמה שלו ועד שזה יפעל על המחדו"מ שלו וכו'.משיחת יו"ד שבט ה'תש"כ [שנת המאתיים להסתלקות הבעש"ט] ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=19-06-2026 Synopsis The fact that the Jewish people were in a state of despair in later generations etc. is precisely why the deepest secrets of the Torah were revealed in this era (through the teachings of Chassidus), and even to simplest people: Out of His immense love for every single Jew (which is like the love of parents to an only child born to them in their old age, as the Baal Shem Tov taught), Hashem gives up the “precious stone from the royal crown” (the deepest secrets of the Torah) in order to save His child (the Jewish people). The precious gem is revealed through the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov, and continues to increase from generation to generation. Since the coming of Moshiach depends upon “your wellsprings spreading outward,” therefore, the closer we get to the coming of Moshiach, the more we must add in spreading the wellsprings, which literally rescues Hashem's child from death to life. The vessel for this is to love every Jew without distinction, because all Jewish souls share the same essence, and loving another Jew makes it easier to awaken the essence of one's own soul, in a way that impacts him practically in thought, speech, and action.Excerpt from sichah of 10 Shevat 5720 For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=19-06-2026

Life is a journey. The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the 42 journeys of the Jewish people through the wilderness are mirrored in the 42 journeys each of us travels in our own lives.And a wilderness is exactly what life can feel like. We enter a world that is often untamed, unpredictable, and at times even hostile. Our mission is to transform this wilderness into a home for the Divine.But not all stages of the journey are the same.In our early years, we are sheltered. We grow under the protection of parents, family, teachers, and loved ones. Even when challenges arise, we are buffered by the security of home.As we mature, however, we venture further into life's wilderness. The adversaries become more formidable. The tests become more personal. The stakes become higher.The first twelve journeys are closer to civilization, the challenges are easier. But beginning with the thirteenth journey, we enter into more dangerous territory. The Torah describes it as a "great and fearsome desert," a place of snakes, scorpions, and thirst. The travelers are now entering the harsher realities of life.It is no coincidence that at this stage they begin traveling with the Ark and the Sanctuary in their midst. When the terrain becomes more difficult, we need greater spiritual resources. We do not enter life's battles unarmed. We carry with us our deepest values, our faith, our purpose, and the sacred truths that guide us through the darkness.So it is in our own lives. As we grow older and take on greater responsibilities, we need greater strength. The challenges become more demanding, but so do the opportunities to build, create, and transform.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for Part Four of our seven-part series, The 42 Journeys of Life: Will You Build a Home—or Just Live in One? For it is precisely in the wilderness that we discover our power not merely to survive, but to create a sanctuary—a home for ourselves, our loved ones, and the Divine presence in this world.

We all know the moment: a flash of "I made a mistake — I want to change." A hirhur teshuvah, a thought of return. So why does it so rarely turn into anything? In this live, give-and-take shiur — the third in the Sephardic Center series on Rebbe Nachman's tale of the Lost Princess — we sit with that exact question. Walking through the opening of the story, we watch the King turn into aviha — her father — the moment his daughter is lost. It's not the King who gives decrees and stays distant. It's your Father, and He's in pain. He misses you. That shift is the whole secret of why the search begins — and why our own thought of teshuvah is meant to move us. Along the way: why the spark sparks but the engine won't turn over; why summer is the hardest stretch; the painful Uman cycle of swearing at Rabbeinu's tziyun every Erev Rosh Hashana and falling again; what nekudos tovos have to do with it; and the eitzah — instead of demanding the whole transformation at once, stay inside the hirhur teshuvah, feel the pain of causing your Father pain, and take it one pound at a time. Plus an unforgettable personal story of a child's journey behind the Iron Curtain in 1976 — turned away from Uman, interrogated, and brought instead to the Baal Shem Tov's kever to say Tikkun HaKlali. We close with Rabbeinu's promise: hirhur teshuvah she'lo yashuv od le'ivalto — bring Him your broken stones and your cement, and He will build. In this shiur: The hirhur teshuvah — and why it doesn't become action The King who becomes a Father in pain "It's not the King who misses you — it's your Father" The Uman cycle, nekudos tovos, and not mistaking the spark for the victory The eitzah: stay in the thought, feel the pain, one step at a time A true story from behind the Iron Curtain, 1976 Part of Eilech V'anaseh — a journey through Rebbe Nachman's Lost Princess. #Breslov #RebbeNachman #LostPrincess #Teshuvah #HirhurTeshuvah #Eilech Vanaseh #Uman #Hisbodedus #Hashem #Emunah #SippureiMaasiyos #Chassidus #Torah #JewishWisdom #Spirituality #Faith #RoshHashana #BaalShemTov #JewishPodcast #Shiur

In 1968, after the first manned mission to orbit the moon, the Rebbe taught that even a lunar expedition contains lessons in avodas Hashem. Quoting the Baal Shem Tov, the Rebbe reminded us that everything a person sees or hears must become a lesson in serving Hashem.So what can we learn from a Knicks championship?This shiur takes the drama of the season, the missed shots, the hustle plays, the OG Anunoby block, the impossible comeback, the trust in role players, the timeout that should have been called, and the fifty-three-year drought and turns it into a powerful mussar message.A mistake is only a failure if you stop running after it happens. Greatness is often one more inch of effort. Confidence is built when nobody is watching. A healthy life is constructed, not collected. A timeout is not weakness; it is refusing to let panic coach the team. And a long drought does not mean the story is over.

Life is a journey. In fact, the great mystic the Baal Shem Tov teaches that each of us travels through 42 distinct journeys in the course of our lives. The 42 journeys the Jewish people traversed in the wilderness, as recorded in the Torah, are not merely ancient history; they are a map of the human soul and a mirror of our own life's voyage.Every stage, every twist and turn, every ascent and descent, every triumph and setback is part of a larger choreography. When you begin to see your life not as a series of disconnected events but as a purposeful journey, patterns begin to develop and it starts to make sense. The challenges do not disappear, but your ability to navigate them is transformed. You recognize that every step, every encounter, and every obstacle carries within it an opportunity for growth and discovery.In Part Two of our seven-part series, The 42 Journeys of Life, we continue the expedition. Having explored the first five journeys—the formative years in which our identity begins to take shape—we now enter journeys six through twelve, where we begin to develop the tools to confront adversity and discover our inner strength.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson for Part Two: The Forces That Try to Break You Before You Become You—an exploration of the early challenges that test us, shape us, and ultimately reveal who we are meant to become.

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Parshas Behaalosecha: Beyond The Journey Why does the Torah repeat, again and again, that the Jewish people traveled and camped according to the Cloud of Glory? Through the insights of the Ohr HaChaim and the Baal Shem Tov, this episode uncovers a timeless lesson: not every stage of life is meant for movement. Some seasons are for growth, some for waiting, and both are part of the journey G-d has prepared for us. ✨ What feels like a delay may be preparing you for where you're meant to go.

When the Baal Shem Tov Danced: The Gift of Children Who Make You Feel You Lost EverythingRabbi YY Jacobson presented this pre-Shabbos lecture at the Kesher Nafshi 2026 Cleveland weekend retreat, Erev Shabbos Parshas Naso, 13 Sivan, 5786, May 29, 2026. The class empowers parents with a Divine perspective on how to view the challenges of our children. We share the insight by the Satmar Rebbe on life's challenges, sending us "on a mission," not expelling us, and the story of the Baal Shem Tov dancing when he heard that he lost his Olam Haba.

The Gemara says that if a person takes the wrong change out of his pocket, it's from Hashem. If a person stubs his toe, it's from Hashem. All the more so if something more severe happens. The Shomer Emunim writes in his Ma'mar Hashkacha Pratit perek 21 that a person must know, in Shamayim , Hashem is waiting to hear every word that comes out of his mouth in response to the difficulty that he is given. Every word of emunah is valued greatly and accomplishes so much. And thus, a person should train himself to regularly respond with the proper words, even for the most insignificant inconveniences, all the more so for the difficult ones. He should immediately say, “I recognize that this came from you, Hashem, I know I needed it for my best, please let it accomplish the kapara that I need.” The Shomer Emunim writes further, someone who forgets things often and it causes him a lot of anguish must believe that he doesn't forget because of a weakness that he has. Rather, Hashem sends the angel appointed over forgetfulness, each time, to make him forget. And the anguish that it causes is meant to bring him the kapara that he needs. If someone forgot about a meeting he had or forgot to say something that he wanted to say at a meeting, it's because Hashem wanted him to forget it. If someone traveled a long distance and forgot to bring an important document, it was min haShamayim . If someone forgot directions and made a wrong turn, it's min haShamayim . If someone's mind was preoccupied with a different issue and that caused him to forget something, he must know, when Hashem decreed that the issue should take place, included in it was the fact that it would cause the person to forget also. Nothing happens by accident. Hashem decrees how many times a person forgets and what he forgets. And every day there's a new calculation. What happened yesterday has nothing to do with today. Every day of life is judged separately. If a person recognizes each time that he forgets that it's from Hashem and he asks Hashem that it should be the kapara that he needs, then after years and years he will have accumulated endless amounts of kapara . The kapara that he gets will make it that he doesn't need to forget as much. If a person was looking for a certain house and accidentally knocked on the wrong door, he must believe that it was Hashem who brought that about. On one occasion, the Baal Shem Tov accidentally walked into a different room in his house than he planned on going to. He then told his attendant to take down the mezuzah in that room to be checked. The attendant then asked the Rebbe, “Is this the halachah, that if a person walks into the wrong room by accident, he needs to check the mezuzah there?” The Rebbe said no, but he knew for sure that Hashem caused him to go in that room and he thought perhaps it was because he needed to check the mezuzah . The immediate reaction of the Baal Shem Tov to his accidental turn was that it came from Hashem for a reason. The Shomer Emunim told a story that a great tzaddik from an earlier generation related. There was a man who had a very hard life and when he went up to Shamayim for his judgment they found that he had an enormous amount of sin. Then, when a heavenly advocate said to bring out his afflictions to be put on the side of good, it was found that he never attributed any of his afflictions to Hashem. He always felt that it was just his bad luck. In Shamayim they said, if he would have attributed everything to Hashem and said that it was justified in coming, then it would have accomplished what it needed to accomplish and the yisurim would have wiped away all of his sins and allowed him entry to enjoy the delights of Gan Eden . It's never too late for a person to make teshuva . So long as he has life he can correct everything he ever did. A person can say right now, “I'm sorry Hashem for not attributing my difficulties to You. I'm sorry that I did not accept them with love, understanding that I needed them for my best.” With one wholehearted acceptance a person can correct years of the opposite response. Let us accept upon ourselves to respond constantly with emunah and thereby gain the full value of everything that happens to us.

At the end of this week's parasha Naso , the Torah goes into great detail regarding the donations that the Nasi'im brought to inaugurate the Mishkan . And as we know, each Nasi brought the exact same donation and the Torah repeated each one of them, twelve times, one for each Nasi . Many mefarshim offer explanations as to why the Torah has all this repetition. The sefer Darkeh Musar brings from the Saba m'Kelm who explained, the Torah is teaching us here how Hashem relates to the individual. One should not think if a large group gets together to do a mitzvah that Hashem views it as if that group, so to speak, all got a check for their actions. The parasha of the Nasi'im teaches us, Hashem is happy with each individual separately. Although they all brought the same donations and collectively comprised a group of twelve, Hashem took delight in each one of them independently. Each one of them brought Hashem a different type of joy, depending on the person's background and what each of them had accomplished and experienced in their lives prior to this point. Everyone is always treated as if he is the only one in the world. And this does not only apply when a group of people get together to do a mitzvah. This is always the way it is. When something happens to a group of people, Hashem doesn't deal with them as a group, but rather every single person, with his own hashgacha . Whatever happens to him was decided solely based on what was supposed to happen to him. And the way a person reacts when things happen to him will show how much he really believes in Hashem's hashgacha . The Shomer Emunim writes, if we would know how valuable it is to honestly believe that every single thing that takes place in our lives comes directly from Hashem, our hearts would ignite with endless excitement. Furthermore, the pasuk says, ה' צילך – that Hashem is our shadow. And the Baal Shem Tov explained this to mean that Hashem acts towards us corresponding to the way we act towards Him. If a person says each time that something happens that it was from Hashem, then Hashem will deal with him with extra hashgacha pratit . He will be able to feel Hashem's presence more and he will get more Heavenly help. The pasuk says in Tehillim , ה' משמים השקיף על בני-אדם לראות היש משכיל דורש את אלוקים – Hashem is watching to see who is wise enough to seek Him out. The word אלוקים represents טבע which is nature. And as we know, הטבע is the same numerical value as אלוקים . So the pasuk is saying, Hashem is watching to see who will find Him inside of nature, who will attribute what seems to be natural occurrences, to Him. For this, a person must train himself until instinctively, he is able to say about everything, "That was m'et Hashem." When someone becomes a person who is fully ma'amin in Hashem's constant hashgacha , he will never get angry, he will never have animosity towards anyone, he will save himself from countless averot and he will get a mitzvah aseh each time he believes in Hashem's hashgacha , based on the pasuk, אנכי ה' אלוקיך אשר הוצאתיך מארץ מצרים. The Shomer Emunim gives the following words of chizuk to help strengthen us in this area. He writes, fortunate is the person who is constantly strengthening himself in the area of emunah called hashgacha pratit , because the reward for it in this world is that Hashem will show the person ניסים ונפלאות – miracles and wonders. And therefore, our job as religious Jews is to look at every single thing that takes place in our lives, whether it is obvious good or whether it seems to look bad, and attribute it to Hashem and know that it is absolute good and praise and thank Him for it. We constantly needed to be reminded about this great avodah . May Hashem help us to always see His hand in everything that takes place. Shabbat Shalom.

In this episode, the deep connection between Torah, innovation, and the revelation of new spiritual light in the era of Mashiach is explored. Discover how new Torah insights have the power to elevate exiled souls and reveal the transformative impact of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings on the world. Like, Comment & Share If you ... Read more

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Kchu imachem devarim v'shuvu el Hashem — take words with you, and return to Hashem.Likutey Moharan, Torah Daled (Torah 4) — Shiur 3, learned be'iyun. We go deeper into Os Daled: what da'as really is, and the Baal Shem Tov's secret that the repair you're looking for is already hidden inside the very thing that's broken.What we cover:The recap — me'ein Olam Haba — yediya shleima is knowing shekol me'ora'osav hem l'tovaso, that everything is for the good. Two modes today — HaTov Vehameitiv (the good revealed) and Dayan Emes (the broken) — and the future where it's all HaTov Vehameitiv.Letters are energy — the osiyos Hashem used to create the world are energy points; our words and our experiences become entangled tzerufim. Vidui devarim is taking the broken, jumbled letters of your story and rearranging them back to Hashem.The Baal Shem Tov's chiddush — nega and oneg — mehapech nega l'oneg. It's not a cute wordplay: nega (the deepest stuckness) and oneg (the highest delight) are built from the same letters — ayin, nun, gimmel — only the arrangement differs. So stop hunting for new "letters" outside yourself. Go into the very letters affecting you and rearrange them. The fixing is always already there — that's a core revelation of pnimiyus haTorah.Shame and the Tell-Tale Heart — why we can't find Hashem in our darkest places: shame tells us a part of our story is "unintegratable," so we bury it. (A striking mashal from Poe's Tell-Tale Heart — the buried thing keeps beating until it surfaces.) The cure: honesty before Hashem — You created me, You know me, it's all from You anyway — which lets us integrate and elevate the broken serufim.What da'as actually is — ikkar ha'da'as hu achdus shel chasadim u'gevuros. Da'as isn't knowing about opposites — it's the integration of them. The three mochin: chochma (the flash), bina (the unpacking), and da'as ha'mispashet — drawing the mind down into lived, embodied, emotional experience, where it's never clean, always chesed and gevura mixed together. Full da'as is holding them as one. V'yadata hayom v'hasheivosa el levavecha.Rebuilding the self — the aveiros engraved on the bones; kol atzmosai tomarna — through dibbur and vidui devarim we destroy the broken tziruf and rebuild a malchus d'kedusha: a healthy self-perception. Your thoughts are a language too — reorient the narrative, in vulnerability rooted in the safety of being loved no matter what.—#LikuteyMoharan #RebbeNachman #Breslov #BaalShemTov #Daas #ViduiDevarim #Torah4

This week I have four stories for you. The first is about a young chassid who abandons his wagon in a forest to spend Shavuos with the Alter Rebbe. The second is about a woman who walks into Rabbi Moshe Feller's Chabad house wanting to convert — and takes Judaism more seriously than the Jewish man she came with. The third is about Miri Gabay, who visited Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach after ten years of marriage with no children. And lastly, Reb Baruch of Mezhibuzh, the Baal Shem Tov's grandson, who made two trips to his grandfather's grave — and what he asked for each time. If you're enjoying these Chassidic stories, please take a quick moment to buy me a coffee. https://ko-fi.com/barakhullman Thank you! I deeply appreciate your support! Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/why-arent-we-screaming To become a part of this project or sponsor an episode please go to https://hasidicstory.com/be-a-supporter. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman. My classes in Breslov Chassidus, Likutey Moharan, can be found here https://www.youtube.com/@barakhullman/videos I also have a YouTube channel of ceramics which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@thejerusalempotter

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Counting reveals the paradox that in holiness, quantity itself leads to quality. Even in a spiritual wilderness, we are meant to live a fully holy life—especially in the home and in the earliest stages of a child's education. True Jewish unity means uniting around Torah and mitzvos. Ahavas Yisrael is described on three levels—by the Baal Shem Tov, the Maggid, and the Alter Rebbe—each revealing a deeper way to love another Jew. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Parshas Bechukosai in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 2.

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Find out from farmers what percent of grain in circulation is Chodosh How to practically keep Yoshon Can we rely on a dream of the Baal Shem Tov in Halacha? Is the dream accurate? What's called a Shaas Hadchak? Was the Heter only based on Shaas HaDchak? Does it make sense to be Machmir on Cholov Yisroel and be Meikel on Chodosh? Can you be Makpid on Chodosh only when you are home? And much more…… with Rabbi Mordechai Farkash – Chabad Shaliach, Rov and Poseik in Bellevue Washington – 24:25 with Rabbi Zalman Graus – Dayan for over 50 years, Formerly Magid Shiur in Belzer Yeshivah,  Editor of Otzar HaPoskim,  Mechaber Seforim:  Habori Vehashemoh;  Kol Boi on Eiruvin;  Milim shel Halacha - A dictionary of Halachic Words and more – 50:49 with Mr. Randy Watson – Quality Control Stafford Mills – 1:06:09 with Rabbi Beirach Steinfeld – Rov of Khal Dover Tov in Flatbush and head of Khal Dover Tov Kashrus, Halacha Columnist – 1:19:13 with Rabbi Nechemia Salzman – Representative of Kemach – 1:32:54 מראי מקומות   

Join Rabbi Joey Rosenfeld as he guides us through the world and major works of Kabbalah, Hasidic masters, and Jewish philosophy, shedding light on the inner life of the soul. To learn more, visit JoeyRosenfeld.com

Why do we rely on leniency these day when the Heter was due to שעת הדחק and we don't have a shortage of food? If the Heter is based on Safek, nowadays the Safek is verifiable and can't be relied upon If a store has information posted that it's not Yoshon - there's no Safek at all - what do people rely on? Why are people making on Stam Cholov which is maybe a Safek Derabbanan and not on this? If a person needed to eat because of פיקוח נפש and it was a question of הקל הקל תחלה should he eat Chodosh or drink Stam Cholov? People spend a lot of money and time checking vegtables for bugs which the obligation to check is Derabanan but blatantly eat Chodosh - why? Why are Chasidim so lenient - How does a story from the Baal Shem Tov uproot Halacha - even if it's true we go with halacha not stories - we can uproot all the Torah if it's controlled by stories not Halacha? Chassidim specifically love to quote Chasam Sofer "חדש אסור מן התורה" - when it comes to any slight deviance of Minhag or even culture - and חדש itself they don't care about? with Rabbi Menachem Genack – Leading poseik of the OU, Rov in Englewood – 17:35 with Rabbi Dovid Gorelik – Rabbinic Coordinator of the OU – 17:35 with Rabbi Yaakov Teichman – Head of OK Kosher – 43:43 מראי מקומות   

Is religion just a checklist of dos and don'ts? On today's page, Menachot 93, the Talmud suggests that while the "rules" of atonement are technical, the physical rituals are deeply personal. We explore why the "non-essential" act of placing hands on an animal offering is so vital for the believer's soul. Drawing on the wisdom of G.K. Chesterton and the Baal Shem Tov, this episode examines how doubt and devotion coexist in the life of a seeker. We discover that the real power of a mitzvah lies in the moments where we physically lean into our faith, going beyond what is strictly required to show our Creator who we truly are. Can an illiterate shepherd's passion teach us more than a textbook? Listen and find out.