Podcasts about Gadol

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's 3rd Yarchei Kallah event from July 6th to 8th, 2026! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a and more Click here for more information.   Dont miss this one of a kind experience! ---------------------------------------------------- Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today! Q&A 0:00 What is source of the prohibition not to cause self harm and to what extent does this apply?  4:45 The Mishnah Berurah fowns upon the custom of not wearing a tallit gadol. What should a person do regarding this halacha?  8:55 Should we pronounce hebrew according to a different a minhag if believe that minhag is more authentic?  14:15 Can you rent out glass plates for venues with the intention of kashering them before each use?  15:10 Why can we make the bracha on shabbat candles today if the main pleasure of illumination come from electric lights?  19:14 Who are the Gedolim and what qualifies a Gadol? 22:45 Did Rashi's daughters wear tefillin?  33:25 What is the purpose of the resurrection of the dead if the dead are receiving their  reward now in olam haba?  37:45 If limud of Torah is the main way to connect to Hashem why are women not chiyav to learn Torah?  45:05 Is there an inyan to grow peyot and a beard?  51:15 Why is a secular education frowned upon by religious communities?  55:15 Rav Elchanan says emunah in Hashem should be so obvious because a person can clearly see that Hashem is evident everywhere. Is this a universally accept hashkafa?  1:05:15 How does the Ramban define olam haba and how does that differ from the Rambam? Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a   Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos   You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu  PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

Having received his Ph.D. in mathematical logic at Brandeis University, Rabbi Dr. Dovid Gottlieb went on to become Professor of Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University. Today he is a senior faculty member at Ohr Somayach in Jerusalem. An accomplished author and lecturer, Rabbi Gottlieb has electrified audiences with his stimulating and energetic presentations on ethical and philosophical issues. In Jewish Philosophy with Rabbi Dr. Gottlieb, we are invited to explore the most fascinating and elemental concepts of Jewish Philosophy. https://podcasts.ohr.edu/ podcasts@ohr.edu

Yevamos 66b: Hakdamah Perek Almanah LKohen Gadol

SOMOS FANÁTICOS DE LAS MITZVOT- GRANDES LECCIONES DE LAS ROPAS DEL COHEN GADOL? by Rab Shlomo Benhamu

In this Parsha Review on Parshas Tzav (Leviticus 6–8), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe highlights the inauguration of the Kohanim (priests), where Moshe dresses Aaron and his sons in their sacred garments, anoints the Mishkan and altar with oil, and applies blood from the offerings to Aaron's right ear, thumb, and big toe (and similarly for his sons). Our sages explain this unusual ritual as a reminder to leaders: while the core (self and close family) is natural to protect, the "extremities" (distant people) are easily neglected. The ear, thumb, and big toe represent the farthest reaches of responsibility—those on the outskirts of one's influence or community—ensuring a true leader serves everyone, not just the inner circle.Rabbi Wolbe ties this to true greatness: a "Katan" (small person) lives for self ("me, me, me"); a "Gadol" (great person) expands beyond self, taking responsibility for others. This mirrors the Kohen's role as representative of all Klal Yisrael, not personal honor. He connects it to modern leadership (politicians forgetting constituents until election time) and practical life: in marriage, parenting, and community, actively reach the "extremities" with care, connection, and love. As we approach Pesach and count the Omer (48 steps from redemption to Torah), the message is to use this season for growth in responsibility and unity—becoming one nation with one soul._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 24, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on March 26, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Leviticus, #Tzav, #ShabbosHaGadol, #Kohen, #Leadership, #Greatness, #Kedushah ★ Support this podcast ★

In this Parsha Review on Parshas Tzav (Leviticus 6–8), Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe highlights the inauguration of the Kohanim (priests), where Moshe dresses Aaron and his sons in their sacred garments, anoints the Mishkan and altar with oil, and applies blood from the offerings to Aaron's right ear, thumb, and big toe (and similarly for his sons). Our sages explain this unusual ritual as a reminder to leaders: while the core (self and close family) is natural to protect, the "extremities" (distant people) are easily neglected. The ear, thumb, and big toe represent the farthest reaches of responsibility—those on the outskirts of one's influence or community—ensuring a true leader serves everyone, not just the inner circle.Rabbi Wolbe ties this to true greatness: a "Katan" (small person) lives for self ("me, me, me"); a "Gadol" (great person) expands beyond self, taking responsibility for others. This mirrors the Kohen's role as representative of all Klal Yisrael, not personal honor. He connects it to modern leadership (politicians forgetting constituents until election time) and practical life: in marriage, parenting, and community, actively reach the "extremities" with care, connection, and love. As we approach Pesach and count the Omer (48 steps from redemption to Torah), the message is to use this season for growth in responsibility and unity—becoming one nation with one soul._____________This episode of the Parsha Review Podcast is dedicated in honor of Lenny & Teresa FriedmanDownload & Print the Parsha Review Notes:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ncaRyoH5iJmGGoMZs9y82Hz2ofViVouv?usp=sharingRecorded at TORCH Meyerland in the Levin Family Studios (B) to a live audience on March 24, 2026, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on March 26, 2026_____________Subscribe: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/parsha-review-podcast-rabbi-aryeh-wolbe/id1651930083)Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/22lv1kXJob5ZNLaAl6CHTQ) to stay inspired! Share your questions at awolbe@torchweb.org or visit torchweb.org for more Torah content.  _____________About the Host:Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, Director of TORCH in Houston, brings decades of Torah scholarship to guide listeners in applying Jewish wisdom to daily life.  To directly send your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Support Our Mission:Help us share Jewish wisdom globally by sponsoring an episode at torchweb.org. Your support makes a difference!_____________Subscribe and Listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Hey Rabbi! Podcast: https://heyrabbi.transistor.fm/episodesPrayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at http://podcast.torchweb.org_____________Keywords:#Torah, #Parsha, #Leviticus, #Tzav, #ShabbosHaGadol, #Kohen, #Leadership, #Greatness, #Kedushah ★ Support this podcast ★

Qu'est-ce qu'étaient les sept jours de Milouïm ? Quelle a été leur utilité ? De nos jours où il n'y a plus de prophètes, est-il quand-même possible de savoir ce qu'Hachem attend de nous ?

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Length: 1 hour 1 minuteSynopsis: This evening (3/25/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we began with the Radak's comments on the "ki le'olam chasdo" refrain, followed by a brief comment by Sforno's student on the fine-tuning of the universe, and then spent the rest of the shiur learning the Malbim's approach. We had a brief detour into an angel-related Haggadah topic, but stayed pretty much on track after that. We definitely came up with AN approach. Whether it's what the Malbim had in mind I'll leave for you to decide!-----מקורות:תהלים קלורד"ק - תהלים קלו:א-דר' אליה די נולה - תהלים קלו:המלבי"םהגדה של פסח - ויוציאנורמב"ם - מורה הנבוכים ב:ודעת זקנים - שמות יב:כגhttps://rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/p/shelach-shadals-radical-take-on-theRabbi Israel Chait - "Torah from Sinai"-----This week's Torah content is sponsored by Seth Speiser, in honor of the yahrzeit of his father, Rabbi George Speiser (Rav Yosef ben Dovid). Rabbi Speiser was a kind and gentle soul as well as an Intellectual and a scholar. He received smicha from Rav Hutner at Chaim Berlin. His love for teaching and making puns was only outweighed by his love of family.-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-SchneeweissPatreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

Welcome to Daily Bitachon on our Friday afternoon special Shabbat edition. The Sefer Yereim , written by one of the Rishonim, Rabbi Eliezer of Metz (Volume 2, Siman 410), teaches us that just as there is a mitzvah to fear the Beit HaMikdash , there is also a mitzvah to fear Shabbat. Now, as we know, there is no single definitive list of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah; while the Gemara tells us the total number is 613, many Rishonim count them differently. The Yereim specifically chooses to include the "Fear of Shabbat" on his list. What is his source? The Gemara in Yevamot 6a points to a comparison between Shabbat and the Beit HaMikdash , as it says in Vayikra 19:30 : " את שבתותי תשמורו ומקדשי תיראו " —"You shall keep My Sabbaths and fear My Sanctuary." Just as there is a mitzvah to fear the Sanctuary, so too there is a mitzvah to fear Shabbat. The Gemara continues by clarifying: " לא משבת אתה מתיירא " —"It is not Shabbat itself that you fear," " אלא ממי שהזהיר על השבת " —"but rather the One who commanded the Shabbat." This means there is a specific responsibility for Yirat Shamayim (fear of Heaven) on Shabbat, just as there is when one enters the Beit HaMikdash . Holiness in Three Dimensions The question arises: What is so unique about Shabbat that it warrants this special mitzvah? We have many commandments—like Tefillin—that God also commanded. Why is "fear" attached to this one? The answer, as we have mentioned many times, is that holiness ( kedusha ) manifests in three dimensions: Person, Place, and Time. The Kohen Gadol was the holiest person. The Beit HaMikdash is the holiest place. The Shabbat is the holiest time. In a sense, the Beit HaMikdash is our "Shabbat in space," and Shabbat is our "Sanctuary in time." We see this connection even in people; the Gemara says a Talmid Chacham is like the Beit HaMikdash . The Zohar even suggests that for a Talmid Chacham —who is immersed in Torah constantly—all seven days of the week are like Shabbat. Regarding the verse " את ה' אלהיך תירא " ("Fear Hashem your God"), the Sages teach lerabbot talmidei chachamim —this includes fearing the Torah scholar, who acts as a sanctuary where God dwells. God dwells in people, He dwells in places, and He dwells in time. The Atmosphere of the Day Once we understand this, the mitzvah to fear Shabbat becomes obvious. Just as you feel a sense of respect, sanctity, and decorum when you stand by the Kotel HaMa'aravi or enter a Shul, Shabbat demands the same. We must approach the day with dignity because its essence is kedusha . Entering Shabbat should feel like walking into the Holy Temple or into the presence of a great Gadol . I remember the sense of trepidation and awe when walking in to see the Steipler Gaon or Rav Shach. That same Yirat Shamayim is intrinsically woven into Shabbat. The Zohar even notes that the word "Bereishit" (In the beginning), when re-scrambled, spells "Yarei Shabbat" (Fear of Shabbat). This awe is the foundation of our entire Torah. A Gift from the Treasure House One commentary explains the famous Midrash where God says: " מתנה טובה יש לי בבית גנזי "—"I have a good gift in My treasure house [and its name is Shabbat]." What exactly is kept in God's treasure house? The Gemara says that the only thing Hashem keeps in His "storehouse" is Yirat Shamayim . Why? Because a person's treasure house usually contains the things most precious to them, often things they don't "possess" naturally. God "owns" everything, but there is one thing He doesn't "have" unless we give it to Him: " הכל בידי שמים חוץ מיראת שמים "—"Everything is in the hands of Heaven except the fear of Heaven." That fear is God's treasure. Every Shabbat, He gives us a "dose" of it from His private collection. He builds that awe into the very fabric of the day. The Natural Fear of the Day The Yerushalmi (cited by the Rambam in Hilchot Ma'aser ) brings down a fascinating concept regarding Terumot and Ma'asrot (tithes). Generally, the Sages did not trust an Am HaAretz (an unlearned person) regarding whether their produce was tithed. However, on Shabbat, if an Am HaAretz claimed the food was tithed, we believed him. Why? " אימת שבת על עמי הארץ "—"The awe of Shabbat is upon even the unlearned." The holiness of the day was so palpable that it would stop a person from lying or committing a transgression. While we may not feel that "natural" fear as instinctively today, it is something we are meant to work on. According to the Yereim , it is a direct commandment to maintain an extra sense of awareness and reverence for the sanctity of Shabbat

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Length: 1 hour 1 minutesSynopsis: This evening (3/11/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we began by reviewing the translation and questions from last time, and then set out to explain the perek. Thankfully, we managed to come up with an excellent approach, inspired in part by Saadia Gaon and Rambam with a minor assist from Radak and Meiri. I'm really happy with what we said, and I'm looking forward to delving into one of the full-length interpretations of the meforshim next time!-----מקורות:תהלים קלופירוש רס"גרד"ק - תהלים קלו:כה-כומאירי - תהלים קלו:כה-כו-----This week's Torah content is sponsored by Rabbi Dr. Ben Aaronson in honor of NYHS (Northwest Yeshiva High School), our alma mater. So many of our friends and classmates — and the two of us — owe our connection to Torah and Judaism to the outstanding education we received there.NYHS just concluded a successful CauseMatch campaign. If you missed it, worry not! Donations are still more than welcome. If you've benefited from me, from past and present NYHS teachers (Rabbi Moskowitz zt”l, Rabbi Fox, and others), or simply want to support an exceptional institution with visionary leadership, consider contributing today at nyhs.org/giving.The Torah content this week is also sponsored by Avital and Yitzy Richter. May we be zocheh to see Hashem redeem Klal Yisrael and lead us from geulah to geulah!-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-SchneeweissPatreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: am

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Length: 1 hourSynopsis: This evening (3/4/26), in our Wednesday night Tehilim shiur, we took another break from our "Kabbalas Shabbos" perakim to do something Pesach related: Hallel ha'Gadol (i.e. Tehilim 136). We began by reviewing the relevant halacha in the Shulchan Aruch and the Rambam as a sort of teaser for where I hope to go with this. We then commenced our usual analysis of the perek, focusing on the translation, the pivot point, and the big picture questions. Next time, we'll move to answers and theories! (בג"ה)-----מקורות:שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן תפרמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר זמנים, הלכות חמץ ומצה ח:יתהלים קלובראשית א:יד-יטרמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר אהבה, סדר תפילות ג:ט-----The Torah content this week is sponsored by Avital and Yitzy Richter. This Purim, may we be zocheh to see Hashem redeem Klal Yisrael and lead us from geulah to geulah!-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/YU Torah: yutorah.org/teachers/Rabbi-Matt-SchneeweissPatreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

Ta'anit Esther marks the 40th Yahrzeit of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l. Those old enough to remember his passing no doubt recall the feeling of colossal loss for the Gadol and Posek HaDor. But, now, four decades on, we must also consider his enduring legacy for Jewish life and law. To help us out with that our editor, Jeffrey Saks, catches up with R. Moshe Kurtz — the rabbi of Cong. Sons of Israel in Allentown, PA, and the author of Meoros Moshe, which anthologized R Feinstein's teachings on Pirkei Avot. Our readers also know him as the author of our “Unpacking the Iggerot” column at TraditionOnline.org.The post Rav Moshe's Legacy first appeared on Tradition Online.

Le manteau du Cohen Gadol by Rav David Touitou

In this episode, we sit down with Charlie Gadol for a thoughtful conversation that spans medicine, writing, trails, race directing and the long arc of a life shaped by curiosity and service. Charlie is a pathologist, recently retired after working in the field since 1988. A 1979 graduate of Yale College and a 1984 graduate of UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School, his professional path also includes a degree in English from Rutgers and a master's in writing and literature from Bennington, reflecting a lifelong engagement with both science and storytelling.An avid hiker and trail runner, Charlie has become a cornerstone of the Catskills trail running and preservation community. He created and served as the race director for two iconic Catskills events, the 54-mile Manitou's Revenge Ultramarathon and the Cat's Tail Trail Marathon, and also directed the Sterling Furnace Race and the Pocantico Hill Marathon & Half Marathon, both fundraisers supporting the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. He is the Catskill Long Path Trail Chair and serves on the Board of Run Wild, Inc., where he is co-chair of the Advancement Committee, chair of the Policy Council, and a member of the Nominating and Strategic Planning committees.We talk about how Charlie's careers in medicine and writing have shaped his approach to endurance, leadership, and community building, and the responsibility that comes with stewarding trails and races. This chat explores what it means to give back to the places and communities that give us so much in return!https://www.nynjtc.org/https://www.runwildhv.org/https://www.manitousrevengeultra.com/https://pocanticohillsmarathon.com/https://www.catstailmarathon.com/https://www.nynjtc.org/long-path/

Asara BeTevet and Asara Harogey Malkhut and sanctity of Rabi Yishmael kohen Gadol by Rabbi Benjamin Lavian

Rabbi Feiner shiurim

Whole busloads come to Baltimore every week to pray at the kever of a person who, a short time ago, was unknown...

A man who owns a store in the lobby of a hotel once approached a Gadol in Eretz Yisrael with a question. His store wasn't doing so well, and he wondered if perhaps opening a second store in a different location would bring more blessing. The rabbi told him, "You already opened a pipeline for Hashem to send you berachah. Do you think you need another one?" Then he added a mysterious line: "The Melech Malcheh HaMelachim can send a melech at any moment." The man left confused. The King of Kings can send a king? What does that even mean? But a few weeks later, the meaning became crystal clear. The king of Morocco came to town—and stayed in the very hotel where this man had his store. At one point during his visit, the king walked into the store with his entire entourage and bought two million dollars' worth of merchandise. The man developed a relationship with the king, and they continued doing business afterward as well. In an instant, his financial situation transformed dramatically. We must do something to open a pipeline—but once we do, Hashem can send every penny He wants us to have through that single pipeline. We often become so wrapped up in our hishtadlut that it consumes our lives. We forget what truly matters—because we are too busy worrying about parnasah. A man who learned Torah full-time began dabbling in the stock market. Very quickly, it took over his life. He couldn't concentrate on his learning because he was constantly worried—would the stock go up? Would it go down? Should he sell? Should he buy? He started coming late to shiurim, leaving in the middle, checking his phone in between. Finally, he caught himself. He realized this wasn't living. He pulled out of the volatile investments and moved into something far safer, something that wouldn't take over his mind and heart. Yes, we must open a pipeline—but no, we must not be consumed by it. A powerful segulah for blessing is to know with full certainty that Hashem alone sends parnasah. People, products, markets—they are merely tools, not sources. A man from Israel came to New York to collect money to pay off heavy debts. He heard about a very generous wealthy man and did everything he could to secure a meeting with him. He traveled to one city, only to be told the man spends his summers in another. He chased him there, only to be told that the wealthy man gives his sedaka through a gabbai. He met the gabbai, but the assistance he received was much smaller than he hoped. He still wanted to speak to the wealthy man personally. He went to the shul where the man prayed—but that day he wasn't there. Someone told him he was attending a berit milah at another shul. The man was about to order a car service to rush over when suddenly he stopped himself. He said, "Why am I chasing this one person as if he is the only one who can help me? I've done more than enough hishtadlut with him. I don't want to go beyond what I'm supposed to." At that exact moment, someone pointed out a different wealthy man who happened to be in the same shul—someone this fundraiser knew very well from years earlier. He had no idea that this acquaintance had become wealthy. He approached him, explained his situation, and to his amazement, this man gave him far more than he ever expected—even more than he had hoped to receive from the wealthy man he had been pursuing endlessly. We never need any specific hishtadlut or any specific individual to help us. Hashem can send salvation through anyone, at any moment, through messengers we would never imagine. Our main hishtadlut is always with Him—and Him alone.

In this weeks class we talk about the true meaning of taking on a Kabbalah and that falling is a part of it. Then we talk about the amazing concept of what a tzadik is and what the incredible height of what a Gadol is. 

Ever wondered why your spiritual resolutions fade faster than New Year's gym memberships? This episode explores a profound metaphor that transforms how we approach teshuva (repentance) and spiritual growth.Drawing wisdom from a great Gadol, we examine why many well-intentioned spiritual commitments taken on during Elul are doomed from the start. The problem isn't your dedication—it's the approach. Just as an orthodontist understands that teeth can't be forcibly repositioned overnight, meaningful spiritual transformation requires patience, consistency, and properly calibrated pressure.When patients complain about the lengthy orthodontic process, wondering why their teeth can't be moved more quickly, they're missing a fundamental truth: abrupt changes don't last. The same principle applies to our souls. Those ambitious commitments to learn Torah for hours daily or meticulously observe long-neglected commandments often collapse because we're trying to move our spiritual teeth too quickly.True teshuva resembles orthodontics—small, thoughtful adjustments applied consistently over time. Rather than grand gestures, focus on addressing root issues with attainable practices. Consider saying Hamapil before sleeping to facilitate waking for morning prayers, or choose one small commitment to maintain weekly. Consult your "spiritual orthodontist"—a rabbi who can design the appropriate treatment plan for your soul's unique needs.Ready to transform your approach to spiritual growth? Stop setting yourself up for failure with unsustainable commitments. Embrace the orthodontic model of teshuva—patient, consistent, and designed for lasting change. Your spiritual smile will thank you.Support the showJoin The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly talk on the week's Parsha. Listen on Spotify or 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org ----------------Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Sponsored by Mark and Tammy Friedman and family in memory of the 1st yartzeit of their father Marshall Friedman, Mutyah Yechezkel ben Shimon.

One of the Greatest Gedolim of the 18th century. The Noda B'Yehudah and the Hafla'ah sent him THEIR שְׁאֵלוֹת! Classic lomdus of the "Old School"

What is Zionism? Did it accomplish its goal? Is it good or bad for Jews? Assuming Zionism is wrong, can you vote in the WZO election?  What's the history of the concept of “Daas Torah” and what does it mean? When did the phrase and concept come into being?  Why would one Gadol say it's mutar to participate in the WZO election and another say it's totally assur?  Host: Ari Wasserman, author of the newly published, revised and expanded book Making it Work, on workplace challenges and Halachic Q & A on the Job You can order "Halachic Q & A on the Job” at https://mosaicapress.com/product/halachic-q-a-on-the-job/ with Rabbi Chaim Kohn – founder of the Business Halacha Institute (“BHI”) and Av Beis Din – 16:16 with Rabbi Jonah Steinmetz – Rosh Kollel of the Nagel Community Kollel of Los Angeles – 35:13 with Mr. Gael Greenwald – Deputy Chairman of the WZO – 1:20:19 Conclusions and Takeaways – 1:35:37 מראי מקומות   

Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text!Length: 1 hour 12 minutesSynopsis: This past Friday morning (3/21/25), in our tefilah-focused Machshavah Lab series for women, we began with a review of the ideas we've learned for each phrase in the first berachah up until now. We re-learned the two explanations of "ha'E-l ha'Gadol ha'Gibor ve'ha'Nora" that we did last time, then learned one more explanation of E-l Elyon, and then began analyzing "gomel chasadim tovim." Since we ended off with some lingering questions, we'll revisit them next them, then move on to the next phrase.-----מקורות:עץ יוסףספורנו - דברים י:יזר"י בר יקררמב"ן - בראשית יד:יחרד"ק - ספר השורשים: ג.מ.ל.אבודרהםאבן עזרא - ישעיהו סג:זרד"ק שםתנחומא – משפטים טו-----This week's Torah content has been sponsored anonymously. Even I don't know who the sponsor is, but their money is going to a good cause: purchasing the new edition of the Siddur Otzar ha'Tefilos. People have asked me what the best tefilah resource is—and hands down, it's this siddur. The only problem is that the original printing was pretty horrendous. I've been waiting two decades for it to be reprinted, and it finally has! Now I just need to figure out how to get a copy. Regardless, thank you to the anonymous sponsor for your contribution!-----If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher or tutor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.-----Substack: rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/Patreon: patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: youtube.com/rabbischneeweissInstagram: instagram.com/rabbischneeweiss/"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Mishlei Podcast": mishlei.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": tefilah.buzzsprout.comOld Blog: kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/WhatsApp Content Hub (where I post all my content and announce my public classes): https://chat.whatsapp.com/GEB1EPIAarsELfHWuI2k0HAmazon Wishlist: amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/Y72CSP86S24W?ref_=wl_sharel

Un 'Hatan entend dans un bus un autre 'Hatan, une semaine avant son mariage, confier à un ami qu'il souhaite recevoir la Brakha d'un Gadol. En entendant cela, il lui propose immédiatement d'intercéder en sa faveur via l'un des ses proches. De fil en aiguille, ils se rendent compte qu'ils se marient le même jour dans la même ville, dans la même salle...

Sponsored by Josh & Bronya Levi for the yahrtzeit of Josh's mother, אסתר בת יצחק צבי, on Purim.

For 52 weeks I will introduce you to the many names and titles of God. The goal is to learn about his nature and to encourage your faith. Week 47: Elohim Gadol (God is Great) Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 10:17. God Over Everything T-Shirts https://www.bonfire.com/god-over-everything160-8/

Dedicated in honor of Rabbi Breitowitz & the Q&A by Dovi & Sara Nussbaum

Daily dose #310 A fascinating story - How someone off the derech became a Gadol B'yisroel

The Hebrew word גדול, ‘big,' and its root, g.d.l, have made a huge career in written and spoken Hebrew. Let's meet the family today; from mustaches and fast food chains, to towers and plastic surgery. Hear the All-Hebrew Episode on Patreon   New Words and Expressions: Kshe-eheye gadol – When I'll grow up – כשאהיה גדול Gadol! – Amazing, awesome – גדול Haya gadol – It was great – היה גדול “Ani yoda'at elohim, ata Gadol me-ha-chayim” – I know God, you are larger than life – אני יודעת אלוהים, אתה גדול מהחיים Gdolim – Big, pl., m – גדולים “Ha-tsara itcha she-yesh lecha einayim gdolot” – The problem with you is that you've got ‘big eyes', you bite more than you can chew – הצרה איתך שיש לך עיניים גדולות “Yesh anashim she-bonim migdalim” – There are people who build towers – יש אנשים שבונים מגדלים Migdal Pisa – The Pisa Tower – מגדל פיזה Gadalti be-shana – I am a year older – גדלתי בשנה Legadel – To grow – לגדל Legadel yeladim, klavim, hashish, zakan, safam – To grow kids, dogs, pot, beard, moustache – לגדל ילדים, כלבים, חשיש, זקן, שפם Lehagdil – To enlarge, to expand –  להגדיל Ata rotse lehagdil? At rotsa lehagdil? – Do you want to supersize for extra? – אתה, את, רוצה להגדיל Hagdala – Enlargement – הגדלה Nitu'ach hagdalat shadayim – Breast augmentation operation – ניתוח הגדלת שדיים   Playlist and Clips: Ha-keves ha-shisha asar – Kshe-eheye Gadol (lyrics)  Sarit Hadad – Rak she-teda et ha-emet (lyrics) Rita – Hayinu Gdolim (lyrics) Arik Einstein – Einayim Gdolot (lyrics) Arik Einstein – Ohev Lihyot Ba-bayit (lyrics) Gadalti be-shana (lyrics) Nitu'ach le-hagdalat shadayim – Breast Augmentation Operation   Ep. no. 38 about rosh, head EN HEB Ep. no. 320 about katan, small EN HEB

R' Jonathan Rietti!00:00 Introduction01:00 The Timeliness of the Torah02:18 Understanding the Torah's Perfection03:21 The Relationship Between Written and Oral Torah04:37 The Importance of Detail in Torah Study09:54 The Concept of Gratitude in Chanukah18:02 The Essence of Shashua in Olam Haba25:15 The Meaning of Gadol and Divine Independence44:01 The Importance of Distinctions in Translation44:42 David's Early Life and Struggles45:35 Reliance on Hashem and Praise46:51 The Power of Gratitude49:31 The Concept of Self-Judgment in Prayer57:07 The Significance of Language in Torah01:02:19 The Essence of Tefillah and Connection01:07:01 The Impact of Gratitude on Life01:10:10 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

Nate Gadol is a spirit with the power to make anything last for as long as it's needed, whether oil, chocolate, or a flower. Gadol's special gift is at the center of The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol, a children's book from author Arthur Levine. Growing up, Levine says, he felt that the Jewish holiday was often eclipsed by the mythology surrounding Christmas, with beloved characters like Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus. With Nate Gadol, Levine aims to introduce a mythological hero that Jewish people could call their own. In today's episode, we revisit a conversation between Levine and NPR's Scott Simon. They discuss the backstory behind Hanukkah presents and the many forms Jewish families take today.To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookofthedayLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Welcome to an unknown Gem of a Shiur given from My Rebbi, Rav Yitzchok Berkowitz many years ago. Hidden away in the decades old recordings this one is very close to my heart. It is both challenging and simple, a call to greatness in four steps. I get emotional because how could you not when you tap into the one chance we have at life and living it to our fullest potential. Enjoy, Like , Susbcribe!

Rashi tells us to refuse a katan but not a gadol.In this episode, we offer a drash on these words.Enjoy!This week's shiur has been sponsored by Yehuda Gornbein for a זכות רפואה שלמה for Tzvi ben Leah Miriam and Rav Refoel Yehoshua ben Breindel

If someone had a sickness that his doctors could not find a cure for and then, one day, he heard that a great doctor was visiting his city and that doctor had a reputation of doing wonders for people in curing them when no one else could. How excited would this person be to get an appointment with him? If someone heard that someone with the same sickness as him went to a Gadol and was healed through his beracha , how excited would he be to go see that same Gadol as well? How fortunate are we that we have the One who could heal any illness, available to us at all times! A man was bemoaning his fate to his Rabbi telling him that the doctors gave up hope trying to cure him and there was nothing left to do. The Rabbi told him, "I don't understand you. It says about Hashem that He is the בורא רפואות – He creates new ways of healing that even the greatest specialists could never have dreamed of." Many women have been told by doctors that there is no way they will ever have children. Someone related that three years ago she was at a Torah U'Mesorah Convention and she got a phone call from the coordinator of an A Time Shabbaton while the Shabbaton was going on. She told the coordinator that Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky was at the convention with her and he was not too far from where she was. The coordinator then told her she was with two women who, in the natural way of the world, would never be able to have children and asked if she could get a beracha from Rav Shmuel for them. When the Rosh Yeshiva was told that these women can't have children בדרך הטבע , he said, "Hashem can easily change teva ." Fast forward until today. A breakthrough in the medical world took place – uterine transplants had been attempted in Sweden and now here in America. Just a few weeks ago, one of those women who were asking for a beracha from the Rabbi had her first baby after having undergone that transplant. Indeed, Hashem changed the teva . The organization Bonei Olam put out a message that a client of theirs was told by the doctors that she had a 0% chance of ever having a baby. She took advantage of this new treatment that Hashem put into the world and, baruch Hashem, at the age of 40 she is now the proud mother of her very own child. Hashem creates cures and He also connects people who don't know about those cures to those who do. Hashem knows the future and at times He will set up situations from years in advance so that people will have the help that they need when they find out they need it. A man told me, three years ago a friend of his was taking his whole family to Israel. He told this friend that he knew a hotel owner there who would give him a discounted rate. The friend took him up on the offer and was very appreciative. Currently, this friend just discovered that his son suffers from a rare medical condition. He was told to go to Israel to find some pharmaceuticals and some therapies for his son there. He went back to the same hotel that he had been at three years before. While there, he happened to hear that the owner of that hotel has a grandson with the exact same rare condition. He got the number of the father of that child who proceeded to tell him about all the best doctors, therapies and treatments that are available in the market today for that rare condition. He also gave him chizuk and a lot of hope with all this valuable information. Hashem began setting this meeting up from three years ago to give this man the information he needed at the time he needed it. Hashem can help anyone with any medical condition. We are never hopeless. And the more emunah we have in His abilities to help, the greater is the zechut to bring down the refuah.

At the end of parashat Devarim, when the Jewish people were getting ready to conquer Eretz Yisrael, Moshe Rabbenu told them, לא תיראום כי כי ה' אלוקיכם הוא הנילחם לכם - Don't be afraid of the opposing nations, because Hashem your God will be the One fighting for you. Immediately after that, the pasuk says, ואתחנן אל ה' בעת ההיא לאמר - Moshe prayed 515 tefilot , begging Hashem to allow him to enter Eretz Yisrael. The Baal HaTurim writes, Moshe Rabbeinu knew the value of giving chizuk to others, and so he used that et ratzon , to pray to break the decree of not being allowed to go into Israel. It was only after he gave chizuk to the Jewish people, calming them down regarding their upcoming battle, that he then prayed for himself. This is the value of giving chizuk to others. This Sunday night is Tu B'av, a day that is synonymous with shidduchim . It is a day that our Rabbis tell us, that we are alone with Hashem, and our tefilot have so much power. What a zechut it would be for someone who is waiting for a shidduch , to first give chizuk to someone else waiting for a shidduch . The person can say, "I know what you're feeling, I also am going through this," and then share words of chizuk that have helped him or her in the past. And then, after giving the chizuk , the person can pray for others, and then pray for himself. Every effort counts. We don't know which zechut we need to bring our yeshua , but we do know that every one of them gets us closer to it. I read a story of a man who couldn't bear to see the pain of his daughter, being in shidduchim for so long, without any ray of hope. He traveled to go see one of the Gadoleh H aDor , to seek counsel and ask what he could do as a zechut for his daughter. The Gadol asked him which minyan he attended for Shacharit each day. The man replied that he prays at seven o'clock in his local shul. The Gadol then asked him what time he usually arrives to shul. The man said, "Just about seven o'clock." The Gadol told him to accept upon himself to arrive at least five minutes prior to the minyan, and be'ezrat Hashem, in that zechut , his daughter would find a shidduch . The father left the Gadol on cloud nine. He was so excited from that meeting, and he indeed began to go to shul, every day, five minutes earlier. Just two weeks later, the call came in for a shidduch , which Baruch Hashem proved to be this girl's zivug . Many people may hear this story and say, what? "I have done so many more things than that, and I still haven't gotten married." That is definitely a natural reaction. But the proper reaction would be to say, "Look at the value of one small deed. We don't know which one of them will put us over the top. I'm sure that father had already done multiple other things in the zechut that his daughter get married. That was just the icing on top." Everything we do is valuable. Moshe Rabbenu did not just pray once to enter Eretz Yisrael, and then say, "Well, if Hashem didn't answer me, that means the prayers aren't doing anything." He knew sometimes a person needs dozens of tefilot , sometimes hundreds, and sometimes thousands. Every single one of them contributes to getting what he's asking for. And anyway, the main gain in any prayer or any kabalah is not the salvation that it brings, but rather the prayer itself or the kabalah itself. We are in this world to grow spiritually, and every bit of growth that we make is what enables us to fulfill our jobs in this world. Getting the yeshua we're looking for is an added bonus. And therefore, we must never let up. If we accepted three things upon ourselves, it's time to add a fourth, and so on. B'ezrat Hashem, all of those looking for their zivug should find them b'karov . And more importantly, they should continue growing higher and higher in the service of Hashem. Shabbat Shalom.

Questions, comments, feedback? Send us a message.#284> This episode is sponsored by Feldheim Publishers.Check out Feldheim's extensive list of titles, including the recently published biography of Rav Shlomo Brevda. Rav Shlomo Leib Brevda was a world renowned ba'al mussar, public speaker and personal guide to countless students. Devoted talmid of some of the greatest Torah authorities of his time — including Rav Yechezkel Levenstein, the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav — he was instrumental in passing their wisdom on to the next generation. He also authored extensive commentaries on the writings of the Vilna Gaon and was considered a world authority on the Gra's writings.In this fascinating biography, we see the tremendous influence of the Mashgiach Reb Chatzkel, Rav Brevda's own startling impact and his passionate commitment to truth. Overcoming the materialism that surrounded the society of his youth, he grew to such spiritual heights that one could easily have imagined him to have been born and raised in the mussar yeshivos of pre-war Europe. Now his life and teachings can inspire a new generation thirsting for the word of Hashem.To purchase, "Rav Shlomo Leib Brevda: The Life and Teachings of an American-born Gadol" click here. > This episode is also sponsored by Cedar Media Studies. Cedar Media Studios is a creative agency specializing in the strategic creation and successful execution of audio/visual communication strategies for top level influencers. Their team is there to assist those navigating podcasting, audio production & marketing. They help you grow your audience through the latest trends in digital marketing and bring years of experience in the audio and design world to best optimize and market our clients.Contact Cedar Media Studios via Whatsapp or email:  zevi@cedarmediastudios.com> ON THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST we discussed why a book for Yeshiva Bochurim, how to balance writing such a book for a general audience, the "system", B'Iyun, Bekius, learning with a chavrusah, mussar, chumash, halacha, niyonos of Yeshiva Yochurim (smoking, drinking, etc.), jealousy, outlets for bochurim (inlcuding history), who the book is meant for, and much more. > To purchase "Ben Yeshiva: Pathway of Aliyah" click here.> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community click here.>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)> Subscribe to the SeforimChatter YouTube channel here.> Subscribe and read the SeforimChatter Substack here.

There are times when a person wants something very much. He prays all the time for Hashem to help him and he makes the necessary hishtadlut to get it done. Yet, day after day goes by with no sight of salvation ahead. The person wonders why he's not being answered. He's willing to do anything to get what he wants, but he doesn't know what else he could possibly do. Very often, Hashem sends the opportunities we need to get exactly what we want, but we fail to see them. It could come in the form of a test to overcome or a mitzvah opportunity that is presented to us. If we capitalize on those opportunities, the outcome we are hoping for would surely arrive. There could have been dozens of times that we could have gotten what we were asking for, if we would have only utilized the opportunities that Hashem sent us. A man, who we'll call Yehuda, told that after years of work, he finally completed a manuscript with Divrei Torah and mefarshim on the topic of shemirat einayim . He took the manuscript to a Gadol for a beracha and the Gadol was very impressed. The only thing Yehuda needed was a lot of money to print the book. He didn't know anyone he could ask and really could not think of any hishtadlut to make. He prayed for a yeshua day and night. It was Friday, the 9th of Shevat and the yahrtzeit of Rav Shalom Sharabi was on Shabbat, so people were going to his kever on Har HaZetim that day. After Shacharit , a man came over to him and asked if he would accompany him to Har HaZetim. Yehuda said he was busy and needed to help at home. As he was speaking to this man, Yehuda's wife called asking for him to come home and help get the children ready to make their bus for school. Yehuda then told the man he had to go and suggested someone else to go with him. The man replied that the other person went with him the night before and he really wanted Yehuda to come. He said he would come to his house and pick him up after he finished doing what he needed to do. Yehuda didn't know what else to say because the man was obviously not getting the hint. Yehuda went home and sure enough, a short while later, this man actually came to his house and waited outside for him to come. Because the man was so insistent, Yehuda went with him. When they finally arrived back, Yehuda went to the beit midrash to work on the finishing touches of his sefer . It was only fifteen minutes later that this man showed up in the beit midrash and began asking Yehuda questions about what he was working on. As of the day before this, Yehuda had hardly known this man and all of a sudden he was acting like they were best friends. Yehuda understood that this man didn't have too much to do with his time and being that he did, he tried to make it obvious that he was not interested in talking to him. This time, the man seemed to get the hint and started backing away. At that moment, Yehuda caught himself and thought, you're writing a sefer about guarding your eyes, but what about guarding your mouth? And what about loving your fellow? That is also part of the Torah. Yehuda immediately changed his tone and called the man back over and started talking about the book that he was working on. The man was so happy to talk. He asked Yehuda many, many questions and Yehuda patiently answered all of them until the man finally left. A minute later, another man came over to Yehuda and said, “I saw how you acted so graciously to that man and I saw how in the morning he drove you crazy and yet you still spoke to him with such respect. I also overheard all about your book and I want to help you put it out. How much do you need in total?” At that point, they spoke numbers. And on Sunday, this person brought Yehuda the entire sum he needed. And baruch Hashem, the book was put out. What Yehuda thought was a nuisance was really the opportunity Hashem was sending him to get the salvation he had been praying for. He passed the test and the yeshua came. The best hishdadlut we can make is always doing the best we can in our service to Hashem.

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Every moment of life that Hashem gives a person in this world is the greatest chesed . Rabbenu Yonah writes, with a moment of life, a person can make teshuva and go from being in the deepest darkness to the greatest light. The Gemara tells us how, on different occasions, people utilized the final moments of their lives to acquire eternity. Rav Aaron Dov Gellis related that he once had a relative who had a severe illness and the doctors were periodically treating him with blood transfusions in order to lengthen his life. It got to a point, however, where those procedures were only capable of granting him a few more days, possibly just a few more hours of life, and each time he underwent a transfusion he endured pain all over his body. Deeply troubled by the pain his relative was going through, Rabbi Gellis went to ask the Chazon Ish if it was worthwhile to continue those transfusions for just a small amount of life. The Chazon Ish immediately replied, “Every moment that a Jew lives is extremely valuable to the Ribbono Shel Olam . He should most definitely continue getting the transfusions.” Many years ago a man named Rav Yitzchak was told by his doctor in Mount Sinai Hospital that the results of his tests were terrible, as the disease spread all over his body. Tears began streaming down Rav Yitzchak's face as he asked the doctor if there was anything he could do to cure it. The doctor replied there was a surgery that could be done that would extend his life for about six months, but the entire six months would be filled with pain across his entire body. The doctor then suggested it would be better for him to pass on sooner with as little pain as possible. Rav Yitzchak said he wanted to speak to the Gadol HaDor Rav Moshe Feinstein about it. His son took him to the Gadol's house so he could personally ask the question. After hearing the entire situation, Rav Moshe empathized with him and then told him to go back and do the surgery. And he explained as follows, “Most people in the world at large live for the pleasures that life has to offer. If the only choice they had would be to be bedridden and inflicted with agony for six months, they would surely rather die. But a Jew knows what life is all about. It's about grabbing mitzvot at every opportunity possible.” Rav Moshe's voice then grew stronger and he exclaimed, “Rav Yitzchak, you're a Jew. You will still be able to put on tefillin . You'll still be able to daven. You'll still be able to do teshuva . You'll still be able to learn more Chumash and Mishnayot . Is that not all worth the pain? Imagine how many mitzvot you could do in half a year. These six months can be converted into eternity in Olam HaBa . Is that not worthwhile?” Rav Yitzchak went back to the doctor, and told him what the Gadol had said. The doctor began tearing up himself. He said he was a Jew who moved from Israel many years before to study medicine and eventually became the chief surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital. He never knew what it meant to be a Jew, to truly value life and recognize that every minute is given for a purpose. The surgeon then asked if he could meet Rabbi Feinstein and he did. The surgery was done and it was a success. Rav Yitzchak ended up living for three more years and amassed a fortune of mitzvot during that time. Although he was in a lot of pain, he cleaved to HaKadosh Baruch Hu the entire time. At one point during a visit to the hospital, he saw the chief surgeon who was then wearing a big kipa on his head. “Rav Yitzchak,” he exclaimed, “that day that I met you and the Rabbi changed my life. You went through a surgery and so did I. You had surgery on your liver and I went through a heart transplant. I got rid of my previous lifestyle and rededicated my heart to my Creator. Starting that day, I began to live with a new heart.” Indeed, every moment of life is a treasure. We have to value it and thank Hashem for every breath that we take.

There are many pesukim in Tanach telling us to have hope in Hashem. One might think that after a person is let down, time after time, and there seems to be no hope left, that he is no longer obligated to have hope in Hashem. The Midrash in Tehillim , perek 40, asks the question, until how long does one need to continue hoping to Hashem? It answers with a pasuk , יחל ישראל אל ה'... מעתה ועד עולם . We are obligated to hope to Hashem now and forever. There is never giving up hope. One of the reasons for this is that there is truly always hope. The Midrash continues, אם עושה כן ..., if you will do this, אתם נושעתם , you will be helped. The ATime Shas-a-thon was recently held and there were three beautiful stories told about people with infertility who never gave up hope. One was about a couple who was told by their doctor that they tried everything possible and there was nothing left for them to do. The couple left the doctor's office completely broken. That upcoming Shabbat was the ATime Shabbaton and they didn't feel like attending. But they gave each other chizuk and went anyway. They got so much chizuk and hope from that Shabbaton they were back to fully believing that they could still be helped. A couple of weeks later they went back to the doctor asking for another round of treatments, and they wouldn't take no for an answer. When they checked, they couldn't believe what they found. She was expecting a child. This couple went on to have three children. Even though the doctors gave up, they did not. A similar story was told when a couple went through nine IVF treatments and after the ninth failure, the doctor told them, there's nothing left to do. The man went to his rabbi for chizuk and the rabbi encouraged him to try a tenth time, despite what the doctors were saying. With full emunah, they went and tried again and, baruch Hashem, that tenth time proved to be the one that worked. And they were zocheh to have a healthy baby boy. Rabbi Rosen spoke of a condition that some couples have called POF. In those cases, monthly monitoring is often necessary to be able to have a child. Sometimes an opportunity to have children arises only once in many, many years and a couple has to monitor every month until such an opportunity arises. A doctor once told the Rabbi, as a young resident, he conducted a test for a couple who came in for monitoring. He did his job thoroughly and that couple went on to have a healthy baby. That couple became his patients and remained that way for the next 25 years. Every single month of those 25 years, they were monitored and not even once did another opportunity come up for any success and they never had any more children. The Rabbi told a story that took place in 2009 with a couple that had this issue of POF. They lived in Yerushalayim and struggled with infertility for over ten years. There was no hope in sight, but they never gave up. Every month that they went for monitoring was another disappointment, and they experienced disappointment after disappointment for so many years. And then it finally happened. It was Tishrei and the monitoring showed there was a potential for success. The doctor looked at them with a very happy expression and told them, “The window of opportunity is finally here.” The couple was filled with hope and excitement but it was short-lived because the doctor told them afterward the opportunity fell out on Yom Kippur. The woman told her husband to go to a rabbi and find a heter . The man went and got an appointment to meet with one of the Gedolei HaDor and presented his question. He spoke about all the heartache and disappointment that he and his wife had gone through for so many years and how this was possibly their only chance to ever have a child. The Gadol empathized with them. He looked into a few sefarim and then told them, it was impossible, there were no heterim . The man left devastated, not knowing what he would tell his wife. He went to his own rabbi for advice and chizuk . His rabbi told him, “Go to the Belzer Rebbe. He could help you.” The man didn't know what the Belzer Rebbe could possibly do for him, but he listened to his rabbi and went there. The gabbai told this man there was no way he could get in. The Rebbe had a line of people who all made appointments to see him. The man broke down crying and told him his rabbi sent him. The gabbai made an exception and allowed him into the Rebbe. After he told the Rebbe the entire story, the Rebbe sat and thought for a while and then opened a drawer, took out an envelope with $5,000 cash and handed it to the man and said, “Take this and buy two plane tickets and spend Yom Kippur in Australia.” It took a few seconds for the Rebbe's advice to hit this man and then he understood the greatness of what the Rebbe was telling him. While it's still Yom Kippur in Israel, in Australia it was going to be the next day. Baruch Hashem, the couple ended up having a healthy baby. The common denominator in all these stories is when there appeared to be no hope, these couples continued having hope. May Hashem help all of those struggling with infertility to have their very own children b'karov .

A man from Israel who will call Yehuda, whose job is a tour guide and real estate agent, said that over the past few months he has gotten very little business and found himself with a lot of extra time, not to mention a lack of parnasa . He wanted to do something beneficial for the sake of Hashem, and so he contemplated going back to working in chinuch like he did in his younger years. When he first got married, he was a rebbe in a yeshiva, and after that he worked in outreach, giving shiurim to baaleh teshuva . He made contact with the Rosh Yeshiva of a yeshiva for baaleh teshuva in his area, and they arranged a time to meet. When he arrived at the Rosh Yeshiva's office, a pleasant rabbi with a smiling countenance greeted him, and they started talking about his past experience and current occupation. When he was asked about his methods of working with boys, memories surfaced, and suddenly, a flash of lightning seemed to shoot through his head. The same lightning bolt went through the Rosh Yeshiva's head as well. They each recognized each other, and the Rosh Yeshiva immediately said to him, “You will certainly come to work here. You possess keen discernment. You understand bachurim . You will be a treasure for us.” What was the story behind their past? When Yehuda was a rebbe, he had a nice boy in his class from a respectable family. His older brother, a teenager, had left the yeshiva. It was a very sad story. The boy had lost all his connection and was doing whatever he pleased. His parents were horrified and tried everything they could to bring him back. The boy's mother called Yehuda, asking him to please speak to her son and try to reach him. Yehuda sat and thought for a long time as to what he would tell him. He remembered a gemara in Baba Metziah about the son of Rabi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon, Yossi, who went off the derech . When Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi heard about it, he called Yossi and gave him semicha as a rav. And then he sent him to learn with another rabbi. Yossi had no patience to learn and every day expressed his desire to leave. His rabbi told him, “You're going to become wise. And they're going to spread a golden canopy over you and call you rabbi.” Those words gave him motivation. And indeed, he began learning hard and eventually became a Gadol b'Torah . Yehuda decided to use the same tactic for this boy who we'll call Moshe. He told Moshe, “You're going to be a Rosh Yeshiva. One day you will learn and grow so much that everyone will want to learn in your Yeshiva.” Yehuda then designed special stationery for him with his name at the top, calling him HaRav HaG aon HaRosh Yeshiva Rabbi Moshe Meor HaGolah. He played the game down to all the minor details and Moshe indeed improved and came back to Torah and mitzvot. They lost connection over time and Yehuda never knew what became of Moshe. He was hoping that he was living like a good Jew. Now, 32 years later, Yehuda saw with his own eyes the fruits of his labor. Moshe did become a Rosh Yeshiva and was sitting directly opposite him in all of his glory. He was now bringing others back to Torah and mitzvot in a great way. Rav Moshe told Yehuda, “You were the only one who predicted this type of future for me. You discerned the strengths that Hashem gave me and you were right. Baruch Hashem, I succeeded.” This meeting gave Yehuda so much satisfaction. Hashem led him to this specific yeshiva, not only to bring him back to teach Torah, but to show him how far his efforts have gone. A person never knows what a few words of chizuk could do for another. They can change an entire course of someone's life for the better.

A great Gadol and Posek, also mathematician; his fame in כְּלַל Klal Yisroel came from his fundamental פֵּרוּשׁ לַחֻמָּשׁ-רַשִׁ"י