Podcast appearances and mentions of mei hashiloach

In this episode, we journey through the mystical depths of three Hasidic masters—Maor VaShemesh, Esh Kodesh, and Mei HaShiloach—each offering profound insight into how we navigate moments of spiritual and existential pressure. The Maor VaShemesh teaches us that the splitting of the sea was not just a miracle of nature, but a revelation of inner harmony—when kindness, strength, and integration merge, barriers dissolve, and hidden light is released. The sea within us parts when we align ourselves with the deepest compassion and spiritual clarity. The Esh Kodesh, writing from within the Warsaw Ghetto, dares to suggest something even more radical: that God, in infinite love, values the dignity of humanity so deeply that the Divine forgoes Divine honor for the sake of human honor. Even in a world on fire, this teaching insists that our worth is non-negotiable. The Mei HaShiloach reminds us that when God's will is hidden and the path unclear, we are called not to over-intellectualize, but to return to simple awe. In moments of doubt, we anchor ourselves in humility, choosing devotion over certainty. Together, these teachings offer a map for living with courage, humility, and fierce love—especially when we find ourselves between the narrow place and the sea.

Moshe initially rejects the gifts of the Nesiim. The Mei HaShiloach explains why.

The Mei HaShiloach expands a prohibition in our Parsha.

In this conversation with Rabbanit Batya Hefter, we speak about the gifts Hassidic Torah has to offer the modern learner and the Mei Hashiloach's (R. Mordechai Yosef Leiner) teaching about the kind of perception we are meant to achieve in this world. Books mentioned in the episode: https://ktav.com/products/thinking-god https://www.amazon.com/All-Hands-Heaven-Teachings-Mordecai/dp/1593333374 https://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Heart-Teachings-Yaakov-Izbica-Radzyn/dp/0827608942

Rabbi Worch shares some of the Mei HaShiloach's insights on the giving of the Torah. Rabbi Worch comes from a European Hassidic family. He translated Esh Kodesh, the Piacezna Rebbe's Torah commentary from the Warsaw Getto (1939-42), published as Sacred Fire, and published his own Kabbalist Haggadah, a handbook of the Passover Seder as well as a translation of the writings of the Mei HaShiloach's commentary on Torah. 

Chaburah to avreichem and bochrim at the Koznitzer Kollel. Mei Hashiloach: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1R8aaHVrEV2m3idLs4JMBWO9hi3MQKDmZDyTMiTzszFY/edit

Join Rabbi Ben Newman in this evocative episode of The Neshamah Project as he delves into the profound theme of impermanence, symbolized by the fragile walls of the sukkah. Drawing inspiration from the Mei HaShiloach's tale of Rabbi Yehoshua's encounter with the Athenian sages, Rabbi Newman weaves together the teachings of Kohelet, the ephemeral nature of the sukkah, and the grounding practices of mindfulness. Listen deeply and let this episode guide you to embrace the delicate balance of existence, reminding us that to truly live, we must breathe in the 'air upon air' of our transient lives. An episode not to be missed as Sukkot approaches, offering spiritual tools for human thriving amidst life's ever-changing currents.

It's one of the most difficult problems in theology: does God know everything we're going to do, or do we have free will? This week, we consider an answer by Judaism's most deterministic thinker: Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner, the Mei HaShiloach, and a response by his most illustrious student.

It's one of the most difficult problems in theology: does God know everything we're going to do, or do we have free will? This week, we consider an answer by Judaism's most deterministic thinker: Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner, the Mei HaShiloach, and a response by his most illustrious student.

Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita

Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita

The Daf Yomi from a Psychological Perspective For Mareh Mekomos Click Below The Gemara quotes the verse in Isaiah 58:13 אִם־תָּשִׁ֤יב מִשַּׁבָּת֙ רַגְלֶ֔ךָ עֲשׂ֥וֹת חֲפָצֶ֖יךָ בְּי֣וֹם קָדְשִׁ֑י וְקָרָ֨אתָ לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת עֹ֗נֶג לִקְד֤וֹשׁ יְהוָה֙ מְכֻבָּ֔ד וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙ מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ מִמְּצ֥וֹא חֶפְצְךָ֖ וְדַבֵּ֥ר דָּבָֽר׃ If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, From pursuing your affairs on My holy day; If you call the sabbath “delight,” The LORD's holy day “honored”; And if you honor it and go not your ways Nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains— The Mei Hashiloach understands this verse in a new a different manner: חלק א, ליקוטים מחמש מגלות, מגלת קהלת, ז׳ טוב אשר תאחז בזה וגם מזה אל תנח את ידך. הנה השי"ת צוה לישראל שיעבדו אותו בשני ענינים בקום ועשה ובשב ואל תעשה, ועל זה אמר שלמה המלך ע"ה אחוז בזה וגם מזה וכו'. היינו באם יקיים אדם רצון הש"י בקום ועשה יעשה בדעת וחשבון, כי אי אפשר שיקיים אדם מצות הש"י בשלימות רק לכבוד שמים, וזה צריך חשבון בכל מעשה אף במעשה המצות, וגם בעת שיקיים האדם רצון הש"י בשב ואל תעשה כגון שמירת שבת וכדומה צריך ג"כ לחשבון, הינו שלא ישבות ממעשה מחמת עצלות, רק צריך השביתה ג"כ להיות בזריזות, שהאדם ירצה לעשות מלאכה וישבות ממנה, כמ"ש (ישעיה כ"ח,י"ג) אם תשיב משבת רגליך, היינו שהאדם ירצה לילך ויזכור שהיום שבת ויחזיר את רגליו, והאדם שהוא תמיד בעבדות הש"י, אז הוא מקיים בכל מצוה את שניהם, הן המצות עשה יש לו הארה בהחשבון מלא תעשה והן בלא תעשה יש לו זריזות בהארה מקום ועשה. He is learning from the verse that even the negative Commandments to keep the Sabbath are ultimately fulfilled by pulling one's feet back from travelling for business purposes. Meaning, The Sabbath is not about merely resting and not doing something, it is about mindfully not doing something, mindfully holding back in order to enter into the proper state of the Sabbath. Furthermore, he's saying that applies for all negative Commandments. It is not enough not to do it, rather it must be mindfully resisted and consciously understood for whatever value it has to offer.

Rabbi Dunner reflects on the anti-Zionism of the legendary tzadik, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar, which escalated and became increasingly vehement even as the State of Israel was established and became ever more successful. A remarkable Mei Hashiloach on Parshat Korach offers an intriguing perspective on Korach's motivations in his rebellion against Moshe, a perspective that might help us understand the Satmar Rebbe's antipathy toward Israel.

One of the most curious Midrashim on Parshat Korach has Korach asking Moses whether a tallit that is totally blue needs to have tzitzit. Rabbi Dunner goes through a fascinating piece by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov to explain the psychology behind Korach's intriguing question, in which it becomes clear that there was much more to it than meets the eye. Rabbi Dunner also cites a profound piece in the Mei Hashiloach commentary that sheds a very different light on the dispute between Korach and Moshe.

The Mei HaShiloach helps us understand an interesting Midrash regarding Aharon's behavior.

A stunning teaching about self restraint and ego from the Mei HaShiloach.  Along the way, a little Sifra, a little Rashi, a little Seforno, and a plug for our June 8th Program with Congregation Pnai Or.

Last year we turned to the Mei HaShiloach to help us understand the use of a certain term utilized by the Jewish farmer bringing Bikkurim.