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Sefer V'Ani Tamid Imach- Part 21 (Serving Hashem with simplicity) by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita
Super Bowl week is here, and as Bnei Torah, we can't avoid asking a hard question: what is sports doing to our time, our headspace, and our Avodas Hashem?In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sit down with Rav Moshe Benovitz (Director of NCSY Kollel) for a real, nuanced conversation about loving sports without losing yourself in it—including the famous story of a Super Bowl night in Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavne where he made a deep decision to skip the game.We talk about:When sports is healthy… and when it starts to take over“Must-see TV,” compulsion, and where to draw the lineSports as a “religious” experience (arenas as temples)What Torah educators and marketers can learn from the NFL's pullCommunity, purpose, and building a mission-driven lifeA fun detour into Bill Simmons and why sports can create real connection
The Rebbe emphasizes that all aspects of a Jew's life are guided by Divine providence and meant to serve Hashem. He urges the study of Pnimiyus HaTorah, citing the Arizal and Chabad teachings, stressing that in our generation it is essential for proper tefillah, mitzvah observance, and especially for those involved in Jewish education. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/016/003/5947
Chof-Tes Teves - Erev Rosh Chdoesh (19:31)
B"H One simple practice that has genuinely increased my simcha: choosing my default state to be joy. Serving Hashem with simcha is avodah, real spiritual work. One small way to practice it is consciously smiling — not artificially, not performatively, just choosing a joyful presence. It changes how people respond, and it becomes a quiet kiddush Hashem in the world. Simcha is something we can practice. #Judaism #Simcha #Torah #Joy #Spirituality To watch Torah Thoughts in video format, click HERE Subscribe to the Torah Thoughts BLOG for exclusive written content! Please like, share and subscribe wherever you find this!
Sefer V'Ani Tamid Imach- Part 11 (Serving Hashem with a mountain over your head) by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
Sefer V'Ani Tamid Imach- Part 10 (Serving Hashem when you don't want to) by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
Serving Hashem with Zerizus
We read in Parashat Lech-Lecha of the war that Avraham Avinu waged against the kings who had captured his nephew, Lot. After winning this war, Avraham was greeted by a man named Malkitzedek, who brought him food and wine to celebrate this victory. The Midrash quotes two opinions regarding the real purpose of Malkitzedek's meeting with Avraham. According to one opinion, Malkitzedek was revealing to Avraham סוד כהונה גדולה – the "secret" of the position of the kohen gadol who served in the Bet Ha'midash . According to the other opinion, Malkitzedek was revealing to Avraham סוד תורה – the "secret" of Torah. This entire discussion seems very mysterious. What are these "secrets" being shown to Avraham Avinu? The Kedushat Levi explains that the Midrash here is actually telling us about the two ways in which a person is to serve Hashem, depending on the situation, which the Kedushat Levi calls יש and אין . יש means "there is," and refers to serving Hashem when a person who has a lot going on, a lot of mitzvot to do. Let's imagine a person who is blessed with a large family, children and grandchildren, a successful business, and friends. He is busy serving Hashem in a state of יש – caring for and spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, giving charity, helping people, involving himself in important community affairs, and so on. Unfortunately, however, some people are in a state of אין , "without," lacking all these blessings. It could be somebody who is getting older but has yet to find a marriage partner, or somebody in a troubled family situation. It could be somebody who hasn't had a job in several years and faces dire financial straits. It could be somebody who is going through a medical crisis, or a mental health crisis, and cannot function properly – or the family member of such a person. These situations do not lend themselves to the kind of flurry of mitzvah activity that characterizes the fellow in a situation of יש . The Kedushat Levi explains that the יש person has many wonderful opportunities to serve Hashem – but there's a disadvantage to this service of Hashem, in that there is some ego and pride involved. The person feels accomplished and successful. He looks at his wealth, his beautiful family, and all the mitzvot he is able to do, and he feels proud and takes credit – sometimes forgetting to give Hashem the credit for all his accomplishments. The אין person, however, has no such challenge. He is able to build a true, genuine connection with Hashem, because he recognizes that he is entirely dependent on Him. The אין person turns to Hashem and says, "I can't do all that much, but I want to build my relationship with You. I have no family to care for, I have no enterprise or charity organizations to run, I don't have so many opportunities to do amazing things – but I'm serving You by praying, by connecting, by turning to You, by believing in You." Avraham Avinu, for many years, faced the quintessential אין reality. I imagine that if I were in Avraham's shoes, I would have just given up. His father brought him to the authorities to have him executed. He miraculously survived, and many years later, at the age of 75, he was told to leave to an unknown land. When he got there, he faced a dire famine, forcing him to go to Egypt, where his wife was abducted. Not long thereafter he needed to fight a war to rescue his nephew. Meanwhile, his wife could not conceive. In the end, of course, Avraham becomes fabulously wealthy, well-respected, and the father of G-d's chosen nation. For decades, Avraham served Hashem in a situation of אין , until he was ultimately able to serve Hashem in a situation of יש . The Kedushat Levi explains that this is what the Midrash is alluding to. Avraham was shown the "secret" of the kohen gadol , who did the service in the Bet Ha'mikdash , representing self-sacrifice. The kohen gadol had no land or property, but he devoted himself entirely to Hashem. He symbolizes serving Hashem with "nothing." But Avraham was also shown that his life would become one of סוד תורה , a life of outstanding spiritual achievement, of יש , where he is able to serve Hashem with a great number of blessings and good fortune. In the beginning of our parashah , the Torah makes a point of informing us that Avraham was 75 years old when he left his homeland to live in Eretz Yisrael . This perhaps alludes to the fact that all Avraham had at that point in his life was his בטחון , his trust in Hashem, which in gematria equals 75 (2+9+8+6+50). He was in a position of אין , and he served Hashem in that state, by building a strong connection with Him. There is a young woman in our community who, after several years of dating, was still not married, and she asked to meet with me to speak about her situation. She expressed her anguish and how she just didn't know what to do. I advised her to give this problem over to Hashem. I said she needed to tell Hashem, "I don't know what to do, so I'm leaving this in Your infinitely capable hands. I will, of course, continue to recite Tehillim each day, and to reach out to matchmakers, because I need to make an effort, but I'm giving this over to You." Baruch Hashem , around a year later, she got married. She told me before the wedding that she felt so much better when she came out of our meeting, being able to let go of this challenge. And a week later, her hatan showed up... We hope and pray that we are always blessed with יש , with an abundance of happiness, prosperity and success in all our endeavors. But if we ever find ourselves in a situation of אין , let us draw strength and inspiration from our ancestor, from Avraham Avinu, who served Hashem even when he had nothing, with his בטחון , by developing his faith in Hashem and his connection with Him. When we face challenges, we must try to acknowledge that now Hashem wants us to serve Him in this way, by focusing on our בטחון , on our unwavering faith and trust in His goodness, and working to build a stronger relationship with Him.
The Rebbe encourages true joy in life, not only because of his directive, but as Hashem commands: “Serve Hashem with joy” in all one's ways. He hopes the writer will serve as shaliach tzibbur on the High Holidays, stressing the importance of learning the meaning of prayers and piyyutim, and blesses him for a good year. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/004_igros_kodesh/elul/1194
In this inaugural shiur in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains why a failure to serve Hashem with joy results in the curses of the Tochacha.
00:46 Answering Controversial Questions in Public 03:07 Why is the Yeshiva World Still Speaking Yiddish 06:03 Serving Hashem if Hashem has no Feelings 09:42 Getting Inspiration from Non-Jewish Influences 12:40 Focusing Only on the Positive 16:52 The Israeli Army 27:33 Burkas 33:04 Eilu V'Eilu 35:49 Personal Responsibility or Hashgacha Pratis 39:40 Getting Ready for… Continue reading Q&A – Yeshivas Mir Summer Camp (5785)
Welcome to Daily Bitachon. We are now getting back to the 'meat and potatoes' of regular topic Bitachon, after our hiatus for lessons from the Hagada Shel Pesach . Rabbenu Yonah, on Mishleh chapter 3, tells us that an important facet of Bitachon is knowing that a human being has no impact on you. . No human being can help you, and no human being can harm you, Zulati yigzor Hashem / unless Hashem makes that decree . He explains that this is what Arur hagever asher yivtach ba'adam / Cursed is the one that relies on a person means ; he thinks that people can do things for him . Another pasuk in Yirmiyah says chidlu lachem min ha'adam / Refrain from people" . This means refrain from relying on people . One has to know that in truth, a human being lacks any ability to harm him . He quotes many familiar pesukim, such as one from Hallel, which says Hashem li lo ira ma ya'aseh li adam , David Hamelech is saying, " Hashem is with me, I'm not afraid what people are going to do" . When a problem comes, a person should realize that everything is in the hands of Hashem . Pnei levavo muadot el Hashem / The face of his heart should be focused on God. Whenever there's a problem, one should focus on God; not on the one that's hitting him, but on the One that is ultimately in charge . He cites a pasuk in Tehillim which has an important lesson, not just for our daily bitachon, but also for one of the most pivotal times of the year . . He quotes the pasuk , Hinei k'einei avadim el yad Adonehem / Our eyes are to You, God like a slave is to his master," and he uses this pasuk as a description of bitachon . The eyes of the slave are towards his master b ecause, as the Hovot Halevavot says in Shaar HaBitachon, a baal bitachon must feel like a servant who is controlled by his master; that no one can impact him but his master . Rabbenu Yonah explains that David Hamelech is saying, " Our eyes are on You God, like a servant is on his master. In a similar vein, the Hovot Halevavot explains why Shaar HaBitachon/Gate of Reliance on Hashem comes after Shaar Avodat Elohim/ Gate of Serving Hashem) . This is because serving Hashem is connected to bitachon, a servant has an obligation to rely on his master because only his master can take care of him . . This is the pasuk of Hinei k'einei avadim el yad Adonehem . As we've said many times, the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah, who wrote our tefillot , based the text of the tefilot on pesukim . Rav Wolbe used to say that the siddur is the Torah Sheba'al Peh/ the Oral Law. And Oral Law is always based on the Written Law. . After we blow the shofar, we say Hayom harat olam / Today is the birth of the world, Hayom ya'amid bamishpat/ Today is the day that God judges kol yetzurei olam/all the creations, And He treats them, Im kevanim im ka'avadim / either like children or like servants Im kevanim / if we're children, then, rachameinu k'rachem av al banim / have mercy, like a father on a child. - There is a level of Jewish people called, Banim atem l'Hashem Elokeichem / We act like children, He treats us like children- But what about Im ka'avadim ? What if we're like servants , which means we don't have that father-son relationship in a way that we're deserving of the mercy of God? What do we do then? The answer is, Enenu lecha teluyot / Our eyes are towards You, Ad shetechoneinu / Until You have chen on us, matnat chinam, v'totzi la'or mishpateinu / and we're going to have a judgment that is a shining judgment" And this, Im ka'avadim eineinu lecha teluyot / Our eyes are on You, comes from this pasuk in Tehillim: k'eneh avadim el yad adoneihem / Like servants are looking to their master " . This means that one of the techniques that we have to be successful in Rosh Hashanah judgment, or any judgment for that matter, is to have bitachon and realize that no matter what happens, ultimately, no one can harm us and no one can help us. We have to rely on Hashem . That is supposed to be our attitude in any trying situation . k'eneh avadim el Yad adoneihem / Like servants have their eyes on their master .
In this shiur, delivered in Sharfmans, Rav Burg explains the inner nature of the sin of Nadav and Avihu. What does it mean that they were drunk? Why is Ahron HaKohen told to communicate the issur about being drunk in the Mishkan for all generations? There is a difference between religious and spiritual. Religion is about serving Hashem the way He wants to be served. Spirituality is about serving Hashem with all of our heart. When we combine being religious and spiritual is when we are truly serving Hashem wholeheartedly.
Maharal Netzach Yisroel Chapter 12 (Serving Hashem from a place of strength) by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
Gemara Taanit 21b/22a- The character and story of Abba Umana highlights the perspective one should have in using his job to serve Hashem.
Mussar Avicha Chapter 1 Part 2 (Serving Hashem- The Most Natural Thing For A Jew) by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
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
Learning Foundational Teachings from the Baal Shem Tov together ❤️ on Serving Hashem with Joy no matter what... ✨️ A Year Later... War in Israel - The Real Kindness Podcast by Yosef Aharon & Eli Goldsmith JOC & UIP! https://youtube.com/live/hEbVmZFUM0M Follow & Share this link to join Our Simcha Filled Unity WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Lc5WOj4Zm9F2PrtH8mh6Vx Cover Pic from Lebanon - PLEASE KEEP
One must progress gradually, like entering Eretz Yisrael, both physically and spiritually. When feeling a downturn, one should increase revealed strength and draw upon inner resolve. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/011/008/3500
After learning about the Unity of Hashsm aka Achdut Hashem we begin in the holy Sefer Tanya Chapter 24 with the up-to-date discussion of the recent Tragedies & how to Michazzik the end of the year Serving Hashem and not? Ty Shirat David, Lessons in Tanya and Bnei-Aliyah.com PLEASE KEEP
'Gevura - Serving Hashem with all your strength'
Understanding Archin Laws: Deciphering Rambam's Complexity. Lessons in Serving Hashem.
We discussed Souls who are truly Serving Hashem pushing themselves to go beyond, not just a lifestyle provided by their Loving Father... Cover Pic : Shout out to Juicery for helping us learn with a healthy mind & soul... "Transform Your Approach: From Chasing to Attracting with Gedale Fenster" This Sunday, April 7th, 9 PM. Join @JTLV_ and Unity Bookings @unityinspiresprojects - unityinspireprojects.com for an evening with #GedaleFenster https://www.instagram.com/p/C5RGbbIt-_z/?igsh=ZDVuYmticzYyMmE1 Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the most influential voices in the field of #personaldevelopment. Date: Sunday, April 7th, 9 PM. Location: 22 Allenby Wine and Cheese
True Avodas Hashem is being real and constantly fighting
To Live as a Jew: A Daily Study of the Practical Laws of Jewish Living
Extra Credit: See Ramban on וחי בהם and see how to it may correlate
Serving Hashem with Joy Rena led a guided meditation session focused on mindfulness and emotional awareness. She instructed participants to focus on their breath, the sensations in their body, and the sounds around them. Participants were then guided to notice their thoughts and emotions, and how they relate to their overall mood. Rena suggested that participants imagine serving Hashem with happiness, exploring what that would look and feel like. The session ended with an exercise in holding both the participants' current emotions and the idea of serving Hashem with joy, highlighting the paradox of opposites coexisting.
Send us a Text Message.Serving Hashem with Love
Hoshana Rabba- Serving Hashem As An Aravah by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
In Hilchos Teshuva 10:1-2, Rambam discusses why one shouldn't serve Hashem out of fear but out of love. This episode analyzes these types of service of Hashem.
Elul- Serving Hashem Like The Warriors of Shevet Gad by Rabbi Avi Zakutinsky
This episode was recorded with Dan Kullman for the legendary Shema Podcast!****To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please send your questions, comments and even your stories to awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you!For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.comRecorded in TORCH Studio C on April 23, 2023, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on May 7, 2023 on the Shema Podcast by Dan Kullman (https://shema.transistor.fm). ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
This episode was recorded with Dan Kullman for the legendary Shema Podcast!Dan Kullman is the immediate Past-President of TORCH and an adjunct faculty member at TORCH.To listen to the Shema Podcast for the Perplexed by Dan Kullman: https://shema.transistor.fm/ ****To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please send your questions, comments and even your stories to awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you!For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.comRecorded in TORCH Studio C on April 23, 2023, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on May 7, 2023 on the Shema Podcast by Dan Kullman (https://shema.transistor.fm). ★ Support this podcast ★
I have done many episodes on the subject of how to serve Hashem in the business world and other situations that pertain to my life experiences. However, I realized that we all have different situations that we find ourselves in. One situation that I thought was imperative to address is the situations our fellow Jews face serving in the military. I asked Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe, the Rambo of Yiddishkeit, to join us and share Torah wisdom to our brothers and sister in the military and as you will hear, this is valuable information for all of us. This episode is dedicated in the merit of my nephew Shlomo Ben Dovid and all our fellow Jews serving in the military. May Hashem keep them all safe. ★ Support this podcast ★
TWiSTED Parenting by: Avi Fishoff (Contact: 718-902-6666 Email: TWiSTEDParenting@aol.com)
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