Podcasts about Tehillim

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התוכן א) הוראה לילדי ישראל ממ"ש בזהר בתחילת פ' דברים שפעם הלכו ר' יהודה ועוד כמה חכמים בדרך ופגעו בילד א', והילד למד אתם תורה ורזי תורה, ואמר ר"י "זכאה דרא" שבו לומדים גם ילדי ישראל תורה ורזי תורה וכו'. וע"י לימוד פנימיות התורה ש"לית תמן מחלוקת" מתחזקת האהבת ישראל, ועי"ז מתבטלת סיבת הגלות וכו'. ב) לימוד מהנהגות האריז"ל 1) זכה לרוח הקודש מפני ששמח מאד בעשיית המצוות. 2) הכניס בנוסח התפלה לומר קודם התפלה "הריני מקבל עלי מצות עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך". 3) הי' מכניס ידו לכיס ומוציא משם כסף ע"מ לשלם עבור מצוה או לתת צדקה בלי לספור כמה כסף הי' שם. ג) הצעה ובקשה מילדי ישראל: שמיום זה עד ט"ו באב יוסיפו כל יום בתורה, מזמור תהלים ובצדקה.משיחות יום ה' פ' דברים, ד' מנחם-אב ה'תש"מ להתלמידים ולהתלמידות שיחיו ל"הנחה פרטית" או התרגום ללה"ק של השיחה: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=17-07-2026 Synopsis (1) A lesson for children from the Zohar at the beginning of parashas Devarim: The Zohar states that Rabbi Yehudah and other Sages were once traveling when they encountered a certain child who taught them Torah, including secrets of the Torah. Rabbi Yehudah said: “Meritorious is the generation” in which even children study Torah and the secrets of the Torah etc. Studying the inner dimension of Torah, “where there is no dispute,” strengthens Ahavas Yisroel, thereby eliminating the cause of the exile. (2) A lesson from the Arizal: (a) The Arizal said that the reason he merited Ruach HaKodesh was because he took exceptional joy in doing mitzvos. (b) He introduced the practice of saying “I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment to ‘Love your fellow like yourself'” before davening. (c) When he gave tzedakah and the like, he would put his hand into his pocket and take out money without counting how much it was. (3) A proposal and request to Jewish children: From now until Tu B'Av, children should add each day in Torah, Tehillim, and tzedakah.Excerpts from sichos of Thursday, parashas Devarim, 4 Menachem-Av 5740 – to children For a transcript in English of the Sicha: https://thedailysicha.com/?date=17-07-2026

The Rebbe writes about the importance of influencing grandchildren in spiritual matters, promoting the concept of family purity to wider circles, and maintaining the daily recitation of Tehillim. He emphasizes that teshuvah not only removes punishment but brings added success. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/017/010/6406

Verses 9-16

The first 8 verses of 119

Shiur #10 in Rabbi Jonathan Rietti's in-depth (b'iyun) series on Likutey Moharan — Torah Dalet (4).When a person knows that everything that happens to him is for his good — כשאדם יודע שכל מאורעיו הם לטובתו — this itself is a taste of Olam Haba. But if everything is truly l'tovah, that has to include every mistake, every regret, every painful memory. So what does Hashem want us to do with our past?In this shiur, Rabbi Rietti takes us through Rebbe Nachman's revolutionary understanding of the mind: all suffering and exile exist only to the degree that da'as is missing (Torah 21), Hashem makes room for us inside the suffering itself — בצר הרחבת לי (Torah 195), and atzvus — anxiety, worry, depression — is not caused by our circumstances but by our own thinking about them (Torah 155). Because ein shum ye'ush ba'olam klal — there is no despair in the world at all.Topics covered:• "BaHashem ahalel davar" — praising Hashem from the same place of simcha, in good times and bad• Kaveh means EXPECT, not hope — waiting for Mashiach like you wait for a bus you know is coming• ביום ההוא יהיה ה' אחד ושמו אחד — why in the future there will be only one bracha: HaTov v'HaMeitiv• "If I would know Him, I would be Him" — da'as as the bridge between this world and eternal life• Life and death separated by only one amah — the equanimity of true tzaddikim• The world as a movie set: everyone is reading Hashem's script, only you choose your response• Anxiety over tuition, bills and parnassah — where the stress really comes from and how to surrender it• Mai d'hava hava — the past is the past; why Torah beats therapy on handling worry• דאגה בלב איש ישחנה — and the end of the pasuk most therapists have never read: ודבר טוב ישמחנה• Kol d'avid Rachmana l'tav avid — training yourself on every bump in the roadSources: Likutey Moharan I: Torah 4, Torah 21:11, Torah 78, Torah 155, Torah 195; Tehillim 4:2 & 116; Zechariah 14:9; Yeshayahu 5:13 & 11:9; Nedarim 41; Pesachim 50a; Sotah — mai d'hava hava; Mishlei 12:25; Shulchan Aruch OC 230:5; Kuzari; Pele Yoetz; Me'am Lo'ezNext shiur: Vidui Devarim — the true Torah sources of verbal confession in Yiddishkeit.#RebbeNachman #LikuteyMoharan #Breslov #JonathanRietti #Emunah #Anxiety #Torah #Chizuk #BRI

There is so much discuss about this chapter

You, Hashem, have been so good to me!

May all the nations praise Hashem

My heart is full

Real G-d vs Fake Gods

Poetry to the Mountains

Hallel and Hope

hiur #7 in R' Jonathan Rietti's b'iyun series on Rebbe Nachman's Likutey Moharan, Torah 4 (Part 1) — recorded at Breslov, New Hempstead, in partnership with BRI (Breslov Research Institute) and Reb Chaim Kramer. Rebbe Nachman opens Torah 4 with a life-changing idea: keshe'adam yodea she'kol me'ora'osav hem l'tovaso — when a person truly knows that everything that happens to him, the sweet and the bitter alike, is for his benefit — that knowing is itself me'ein Olam Haba, a taste of the World to Come, the world of only good, the world where every question finally has its answer. From there R' Rietti opens up how we come to thank Hashem not only for the open chessed but with both of His Names — ba'Elokim ahallel davar, baHashem ahallel davar (Tehillim 56:11) — praising Him exactly the same in the times of rachamim and the times of din. In other words: I'll thank You for the tough times too. In this shiur: Keshe'adam yodea — why knowing (not only feeling) that it's all l'tovasi is a glimpse of Olam Haba This world of questions vs. the World to Come, the world of answers Ba'Elokim / baHashem ahallel davar — praising Hashem through both Names, in chessed and in din Hallel = simcha: why real praise flows from joy (Radak) "In the moment you can't always feel it" — Reb Nosson's honesty, and how to live the yediah anyway The mind and the body — "I have cancer, I am not cancer": stress, pain, and the power of the mind Moving into Vidui Devarim — the "bullet" used against Breslov for years, and why confession before the tzaddik is a mitzvas aseh d'Oraisa found all over the Torah (Rambam; the korban chatas/asham; Parashas Chukas and the snakes) Reshaim, Olam Haba, and the tzaddik who shares a chelek of his own — the candle that lights other candles without losing its flame With appreciation to Reb Shmuel & Motti Seitlin, Tzvi Nachman Fried, Tzvi Goldring, Reb Chaim Kramer, and BRI. #LikuteyMoharan #RebbeNachman #Breslov #JonathanRietti #Torah4 #Hodaah #Emunah #Bitachon #ThankYouHashem #OlamHaba #VidueiDevarim #ChaimKramer #BRI #Teshuvah

The Rebbe addresses questions about donating to the annual charity fund mid-year, emphasizing its inclusion from Rosh Hashanah. He stresses the importance of maintaining health as a path of serving G-d and encourages participation in the Yud-Beis–Yud-Gimmel Tammuz celebrations and daily study of Chumash, Tehillim, and… https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/017/010/6385

The blessed life. The honourable life.

Song of Gratitude and wisdom

The promise of victory

Episode Notes Notes go hereRabbi Shulman explains a teaching of the Maharal on the concluding “הודו לה׳” in Tehillim 118, showing that the chapter opens and closes with gratitude to highlight that the entire story is fundamentally about הודאה. Drawing on a Gemara in Pesachim that assigns different verses to different figures around David HaMelech (David, Yishai, Shmuel, and David's brothers), Rabbi Shulman emphasizes the Maharal's central point: Hashem's good is not a “main recipient plus incidental bystanders,” but a perfectly ordered plan in which each participant's benefit is directly intended.

Rabbi Shulman explains a teaching of the Maharal on why Tehillim both opens and closes with “הוֹדוּ לַה׳,” framing the entire chapter as an exercise in הודאה (gratitude). He then traces a Gemara in Pesachim that assigns successive verses to different figures around David HaMelech (David, Yishai, Shmuel, and David's brothers), showing that the goodness of Hashem is not “mainly” for one person with incidental spillover to others. Rather, every beneficiary is intentionally included in Hashem's ordered plan, and therefore each one has a distinct obligation to thank—while all ultimately unite in gratitude to the single Source. Outline: https://danielggordon.github.io/ateresami/gvuros-hashem-64p-20260706-170432-outline-20260706-170503.pdf

We read in Parashat Pinhas of the census taken of Beneh Yisrael at the end of their forty-year sojourn in the wilderness. The Torah lists the families of the various tribes, and in listing the families of Reuben, the Torah explains that two families – those of the brothers Datan and Abiram – were not counted, because they perished after joining Korah's revolt against Moshe Rabbenu. In this context, the Torah mentions that "U'bneh Korah Lo Metu" – Korah's sons did not die together with their father and the other rebels. Rashi, citing the Gemara (Megilla 14a), explains that Korah's sons initially participated in the uprising, but they then had thoughts of Teshuba (repentance), on account of which "Nitbaser Lahem Makom Gabo'ah Be'gehinom Ve'yashebu Sham" – " An elevated place in Gehinam was set apart for them, and they remained there." Rashi's concluding remarks – "and they remained there" – suggest that Korah's sons stayed in that "elevated place in Gehinam" for all time, and this is, indeed, the view taken by several later commentators. This is also the implication of the Midrash cited by Tosafot in Masechet Kiddushin (31b). The conventional understanding, however, is that Korah's sons remained in the underworld for a period of time and were ultimately rescued, whereupon they rejoined Beneh Yisrael. (This is perhaps evidenced by the fact that Korah's sons had descendants who sang in the Bet Ha'mikdash.) Regardless, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rav Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, 1902-1994) draws our attention to an important – but often overlooked – word in this passage in Rashi's commentary. Rashi did not say simply that Korah's sons participated in their father's uprising against Moshe. Rather, he writes that Korah's sons were part of this undertaking "Tehila" – right at the outset. They were among the initiators. They didn't just "go along" with the idea – they were the ones who conceived it! The Rebbe further notes Rashi's comment that during the revolt, "Hirharu Teshuba Be'libam" – Korah's sons had thoughts of repentance in their hearts. It seems clear from Rashi's formulation that Korah's sons did not repent entirely – they merely entertained thoughts of Teshuba. And yet, despite the fact that they were the instigators of this evil uprising, even their thoughts of Teshuba sufficed to save them from death. The Rebbe added that this shows us the great power of even incomplete repentance, and of even "Hirhureh Teshuba" – genuine thoughts and feelings of repentance. Even when a Jew does not change his behavior fully the way he should, but he merely thinks and reflects on how he needs to improve – these thoughts are precious and beloved by G-d. The Rebbe explained on this basis why, at one of the holiest moments of the year, as we prepare to sound the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, we read the 47 th chapter of Tehillim, which was composed by Korah's sons – "La'menase'ah Li'bneh Korah Mizmor." Unlike Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah is not a time for confessing and begging G-d for forgiveness. However, during the sounding of the Shofar, we are to think "Hirhureh Teshuba," thoughts of repentance. This is a time to think seriously and somberly about our mistakes and shortcomings during the previous year, and how we wish to improve during the coming year. We therefore recite this chapter composed by Korah's sons – who devised a wicked plot to challenge Moshe Rabbenu, and yet were spared punishment because of their "Hihureh Teshuba." We are reminded of the great power of Teshuba thoughts, of the value of our genuine feelings of regret and desire to improve. Back in Parashat Korah, we read that when the ground opened to devour the leaders of the revolt and their families, the rest of the nation "Nasu Le'kolam" (16:34) – literally, "ran to their voices." This seems to mean that the people ran toward the opening in the ground where the rebels were screaming in horror, which would be very difficult to understand. Rashi avoids this problem by interpreting these words to mean that the people ran "on account of their voices," because of the shrieks that they heard. In light of what we have seen, however, there might be another understanding. After Korah's sons were saved, Beneh Yisrael ran to hear their voices, to hear them sing praise to Hashem, in order to receive inspiration from them. Korah's sons became a powerful source of motivation for all Beneh Yisrael – and for us – by showing the value of even incomplete Teshuba, how every step forward is significant and cherished by the Almighty. Indeed, Rav Moshe Wolfson (1925-2024) noted that the letters that spell the word "Le'kolam" (Lamed, Kof, Lamed, Mem) are the first letters of the words "La'menase'ah Li'bneh Korah Mizmor." Beneh Yisrael rushed to hear the beautiful praises sung by Korah's sons to be inspired and driven to work toward improvement, one small step at a time. The Rebbe cited in this context the Rambam's famous comment that "En Beneh Yisrael Nig'alin Ela Bi'Tshuba" – the redemption depends upon the Jewish People's repentance (Hilchot Teshuba 7:5). Many people wondered how this will happen. When we look at our nation today, how the majority of Jews are so distant from observance, and how even generally observant Jews face so many religious challenges which they frequently fail to withstand, how can we ever be deserving of redemption? Korah's sons provide us with the answer. They show us that even incomplete Teshuba is valuable, as long as it is sincere. Every genuine thought, feeling and action in the direction of Teshuba, every time a Jew reflects on his inadequacies and regrets his deficiencies, he has achieved something precious. Every small step toward repentance will, hopefully, lead to another, such that we can, indeed, become worthy of our final redemption, speedily and in our time, Amen.

Words spoken on 14 Tammuz, five years after the petirah of my dearest friend, Chaim ben Yitzchak z"l — taken in the Surfside collapse — built on a single pasuk: chaver ani l'chol asher yireucha u'l'shomrei pikudecha (Tehillim 119:63), from the very ches that begins his name.What is a real friend? Of all our relationships, a friend is the one we choose — not the family we're born into, but the soul we pick. And Dovid HaMelech reveals that the true depth of that bond was never in the gashmius — not the trips, not the good times — but in l'chol asher yireucha: the spiritual thread, the yiras Shamayim, that two friends share. Which is why a real connection doesn't end when a person leaves this world. It can grow even deeper. Chaim was my mentor, the older brother I never had — and he has changed my life more since he passed than in all the years he was here.This is also about who Chaim became: a man who made himself last, always; whose humility was forged in the hardest years of his life, caring for his wife; the tzaddik he quietly became. He told me that the one thing that brought him comfort in his darkest times was the Likutei Moharan, Rebbe Nachman's Torah — and that is the very thing we are continuing now.And one thing we cannot let ourselves pack away: the way he was taken was not ordinary. It was a message — to those who were close, and to all of Klal Yisrael. May we hear it, be m'orer one another, do teshuvah, and merit the geulah. May his neshamah have an aliyah, and may he be a meilitz yosher for his family — Shmueli, Yehuda, and Shana — and for all of Klal Yisrael.#RebbeNachman #Breslov #Friendship #Tehillim #Hesped #Chizuk #Emunah #Teshuvah #Uman #LikuteiMoharan

The Rebbe writes that every educator, regardless of their official subject, must instill pure reverence and love for Hashem in their students. He also emphasizes the importance of daily study in Tehillim, Chumash with Rashi, and Tanya, as established by the Previous Rebbe. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/005/4141

The Rebbe writes that spiritual health improves through expanding one's activities in the Chabad orchard, especially within Tzeirei Agudas Chabad. He advises redirecting distracting thoughts, checking tefillin, and maintaining daily study of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/005/4103

The Rebbe writes that the recipient's financial difficulties are linked to past violations of Shabbos for work. He encourages sincere teshuvah, finding permissible employment, checking tefillin and mezuzos, daily charity, and reciting Tehillim to merit improvement. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/007/4207

The Rebbe writes that in our generation, fasting is not the proper way to do Teshuvah. Instead, one should increase Torah study, prayer with a minyan, and giving charity, while maintaining daily study of Tehillim, Chumash with Rashi, and Tanya. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/006/4151b

The Rebbe writes that true growth for a Jew is not about the passage of time, but about increasing in Torah and mitzvos. He encourages strengthening faith and joy through learning Chassidus, and reminds about the daily recitation of Tehillim after davening. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/007/4268

The Rebbe writes to an educator about his growing success in teaching Torah classes, urging him not to be satisfied with past achievements and to focus on teaching practical halachah. He emphasizes the importance of inspiring students and maintaining the daily study of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. https://www.torahrecordings.com/rebbe/igroskodesh/012/007/4233

Tehillim, the Book of Psalms, is more than a sacred text. It is the language Jews have used for centuries to express fear, hope, gratitude, grief, and faith. No book of Tanach is carried more deeply into the emotional moments of life. Perhaps no chapter is more beloved than Psalm 23. In it, King David describes God as a shepherd - a powerful image first used by Yaakov near the end of his life. Yet the shepherd never promises that the road will be free of danger. In fact, David speaks openly of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Many people lose faith because life does not unfold the way they hoped or prayed it would. Psalm 23 offers a different promise: not that we will be spared every hardship, but that we will never face those hardships alone. Understanding that difference may be the key to understanding what faith truly is. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5FLcsC6xz5TmkirT1qObkA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adathmichael/ Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/mining-the-riches-of-the-parsha/id1479615142?fbclid=IwAR1c6YygRR6pvAKFvEmMGCcs0Y6hpmK8tXzPinbum8drqw2zLIo7c9SR-jc Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3hWYhCG5GR8zygw4ZNsSmO Please contact Rabbi Whitman (michael@adath.ca) with any questions or feedback, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

Elianna Oken grew up celebrating Shabbat, attending Hebrew school, and proudly identifying as Jewish. Then a simple question from her sister changed everything. This episode follows her remarkable journey through an Orthodox conversion, navigating questions of halachic status, Jewish identity, community, and faith while discovering a deeper connection to Judaism than she ever imagined.Follow Elianna hereIG: https://www.instagram.com/eliannakataev/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eliannakataev✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬► Colel Chabad: Help Families in IsraelFor more than 230 years, Colel Chabad has helped families facing financial hardship put food on the table with dignity and care.DOWNLOAD THE APP & HELP HERE→ https://pushkapp.cc/inspo► Shagririm Balev: Help Build Jewish HomesShagririm Balev empowers friends to help friends find meaningful shidduchim through trusted personal connections. More than 1,000 couples have already gotten married through the platform.LEARN MORE→ https://go.ou.org/peykx► Simchonim: Personalized Judaica for Every SimchaCreate personalized benchers, siddurim, Tehillim, machzorim, and more for weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Sheva Brachos, and every special occasion.GET 12% OFF WITH CODE: INSPIRE→ https://simchonim.comWhatsapp→ https://wa.link/2d1tfs► BF Design: Architecture That Gets BuiltFrom homes and schools to shuls, commercial buildings, and large scale developments, BF Design has spent more than 20 years helping clients turn great ideas into successful projects.LEARN MORE→ https://bfdesign.com► Wheels To Lease: Stress-Free Car BuyingFor over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has helped customers find great deals on vehicles without the stress and uncertainty of the traditional dealership experience.→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715→ EMAIL: inspire@wheelstolease.com→ WEB: https://wheelstolease.com/inspire✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬This episode is in memory of:• Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima• Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe#iftn Lchaim.

Nadav joins me on the podcast to give his perspective as a two-time reader of Chukat and Balak. Follow along in Bemidbar 21:18, Tehillim 23:4, Bemidbar 21:6, Devarim 8:15, Bemidbar 24:9, 22:35. Provide your feedback or join the WhatsApp group by sending an email to torahreadingpodcast@gmail.com.  

When I was a young boy, the schools placed a great emphasis on Keri'a – teaching children to read properly. They insisted that youngsters must be taught all the nuances of the Hebrew language, so they know how to accurately pronounce each letter of every word. This continued the tradition that was followed by our ancestors in Syria. Indeed, a number of sources emphasize the importance of praying slowly and carefully, ensuring not to skip or mispronounce even a single word. The Sefer Misvot Katan (Rav Yosef of Corbeil, France, 13 th century) writes that one must treat each word like a precious jewel, seeing to it that not a single word is missed. And the Shelah (Rav Yeshaya Horowitz, d. 1630) writes that if one mispronounces even a single letter of the prayer text, he can end up "destroying the world." For example, when reciting in Birkat Kohanim the words "Ya'er Hashem" – "G-d shall shine," mispronouncing the word "Ya'er" could result in a words that means, "G-d shall curse," and thus the Kohen ends up cursing, Heaven forbid, instead of blessing. Another example is the word "Anenu," which means "answer us." If it is pronounced with a Dagesh (dot) in the Nun, this word means "torment us." Mispronouncing words can also result in outright blasphemy. In the verse "Nafshenu Hiketa L'Hashem" – "Our soul awaits G-d" (Tehillim 33:20), the word "Hiketa" begins with the letter Het. If one mispronounces this Het as a Heh, then the meaning of the word is "strike," as though we proclaim that we are beating the Almighty, Heaven forbid. And in the verse "L'Hashem Ha'aretz U'mlo'ah, Tebel Ve'yoshebeh Bah" – "The earth and its fulness belong to G-d; the world and those who reside in it" (Tehillim 24:1), one must recite the word "Tebel" ("world") with the emphasis on the second syllable. Otherwise, this word means "produce that has not been tithed," implying that this is all that G-d owns, Heaven forbid. Likewise, we recite each morning the blessing "Malbish Arumim" – that G-d "clothes the naked," but if we omit the Dagesh in the Mem of "Arumim," the word means "the clever ones." This blessing would thus imply that Hashem provides clothing only for those who are clever. Another common mistake is omitting the "Mapik Heh" at the end of certain words. When the Heh at the end of a word has a Dagesh, it must be pronounced in a special way, and failing to do so corrupts the word's meaning. King Shlomo warns in the Book of Mishleh (18:21), "Mavet Ve'haim Be'yad Lashon" – "Death and life are in the hand of the tongue." This is certainly true in the realm of interpersonal relations, as gossip and slander can sometimes be a matter of life or death, but additionally, as we have seen, mispronounced words in prayer can reverse the prayer's meaning, resulting, Heaven forbid, in dire consequences.

As discussed in a previous installment, the Ana Be'cho'ah prayer, which consists of 42 words, alludes to the special 42-letter Name of G-d. We conclude this prayer with the exclamation, "Baruch Shem Kebod Malchuto Le'olam Va'ed" – "Blessed is the Name of the Majesty of His Kingship, forever and ever." After reciting the prayer expressing the divine Name, we make this proclamation giving praise to the Name of the Almighty. This proclamation is significant in that the first letters of its six words – Bet, Shem, Kaf, Mem, Lamed and Vav – are the only letters in the Hebrew alphabet that are used as prefixes to G-d's Name. These six letters can be appended to the Name to form the words "B'Hashem" (as in "Ach B'Hashem Al Timrodu" – Bamidbar 14:9), "She'Hashem" (as in "Ashreh Ha'am She'Hashem Elokav" – Tehillim 144:15), "K'Hashem" (as in "K'Hashem Elokenu Be'chol Kore'nu Elav" – Debarim 4:7), "Me'Hashem" (as in "Me'Hashem Yasa Ha'dabar" – Bereishit 24:50), "L'Hashem" (as in "L'Hashem Ha'yeshu'a" – Tehillim 3:9), and "V'Hashem" (as in "V'Hashem Holech Lifnehem" – Shemot 13:21). These letters thus have a special connection to Hashem's Name, and so we proclaim "Baruch Shem…" after making a reference to the divine Name. The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Torah Li'shmah, writes that although this proclamation is made silently when it is recited during the Shema reading, in other contexts it may be recited aloud. Accordingly, we do not need to recite "Baruch Shem" silently when we say Ana Be'cho'ah during the Korbanot section each morning. However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef noted that elsewhere in his writings (Od Yosef Hai), the Ben Ish Hai contradicts this ruling, and writes that "Baruch Shem" must be recited silently even in Ana Be'cho'ah. The accepted practice is to recite it silently in Ana Be'cho'ah just as we do during the reading of Shema.

Insights and comments could be sent to Jonathan@thepararshapodcast.comThey will be addressed during our daily classes to enhance the discussion.For Parasha & Navi Special Classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parasha-podcast/id1525436805Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6w6PD5kC5vi9qqJ8VDU0JV?si=939c0262383e4c1cFor Navi classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-navi-podcast/id1549133051Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WxjXKNXllLVr9p1enQIc8?si=71de5d3ff961455dFor Tehillim classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tehillim-podcast/id1588773372Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/show/79ooU0LqW7FF8Zh5YfJAkp?si=a33c064f60374646For Ketuvim classes, Please visit:Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ketuvim-podcast/id1734069288Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pMd7hhOBAb1Oy2RhWMX0H?si=8da277c698b94890 #Parasha #Navi #Torah #Bible #Wisdom #psalms #songs #Tehillim   

Insights and comments could be sent to Jonathan@thepararshapodcast.comThey will be addressed during our daily classes to enhance the discussion.For Parasha & Navi Special Classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parasha-podcast/id1525436805Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6w6PD5kC5vi9qqJ8VDU0JV?si=939c0262383e4c1cFor Navi classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-navi-podcast/id1549133051Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WxjXKNXllLVr9p1enQIc8?si=71de5d3ff961455dFor Tehillim classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tehillim-podcast/id1588773372Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/show/79ooU0LqW7FF8Zh5YfJAkp?si=a33c064f60374646For Ketuvim classes, Please visit:Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ketuvim-podcast/id1734069288Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pMd7hhOBAb1Oy2RhWMX0H?si=8da277c698b94890 #Parasha #Navi #Torah #Bible #Wisdom #psalms #songs #Tehillim 

Psalm 81 is in many ways a mirror image (alike but opposite) of Psalm 80. This short psalm contains several secret insights that are revealed only in the Hebrew, such as a unique spelling of Joseph's name, a strange word used for "harp", and a curious addition to the first line of The 10 Commandments. Join us for a deep dive into this fascinating psalm.For more teachings by Grant Luton (and to print the notes), visit our website: https://www.TorahTodayMinistries.orgAnd when you visit, be sure to subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, which will keep you up to date with news, photos, and upcoming events at Torah Today Ministries.

Insights and comments could be sent to Jonathan@thepararshapodcast.comThey will be addressed during our daily classes to enhance the discussion.For Parasha & Navi Special Classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parasha-podcast/id1525436805Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6w6PD5kC5vi9qqJ8VDU0JV?si=939c0262383e4c1cFor Navi classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-navi-podcast/id1549133051Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WxjXKNXllLVr9p1enQIc8?si=71de5d3ff961455dFor Tehillim classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tehillim-podcast/id1588773372Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/show/79ooU0LqW7FF8Zh5YfJAkp?si=a33c064f60374646For Ketuvim classes, Please visit:Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ketuvim-podcast/id1734069288Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pMd7hhOBAb1Oy2RhWMX0H?si=8da277c698b94890 #Parasha #Navi #Torah #Bible #Wisdom #psalms #songs #Tehillim    

Insights and comments could be sent to Jonathan@thepararshapodcast.comThey will be addressed during our daily classes to enhance the discussion.For Parasha & Navi Special Classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parasha-podcast/id1525436805Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6w6PD5kC5vi9qqJ8VDU0JV?si=939c0262383e4c1cFor Navi classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-navi-podcast/id1549133051Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WxjXKNXllLVr9p1enQIc8?si=71de5d3ff961455dFor Tehillim classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tehillim-podcast/id1588773372Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/show/79ooU0LqW7FF8Zh5YfJAkp?si=a33c064f60374646For Ketuvim classes, Please visit:Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ketuvim-podcast/id1734069288Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pMd7hhOBAb1Oy2RhWMX0H?si=8da277c698b94890 #Parasha #Navi #Torah #Bible #Wisdom #psalms #songs #Tehillim    

Insights and comments could be sent to Jonathan@thepararshapodcast.comThey will be addressed during our daily classes to enhance the discussion.For Parasha & Navi Special Classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-parasha-podcast/id1525436805Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6w6PD5kC5vi9qqJ8VDU0JV?si=939c0262383e4c1cFor Navi classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-navi-podcast/id1549133051Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/2WxjXKNXllLVr9p1enQIc8?si=71de5d3ff961455dFor Tehillim classes, please visit:Apple podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tehillim-podcast/id1588773372Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/show/79ooU0LqW7FF8Zh5YfJAkp?si=a33c064f60374646For Ketuvim classes, Please visit:Apple Podcast link:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ketuvim-podcast/id1734069288Spotify link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/5pMd7hhOBAb1Oy2RhWMX0H?si=8da277c698b94890 #Parasha #Navi #Torah #Bible #Wisdom #psalms #songs #Tehillim    

This episode is such a good one — and it has two parts that  fit together perfectly.First, meet Eli — an 8-year-old from Lakewood who decided to start saying Tehillim… and then actually kept going.What started as a “we're bored, let's say Tehillim” moment at the kitchen table turned into something much bigger. Eli finished the whole Sefer Tehillim once, started again, lost a chart, remembered where he was up to, kept going, and is now saying Tehillim as a zechus for his grandfather, Meyer ben Tzirel Perel, who needs a refuah sheleimah.But this conversation became about so much more than Tehillim.We talked about grit — not the cereal kind — the real kind.Resilience. Endurance. Courage.Eli shares what it feels like to keep trying, even when a goal feels huge. He talks about stage fright, getting up anyway, creating skits in class, managing a bunch of third grade boys, bringing in props, costumes, fake gold coins, paper beards, and somehow making the whole thing work.Sometimes we think “big accomplishments” have to look very serious. But sometimes they look like a kid with a Tehillim chart, a creative brain, a little stage fright, a lot of ideas, and the willingness to try again.Then, in the second part of the episode, we talk about grit in a totally different way — through biking.We hear from Rami and Shuey about the upcoming TDK Junior Father-Son Bike Ride in Baltimore, and what it means to push yourself, ride together, and be part of something that is fun, challenging, and meaningful.Because grit isn't only something you use when you're sitting with a Tehillim chart.Sometimes grit looks like getting back on the bike. Sometimes it looks like riding a little farther than you thought you could. Sometimes it looks like a father and son doing something side by side. And sometimes it looks like a whole community showing up for something healthy, exciting, and good.My favorite part of this episode is how it reminds us that kids are not simple. A kid can be quiet and also loud. Creative and also serious. Nervous and also brave. Fun and also focused. And when kids are given space to practice all the different parts of who they are, it is incredible to watch what comes out.Thank you to this week's sponsors:Hosiery Plus — for the basics, swim, socks, hosiery, and all the things your whole family needs. https://hosieryplus.com/TDK Junior Bike Ride — coming up June 21! A father-son ride, family fun, and such a great Baltimore event. https://bikercholim.rallybound.org/tdkjrWhee by SR /  — for beautiful outdoor play that gets kids moving, climbing, imagining, and actually playing. https://wheesr.com/Listen to this episode with your kids, and then ask them:What's one big thing you could do… one small piece at a time?Support the show

#482> To purchase "The Making of the Siddur": https://amzn.to/4dYUdWG>Episode sponsored by Tehillim Unveiled podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://itl.ink/LechuNeranenaApple, Spotify: https://itl.ink/LechuNeranenaSpotify> For update and bonus content: https://qrl.is/Tehillim> Episode sponsored by Mordechai and Michal Neuman in memory of their parents Shimon ben Michoel, Rachel bas Avraham, Dovid ben Shmuel, and Tzirel Mindel bas Pesachya> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

#481> To purchase "The Making of the Siddur": https://amzn.to/4dYUdWG> Episode sponsored by Tehillim Unveiled podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://itl.ink/LechuNeranenaApple, Spotify: https://itl.ink/LechuNeranenaSpotify> For update and bonus content: https://qrl.is/Tehillim> Episode sponsored by Mordechai and Michal Neuman in memory of their parents Shimon ben Michoel, Rachel bas Avraham, Dovid ben Shmuel, and Tzirel Mindel bas Pesachya> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DZ3C2CjUeD9AGJvXeEODtK> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp status: https://wa.me/message/TI343XQHHMHPN1>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link: https://seforimchatter.com/support-seforimchatter/or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)Support the show

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

The longest parsha of the Torah, longest perek of Tehillim, and longest Mesechta in Shas all have something in common.In this shiur, we explore the fascinating number 176 and show how it is one of the KEYS to our success here on this world.I hope you enjoy!My brother Rafi and I are teaming up once again in this year's Jewel's Pickleball tournament. We are trying to raise $3600 to help benefit the holy work of Jewel's school in Baltimore. If you are able and willing, please consider donating to our page: https://crowdspark.com/jewels/open2026/teams/teamstrum

The pasuk says in Tehillim, בְּךָ בָטְחוּ וְלֹא בוֹשׁוּ — "They trusted in You and were not ashamed." Simply understood, this means that our ancestors would speak about the greatness of Hashem and about His ability to save them in every situation. Then, when they needed salvation, they placed their trust in Him and He came through for them. They were never embarrassed for having trusted in Hashem. But what happens if a person truly believes in the power of Hashem, speaks about it openly, strengthens himself with bitachon, and yet does not receive the salvation he hoped for? Does that mean he was "ashamed" because of his bitachon? Rabbi David Sutton explained this pasuk with a powerful story that took place in Eretz Yisrael. A young child, only three years old, was diagnosed with a terrible illness. The doctors treated him, and for a while the child went into remission. But eventually the illness returned, and when the boy was five years old it became extremely aggressive. The doctors finally told the mother that, unfortunately, there was no longer any hope of saving the child. The mother answered firmly, "As religious Jews, we never say there is no hope. Hashem can do anything. I believe my son can still be healed." From that point on, she spent her days in the hospital saying Tehillim and strengthening herself with emunah and bitachon. The secular doctors repeatedly told her not to waste her time. "There is zero percent chance of survival," they insisted. But every day she sat there with Tehillim in her hands, believing that Hashem could still perform a miracle. Eventually, however, the child's condition deteriorated further and it became clear that the end was near. The mother even purchased a burial plot and began making arrangements for what seemed inevitable. But there was one thing that deeply troubled her, and she called her Rebbetzin to discuss it. "I had so much emunah," she cried. "When the doctors told me there was no hope, it did not shake me. I believed completely that Hashem could save my son. But now, when my son passes away, the doctors are going to say, 'You see? We told you so. Your hope was unrealistic.' I can accept that Hashem wants my son back, but I do not want to be ashamed because of my bitachon in Him." The Rebbetzin answered her with tremendous wisdom. "Every moment that you hoped to Hashem for salvation was a mitzvah," she said. "Believing in Hashem's ability to help is a great mitzvah, and you fulfilled it on the highest level. Now you have another mitzvah — to accept the will of Hashem with emunah. If you continue doing what Hashem wants from you, you will never be ashamed from it." These words gave the mother tremendous strength. The next day, the child passed away. The doctors were certain this woman would collapse emotionally after everything she had gone through. They brought in professionals who deal with trauma and psychologists who treat severe depression. But when they spoke to her, they were astonished. She was calm, composed, and spiritually strong. She did not appear broken in the way they expected. The doctors asked her, "How are you so strong after such a painful disappointment?" She answered, "Until now, I had a mitzvah to hope to Hashem, and I tried to do that with all my strength. Now I have a mitzvah to accept the will of Hashem, and I will try to do that with all my strength as well." The doctors were overwhelmed by her words. They began crying from the strength and sincerity of her emunah. Later, the mother said, "My Rebbetzin was right. I was not ashamed because of my bitachon. On the contrary, my bitachon brought even more honor to Hashem." This is the meaning of בְּךָ בָטְחוּ וְלֹא בוֹשׁוּ . A person who places his trust in Hashem is never truly ashamed. Sometimes the salvation comes exactly as he hoped. Sometimes Hashem's plan is different. But if a person does what Hashem wants from him at every stage — first hoping, praying, and believing, and afterward accepting Hashem's will with love — then nothing negative ever comes from his bitachon. Instead, it always brings honor to Hashem's Name.

Parashat Naso is famous for being the longest Parasha in the entire Torah, as it consists of 176 verses. Not coincidentally, this is also the number of verses in the longest chapter of Tehillim (119), and the number of pages in the longest Masechet in the Talmud, Masechet Baba Batra. The unique significance of this number is revealed to us by the Maharal of Prague (Rav Yehuda Loew, d. 1609). He begins by establishing what has become a well-known principle regarding the number 8 – namely, that it signifies the notion of extending beyond the confines of nature. The world was created in seven days – and, in the teachings of Kabbalah, through the process of the seven Sefirot, spiritual energies – and so the number 7 represents the natural order. The number 8, then, alludes to that which is beyond the limits of nature. Thus, for example, the Berit Mila is performed on a child's eighth day, indicating that we are expected to restrain our natural impulses, to live on a higher plane, where our sacred soul controls our natural body. Likewise, the Maharal explains, the seven lamps of the Menorah in the Bet Ha'mikdash symbolize the natural world – and behind the curtain in the Mikdash there was the eighth "light," the Torah. The sacred Aron (ark) contained the Torah, and it was thus called "Aron," a derivative of the word "Or" – "light." The Torah shines its own form of light – not a natural light that enables us to see with our eyes, but a spiritual light that reaches our souls, and uplifts and inspires us. The Torah is written with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, the Maharal writes, and when we multiply 22 by 8, we arrive at 176. This number, then, is associated with Torah's supernatural quality, its having originated outside our world, reminding us that it is through the study of Torah that we can extend beyond the confines of our world and connect ourselves to Hashem and to all the powers that lie outside our world. For this reason, the longest Parasha, the longest chapter of Tehillim, and the long section of the Gemara are all connected with this number, as they embody the great power of Torah. This unique power, which is associated with the number 176, also enables us to overcome our foes. Kabbalah teaches that the greatest spiritual force that threatens Beneh Yisrael is represented by one of the grandsons of Esav, a man named Sefo (Tzadi, Peh, Vav), whose name is listed among the twelve chieftains of Edom, the nation that descended from Esav (Bereshit 36:15). The Ramban cites the historian Josephus as relating that Sefo was a fierce enemy of Yaakob Abinu and his family, and when Yaakob's sons brought his remains from Egypt to Hebron for burial in Me'arat Ha'machpela, Sefo and his men waged war against them. However, Yaakob's sons prevailed, captured Sefo, and brought him as a prisoner to Egypt. Sefo would later escape and make his way to what would become Rome, and he is thus the founder of the kingdom of Rome, the bitter enemy of the Jewish People. According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, Sefo represents the spiritual force of our wicked enemies who wage war against us and seek our demise. The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) taught that the way we defeat the power of Sefo is through the power of Torah. Indeed, the name "Sefo" in Gematria equals 176 – and we thus overcome his force through the power of Torah, which is represented by that same number. This is why Sefo waged war at that time of Yaakob Abinu's funeral – because he knew that the greatest power Beneh Yisrael possess is the power of Torah, which was embodied by Yaakob. Sefo sought to fight Beneh Yisrael at that time to neutralize this power so he could defeat them – but the power of Yaakob, the power of Torah, prevailed. The Shabbat when we read Parashat Naso – especially coming on the heels of Shabuot, when we renewed our acceptance of the Torah – is an appropriate occasion to remind ourselves of the unique power of Torah learning. As we see the alarming rise of antisemitism around the world, and as the Jewish State finds itself in the midst of a difficult war against its fierce, evil enemies, let us recommit ourselves to Torah learning. Let us all ensure that we are devoting the time and effort that we should to learn, so that we can harness the great power of Torah with which to overcome our nation's bitter foes.

One of the great ploys of the Yetzer Hara is to make people forget how powerful tefillah really is. A person prays, but deep down he may already feel trapped by his situation. He says the words, but the fire and confidence are missing. Very often, the yeshuah is already prepared and waiting. The person simply needs to awaken within himself and truly believe in the power of speaking to Hashem. Sometimes Hashem sends a person a reminder — perhaps a memory, a story, or a moment of inspiration — to reignite his belief in tefillah so that he will finally cry out properly from the depths of his heart. In the sefer He'emanti Va'asapera, there is a story about Eliezer, a man whose housewares business was collapsing. Every evening he would lower the shutters on his store feeling crushed by stress and worry. Customers were disappearing, profits were shrinking, and it was becoming painfully clear that his business was nearing its end. One night, as he prepared to close the store, something suddenly stopped him. A memory came flooding back from forty years earlier. As a young man living in London, Eliezer had desperately wanted to learn in Eretz Yisrael, but his family did not have the means to send him. One night he saw his father crying while saying Tehillim. The next day his father explained that he had been begging Hashem to somehow help him pay for his son's expenses so he could go learn Torah in Eretz Yisrael. Then something unbelievable happened. The next morning, completely out of character, his father bought a scratch-off ticket and won exactly the amount they needed. Within days, Eliezer was on his way to yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael. Now, forty years later, sitting alone in his darkened store, Eliezer suddenly understood the message. His father's salvation had come through heartfelt tefillah, and now Hashem was reminding him of that lesson for himself. He realized that sighing was not going to help him. Worrying was not going to save his business. He needed to truly pray from the depths of his heart. He took out a Tehillim and began pouring out his heart to Hashem. It was not a quick tefillah. It was not distracted words, but rather real tefillah. He sat there for over an hour crying, pleading, and speaking honestly to Hashem. Then suddenly there was a knock at the door. A stranger stood outside insisting that he urgently needed to come in. Eliezer almost sent him away, upset that someone was interrupting such a powerful moment of tefillah. But the man pleaded with him to listen. He explained that he managed a brand-new hall that was about to open. He had been planning to meet wholesalers over the coming weeks to buy dishes and silverware, but suddenly he discovered that he urgently had to fly overseas. He needed to purchase everything immediately before leaving. Eliezer showed him the merchandise that he had in his store. The man quickly chose what he wanted and ordered seven hundred complete sets of dishes, cups, and silverware — the largest order Eliezer had ever received in his life. In that one visit, he received an entire year's worth of revenue. The profits from that deal saved his business. Then it all became clear. Why had this customer arrived specifically then? Why didn't he go to another store? Because every other store was closed. Eliezer was only there because he had stayed back to pray. The salvation had already been set into motion. The customer had already been sent. The order was already waiting to be made. But Eliezer needed the reminder from his father's story to awaken him to the power of tefillah so that he would cry out the right way for the yeshuah to reach him. Sometimes people become so busy worrying, calculating, panicking, and searching everywhere else that they forget the greatest power they possess — the ability to stand before מלך מלכי המלכים and pour out their hearts. The Yetzer Hara works overtime to weaken a person's belief in tefillah because once a person truly believes that Hashem is listening, his tefillah takes on an entirely new dimension and becomes an uplifting avodah. The greatest chizuk we can have is knowing that Hashem is here. He is listening. He is arranging. He is preparing. He is orchestrating every detail. Sometimes our salvation is already waiting, and all Hashem wants is for us to remember Who we are speaking to — and to speak the right way.

True oneness is achieved not by avoiding multiplicity, but by harmonizing seemingly opposite forces under a single, divine reality. Torah study possesses an intrinsic, boundless value that transcends practical application, serving as the ultimate unifier between a Jew and the Creator. Shavuos is a propitious time to establish unwavering resolutions in daily study cycles, specifically through the tracking of Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya. Giving the Torah in a desolate wilderness teaches that one must dive directly into intensive study immediately, rather than waiting for material or personal affairs to be perfectly organized. Pure obedience and physical action, such as marching on Tahalucha to share knowledge with others, allow a person to transcend the inherent limitations of intellect and emotion. This class, taught by Rabbi Shais Taub, is based on Shavuos in Likkutei Sichos Vol. 2. EMERGENCY RELIEF FOR THE REITER FAMILY: Our community is heartbroken by the tragic passing of Devora Leah Reiter ע"ה, a 47-year-old mother of nine children who spent her life helping others. Please open your heart to this urgent cause. 100% goes directly to the family: https://charidy.com/reiterfamilyfund/..

It is proper to begin the morning Shaharit prayer – both on weekdays and on Shabbat – with the recitation of Akedat Yishak, the chapter in the Torah (Bereshit 22) that tells the story of the binding of Yishak upon an altar. The Zohar writes that reciting this section is more effective in bringing a person protection than any sacrifice. When a person reads Akedat Yishak, the Zohar adds, a voice from heavens announces that no harm may be inflicted on him. The Seder Ha'yom (Rav Moshe Ben Machir, Safed, 16th century) teaches that since the Akeda marked the ultimate act of sacrifice for Hashem – as Abraham Abinu was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son – we are guaranteed protection when we read this story in times of danger. By reciting Akedat Yishak in the morning before we begin our daily Tefilla, we help ensure the acceptance of our prayers. The Seder Ha'yom urges everyone to try not to go even one day without reciting this section, as this recitation brings great benefit to the person and to the entire Jewish Nation. Furthermore, after the Akeda, Hashem promised Abraham that his descendants would defeat their enemies ("Ve'yirash Zar'acha Et Sha'ar Oyebav" – Bereshit 22:17). Therefore, reciting this section brings us victory over those who seek our destruction, and assures the downfall of all the enemies who have persecuted us. The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1806) writes that one should recite the section of Akedat Yishak with concentration, and reflect on the unbridled devotion to Hashem displayed by Abraham and Yishak at that time. Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son, whom he loved even more than himself, and Yishak – who was already an adult at the time – did not resist, and even happily prepared to be sacrificed for Hashem. When reading this section, we should gain inspiration from this example of self-sacrifice, and resolve to strengthen our devotion to G-d and our willingness to sacrifice for the fulfillment of His will. Additionally, the Hida teaches, reading the Akeda has the power to overcome the forces of harsh judgment in the world. When we recite the words "Va'ya'akod Et Yishak Beno" ("he bound his son, Yishak" – 22:9), we should have in mind to "bind" and constrain the forces of judgment that seek to sabotage our prayers and prevent them from reaching the heavens. The Yafeh La'leb (Rav Rahamim Nissim Yishak Palachi, Turkey, 1814-1907) emphasizes the importance of reciting the Akeda each morning before Shaharit, and assures us that one who recites it with concentration before Shaharit will be able to recite the entire prayer with proper concentration. Preferably, one should already be wearing his Tallit and Tefillin when reciting Akedat Yishak. It is not customary to recite Akedat Yishak before Minha, except on Yom Kippur. The Poskim debate the question of whether a person who arrived late in the synagogue on Shabbat morning, and needs to skip part of the prayer service, should skip Akedat Yishak or the chapters of Tehillim added on Shabbat morning. Some say that since the Akeda is recited every day, we apply the principle of "Tadir Ve'she'eno Tadir, Tadir Kodem" – that precedence is given to the more frequent Misva, and so the chapters added on Shabbat should be skipped. This is, in fact, the accepted Halacha, though it goes without saying that every effort should be made to arrive on time to the synagogue so that one does not need to skip any part of the Tefilla.