Last night I was invited to be a part of A Night for the Family at Pepperdine University. It was a memorable evening in more ways than one. (Read about it here: A Night for Family.)
I was asked to speak before a crowd that had just enjoyed seeing the life of Corrie ten Boom performed.
One [...]
Posts under ‘Classes’
Jewish Lessons in Parenting
PJC Chanukah Party 2009 Address
As part of the festivities of our Chanukah Party on the beach, I addressed the attended with a speech on Chanukah and this week’s parsha, Miketz.
It was an addendum to my Shabbos drasha, which I hope to publish shortly.
Enjoy the class. Audio is below.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top of this [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 12/06/09
We ventured further into Chapter 9 today.
The Ramchal’s insights into laziness, anxiety and rational fear continue to amaze me.
Today contrasted rational fear for one’s safety with imagined fear used to excuse laziness.
Worth a listen, as always…
Audio is below.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top of this page. Or just click here.
You can also [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 11/22/09
Today’s class was another really informative and relevent topic.
We learned about fear, worry and anxiety.
With anxiety affecting tons of us it was interesting to find sources bemoaning the difficulty of dealing with anxiety as well as its debilitating nature.
Very enjoyable class, as always.
Audio is below.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top of [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 11/15/09
Last week we talked about the Healthcare plan that was ratified by the house the night before.
This week we got back on track and started Chapter 9.
In my opinion, this was one of the best Mesillas Yesharim classes to date. The Ramchal was so insightful and I shared an insight of my own which I [...]
Prayer in Judaism | Connections 11/2/09
Prayer is something so basic to all faiths and religions. Jewish ideas of prayer are decidedly different from other cultures. It is very important to learn about the Jewish approach to prayer.
I began the class by announcing that this was a topic I longed to discuss for a very long time. I finally felt that [...]
Truth and Faith | Connections 10/26/09
Two words with very different meanings were discussed tonight.
Truth on the one hand and faith on the other.
In Judaism these are really two phases of life’s various challenges. Our discussion ranged from Abraham to smokers to ferrets.
It was quite an adventure and I invite you listen.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 10/25/09
We began today’s class by delving deeper into the ground-breaking concept we studied last week.
Basically, the Ramchal teaches us that we can use our physical actions to arouse spiritual and emotional change.
We discussed a number of applications for the concept.
Then we began the next chapter.
Audio is below.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the [...]
The Miracle of Tests and Ordeals | Connections 10/19/09
At Connections this week we learned a lot about ourselves.
We began with a quote from Messilas Yesharim. The purpose of life is to perform mitzvos, to serve and to be tested. To be tested is the purpose of life?
We then discussed ordeals and tests in a traditional and more novel way. You will enjoy the approach. You [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 10/18/09
After a Holiday break, the Mesillas Yesharim class returned today. Today’s class was a bit shortened due to the extra long Rosh Chodesh prayers.
What was short on time was long on content. The end of the Seventh Chapter of Mesillas Yesharim contains what I find to be the most profound insight in the entire text.
We [...]
Fast of Gedaliah: Meaning and Lessons | Connections 9/21/09
It was not easy giving my Monday night class tonight. After fasting all day to remember the tragic death of the great Gedaliah I found myself tripping over my words. So I apologize if the class sounds a bit jumbled.
We talked about the history of Gedaliah and the significance of the fast day.
I concluded by [...]
Physical Reward For Spiritual Deeds | Connections 9/14/09
This week we learned about the actual nature of the judgment of Rosh Hashana.
Using a unique approach from Rav Dessler, we resolved a difficult contradiction in Jewish philosophy and enjoyed great questions and insight from all the attendees.
This was our final class in the Preparing for Rosh Hashana Series.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 9/13/09
Chapter 7 continued with more inspirational words to help us do our Mitzvos with more Zrizus.
We completed Zrizus part A, beginning your good deeds with speed and we began Zrizus part B, completing your good deeds quickly.
There was also a short discussion on good review habist for Mesillas Yesharim. Aside from reviewing by listening online [...]
The Shofar: A Time Machine | Connections 9/7/09
This evening we tackled another oft discussed them of Rosh Hashana, the Shofar.
We used a deep understanding of Shofar to answer a common and troubling calendaring issue regarding Rosh Hashana and Creation.
Overall, the participation was great, the energy was high and it was a great way to continue our preparatoins for Rosh Hashana.
All audio classes [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 9/6/09
Today we began Chapter 7 of the Mesillas Yesharim. Having established that Zrizus is the opposite of Laziness the Ramchal explains how and when we must implement Zrizus.
We need to know how to use good behaviors to maximize their benefits.
Learn all about it by listening to the class below.
All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts [...]
Rosh Hashana: Beginning of all Beginnings | Connections 8/31/09
As we continue our journey through Elul, marching towards Rosh Hashana, Connections returned the Pacific Jewish Center.
Our approach was that if we are “preparing” for Rosh Hashana, we need to understand just what Rosh Hashana means. What is a succesful Rosh Hashana and how do we get there?
We analyzed one angle of Rosh Hashana that [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 08/30/09
This week we completed Chapter 6 of Mesillas Yesharim.
We began with a great discussion about Truth. We talked about how people fall into two categories. There are those who choose what they do and base their decision on what they believe to be the “truth” and there are others who merely follow the path in [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 08/16/09
I returned to Venice after a short Summer break and today we resumed our Mesillas Yesharim class.
Highlights today included a very interesting insight from Maimonides regarding laziness and the “Golden Path”. My father told me that in the Shmona Prakim, Maimonides gives a very surprising opposite to laziness.
Honor Thy Father & Mother | Connections 6/8/09
Another beautiful evening in Venice CA was highlighted by a wonderful Connections.
Everyone was all smiles and we had a great time socializing and learning.
Our Torah topic was the philosophy and moral implications of honoring one’s parents.
We discussed various theories and we ended with the Torah approach.
I recommend listening to this class as the questions and [...]
Men (Learning) at Work
This blog post is about men learning at work. By learning, I mean studying Torah.
I taught a class today at Teichman Enterprises.
It was a really great experience and I was inspired and I want to share my feelings with you.
If you are looking for the Australian musical artists known as Men at Work who sing [...]
Messilas Yesharim 6/6/09
We began Chapter 5 of Messilas Yesharim.
Ramchal begins to define for us the word “Zrizus”.
The basic idea we learned this week was the parallel from Zehirus to Zrizus.
Zehirus helps us avoid morally harmful activity. Zrizus helps us take action to do morally good activity.
We also discussed Sotah and some of the ideas that were mentioned [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 05/24/09
You may recall that last week we did not get any further in the Messilas Yesharim text.
Oh yes, we had a great discussion about getting serious about life. We devoted much of our discussion to clothes.
Clothes has been a hot topic at the Pacific Jewish Center lately.
Yesterday, we supposed to talk about the number 50 [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 05/24/09
After a wonderful Rosh Chodesh morning services we began our weekly foray into the depths of Ramchal’s Mesillas Yesharim.
Last week we began to learn about the detriment of scoffing or sarcasm to out spiritual growth. The general principle is that one who is incapable of seriousness about life will not be able grow spiritually. This [...]
Structure and Philosophy of Torah 3 | Connections 5/4/09
The third and final class in a very exciting series concluded our preparations for Shavuos.
Catch up by listening to Part 1 and Part 2.
Today we sought to resolve the burning question we began our series with. Why is Talmud study the focus of Torah scholarship? Why do Yeshiva students spend the bulk of their time [...]
Mesillas Yesharim 05/17/09
This week we ventured further into the detriments to watchfulness.
The last two weeks (catch up here and here) have focused on setting aside time for Torah and spiritual growth. This is to avoid becoming mired in materiality and neglected our spiritual needs.
Today we moved on to the next detriment. The next thing Ramchal teaches us [...]
