All Classes

In this week’s Torah Portion, the Jews are charged with mission impossible: Build a finite home for an infinite G-d. Yet, G-d chooses to “rest” in this relatively humble abode, and most intensely in the Holy of Holies, the location of the Ark.

The Ark was a gold-plated box containing the Tablets, the Torah, given to Moses at Sinai, and had two poles, one on either side, which enabled the Kohanim, the priests, to carry it during travel.

In this class, we will analyze the timeless spiritual meaning behind the enigmatic prohibition forbidding the removal or dislodging of the Ark’s two carrying poles.

The family members of great figures in history are often eclipsed and live in the shadow of their legendary relative. However, many times they are fascinating and inspiring characters in their own right.

This class will compare and contrast the different philosophies of Yisro and Moshe, focusing on their views of the ideal and most meaningful Jewish education.

Yisro, Moshe’s father-in-law, was a spiritual seeker who had studied and experimented with every spiritual and religious discipline of his time, until finally recognizing and embracing the G-d of the Jews.

This class explores that strange midrashic story that Moses made an oath to his father in law that his first child he would dedicate to a life of idolatry. How can we make sense of this? Yet it is here that we discover the genesis of a major debate about Jewish education that persists to this very day.

Likkutei Torah K Savo Maamar Hayom Hazeh. Second and Final Class

Moses’ end was drawing near. G-d had commanded him that he was to pass on the mantle of leadership to his devoted disciple Joshua, the man who ‘never left Moses’ tent.’ The Midrash tells us that it is at this historic moment that Moses turns to G-d with a surprising request.

‘I know that I am not destined to lead the nation into Israel. But let me enter not as a leader but as a follower! Let Joshua take my place, but let me live!’ G-d, the Midrash continues, granted Moses’ request.

What happens next is astonishing: The Midrash tells us that Moses became jealous of Joshua. He could not bear being deprived of the Divine revelation that was now exclusively his student's! Moses tells G-d: ‘I prefer one hundred deaths over one pang of jealousy!’ G-d again grants his request, and Moses passes away.

We have to understand: What does it mean that ‘Moses became jealous’? Moses was the one who had declared, ‘If only all the people would become prophets!’ And of his dearest student Joshua? The Talmud tells us that one can be jealous of anyone except his own son or his own student!? We find that Elijah happily granted his student Elisha double his prophetic spirit? And from all people Moses, ‘the most humble human being on earth!’

This class will explore the spiritual and psychological roots of jealousy and its results, and show the deeper perspective on just what it was that Moses was refusing. We will understand the real difference between the leadership of Moses and the leadership of Joshua, and how this was reflected in their personalities and in their generations.

On 23 Tamuz, 1570, one of the greatest mystics in Jewish history, Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, known as the Ramak, passed away. At his funeral, he was eulogized by his student and contemporary, the greatest Kabbalist, the Arizal, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, who spoke about the reason the righteous experience death.

The class dissects the meaning behind this eulogy of the Arizal and gives perspective on how to appreciate the underlying mechanisms behind world events and our life experiences. It also relates an incredible story about a meeting between the legendary Reb Michael Ber Weissmandel and the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe after the Second World War.

Part of the class is based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 24 Parahas Ki Seitzei, analyzing the eulogy of the Arizal.