Why Did the Most Revered Sages Juggle Torches while they Danced on Sukkos? - TheYeshiva: This class was presented on Tuesday, 13 Tishrei, 5784, October 15, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

We Don't Ignite Passion by Bemoaning the State of Our Generation - TheYeshiva: This class, the third text-based class on the discourse by the Alter Rebbe, Likkutei Torah Bayom Hashmini, was presented on Monday, 12 Tishrei, 5784, October 14, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.

Will I Ever Be Grateful for My Wounds? What Transformational Healing Looks Like - TheYeshiva: This class was presented on Thursday, 8 Tishrei, 5784, October 10, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.
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A Guided Meditation to Connect with Your Inner Child - TheYeshiva: On Wednesday evening, 7 Tishrei, 5785, Oct. 9, 2024, Rabbi YY Jacobson addressed questions from Fresh Start Participants, concerning Yom Kippur, guilt, forgiveness, confession, and finding the bliss and joy in an authentic relationship with G-d. Fresh Start Retreat, Their flagship program, Fresh Start Retreat, is a 7-day intensive retreat helping participants understand their past to create a brighter future. https://jewishfreshstart.com/home

How to Bring Yom Kippur Awareness Into the Whole Year; The Strange Count In the Holy of Holies: "One and One, One and Two, One and Three..." - TheYeshiva: This Yom Kippur class was presented on Tuesday, 6 Tishrei, 5784, October 8, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. Some of Judaism’s greatest heroes and holiest persons are surprisingly unsung and largely unknown. And some of Judaism’s most courageous moral and personal accomplishments are not performed in public fanfare, but rather in the intimate space of one’s life. I want to introduce you today to two of those heroes: Palti ben Layish, Palti the son of Layish,a biblical figure who lived in the times of King David, and Michal, the daughter of King Saul. There is a beautiful verse we sing each Friday night in eishes chayil from the book of Mishlei, Proverbs. Sheker ha'chein v'hevel ha'yofee, ishah yir'as Hashem hee tis'hallal. “Charm is false and beauty is vain; a woman who fears G-d, Hashem, she should be praised.” The Talmud tells us: “’Charm is false’ refers to Joseph and his withstanding the seduction of Potiphar's wife; ‘beauty is vain’ refers to Boaz and his not having relations with Ruth; ‘a woman who fears G-d, she should be praised’ refers to Palti ben Layish.” The composition of the Torah portion Acharei in the book of Leviticus is one of the most paradoxical and puzzling in the entire Chumash—a blend of splendid holiness with grotesque profanity. The portion (Parshas Acharei, Leviticus chapters 16-18) is basically divided into two sections. The first half of the portion deals with the holiest and most spiritual day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur, and its magical ingredient for renewal. It discusses that rare moment, occurring once a year, when the holiest man of Israel, the High Priest, would enter the holiest space on earth, the chamber in the Temple known as the "Holy of Holies" where he would perform special services. This day was designated to bring atonement, cleansing and healing to the Jewish people and to the entire world. Yet, soon after this, the Torah moves on to caution us against vulgar expressions of intimacy. "Do not follow the ways of Egypt where you once lived, nor of Canaan, where I will be bringing you," states the Torah. It then proceeds to enumerate a long list of intimate activities from which a human being should abstain, including intimate relations with one's father or mother, siblings, uncles and aunts, very close relatives, other married women, etc. Finally, the Torah concludes, "Do not perform any sexual act with an animal… A woman shall likewise not give herself to an animal and allow it to mate with her. This is an utterly detestable perversion.' Do not let yourself be defiled by any of these acts…You shall not cause the land to vomit you out when you defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was there before you." How does one understand the juxtaposition between these two extremes -- Yom Kippur and immoral relations? And how do we understand the law that on Yom Kippur afternoon we read in the Torah about these immoral relations? Why does Jewish law dictate that the High Priest go home at the end of Yom Kippur? Where else would he go? And what is the meaning of the High Priest sprinkling blood “one above and seven below,” each time counting “one, one and one, one and two…” Why did the High Priest sprinkle the blood eight times in the holy of holies, and each time say, “one and one,” “one and two,” etc.? The class takes us on a journey into one of the most meaningful lessons in the Jewish approach to morality. You may be flying high in heaven; your heart may be melting away in celestial ecstasy; your soul may be ablaze with a sacred fire and your heart may be swelling with inspiration. Yet you must remember that in one day from now or in one month from now as circumstances alter, you may find yourself in the muck. At this critical moment of an inner spiritual explosion, you must stock up the resolve and commitment to retain your integrity during your lowest moments that may come ahead. How do I hold on to my truest core self even when my coping mechanisms and triggers come out to hijack me?

The Fact That I'm Coping Well Does Not Mean I'm Not Messed Up: Healing "With All Your Heart, Soul, and Might" - TheYeshiva: This text-based class on the discourse (maamar) by the Alter Rebbe, Bayom Hashmini Atzeres, was presented on Monday, 5 Tishrei, 5784, October 7, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. This is the first class in the series, exploring the three types of love: “With all your heart, all your soul, and all your might,” with all your brokenness and failures. "You shall love" is not just a mitzvah, but also a prediction, "you will love." When the blockages are gone, the love will emerge. There is the love with "all our heart," all our parts, realizing that all of our "negative cravings" and emotions will all be transformed into Divine love. We explore how we form our coping mechanisms and survival instincts, and how our shells can hijack our Divine souls, but when they are unburdened, they all become part of the Divine love. Then there is a love with all your soul, this is a frequency of love, only available in the Divine soul, with no replica or counterfeit in a material world, not aligned with G-d. Then there is the love "with all your might," fueled by the darkness, toxicity, blockages, mistakes and dysfunctionality of our lives. This is never available to the "complete, whole person," who remains at best a container for Divine energy, but only to the Baal Teshuvah, who has broken all the vessels, and now can experience a longing of infinite magnitude. That is why the Talmud says that true repentance transforms sins into mitzvos, and it is what King Solomon meant when he said that the deepest light is created by darkness. This is the secret of Teshuvah.
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The Courage to Birth Yourself: The True Meaning of Judgement Day - TheYeshiva: This class was presented on Tuesday, 28 Elul, 5784, Parshas Haazinu, October 1, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. What does it mean that "Today is the birthday of the world?" Why do we say in Psalms, "You forgive so that you will be feared?" Why does G-d want to judge us? The class explains the inner meaning of Rosh Hashanah, the day when G-d celebrates your victories, marvels at your journeys, takes pride in your courage and resolve, examines your struggles and set backs, and creates a spectacular plan for the new year.
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Don’t Ask My Why I Love, Because the Love Came Before the Why - TheYeshiva: This class, the third and final class on the Maamar Ki Karov, Likkutei Torah Nitzavim, was presented on Monday, 28 Elul, 5784, Parshas Hazinu, September 30, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.
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Motzei Shabbos, September 28 - TheYeshiva: Live Selichos Event, Motzei Shabbos, 26 Elul, 5784, September 28, 2024, In Person at 20 Forshay Rd & Live Stream.

Every Morning I Get to Open Myself Up to the Frequency of Surrender and Bliss - TheYeshiva: This class was presented on Thursday, 23 Elul, 5784, Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech, September 26, 2024, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY.
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