Beneath The Surface

Why did God create? "God had a desire to have a home in the lower world." [Midrash Tanchumah, Naso 16] But if this world is full of so much darkness, and we humans are so flawed, why would the Infinite Divine's deepest desire be to dwell amongst us?

Why are we focusing our time and devotion these days towards petitioning God for the rebuilding of a structure in the old city of Jerusalem? Shouldn't our energy and emotion instead be in asking God for a cure to all the ills of the world? Our Sages teach: "A human being is a miniature world." Everything that happens within us symbolizes and impacts the greater universe. Last week we described the Temple as the face of the universe. This week we'll look at the rest of the body to learn more.

Today, the 17th day of the Hebrew month "Tammuz", marks the beginning of what's known as the "3 weeks" - a period of mourning commemorating the destruction of the first & second holy Temples in Jerusalem. How does this ancient house of God affect my life today in the twenty-first century?

We live in a wondrous universe full of opportunities and lessons to connect to the Infinite. Job says: "From my flesh I see God." This means we can learn about God and about our lives from every single thing we see. Nature, the human body, galaxies, emotions, dreams—all can help us in understanding and connecting with the Divine. EVERYTHING we see is laden with deeper meaning - this universe is an imprint of the heavens. Today we focus on the fact that everything in nature is alive and Life = Movement

In this week's Torah portion we read of a Jewish leader named Korach who led a large protest against the leadership of Moses. Once the Torah had been given on Sinai, Korach & others reasoned that everyone was equal, since a Mitzvah-Divine commandment connects each person directly to God, what made Moshe any more special and worthy of Leadership? Today marks the 26th anniversary of the soul passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. What can we learn from the Rebbe about Moses and the characteristics of a true leader?

In the Torah portion 'Shelach' 12 spies are sent to scout out the land of Israel, and they return with conflicting reports. Were they looking at the same land? At the same enemy? How could they have perceived the situation in such differing ways?

It all stems from how we see ourselves and the level of Divine trust we have.

David Yarus is the founder of JSwipe - the largest Jewish dating app, with more than a million users worldwide. He also leads mllnnl - a creative social agency with clients that include Birthright Israel & Hillel International. Join David and I as we dive into the millennial Jewish experience, dating during a time of social distancing, how to follow our life's dreams while staying aware of our blessings, and how we can seek & find purpose, abundance, and good vibes.

This was a lot of fun! I spoke with hilarious British Rabbi Simcha Weinstein - Author of "Up Up & Oy Vey" about the Jewish themes within the stories of Comic Book superheroes & leader of the Chabad house at Pratt University in Brooklyn - about my life's journey. He also put me to the test to see if I was allowed to truly call myself a "Millennial" Rabbi (spoiler alert: I passed with flying colors)

We delve into my personal journey and how that led me into education and relating spirituality with a younger audience community. We then move into discussing this unique time we live in where the Christian community is supporting and helping Israel and the Jewish people today and how important that is

Ethan Daniel Davidson is a musician who toured the country & has released 10 albums to date. His family owned the Detroit Pistons basketball team, Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, and the Palace of Auburn Hills stadium. After his father Bill created the William Davidson Foundation, Ethan has helped to lead its positive impact in Michigan - and around the world. We speak about our love for music, sports, Judaism, philanthropy, what the Jewish community might be needing most, and the importance of following your truth