In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos—The Last Shabbos of 5785—Rav Shlomo Katz invites us to step out of autopilot and enter Shabbos as something utterly new. From the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching that on this Shabbos Hashem Himself blesses Tishrei—and through it the entire coming year—to the Shem MiShmuel and Avnei Nezer on “אם תשיב משבת רגלך”, we learn how to lay down our hergel (habit) and receive a heart that’s awake today—“היום אם בקולו תשמעו.”

Together we explore:
 • Why each Shabbos is its own world—no “tashlumin next week,” only now.
• Shalom between guf and neshamah—how the candles, Kiddush, and even our eating can rise instead of weigh us down.
• The covered challahs: not a table custom, but a covenant of kavod habriyot—if we guard bread from shame, how much more a fellow Jew.
• Practical avodah for this Shabbos: pause before Kiddush and name one “new” you’re bringing; choose one act of pre-emptive chesed (don’t wait for a shinui tzurah); and let one song or smile lift a soul.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam bless our Tishrei, renew our strength, and grant a year where body and soul, heaven and earth, meet in Shabbos-peace—with חיות, dignity, and new song.

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For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com

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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos, we enter the quiet glow of Friday night and the tefillah of “מגן אבות בדברו—מחיה מתים במאמרו.” Together we sing Shomer Yisrael and ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה, then learn how Shabbos revives what feels lifeless—sometimes not by miracles, but by a word, a smile, or real listening.

Through the Beit Avraham of Slonim, the Shevet Musar, the Maharal, and Chazal’s line “טוב המלבין שיניים לחברו יותר ממשקהו חלב,” we discover that to revive the living often means to speak gently and to hear deeply. The Kotzker reminds us: techiyat hameitim for those already alive is the hardest, and holiest, work.

Don’t wait for a “שינוי צורה”; offer chizuk before someone breaks. This Shabbos, our avodah is simple and brave: one word, one hug, one moment of real shemi’ah that gives a friend back their will to live. May the Ribbono shel Olam make us agents of life—מחיה מתים במאמרנו ובשמיעתנו—and may every Shabbos restore us with חיות, warmth, and new song.

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For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com

Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t

Rav Shlomo Katz explores the depth and beauty of this popular Shabbos niggun, composed by Rav Aharon Hakoen of Karlin zy"a
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For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com

Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t

In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz reminds us that Elul תשפ"ה is not a repeat of last year—it is brand new. Together we enter into the niggun of ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה, the song of renewal, and the tefillot that prepare us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Through the words of the Ibn Ezra and the teachings of Rav Biderman, the Shla Hakadosh, and the Ba'al Shem Tov, we learn that true life is found not only in feeling inspired, but in choosing to stay alive even through ניסיונות (challenges) that seem to make no sense. Torah and mitzvot done with חיות, with freshness and vitality, become our very source of life. May we merit not just to survive, but to feel renewed, uplifted, and alive every single Shabbos.

Friends, in this powerful shiur, we journey deeply into the beautiful zemer, "Kah Ribon," exploring the heartfelt call from Hashem to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash within each of us. Together, we uncover profound teachings from Rav Birmann, the Belzer Rebbe, the Mei HaShiloach (Izhbitzer Rebbe), and other holy sources that illuminate how every act of holiness we choose shapes the Divine sanctuary in heaven. Imagine Hashem Himself longing for your next moment of kedushah, waiting with infinite love and patience for us to make space for Him in our hearts. Take this deep Torah, carry its sweetness and truth into your homes, and invite Hashem to your Shabbat table this week.

As we conclude the Kah Ribon series, Rav Shlomo Katz takes us deep into the hauntingly beautiful stanza למקדשך תוב ולקדש קדשים -  exploring what it truly means to become a Mishkan, a sanctuary, for Hashem.

Drawing from the Ohr HaChaim, the Ramchal, and the Akedat Yitzchak, this shiur uncovers the profound teaching that God's dwelling is not limited to a structure. It resides within the soul of every Jew. We revisit Shlomo HaMelech's dedication of the Beit HaMikdash and his hidden fear: that the external grandeur of the Mikdash might make us forget to build the inner sanctuary within.

Are we making space inside ourselves for the Divine Presence? Can we let go of self-doubt long enough to believe that even our flesh and blood can be a holy dwelling place?

This is a shiur for those who long for the Beit HaMikdash. Not just the one to descend from Heaven, but the one that is waiting to be built inside our own hearts.

“I Know It’s You, Hashem.”
In one of the most heart-piercing shiurim of the year, Rav Shlomo dives into the stirring words of the Modzitz niggun:
“וְאַפֵּיק יַעַס עַמָּךְ מִגּוֹ גָּלוּתָא, עַמָּךְ דִּי בְּכֵי אֶת מִכְּלַל אוּמַיָּא” 
“Take the wrath from Your people, Hashem… Your people who cry out from among the nations.”

Through tears, song, and Torah, Rav Shlomo invites us to see through the terrifying masks of exile, fear, and suffering, and to recognize that it’s all still our loving Father beneath the lion’s skin.

Whether you’re afraid, confused, inspired, or just holding on — this shiur gives language and melody to the soul’s deepest plea.

In this Shiur:

- A chilling parable about a lion entering a Jewish home.

- The deep Kabbalistic and emotional meaning of אריותא (lions) in the current moment.

- Insights from the Modzitz Rebbe, Reb Shlomo of Zvhil, Rav Ginsburgh, and Rebbe Simcha Bunim of Peshischa.

- What it means to cry out “למענך” — not for our sake, but for Yours, Hashem.

What if every struggle, every detour, every moment in your life was really just a hidden encounter with God?

In this week's shiur on Kah Ribon, Rav Shlomo Katz dives into the soul of the verse לו יחיה גבר שנין אלפין לא יעל גבורתך בחושבניה—uncovering a radical teaching from the Vorker Rebbe, the Magaleh Amukos, Rav Baruch of Mezhibuzh, and Rav Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin. It's not just that Hashem’s might is beyond calculation. It's that when we choose to see the Aleph, the אלופו של עולם, the Master of the World, in every moment, even the harshest judgments melt away.

This is the difference between exile and redemption. One small letter—Aleph. One shift in consciousness. The moment we live with Emunah that nothing is mikreh (random), we sweeten all judgments and begin to taste geulah.

🔹 Why חטא (sin) has a silent Aleph
🔹 The power of Shehakol in the face of death
🔹 How Yaakov Avinu saw only Alephs—even in Lavan and Eisav
🔹 The secret of turning גלות into גאולה
🔹 And what it means to live like Adam HaRishon—with everything created just for you

If you’re mevakesh emunah—if you’re even just seeking to believe—Hashem already begins to forgive.