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This morning, Rabbi Bernath explored one of the most misunderstood heroes in Torah, Noach. While the Torah calls him a tzaddik, some sages question whether he was truly righteous or simply better than those around him. Why would our tradition, which praises kindness and humility, seem to downplay the one man who saved humanity?

Drawing on a 1964 teaching from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Bernath reframed the question: the Sages weren’t diminishing Noach, they were elevating him. Noach wasn’t perfect. He doubted. He hesitated. He stumbled. But he built an ark anyway. And that’s precisely why he’s the hero for the rest of us, for the ordinary, flawed people who still try to do good in a noisy, cynical world.

Noach reminds us that you don’t need to be Abraham or Moses to make a difference. You just need to build your ark, an island of sanity, compassion, and moral courage, right where you are.

Key Takeaways:

Imperfect Righteousness Is Still Righteousness.
The Torah’s praise of Noach is not about spiritual perfection, but about moral persistence. Doing good in a corrupt world is itself greatness.

The Power of Ordinary People.
Noach’s story teaches that world-changing moments often come from those who don’t feel extraordinary, just steady souls who keep showing up.

Struggle Is Part of the Journey.
Unlike “cookie-cutter” saints, real people wrestle with doubt, temptation, and fatigue. Noach’s humanity is his heroism.

Build Your Ark.
In a world flooded with noise and confusion, our job is to create spaces of kindness, faith, and integrity, shelters of light in turbulent waters.

Every Small Act Matters.
Like the girl tossing starfish back into the sea, we can’t save the whole world, but we can change someone’s world.

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In this morning’s class, Rabbi Bernath explored one of the most profound paradoxes in the Torah, the two seemingly contradictory accounts of Adam and Eve’s creation. Far from a textual flaw, this duality encodes the deepest truths about relationships, individuality, and spiritual evolution.

The first creation describes Adam and Eve as one, a fused, bi-gendered being. The second describes their separation. From this, Rabbi Bernath revealed a timeless model: every relationship, whether between man and woman or humanity and G-d, must pass through three stages, oneness, separation, and reunion.

Through this lens, the Genesis narrative becomes not ancient history but a living blueprint. It explains the evolution of human intimacy, feminism, secularism, and the search for Divine connection in the modern age, showing that we are now entering the third stage: the age of chosen unity, love and faith born not of obligation, but of conscious choice.

Key Takeaways:

Genesis isn’t contradiction, it’s choreography.
The two accounts of creation mirror the cosmic dance between unity and individuality, dependence and independence, G-d and humankind.

True love is chosen, not imposed.
Adam and Eve’s separation allowed them to rediscover each other voluntarily, the foundation of mature, lasting relationships.

History mirrors the Garden.
From religious dependence, to secular independence, humanity now yearns for integration, faith and freedom intertwined.

Marriage is self-discovery.
In loving another, we reunite with the missing part of ourselves; separation was never punishment, but preparation for deeper connection.

The third stage is now.
Our generation is called to embody integration, where spirituality and modernity, masculinity and femininity, body and soul harmonize again.

#Genesis #Kabbalah #Judaism #Jewish #adamandeve #feminism #Faith #marriage #Relationships #Unity #Sprirital #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology 

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In The Dance of Return, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delivers a moving Simchat Torah sermon celebrating the miraculous return of the hostages, a moment when prophecy, pain, and prayer converge into pure joy. He draws a profound parallel between this homecoming and the essence of Simchat Torah, a holiday where Jews dance not because of ritual, but because of belonging. 

Rabbi Bernath reminds us that Jewish joy cannot be taken, it is divine, defiant, and eternal. Through the story of Isaac’s hidden treasure and the timeless circle of Torah dance, he calls every Jew, believer and skeptic alike, to join the dance of unity, gratitude, and faith reborn.

Key Takeaways:

A Living Prophecy:
Jeremiah’s words, “Your children shall return to their borders”  come alive as we witness the hostages’ return, transforming tears of despair into tears of gratitude.

The Essence of Simchat Torah:
Unlike other festivals tied to specific mitzvot, Simchat Torah’s commandment is simply to rejoice. We dance with closed Torah scrolls because joy transcends knowledge, it’s about belonging, not perfection.

Eternal Jewish Joy:
The attack that began on Simchat Torah was meant to steal Jewish joy, yet this very year, that joy is reclaimed. Jewish joy is not circumstantial; it’s the pulse of our people.

The Treasure Within:
Like Isaac discovering the treasure under his own oven, we rediscover that the greatest strength and hope lie not in distant places, but within ourselves and our faith.

A Call to Dance:
Rabbi Bernath invites everyone, regardless of belief or pain, to dance with Heaven itself. This Simchat Torah, every step is a declaration: Am Yisrael Chai.

#hostages #Judaism #Jewish #hostagesreturn #jewishunity #simchatorah #AmYisraelChai #Faith #resilience #Israel #IsraelHamas 

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When Rabbi Yisroel Bernath spotted a superyacht with an infinity pool merging into the sky, it sparked a journey through one of the most powerful Talmudic stories, Rabbi Akiva’s “sukkah on a ship.” From that image of faith floating on waves, this class dives into the timeless tension between fragility and faith, exploring what it means to build Jewish life and joy even when the ground beneath us feels unstable.

Through stories that span from ancient Rome to post-Holocaust Budapest, Rabbi Bernath reveals the unbreakable resilience of Jewish spirit and the eternal power of ideas that can’t be burned, silenced, or washed away.

Takeaways:

1. Faith in Motion: Even when life feels unstable, your sukkah, your faith, your values, your light, can stand strong.
2. Resilience Is Our Heritage: From Rabbi Akiva’s ship to a siddur saved from the ashes, Jewish history proves that our strength comes from rebuilding, not retreating.
3. Ideas Outlive Empires: The Romans burned scrolls, but not the words. Power fades; purpose endures.
4. Your Sukkah Is a Statement: Every mitzvah you do in today’s world is an act of defiance against despair and a declaration of hope.
5. We Are the Calm in the Storm: Our task is to build joy, faith, and community even when the waves rise because that’s where holiness truly lives.

#sukkot #resilience #sukkah #sukkah2025 #sukkot2025 #sukkos #rabbigamliel #rabbiakiva #Hope #HopeAndResilience #JewishIdentity #Talmud #LightOverDarkness #joy #JewishHistory 

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Rabbi Yisroel Bernath recorded this sermon before Rosh Hashana as he was preparing and we are sharing it with you... of course it’s nothing close to the magic of Rosh Hashana at Chabad NDG in Montreal. 

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath’s Rosh Hashanah sermon reminds us that the world doesn’t change through headlines or massive movements alone, it turns on small hinges. From Newton’s apple to Rosa Parks’ quiet defiance, from Elkanah’s changed walking route to Raoul Wallenberg’s forged passports, history is reshaped by individuals who cared enough to act.

Each of us is that “breeze” a gentle but decisive force nudging another soul toward light, dignity, and hope. The shofar calls us not to despair at the scale of the world’s darkness, but to rise with courage, to see that every mitzvah matters, and to live as though even one small act can tilt the future. This Rosh Hashanah, the call is clear: be the breeze that shifts the course of another’s life.

Key Takeaways

• Small Acts Matter: World-changing moments often begin with the smallest gestures, a smile, a word of encouragement, an invitation to Shabbat.
• History Turns on the Individual: From scientists to prophets, seamstresses to diplomats, one person’s choice has often redirected the course of nations.
• Jewish Legacy of Influence: The story of Elkanah and Shmuel teaches that our steps, words, and presence ripple far beyond what we see.
• Moral Courage is Contagious: Rosa Parks’ bus seat and Wallenberg’s forged passports remind us that courage inspires movements.
• The Shofar’s Call: Rosh Hashanah summons us to battle despair with action, to hear the call of responsibility, and to know that every soul counts.

#RoshHashana #RoshHashanah #HIghHolidays #Judaism #Rabbi #yisroelbernath #chabad #Antisemitism #Jewish #Jewishfuture #JewishIdentity #resilience #Sermon 

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Rabbi Yisroel Bernath recorded this sermon before Rosh Hashana as he was preparing and we are sharing it with you... of course its nothing close to the magic of Rosh Hashana at Chabad NDG in Montreal. 

In this Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath weaves humor, Torah, and Jewish resilience into a message of hope and renewal. Beginning with laughter, he acknowledges the fears weighing on the Jewish heart today, rising antisemitism, uncertainty, and the heaviness of history. But he reminds us that the Jewish story begins not with despair, but with laughter: the birth of Yitzchak to Abraham and Sarah. Through a transformation of identity and vision, G-d teaches them, and us, that our destiny is not defined by the past but pulled by the promise of the future.

The sermon moves through stories of Jewish survival, historical cathedrals, personal anecdotes, and Sheldon Adelson’s shoes in Jerusalem, all to paint a vivid picture: we are builders of a spiritual architecture that spans generations. Each mitzvah is a chisel, each act of faith a brick, each Jew a builder. And above all, our answer to fear and hatred has always been joy.

Key Takeaways

1. Identity Shapes Destiny
   Abraham and Sarah became parents only after G-d changed their names, showing us that how we see ourselves changes how we live.
2. History Pulled by Promise, Not Pushed by the Past
   Jewish survival isn’t logical, it’s miraculous. Our story isn’t driven by yesterday’s pain but by tomorrow’s promise.
3. Laughter as Our Legacy
   The first Jewish child was named Yitzchak, laughter, teaching us that joy and hope are the foundation of Jewish life.
4. Generational Builders
   Like the cathedrals built over centuries, Jewish life is a project carried forward by every generation. Each mitzvah is part of a vast spiritual architecture.
5. Joy as Resistance
   When the world says to give up, we laugh. When it says to despair, we believe. Our answer to hatred has always been love, laughter, and building.

#RoshHashana #RoshHashanah #HIghHolidays #Judaism #Rabbi #yisroelbernath #chabad #Antisemitism #Jewish #Jewishfuture #JewishIdentity #resilience #Sermon 

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Sometimes it takes a crisis to stop us in our tracks and ask: Who am I? What kind of spouse am I? What kind of person am I becoming?

On Rosh Hashanah, Judaism invites us to ask these very questions. And at the heart of the holiday is a mysterious, beloved prayer: Hayom Harat Olam, “Today the world is born.”

But did you know? The same phrase appears in the Book of Jeremiah with an opposite meaning, not birth, but never being born at all. Why would our sages choose such a paradox for the High Holidays?

In this inspiring High Holiday sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath takes us on a journey through:

• The prophet Jeremiah’s cry of despair
• The Netziv’s life-changing decision as a child
• Michelangelo’s challenge to Raphael: Amplius,Think bigger!
• The shofar’s call for authentic self-expression
• The hidden Jewish spark that even Soviet oppression couldn’t extinguish

This Rosh Hashanah, the shofar asks each of us: Will you live as an echo, or will you give birth to your true self?

Key Takeaways

1. Rosh Hashanah is not only the birthday of the world, it’s the birthday of your world. Each year, we can choose to start anew.
2. Harat Olam has two meanings: remaining unborn potential or becoming a living expression of your G-d-given gifts.
3. The shofar rejects echoes… it calls us to live authentically, not as faint imitations of who we’re meant to be.
4. Amplius, Think bigger! Don’t live small when your canvas is vast.
5. Every Jew has a hidden spark… no matter how distant, it can be awakened in a single moment of courage, connection, or faith.

#RoshHashanah #Judaism #Jewish #RoshHashana #chabad #newyear #Shofar #hayomharatolam #inspiration #Teshuvah #teshuva #jewishsermon #jewishnewyear #Elul #YomKippur 

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In this class, Rabbi Bernath reframed the very idea of confession in Judaism. While most people think of confession as listing sins and failures, the Torah introduces Vidui Ma’aser, a “confession” where the farmer proudly declares to G-d that he has fulfilled every detail of the mitzvah of tithing. Why would the Torah call this a confession? Because true spiritual growth begins not by beating ourselves down, but by acknowledging the good we’ve done. When we confess our strengths, we build the confidence and clarity to face our shortcomings without despair.

Confession, then, isn’t meant to break us, it’s meant to fix us. It’s not about shame; it’s about uncovering the truth that we are divine souls who sometimes fall short but are always capable of rising higher. By celebrating our goodness first, we create the spiritual courage to transform our failures into growth.

Key Takeaways

• Confession in Judaism isn’t only about failure: The Torah’s “tithing confession” is actually a declaration of success.
• Celebrate your victories: By verbalizing what you’ve done right, you strengthen your belief in your own holiness and capacity.
• Healthy confession = owning both sides: “I am good and capable, and that’s why this mistake doesn’t fit me, and I can do better.”
• Encouragement inspires growth: Just as children thrive when parents highlight strengths before weaknesses, we too change more when we see ourselves through the lens of goodness.
• Chassidic joy in confession: Like the Baal Shem Tov’s cantor, we can sing our confessions, not out of arrogance or denial, but because cleansing the soul is a joyful act of uncovering diamonds beneath the dirt.
• Confession challenge: In the next 24 hours, “confess” something good you’ve done, out loud, to yourself or someone you trust. Let it remind you who you really are.

#Judaism #Jewish #chabad #Rabbi #Kabbalah #Torah #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #torahwisdom #BibleStudy #Bible #confession #goodness #psychology #baalshemtov #KiTavo #Teshuvah #ViduiMaaser #JewishGrowth

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In this week’s Torah portion, Ki Seitzei, we learn the law of the firstborn: even if the firstborn son comes from the “unloved” wife, he must be given the double portion. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explored the deeper Kabbalistic meaning behind this law, revealing that the “beloved” and “unloved” wives are metaphors for two sides of our soul — the inspired, G-d-loving self and the struggling, conflicted self. The Torah teaches that our greatest spiritual “firstborn” often emerges from the parts of ourselves we might despise. By working with our struggles, we can produce a “double portion” of light and blessing, more precious to G-d than what comes easily.

Key Takeaways

• Two Souls Within: We each have a “beloved” side (our Divine soul) and an “unloved” side (our animal soul) — both are part of our relationship with G-d.
• The Power of Struggle: G-d delights not only in saintly ease but especially in the victories that come from our inner battles.
• A Double Portion: What feels despised in us can be the source of double blessing when transformed.
• Self-Compassion: Instead of hating our struggles, we can embrace them as the very reason we were created (Tanya ch. 27).
• Messianic Promise: In the era of Moshiach, the hidden “firstborn” light of our struggles will be revealed in full splendor.

#Jewish #Judaism #Torah #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #BibleStudy #Bible #FirstbornRights #AnimalSoul #Divine #DivineSoul #KiSeitzei #KiTeitzei #Moshiach #chabad #chassidus #Kabbalah #Rabbi 

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Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks a fascinating teaching: why does G-d reject the idea of a single-stone altar? At first glance it’s just about ancient rituals, but the deeper message is timeless. Real faith and real life can’t be built on “one stone” one path, one perspective, one style. True oneness comes from many stones joined together. This class explores how individuality and diversity aren’t just tolerated by G-d, they are essential to His plan.

Key Takeaways

• Oneness ≠ sameness: G-d is One, but He created a world of diversity.
• The danger of single-stone thinking: When we make faith, truth, or life only in our image, we exclude everyone else.
• The power of many stones: Each person carries a unique piece of truth, and together we make the divine symphony whole.
• Celebrating difference: Authentic spirituality means honoring the uniqueness of others, not fearing it.
• Practical takeaway: Stop trying to make others fit your mold; instead, see how their “stone” adds to the altar of life.

#diversity #Judaism #Jewish #Torah #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #BibleStudy #oneness #individuality #Unity #Faith #community #pluralism #spiritualgrowth #beloning #community 

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