Knowledge on the Deeper Side

Jews & Food - Lesson 2

"Soul Food"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 31, 2019)

If every bite we take is really another chance to uplift Divine sparks, then why restrict our diet? The laws of Kashrut seem counterproductive and unnecessary in light of the above. In our second session of Jews & Food we delve into the spiritual realm, uncovering the Divine source of different foods and the impact that they make on our souls.

Making Tough Choices

Grabbing On to the Reins of Life

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 30, 2019)

Ever landed in a tough spot with difficult choices? Was there a pitiful situation that set you up for some pretty bad choices? A little-known law about a slave getting his ear pierced at the door of his master encourages us all to face the music and make the best choice we can.

Decoding the Universe - Part 12

"Throwing Shade"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 27, 2019)

Is existence real, or imagined? Is our reality objectively true, or is it a figment of our imagination?

Well, that depends on how you understand the mystical doctrine of tzimtzum...

In this powerful session of Kabbalah & Coffe we look at blindfolds, stained glass, and two-way mirrors to discover the truth about the universe.

Jews & Food - Lesson 1

"In the Beginning There Was Supper"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 24, 2019)

The first time G-d speaks to man in the book of Genesis, it is to give him one commandment: A list of trees from which he can and cannot eat. From Adam and Eve to Isaac and Jacob, all the way through the Prophets and beyond, Judaism is rife with links between spiritual pursuits and gastronomic experience. But why? What is the connection between the soul and the stomach? And can food -- the most basic of human necessities -- really be a gateway to the Divine? Find out in this first taste of Jews & Food.

Life is Art

Human Flaws Are the Brushstrokes of Divine Beauty

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 23, 2019)

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without so many flaws? Wouldn’t your days be so much more meaningful if you didn’t constantly struggle with doubt, insecurity, and hidden demons? Frankly, the answer is, “No!” The secret lies in a story about an idolatrous priest who embraces the Jewish message and ends up with an eponymous portion in the Torah bearing his name.

Decoding the Universe - Part 11

"Paradox"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 20, 2019)

Can G-d create a rock so heavy that He cannot lift it?

This is known in philosophical circles as the Omnipotence Paradox. If you say that G-d can create such a rock -- then you're limiting His lifting abilities. If you say He cannot create such a rock -- then you're limiting His creative abilities.

It would seem that we're stuck between a rock and a hard place...

Enter Kabbalah. The Kabbalists speak of this exact paradox, albeit in different terms. Can G-d do something that paradoxically limits Himself? And if yes, why would G-d do such a thing?

Learn the daring answers to these questions in this incredible session of Kabbalah & Coffee.

Wet Behind the Ears

Balancing Enthusiasm with Maturity

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 16, 2019)

At the foot of the sea with the Egyptian army thundering behind them, one Jewish tribe started... throwing stones at another tribe! What? As we unravel this mystery, discover how to strike the balance between the enthusiasm you seek and the maturity you wish to master.

The Last Jewish Mobster

The Mob. The Jews. Israel. The Untold Story.

With Myron Sugerman

(Recorded Live at the Intown Jewish Academy on Tuesday, January 15, 2019)

Myron Sugerman is a masterful storyteller, a serious historian, and a communicator par excellence who will dazzle you with details of the Mob’s impact on the American Nazi Party in the 1930’s and the Mob’s role in supplying money and weapons to the Hagana and Irgun during Israel’s struggle for independence.

Myron Sugerman is author of "The Chronicles of The Last Jewish Gangster, from Meyer to Myron," a great story of Jewish heroism, pride and patriotism from the perspective of the last Jewish mobster.

Decoding the Universe - Part 10

"Divine Personalities"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 13, 2019)

Human beings have different personalities. The Talmud sums it up thus: "Just as two faces are not alike, so are two personalities not alike."

Truth be told, each of us individually possesses multiple personalities. We have moments of kindness and moments of severity, moments of ambition and moments of humility.

Seeing as we human beings have been created in the Divine image, the Kabbalists expose G-d's "multiple personalities." Each is intimated by one of the many names of G-d found in Scripture. The name "Havaya" evokes a different personality than the name "Elokim," and the name "Keil" is very different than the name "Shakai."

In this magnificent session of Kabbalah & Coffee we look at Divine Personalities and decode the Biblical names of G-d. In the process we encounter the magnificent mystical doctrine of Tzimtzum, and discover just how we got to be who we are.

Larger Than Life - Lesson 3

"Charity"

With Mrs. Dena Schusterman

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 7, 2019)

All people are not created equal -- monetarily, that is. For a host of reasons, some controllable, others not, some human beings are financially better off than their fellows. One of the ways we narrow the divide is through charity, which has always been a quintessential Jewish value.

It is well established that Jews give to charitable causes in remarkably lopsided numbers in comparison to the general population. The uniqueness of Judaism, however, lies not only in its emphasis on the deed of charity, but also in its fascinating perspective on philanthropy. According to Jewish thought, charity is as much for the benefit of the benefactor as it is for the recipient. This lesson explores the unique Jewish philosophical angle on charity and how that plays out in real life.