Knowledge on the Deeper Side

The King Is In The Field - Part 3

"The Soul of Self-Motivation"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on August 19, 2018)

There's benefit to being self-motivated and not being reliant on others for inspiration. Whether in business, relationships, or any area of personal growth, it's good to possess and maintain your own drive for success.

Perhaps that's why "self help" books and seminars are so popular. We're seeking a better way for ourselves, pushing ourselves forward.

But what happens when someone needs a dose of self-motivation, but they're not motivated enough? How do we give someone a "push" forward without hand-holding and doing it for them? If there's value in self-achievement, is it even possible to guide someone in that direction?

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore the soul of motivation. We learn what makes us tick, what best motivates us, and how we can preserve another's self-dignity and personal autonomy while helping them achieve their best.

Don’t Kick the Sukkah

Religion Isn’t Just about Feeling Good

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 20, 2018)

Abraham serves angels and is rewarded with a sukkah. We sit in a sukkah and are to be rewarded in messianic times with a sukkah of Leviathan skin. The nations kick their sukkah when it’s too hot, and the Jews calmly walk out. Discover the meaning behind this bizarre sukkah medley.

Jews in Shoes

Grounded Below, Turned Above

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 13, 2018)

Of course we need shoes. It’s no fun walking barefoot over rocks, or around the kitchen after that glass pitcher shatters. Shoes are just a part of life. But all of a sudden, when it comes to holy days, places, and times, shoes are literally flying off our feet. What’s behind these mandated shoe removals?

The Need for Need

Complacency Is the Graveyard of Growth

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 6, 2018)

As we turn our eyes to a new year, the liturgy and practices of Rosh Hashanah emphasize time and again how needy, how humble, and how downtrodden we are. Why the depression? The story of an emigrating Babylonian sage seeking new heights gives us a lot of food for thought about our position in life -- and what it takes to catapult to ever greater peaks.

"The End is Rooted in the Beginning"

Translate your vision for the world into personal action.

Mind Over Matter

The Tefillin Mind Game

Do you find your emotions difficult to contain? Welcome to the human race, my friend: the heart is a wild thing. The good news is that we have a built-in control, and it’s called the mind. Funny enough, the two boxes of tefillin affixed daily to the head and the arm have a lot to say in this conversation. Find out how in this lesson.

"Me-Harmony, We-Harmony"

Explore strategies for developing long-lasting and meaningful personal relationships.

The Astonishing Truth About Marriage

Every Day Your Wedding Day

How does that sound? Not the expenses of course, but the honeymoon. Sounds great, no? It does, but the reality is that every day is certainly not the wedding day. The hair-splitting genius of an early twentieth-century European Talmudist uncovers a fascinating idea about marriage that should help reignite that romantic spark every day.

"The Fall of the Wall"

When both internal and external barriers to growth are removed, anything is possible.

Unlocking the Hair Lock

The Secret of the Upshernish

A prevailing custom in many Jewish communities is to leave the hair of a young boy uncut for his first three years. The first haircut is celebrated with joy and fanfare. What is behind this mysterious custom? Not so surprisingly, a lot. And it’s not just for kids.