The Art of Giving - Part 11

"Light Enwrapped"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on March 25, 2018)

How does spiritual light pierce the divide between spirit and matter and become realized in tangible form? To achieve this, say the mystics, the light must be wrapped in a "garment."

Garments both cover and reveal at the same time. It may sound like a paradox, but it's true. In fact, the higher a thing is and the loftier its source, the more it needs a garment to be realized in a mundane space.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore spiritual realities and the garments that make them tangible. We discover how our actions play an integral role in the creation of these garments. And we learn practical tools for revealing more light in our lives.

The Art of Giving - Part 10

"Mystical Math"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on March 18, 2018)

Often, the sum is simply the total of its parts. But not always. Especially when you're dealing with "mystical math."

Sometimes, the collective is incomparably greater than the pieces that go into it. It's like that with letters. It's like that with musical notes. And it's like that with souls.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we approach the math of the Kabbalists and discover the gifts that truly cannot be counted. Plus, we learn the incredible Talmudic tale of a man who tasted every sin... and died a complete tzaddik.

The Art of Giving - Part 9

"Righteous Impact"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on March 11, 2018)

Are there big and small mitzvot? It sure seems that way. We intuitively sense that some Jewish practices are bigger deals and some are not as big. Yet, Ethics of Our Fathers teaches us to treat small mitzvot the same way as big ones, since we don't know the impact of different mitzvot.

This reveals a paradox: there are big and small mitzvot, yet we ought to treat them the same. Why? Because who knows the impact of a good deed, no matter how "small"...

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore the impact our deeds have -- both large and small. The lessons we learn will change the way we look at the power we possess in the palms of our hands.

The Bible Course

Part 3: The Book of Judges

Lesson 4

With Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Immerse yourself in the richness of the Jewish Scriptures and discover in the ancient texts hidden meanings that have been lost over centuries of translations. Delve into the fascinating world of the ancient prophets of Israel. Peel back the layers of translation and savor the true Hebrew prophecies as they were originally proclaimed. This series focuses on the dramatic stories and powerful messages contained in the Book of Judges.

The Bible Course

Part 3: The Book of Judges

Lesson 3

With Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Immerse yourself in the richness of the Jewish Scriptures and discover in the ancient texts hidden meanings that have been lost over centuries of translations. Delve into the fascinating world of the ancient prophets of Israel. Peel back the layers of translation and savor the true Hebrew prophecies as they were originally proclaimed. This series focuses on the dramatic stories and powerful messages contained in the Book of Judges.

Stealing Freedom

When Jailbreaking Is the Only Option

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

“You don’t have what it takes.” “Stop faking it.” “Who do you think you are?” Ever heard those before? Yeah, we all have. You want to turn things around, be a better you... despite all the naysayers. What to do? Take a cue from the Passover story and “snatch your afikomen” -- steal your way to a brighter future.

Many tourists visit the Vatican in order to view the remarkable artwork that has been painted, gathered, and collected there over the centuries. The Vatican archives also contain numerous ancient Torah manuscripts, and many Jewish scholars have been tempted over the ages to get a glimpse of these rare and precious works. Some visitors to the Vatican have even reported seeing artifacts from the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple, stored there, including items as precious as the Menorah and the Parochet (curtains).

May a Jewish tourist visit the Vatican in order to view these items? What are the Jewish legal and ethical considerations? Do we indeed say, “When in Rome...”?

We explore these questions and more in the light of Talmudic discourse and Jewish law in our third session of Headlines.

The arrest of Bernie Madoff in 2008 once again brought the term “Ponzi” into our everyday lexicon. The term is named after Charles Ponzi, an Italian-born financier who would pay investors wildly generous returns without generating any profits from the investment, using money received from new investors. Essentially, he pocketed his clients’ money without investing it for them.

The Madoff scandal hit especially close to home for the Jewish community not only because he is Jewish, but also because of his philanthropic involvement in many worthy Jewish institutions and charities.

But should these charities keep the donations they received from Madoff? Or should they be legally or morally obligated to return the money to the defrauded Madoff clients?

We explore these fascinating questions in the light of Talmudic discourse and Jewish law in our second session of Headlines.

The Bible Course

Part 3: The Book of Judges

Lesson 2

With Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Immerse yourself in the richness of the Jewish Scriptures and discover in the ancient texts hidden meanings that have been lost over centuries of translations. Delve into the fascinating world of the ancient prophets of Israel. Peel back the layers of translation and savor the true Hebrew prophecies as they were originally proclaimed. This series focuses on the dramatic stories and powerful messages contained in the Book of Judges.

Where Do I Fit In?

The Synthesis between Community and Individual

What makes you most proud? Your individual accomplishments, or your contribution to the community? Are those perhaps the same thing? What if they clash? And which one is more important? Sacrificial goats, the tablets at Sinai, and the breastplate of the High Priest are the surprising authors of insightful commentary on these very questions.