Knowledge on the Deeper Side

The Curious Case of the Scapegoat

Absolving Guilt, Restoring Dignity

In one of the most dramatic rituals of Temple times, a goat was sent off to the wilderness to tumble down a cliff on the holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur. What is behind this curious ritual? The mystics tackle this mitzvah head-on, and we emerge with a powerful lesson in forgiveness and grace.

Sharing Light from the Silver Lining

With Mrs. Dina Hurwitz

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on Tuesday, April 24, 2018)

Dina Hurwitz is a thoughtful, humorous, and inspiring speaker. She is a proud mother of seven children whose life was turned upside down when her husband, Rabbi Yitzi, was diagnosed with ALS in 2013. Amidst the battle of her husband’s illness and raising her family, Dina courageously inspires through sharing her honest reflections of faith and hope throughout the most trying of times.

The Majestic Bride - Part 2

"Union"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on April 22, 2018)

Male and female duality exists not only on this most physical plane of reality. Masculine and feminine energies exist throughout all strata of creation, within each scaffolded dimension. And it is the union of these two energies that produces subsequent planes of existence.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore the sublime parameters of masculine and feminine energy, chart their unions, and derive practical life-wisdom to apply to our physical, human relationships.

The Majestic Bride - Part 1

"Intimacy"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on April 15, 2018)

"The Majestic Bride" is a breathtaking exploration of Kabbalistic wisdom on men, women, and relationships. It examines the mystical energies of love, relationships, masculinity, femininity, intimacy, and giving and receiving. Learn the deepest secrets of the cosmos and how they apply to our most physical of human relationships.

In our first session we focus on the lost art of intimacy.

Check Your Privilege

Getting Ahead in Life

Who’s more admirable -- the self-made man, or the born rich? And which one would you rather be? Rather than put any one side down, journey through the Torah narrative of human and animal law to discover the beauty of both -- and how to utilize everything to get ahead.

Snake Oil Salesman

Getting off the Ground

“Be a mensch!” is probably something you’ve heard before. But is that limited to an annual donation to the synagogue sisterhood and holding the door for that bulky stroller? What does it really mean to be human, a real mensch? The snake crawling on the ground gives us a pretty good idea of what it’s not -- and an inkling of what, indeed, it is.

Consumer Culture

Balancing Mind and Matter

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

Many great sages sufficed with bread and water, shunning the caviar and the Rolls Royce. But is having a few extras really so bad? Discover how, when, and why we ought to make use of the finer things in life in a way that complements, rather than contradicts, our spiritual selves.

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.