Knowledge on the Deeper Side

A Time to Fast

What Yom Kippur Is All About

Diets of all kinds have become popular, but the Jewish people have been fasting for thousands of years. So, what’s behind the Yom Kippur fast? Wouldn’t a snack make it easier to remain in synagogue all day? This profound take on Yom Kippur reveals why eating simply has no place in the schedule.

Curious Customs of Rosh Hashanah

Getting the Best of the Satan

Certain High Holiday customs are geared toward “confusing the satan,” to weaken his prosecuting act. But how exactly does that work? More than just throwing him a few false leads, the name of the game is staying positive and confident that G-d is on our side.

Journey of the Soul

Where Is the Soul Headed?

Heaven, hell, and the world to come: all loaded terms. But what is the Jewish take on life after death? And what difference does it make now? By exploring these matters, this class gives an empowering perspective of what we are doing here.

Read Between the Lines

The Marriage of G-d and Israel

Our reception is considered our marriage with G-d; exile is likened to divorce. But is it really possible for the Jewish people to separate from G-d? By hiding the laws of marriage in between the laws of divorce, the Torah points to the depth of our relationship with G-d.

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 25

"Spice Spice Torah"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on November 6, 2016)

The ancient sages of the Talmud compare Torah to spices. Which seems a bit strange. After all, when was the last time you saw a recipe that called for a pinch of Torah?

Kabbalah comes to the rescue on this one. By analyzing the unique property of spices we can gain profound insight into the nature and purpose of Torah.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore human nature, frailty, the power of evil, and the incredible gift of Torah.

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 24

"The End is Just the Beginning"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on October 30, 2016)

There's a classic, enigmatic Kabbalistic statement: "The beginning is wedged in the end -- and the end in the beginning." But what does that mean? And how can we apply it to our own lives?

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore the essential connection between the beginning and end, and discover why indeed the end is just the beginning...

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 23

"Keeping It Real"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on October 23, 2016)

The world seems real -- at least to us. We see it, we touch it, we interact with it. Definitely seems real.

Then Kabbalah teaches us that the only "real" reality is G-d. Everything else is but derived from the One True Reality. Like a projection, the world only exists as long as it is being willed and spoken into being, on a constant basis. Which means that the world is not as real as it first seems.

How do we reconcile the reality of the world as we see it with the non-reality of the world as explored in Kabbalah? Can something be real and not real at the same time?

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we discuss the nature of reality, and the exquisite process of aligning the perceptible with the metaphysical.

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 22

"This Changes Everything"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on October 16, 2016)

You can see something a thousand times and not really see it. You can walk past a building and not notice its cracks. You can stroll by a garden and not apprehend its beauty. You can live with a person and not see their true colors.

Until you do. And that changes everything.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we take another look at life itself, to discover an incredible truth that is all too often missed. If you've never seen it, you might not know what to look for. But once you've seen it, you can't not see it. And nothing will ever be the same.

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 21

"Threads"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on October 9, 2016)

Everyone loves a good story. A story with different characters, plot lines, and scenes that all come together in dramatic fashion. There's something so thrillingly satisfying at discovering the thread that binds seemingly disparate things together.

The same is true with Torah. Torah is so wonderfully multifaceted that our sages say there are 70 facets to Torah interpretation. Like a diamond that sparkles with every slight turn, the Torah shines a new brilliance whenever it is studied and expounded. Yet, despite these diverse streams of Torah thought, there is a thread that binds them all together. As one.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we revisit the various interpretations of the fundamental Jewish prayer "Modeh Ani" -- four in total -- and discover how they're all really one.

On The Essence Of Chasidus - Part 20

"Where Time & Space Warp"

(Recorded at the Intown Jewish Academy on October 2, 2016)

In our dimension of reality, time and space are a given. Good luck with time travel and with teleportation. It is simply not possible to be in two places at once, or in two times at once.

But there's another dimension of reality -- a dimension far, far beyond our own -- where time and space do not exist. Where the very limitations that define our reality have no meaning.

This raises a fascinating question: From where do we originate? Are we products of time/space, or do we stem from the dimension beyond?

It's not a theoretical question; it cuts to the core of our humanity. Are we slaves to the reality standing before us, or do we have the ability to rise beyond and touch the impossible infinite?

We discuss this and more in this session of Kabbalah & Coffee.