Knowledge on the Deeper Side

Daily Power Parsha 5.27.20 (Naso)

A Quick Daily Dose of Torah Inspiration

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live on May 27, 2020

Daily Power Parsha 5.26.20 (Naso)

A Quick Daily Dose of Torah Inspiration

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live on May 26, 2020

Beyond Belief - Lesson 6

Perfect World

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live in Atlanta)

What is G-d's ultimate vision for His creation? Where are we headed? And how does our concept of a perfect world affect the way we live our lives today? In this lesson we examine the Jewish beliefs of Mashiach and the resurrection of the dead, and how these ideas critically inform our present.

Seeing is Believing

It’s Time to Take an Honest Look at Ourselves

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

If someone told you they met a ten-foot giant, you probably wouldn’t believe them. But if you actually saw the guy, well, you saw him. End of story. To see is to connect—and that’s the key to a meaningful Judaism, and a lodestar for constant progress: look at the past, connect with it, and take the appropriate lessons to heart.

The Rabbi and the Heretic

A Dialogue of Torah’s Timeless Messages

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

One of the most important Chassidic insights is the unique partnership of mutual giving that exists between G-d and the Jewish people. G-d does his part by giving from above, while we do our part by giving from below. But if there is one event in Jewish history that seems to contradict this principle of mutual action, it is the giving of the Torah at Sinai. To be sure, the Jewish people had to prepare themselves to receive the Torah, but the act of giving the Torah itself on Shavuot clearly seems to be a uni-directional effort, a one-way street that is embedded in the name of the event itself: Matan Torah, the giving of the Torah: G-d gave us the Torah and we received it.

In this class we will explore an extraordinary revelation and insight by the Lubavitcher Rebbe: That Matan Torah was of course an act of giving, but G-d was not the only active contributor. There also was an extraordinary act of giving that we ourselves did, which helped to define what is arguably the most important day in human history. It was a rarely mentioned contribution by Moshe on behalf of the Jewish people. It was an act of human initiative at Sinai that substantially adds to the ongoing partnership that has existed ever since between the human and the Divine, between G-d and the Jewish people. This idea will be brought to light through examining the contrast in views between the Rabbis of the Talmud and the groups that don’t believe in the Divinity of the Oral Law.

Equality vs. Individuality: Are They a Conflict?

If I am I Because You Are Not Me, Then I am Not I and You Are Not You

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

The people of Sodom famously chopped off the legs of short visitors to fit the standard size bed sold in Macy’s of Sodom. Equality, after all. How do we find the balance to counter the guillotine of equality without falling prey to the morbidity of individualism?

The Day G-d Gave Us the Torah... Or Not?

Making Sense of the Holiday of Shavuot

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

Shavuot is known as the day the Torah was given. A look at the phenomenon of crossing the international date line before the holiday unravels a whole new element to the holiday-and lends us fresh perspective on what it means to be Jewish.

Three is the Magic Number

Achieving Harmony in the Face of Controversy

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

There’s something extremely satisfying about settling a dispute between two parties. Of course, it would be nice if everyone agreed about everything, but that’s just not happening. Or would that even be preferred? Apparently, when G-d married heaven and earth in the present we called Torah, He taught us this: One is good, but to make two into one is even better. And that’s the magic of three.

Revival of Ruth

How to Make Judaism Real

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

Shavuot is the day we received the Torah, and on it we read the Book of Ruth. What is the reason for this custom, and what can we learn from it? Ruth teaches us what it means to accept the Torah—on the Torah’s terms.

The Sound of Silence

Shedding Bias for Personal Growth

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live in Atlanta

How do you unite with another human being, to become “like one person with one heart”? This lesson suggests going for a hard reset by putting yourself aside and focusing on others to reveal the common bond.