Mining The Riches Of The Parsha

We discuss the theological consequence of respecting parents, and choosing the Haftora - based on Rav Soloveitchik, Please excuse the poor sound quality.

We discuss the surreal subject of Tzora'at - a spiritual dysfunction, understanding it as an expression of God's love and compassion, the constructive aspect of isolation and how that deepens our Shabbat experience, and seeing the blessing underneath the costume of adversity.

We discuss the prayers of Shabbat, part 3.

We discuss the prayers of Shabbat, part 2.

Delivered by Rabbi Michael Whitman to Kollel Torah Mitzion, Women's Beit Midrash.

We discuss the Prayers of Shabbat, part 1 of 3.

We discuss how to overcome the challenge to enter Passover with joy this year, 2020, with special leniencies for this year, guidelines on setting aside the restrictions of Shabbat and Yom Tov for physical and emotional distress, an insight into crying out to God during our Seder, perspective on being alone at the Seder this year, giving ourselves permission to have a mediocre Seder, and Nirtzah - be confident we did it right!

We discuss serving God through health safety - with joy, special guidelines for the Seder this year, making it memorable, really listening to questions - especially those we ask our self, and we are the real heroes of the Seder.

We discuss resources for preparing for this unprecedented Passover, leniencies in using products with no Kosher for Passover symbol, reducing any preparations that require going out, Zoom Siyum for First Born, no burning or gathering to remove Chometz, Eruv Tavshilin, practical suggestions to help those having a Seder alone or without family and friends, perspective on what we accomplish with this, reasons to prohibit Zoom at Seder, practical suggestion of Rabbi Rimon to do Pre-Pesach Zoom with family and guests we wanted to have, suggestion of Rebbetzin Schmidman to have grandchildren prepare envelopes on each step of the Seder for grandparents alone to open as they reach that part of the Seder, praying at home throughout Pesach, Yizkor this year, and remember what we can potentially gain from this unprecedented experience.

We discuss struggling with God, Matza/Mitzvot require alacrity, the inevitable failures of leaders, and when learning Torah we are never alone.