1. The three major tragedies of Teves, and why they are considered so tragic.
2. The underlying common denominator between these three tragic events.
3. A novel idea, based on the Arizal, to the deeper meaning of the prophetic words “b’etzem hayom hazeh” regarding Asarah b’Teves.

Teves 5786

Kislev 5786

1. What was the darkness Yavan brought upon us and the world, and how it is alluded to in its name?
2. The Ohr HaGanuz and how it relates to Chanukah, Talmud Bavli and Kabbalah.
3. Why Chazal established the three mitzvos of Chanukah and how they are alluded to in the Arizal’s meditation of “ner” in the berachah for Ner Chanukah.

1. Answering the Beis Yosef’s kashya – why 8 days, not 7.
2. Why did Chazal make a big deal of the miracle of the jug of oil? This a type of miracle that seems quite common by tzaddikim even in recent times.
3. What was so unique about Chanukah – and the personal take away from it for us?

Kislev 5786

1. Hashem’s justification for favoring us.
2. Correcting a common mistake regarding Olam Haba (-the World to Come), and how this relates to Chanukah.
3. The importance of thanking Hashem and not taking things for granted, and the difference between the old-time millionaires and many young new generation millionaires.  

Kislev 5786

1. What we eat and how we eat has an enormous impact on our middos (-character traits) and as a result also on how we think.
2. The special quality of eating produce grown in Eretz Yisroel, including remarkable words from Chasam Sofer and Rav Yaakov Emdin.
3. A surprising psak of the author of Bein Ish Chai regarding making a special trip to eat fruits of Eretz Yisroel.

Cheshvan 5786

Understanding the Talmud Yerushalmi’s drawing of a parallel between the laws of zimun and the laws of beis din.

Cheshvan 5786

Cheshvan 5786

1. Do we eat because we get hungry or do we get hungry because we need to eat?
2. The different outlook of Kabbalah towards physical mundane activities.

Cheshvan 5786

1. T’wo very different types of Aliyah to Eretz Yisroel.
2. Two very different types of pleasure from the material world.
3. Desiring basar b’cholov.

Cheshvan 5786