The Chovos HaLevovos (Shaar HaBitachon) explains that one of the basics of our belief system is, “You can’t harm me; you can’t help me.” Everything is decreed by HASHEM. Every ounce of suffering, every event that is to befall a person is all decided, defined and directed by HASHEM Himself. No human being can inflict damage to me that wasn’t already decided by HASHEM.

With this cognition comes a deep understanding: the doctor isn’t the determinant of whether I live or die, the threat isn’t the failing economy, and the danger isn’t man. All humans are powerless to affect my destiny. And all along, I am always safe and sound, guarded and protected.
 

From the moment the Jewish People arrived at Har Sinai, it became a frightening and awe inspiring experience. Why did Hashem want to evoke fear into us? If this was to be the wedding between Klal Yisroel and the Ribbono Shel Olam, shouldn’t it have been music instead of thunder and lightning? Rabbi Shafier explains that the purpose of the fear was to drive home the message of responsibility. By accepting the Torah, we not only had the power to change the world, the very existence of the world became dependent on us. Because of matan Torah, Klal Yisroel is now responsible for energizing both the physical and spiritual worlds. What an awesome achariyus!  

Comparison and judgment are part of the human experience. Subconsciously or not, we are constantly asking ourselves, am I and my family acceptable in society? Where do I rank, compared with my peers? For some of us, our very sense of self is intrinsically linked to how we think others see us and where we think we’re holding in the competition of life. The problem is, we hardly ever pause to consider what our ranking will be in the World to Come. And the scary part is that many of us will, after ad meah v’esrim, be embarrassed by our shortcomings. You see, we are in competition. But the competition of life is between me and myself. Join Rabbi Shafier as he delves into how you can succeed in accomplishing your own ‘personal best’, one step at a time. 

Throughout history all things change: except for anti-Semitism.

Is there a Torah perspective that can explain why the Jewish nation is so tortured and oppressed? If we accept that Hashem is in control of everything, is there a reason why His nation, the Chosen People, are so downtrodden? Are there forces involved that control the very destiny of Klal Yisrael?

In this previously recorded Shmuz Live, Rabbi Shafier explores some of the underlying causes of Jew hatred and what messages you can take from current events.
 

Let them become holy. The command that has echoed throughout our history and enjoins us to be separate and unique, a beloved holy nation that will forever stand apart. But how special can I be, when I’m just one out of seven billion people on this planet?
In the third class of the series, Rabbi Shafier empowers us to recognize our inherent closeness to the Ribbono Shel Olam. When we fully internalize that whatever we experience, Hashem experiences as well, we gain a glimpse into His love for us and His belief in us. Those that stood at Har Sinai saw with complete clarity their unlimited ability to achieve, to grow, to accomplish. We have the same power within us. By tapping into the messages of Shavuos, we too can learn how to unleash our potential and can continue the year with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. 

This Shmuz is the ultimate ‘pick me up’. From the wonders of Creation to Hashem’s intimate involvement in our lives, Rabbi Shafier gives chizuk, inspiration and clarity on our purpose in this world. Listen to this to learn how wonderful it is to be alive. 

Respect is the basis of every meaningful relationship, and yet we find that even the choshuve talmidim of Rabbi Akiva fell short on this middah. In this week’s Shmuz on the Parsha, Rabbi Shafier takes an in-depth look at the Torah approach to respect, analyzing where the talmidim tripped up and how we can avoid the same shortcomings in our interactions with others. Taking a frank look at our marriages, our friendships and our everyday exchanges, this Shmuz will encourage you to reconsider how you perceive others-and yourself. 

Standing At the Foot of the Mountain

As we journey towards Shavuos, Rabbi Shafier weaves together the events of Matan Torah with major concepts in Jewish thought. Tune in and discover why Torah is the spiritual nourishment for the world, what it means to be an am segula and how it was possible for Moshe Rabbeinu to argue with the Ribbono Shel Olam. At the Foot of Har Sinai combines explanations taken from Chazal, Midrashim, Rishonim and Acheronim to skillfully describe the personality of Moshe Rabbeinu and the events leading up to kabbolas haTorah. This year, develop a deeper connection with the event that defines the very essence of who you are. 

We have a mitzvah to remember Har Sinai. In order to do so, we must firstly understand with depth and clarity what happened on that momentous day. At the Foot of Har Sinai will take you through the majesty and awe, giving a fascinating account of the events that transpired. Although it is hard to imagine the miracles the Bnei Yisroel lived with, we can begin to appreciate why they experienced such tremendous joy after contemplating the explanations from our mesorah and discovering the incredible details of kabbolas HaTorah. In this introductory class, join Rabbi Shafier as he guides you through the defining moment of our history, and learn how the experience of Matan Torah continues to shape your own destiny until today.