The Shmuz

Remember when we had to watch a ton of Holocaust movies to feel any stirring of emotion on Tisha B’Av? Remember when we had to drag ourselves out of our pampered comfort zones to think about what it must have been like to suffer at the hands of the Romans? It wasn’t easy to imagine what a dangerous, frightening, unpredictable world meant.

Is it still hard? I don’t think so. Even the sceptics agree with the Chofetz Chaim ztl, who said before Moshiach comes, it will feel like the world is spinning faster and faster and faster.

When will it stop?
 

Have you ever heard the three rules of criticism?

Don’t do it

Don’t do it

Don’t do it

Ok, everyone knows how it feels to be criticized. Everyone agrees that it’s damaging to our most precious relationships. Some people have lived under the shadow of criticism their whole life, and have the arduous task of trying to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence. So if it’s so incredibly obvious as to why we shouldn’t do it- why do we? In this week’s Shmuz Live, I’ll be deconstructing the science behind the scorn, and give some real-life, practical advice on how to overcome this destructive habit.
 

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair.
If this describes something you’re familiar with, this Series is for you. Based on the Six Constant Mitzvos found in the Sefer HaChinuch, Rabbi Shafier blends timeless wisdom with actionable advice. You see, having rock-solid emunah isn’t only for tzadikim. It’s in the reach of us ordinary folks too. Start learning Foundations today and get ready to say hello to a calm, contented life- no matter what. 

This Shmuz will bring home the relevance of The Three Weeks and how to bring Hashem into your life once more.
 

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair.
If this describes something you’re familiar with, this Series is for you. Based on the Six Constant Mitzvos found in the Sefer HaChinuch, Rabbi Shafier blends timeless wisdom with actionable advice. You see, having rock-solid emunah isn’t only for tzadikim. It’s in the reach of us ordinary folks too. Start learning Foundations today and get ready to say hello to a calm, contented life- no matter what. 

In this week’s Parsha, Pinchas is given the bris shalom after defending the honor of Hashem. The Seforno explains that as a result of this gift, Pinchas was granted longevity, a natural consequence of living ‘at peace with himself’. Unfortunately, the feeling of contentment and inner calm is something that alludes most of us. Four hundred years after The Seforno’s commentary, modern medicine also discovered the inherent link between the mind and the body, and we are now all familiar with how a person’s emotional state can impact his physical health.

Something people often say is that they know they should lead healthier, more balanced lives, but aren’t sure where to start. How can I restore an equilibrium between my inner conflicts and desires? How can I achieve peace within myself? And how can I stop myself being so stressed out, even when I know it damages my immune system and makes me miserable and tired? As always, the lessons of the Parsha offer us all a startling perspective on how we can make lasting changes to improve our lives, get healthy and enjoy our time in this world.
 

Bitachon can’t be learned from a book. You can learn the theory, get a grip on the fundamentals of your hashkafa and think you know that you trust in Hashem. But until you are really tested, you have no idea whether our bitachon is real or not.

Being naturally optimistic or anxious isn’t an indication of where you’re holding in bitachon-that’s nothing more than a reflection of your personality.

To acquire genuine bitachon is a growth process, an emotional reality that goes beyond an intellectual understanding.

In this candid shmuz, Rabbi Shafier explains ‘what happened to my bitachon’ when you find yourself in a difficult situation and suddenly discover that you don’t have so much menuchas hanefesh afterall.

How can you make what you learn a real part of your emotional reality? Listen to this shmuz and get the tools to see Hashem in your life and bring theory into reality.
 

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair.
If this describes something you’re familiar with, this Series is for you. Based on the Six Constant Mitzvos found in the Sefer HaChinuch, Rabbi Shafier blends timeless wisdom with actionable advice. You see, having rock-solid emunah isn’t only for tzadikim. It’s in the reach of us ordinary folks too. Start learning Foundations today and get ready to say hello to a calm, contented life- no matter what. 

We see in the Torah that tefillah is powerful. Through tefillah, Sara Imeinu was given a child, a miracle like techiyas hameisim. Yishmael cried out to Hashem and was saved in the desert, despite his sins. But what gives your davening its incredible power? In this week’s Shmuz, Rabbi Shafier clearly outlines three fundamental ways your tefillah can change everything.

Can your prayers make a difference even if you’re an ordinary person? Absolutely—every tefillah has an impact. But what about when someone can’t daven, like a person in a coma, chalila? How do your prayers help them? This class will show you how effective you can be in helping others, and inspire you to daven with more kavannah and understanding.

Listen to this Shmuz for encouragement and direction on how to pour out your heart, change your life, and tap into one of the greatest forces in existence.