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? 

1. Don’t do it 

2. Don’t do it 

3. 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.  

Parshas Pinchas: How To Restore Balance, Focus and Meaning to Your Life

In this week’s Parsha, Pinchas is given the bris shalom after defending the honor of Hashem. Four hundred years ago, The Seforno explained that as a result of this gift, Pinchas was granted longevity. By living ‘at peace with himself’ Pinchas was able to live a longer, healthier life.

Would you like to live more at peace with yourself? Be less stressed, more grounded? It’s hard to know where to start.

How can I restore an equilibrium between my inner conflicts and desires? How can I achieve a healthy work-life balance, when I feel pulled in so many conflicting directions? And how can I stop myself feeling so frazzled, 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. Want to hear more on how you can make lasting changes to improve your life, get healthy and enjoy your time in this world? This Shmuz is for you.

The episode of Bilaam and the donkey is often viewed as something comical. Bilaam’s donkey won’t move, Bilaam gets angry and the two of them have a conversation about it. A man arguing with his donkey isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence-why doesn’t he stop and acknowledge the outright miracle that he’s experiencing? And whilst this may be a humorous part of the parsha, if you fail to see beyond the pshat you’d be missing an incredible life lesson.

You see, it often happens that we go through stuff, and don’t see the reason. In fact, we might even get upset, annoyed or even angry at Hashem when things don’t turn out the way we want them to. So what’s a better way to cope with the curve balls of life? In this straight-talking shmuz, I’ll be giving clear direction on how to maximize moments of frustration into opportunities for everlasting growth.

Understanding and Integrating the Difference Between Emunah and Bitachon

Do you believe in Hashem, but sometimes feel that He’s out to get you? Then you have emunah, but lack bitachon. You see, it’s not enough to simply recognize that Hashem runs the world. As frum Jews, we are also meant to internalize that Hashem is directly involved in our own lives and knows what is best for us. Too many of our problems in bitachon stem from the fact that we think we know better than G-d. Too often we assume we know the bigger picture, and feel abandoned by our Creator. In this week’s Shmuz Live, Rabbi Shafier will be sharing some practical ideas on how to make Hashem real. Pick a method that speaks to you, and transform your life into one of genuine trust and menuchas hanefesh.

How Much Hishtadlus Should I Do?*

You know that your year is decreed on Rosh Hashanah. Every aspect of your life is carefully designed by your Creator. You also know that you’re commanded to do your hishtadlus and daven that Hashem rewards your efforts.

But how much hishtadlus is too much? How am I meant to tell when Hashem’s answer is ‘no’ or whether He wants me to keep up with the effort and tefillos that I’m investing in?

In this incredibly practical Shmuz, I’ll be addressing your common bitachon dilemmas. Make sure to join me on Thursday to learn how to find that elusive balance between genuine hishtadlus and trusting in Hashem.