The Thinking Jewish Podcast

What did the Berber villages of Morocco teach me about happiness? What did R’ Avrohom Gurwicz tell us at our wedding, on Parshas Noach? And why does the confidence and passion of building an inner world shape everything we build on the outside? This week we look at Noach ish tzaddik: a man who built his own world when the one around him was falling apart.

When Hashem formed the first man, the Torah says vayipach b'apav nishmas chaim: He breathed into him the breath of life. Inside every one of us is a piece of Hashem Himself.This week's shiur looks at what that means for the way we live. We were created with a purpose. How do we find it, and how do we build a deeper, more real connection with the One who gave us life? As we start the Torah again from the very beginning, it's the perfect time to ask what our own bereishis could look like.

What if we don’t need to be afraid that something is missing? What if Rosh Hashanah is not about getting the formula right, but about something much deeper?

To crown Hashem means more than declaring Him King. It means choosing to live the life He is offering us — and becoming the person we are meant to be.

As we begin to explore what Rosh Hashanah is really all about, we are led to an even deeper question: what are we all about?

What makes us tick? What do we truly value? What are we living for?

Because perhaps before we can understand what Rosh Hashanah asks of us, we first need to understand the life we are bringing to it.

Elul can sometimes feel overwhelming — another year, another list of things we should be doing better. But perhaps Elul is not about becoming perfect. It is about relationship: wanting closeness, turning towards Hashem, and taking even one small step back. What does a “good enough Elul” really look like — and could that be exactly where genuine teshuvah begins?

Why do the people closest to us often cause us the most pain?

This practical Torah class explores how unrealistic expectations, learning to let go, and living lifnim mishuras hadin can transform our relationships, bring inner peace, and help us take a step towards rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash.

We all get hurt, disappointed, left out, misunderstood, or rejected. But what happens next? This talk explores the Torah’s powerful approach to anger: not pretending we don’t feel pain, but learning how not to turn that pain into fire. A practical, honest class on emotional strength, self-control, relationships, and staying yourself when life or people upset you.

Stability does not mean knowing where life is going.
Stability means knowing Who is carrying you.

Parsha Behaaloscha

Parshas Bechukosai, Lag Ba’Omer and the courage to begin again

The Ishbitzers powerful Torah at the start of Parshas Emor

What did Reb Shimon reveal to the world? To me and you?