Spiritual Surrender - Part 15

“Lessons from Peloton”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, February 11, 2024

The mystics teach that everything in existence can teach us a lesson about our spiritual purpose. Specifically, those things that we personally encounter hold a precise message for us.

Which brings me to the Peloton Bike, the darling of 2020 home fitness equipment.

On the Peloton, the rider is in full control, with the ability to adjust cadence (pedaling speed) and resistance (pedaling difficulty). Those two numbers combine to produce the output, the power/energy the rider expends. Increase cadence and resistance, and the output goes up. Decrease cadence and resistance, and the output goes down.

This expresses a remarkable Kabbalistic truth: the greater the difficulty of the spiritual task, the greater the energy that is expended to complete the task -- and the greater the Divine light that is radiated.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we take an incredible ride through Jewish mysticism and discover why, in our realm, it is precisely imperfection that yields the greatest output. Along the way we discover the true value of art, and gain insight into the ancient rent-a-donkey market.

Advice for Life - Lesson 3

Wholesome Health

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Discover the Rebbe’s answers for patients, physicians, and professors seeking guidance on questions of health and treatment. Explore the core ways that physical health connects to emotional and spiritual well-being.

Spiritual Surrender - Part 14

“The Soul of the Entrepreneur”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, February 4, 2024

What drives success? What motivates someone to push beyond ordinary limits, to stand up to challenges and persevere? Is it the power of a dream? Does it come from some inner need? Is the spirit of entrepreneurship innate? Can it be taught or learned?

The teachings of Kabbalah are unique in that they explore the human being not from the outside-in, but from the inside-out. Utilizing Kabbalah's unique template of the soul, the Jewish mystics are able to map human consciousness and subconsciousness, tracing powerful inner forces like motivation and desire.

In this powerful session of Kabbalah Café we examine the soul of the entrepreneur, and learn mystical life hacks for enhancing creativity and stoking desire.

Six Biggest Jewish Questions Answered

With Rabbi Judah Dardik

Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Thursday, February 1, 2024

Rabbi Judah Dardik is renowned scholar and educator from Israel. He is the Assistant Dean of Orayta, and directs the Center for Jewish Leadership and Engagement in Yerushalayim.

Advice for Life - Lesson 2

Family Bliss

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Wednesday, January 31, 2024

How can we create a warm and healthy home? Examine the Rebbe’s correspondences to uncover a goldmine of clarity on family relationships, domestic harmony, education, and creating a healthy home environment.

Spiritual Surrender - Part 13

“Interior Design”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, January 28, 2024

In the last few sessions of Kabbalah Cafe we explored spiritual parallels to what by all accounts are fairly common domestic activities. We developed the connection between cooking food and tikun olam, and between laundering clothes and mitzvah observance.

In this session, we look at the mystical side of interior design. What does it mean to set the decor of the home, spiritually? What lessons can we learn from the way we perceive the value and utility of objects? And is there a Kabbalistic form of feng shui?

Discover the deeper truth behind beautifying your living spaces!

Spiritual Surrender - Part 12

“Clean Laundry”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, January 21, 2024

There's an art to cleaning clothes. The key is understanding what you're dealing with.

What kind of garment is it? What type of fabric? What kind of stain? How long has the stain set?

The mystics teach that every material reality has a metaphysical parallel. That means that there are spiritual garments too. And these spiritual garments need to be cleaned, just in a different way. Not with Tide, but with pride -- and joy, and love.

In this special edition of Kabbalah Café we explore spiritual cleanliness and discover a pathway for inspired living.

Spiritual Surrender - Part 11

“Spiritual Cuisine”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, January 14, 2024

There's a core Kabbalaistic axiom that states that everything that exists in the mundane exists in the spiritual as well. In the language of the mystics, "G-d created one corresponding to the other."

This opens a vista of insight into the goings on of the world. More than mere physical activity, terrestrial life provides a powerful parallel to the metaphysical. The objects around us, the hierarchies in creation, the processes by which we live, all of these have their correlating spiritual experience.

Which brings us to food. Few things excite us like a good meal. And good meals require prep -- lots of prep.

Well, this is true of the spiritual as well. One could say that our purpose in life is to provide G-d spiritual "nourishment." That makes us divine chefs. And to pull this off we need to do the right prep.

In this epic session of Kabbalah Café we explore the mystical meaning of spiritual cuisine. We learn about our unique mission, and how we go about living our best life.

Spiritual Surrender - Part 10

“Mystical Secrets of Success”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, December 31, 2023

Of the hundreds of characters mentioned in the Jewish bible, only one is referred to as being successful. Who is this "man of success"? None other than Joseph.

Considering all the trauma Joseph experienced, this is nothing short of astonishing. Here's a man who endured the pain of jealousy, hatred, kidnapping, attempted murder, slavery, and an ancient Egyptian dungeon. Yet, remarkably, Joseph is the only biblical figure labeled a success.

What was the secret to his success? How did he rise to the top no matter what adversity he faced? Why did those around him consistently trust him with outsized power and authority?

The key, the Kabbalists explain, lies in Joseph's attitude -- an attitude born of a unique spiritual perspective. It was his distinct approach to his work that opened up doors that would otherwise remain shut, and propelled him to the top.

In this spectacular session of Kabbalah Café we unlock the mystery and discover mystical secrets of success.

Spiritual Surrender - Part 9

“Ecstacy/Agony”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, December 24, 2023

The Kabbalists speak of two archetypal forms of Divine service: one marked by ecstasy, one by agony. Each is the product of a unique form of meditation detailed in the mystical texts -- the sole difference being the precise orientation of our thoughts.

Focused outward, our thoughts evoke feelings of spiritual joy, gratitude, and love. Focused inward, they produce self-judgment and discontent. Both approaches are valid. Both are holy. Unless they are driven by ego. Then, both the joy and discontent are anything but holy.

In this special edition of Kabbalah Café we look at the most important ingredient of spiritual growth. We discover why meditation is not enough, and why the secret lies in the ancient work of Aaron, the first High Priest.