Bequeathing the Heritage

A Primer for Acting, Feeling, and Identifying as Jewish

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at Atlanta on September 19, 2021)

What is the defining feature of a healthy relationship? Doing things for each other? Remaining committed even when there’s betrayal? Perhaps another intangible we’re not even talking about? The joyous holiday of Sukkot provides a good primer for these important questions.

Canceling the Culture of Cancel Culture

Finding Common Ground from a G-dly Perch

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at Atlanta on September 1, 2021)

In divisive times, when neighbors, friends, and even family turn on one another, it is more important than ever to find common ground that unites us all. Indeed, the New Year provides us an opportunity to gain a G-dly perspective on humanity that will surely bring us together.

Garments of the Soul - Part 2

“Delicacies”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 11, 2023

It's one of the most dramatic tales in the Torah. Isaac wishes to bless his older son Esau before his passing, so he sends him on a mission to prepare his favorite dish. In the meantime, Jacob, the younger son, sneaks in disguised as his brother and takes the blessings. The fallout would change the course of history, but it's a seemingly throwaway line at the beginning of the story that informs us of our personal duty and destiny:

"Make for me delicacies such as I love." 

These are the words Isaac tells Esau. But as the mystics teach us, these are also the words G-d tells each of us. 

See, G-d has a mature and sophisticated palette. G-d's taste is not static and monolithic, but rather diverse and dynamic. G-d loves not just one delicacy, but two. And that changes everything.

In this unforgettable session of Kabbalah Café we discover the secret of Divine gastronomy, and learn the real reason why sometimes it feels that our spiritual goals are out of reach.

Garments of the Soul - Part 1

“Three Kinds”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 4, 2023

The title of our new series is "Garments of the Soul." The focus of this text is on examining the composition of the human soul to discover the keys to personal growth and transformation.

By better understanding the failure of the biblical spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Israel, we will gain priceless insight into the workings of our character and what determines personal success and failure.

In our opening session, we look at three kinds of people, as described in Talmudic and Kabbalistic literature.

Have a Little Faith - Part 11

“The Dark Side of the Moon”

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, May 21, 2023

Marking time is a sacred ritual. The ancients used sundials and other rudimentary tools to measure and record time. Today, we have more sophisticated systems -- atomic clocks, swiss mechanisms, and calendar apps.

But one thing hasn't changed. While much of the world marks time by the sun, the Jewish people roll by the moon.

Which begs the question: Why is Judaism so lunar obsessed? And what does that tell us about our own unique personalities and purpose?

In this session of Kabbalah Café we take a mystical walk on the dark side of the moon. We unravel the spiritual energy behind the solar and lunar systems, and discover why our calendar follows the light that's here today, gone tomorrow.

Sunday Kolel Lecture - 22

"Why the Cover Up? The Rhyme & Reason for Head Coverings"

With Rabbi Chaim Schwartz

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on June 11, 2023

Legends of the Talmud

Studies in Ein Yaakov

Lesson 2

With Rabbi Naftaly Zakon

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Everyone loves a good story. This series explores some of the most fascinating and mysterious Talmudic tales, compiled in the classic work Ein Yaakov. These stories open our eyes to the thinking of our Sages, and provide rich layers of wisdom and personal guidance.

Legends of the Talmud

Studies in Ein Yaakov

Lesson 1

With Rabbi Naftaly Zakon

Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Everyone loves a good story. This series explores some of the most fascinating and mysterious Talmudic tales, compiled in the classic work Ein Yaakov. These stories open our eyes to the thinking of our Sages, and provide rich layers of wisdom and personal guidance.

Outsmarting Antisemitism - Lesson 4

"Change of Heart"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on November 16, 2021)

Psychology, neuroscience, and recent history show us that neither friend nor foe should ever be taken for granted. With a bit of subtlety and conviction, and always with trust in G-d, we find that the dark days of the past are no cause for pessimism ahead.

Outsmarting Antisemitism - Lesson 3

"The Promised Land"

With Rabbi Ari Sollish

(Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on November 9, 2021)

Today, hatred of Jews commonly manifests itself as antagonism toward the Jewish State. This class distinguishes all-out antisemitism from some more nuanced sub-strains. It also examines the state of Israel education and the very nature of Jewish nationhood.