In this episode of What Matters Most, Daniel Benarroch is joined by Rabbi Yehezkel Yosef Abulafia, a Tzfat-based rabbi and meditation teacher carrying the lineage of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia, founder of Prophetic (Meditative) Kabbalah. Together, they explore what it truly means to “do your best” in spiritual life — reframing growth not as perfection, but as continual teshuva: returning to who you truly are. Rabbi Abulafia offers a compassionate vision of Judaism rooted in responsibility without shame, faith without fear, and spirituality grounded in lived, embodied experience.

The conversation moves through Jewish meditation, hitbodedut (speaking directly to God), breathwork, intention (kavanah), and the balance between soul and body, masculine and feminine, effort and surrender. Rabbi Abulafia shares the forgotten meditative roots of Judaism, the legacy of prophetic consciousness, and why exile led to the loss of these practices — and how they are returning today. The episode weaves together Kabbalah, trauma-informed spirituality, technology, AI, and redemption, culminating in a short guided meditation that invites listeners into direct inner experience rather than theory alone.

Highlights:

• What “doing your best” really means through teshuva and self-responsibility

• God as an intimate, ever-present relationship — not a distant abstraction
• Hitbodedut as a core Jewish meditative practice- Prophetic Kabbalah and the lineage of Rabbi Abraham Abulafia
• Why Judaism lost its meditative traditions — and how they are returning
• Masculine and feminine balance, consciousness, and spiritual maturity
• Technology, AI, and the next spiritual renaissance
• A short guided meditation to ground the conversation experientially

Rabbi Yehezkel Yosef Abulafia is a rabbi, meditation teacher, and spiritual guide based in Tzfat (Safed), Israel. He teaches a grounded, accessible form of Jewish meditation rooted in Prophetic Kabbalah, helping people reconnect to God through breathwork, awareness, prayer, and inner experience. His work focuses on elevating consciousness while remaining firmly anchored in Torah and mitzvot, making deep spiritual practices approachable for modern seekers.

Rabbi Abulafia leads meditation groups, retreats, and online teachings, and shares guided meditations and educational content through his community and digital platforms.

👉 Links to his website, community, and channels below-

https://linktr.ee/abulafiameditation

In this episode, Daniel speaks with Shmuel Ashkenazi, a Kabbalah teacher and therapist who has spent decades exploring how people grow, change, and find meaning. Shmuel explains that while we all start life chasing pleasure and avoiding discomfort, real fulfillment begins when we start asking deeper questions about purpose.

He breaks down a practical inner map of the human being — how we define ourselves through our experiences, actions, emotions, and thoughts — and why none of these truly capture who we are. Beneath them all lies our essence, a unique spark each person carries. When we learn to act from that deeper place, life becomes more meaningful and relationships become more genuine.

Together, Daniel and Shmuel explore how essence is revealed most clearly in our connections with others: in parenting, marriage, community, and the ways we take responsibility. This conversation makes ancient spiritual wisdom simple and usable, offering tools for living with more alignment, freedom, and joy.

Key Highlights

• Pleasure & suffering as the first gateway to authentic self-knowledge.

• Meaning emerges when pleasure is no longer enough — when the soul seeks purpose.

• Kabbalah gives the story of essence: a hidden level of consciousness deeper than intellect, emotion, function, or experience.

• Identity mistake: “I am my feeling / function / intellect” — all of which constantly change.

• Essence reveals itself through three lines: pleasure, will, and meaning.

• The middle line (meaning) is where freedom, responsibility, and mission appear.

• Relationship is the arena of essence, especially parenting and marriage.

• Suffering signals misalignment; pleasure signals truth — when understood correctly.

• Real spiritual growth is practical: if it doesn’t translate into lived experience, it’s not real.

• Each person has a unique revelation of essence needed by the world — no two are alike.

In this rich, soul-stirring conversation, Daniel sits down with Rabbi Jack Cohen—educator, thinker, and author of Nurture Their Nature—to explore one of the deepest questions a human being can ask: What is the meaning of your life?
From personal stories and family roots to Jewish identity, individuality, purpose, and the delicate tension between humility and human responsibility, Rabbi Jack opens a sweeping exploration of meaning.
Together, they travel through Torah, Kabbalah, and ancient narratives—especially the misunderstood story of Lot—to reveal how urgency, patience, individuality, and collective destiny shape our modern spiritual lives.
This episode is a blend of philosophy, Torah wisdom, contemporary life, and raw human honesty, culminating in a powerful message about the role each one of us plays in moving the world forward.

Key Highlights

• The meaning of life begins with discovering the meaning of your individual life.

• Identity is “spiritual soil” — your culture, family, and story shape your growth.

• Competition drives achievement, but it cannot define self-worth or purpose.

• The Torah’s balance: individuality within community, not one at the expense of the other.

• Lot as an unexpected model of “messianic urgency” — the drive to act now.

• Redemption emerges from the tension between humility (Abraham) and urgency (Lot).

• Judaism’s 3-line model: giving, boundaries, and harmonious balance.

• The danger of extremes: total individualism or total collectivism both distort truth.

• Our task: do our part fully, with the humility that we don't orchestrate the whole picture.

• Parenting insight: each child has a unique nature — nurture their nature.

You can find Rabbi Jack's book Nurture Their Nature in Amazon.

In this solo episode, Daniel Benarroch returns to What Matters Most for the start of Season 2 with one of the most challenging and essential topics in spiritual life: free will.

Drawing from classical Jewish sources, Kabbalah, the writings of Rambam and Rabbi Soloveitchik, and even a memorable scene from The Matrix, Daniel explores the deep paradox between free will and determinism. Are our choices truly our own? If God knows everything, what does choosing even mean? And how can these seemingly opposite forces actually work together in our spiritual growth?

Daniel offers a compelling framework to understand the difference between fate—what happens to us—and destiny—what we create from those experiences. He explains why responsibility lies at the heart of free will, how choice aligns us with our higher soul, and how every decision, no matter how small, contributes to the collective tikkun of the world.

This episode invites listeners into a reflective journey on agency, purpose, and the profound Jewish idea that each of us is a co-creator of reality, moving the world closer to Geula—redemption—one conscious choice at a time.

Perfect for anyone interested in spirituality, philosophy, Kabbalah, or navigating life with more intentionality.

Takeaways

• Free will exists alongside determinism, creating a duality.
• Our choices often involve struggles between desires and higher values.
• The purpose of creation is to heal and elevate our souls.
• Time allows us to process choices and experiences gradually.
• Fate is what happens to us; destiny is how we respond.
• Responsibility is key in understanding our choices and their impacts.
• Every decision, no matter how small, can have significant consequences.
• We are co-creators in our lives, shaping our destinies through choices.
• The subjective nature of truth in today's world complicates our understanding of free will.
• Transforming fate into purpose is essential for spiritual growth.

This conversation delves into the transformative power of Kabbalah and its relevance in today's materialistic world. The speakers discuss how individual actions can create a ripple effect in the collective, emphasizing the importance of intention and personal transformation. They explore the relationship between technology and spirituality, the concept of redemption, and the inner meanings of Torah, advocating for a deeper understanding of Judaism that resonates with modern seekers.

Checkout her work, courses and books at nehorapress.com

Key takeaways:

• Positive action in our immediate relationships can change the world.
• Kabbalah teaches us that we are part of a greater whole.
• Materialism awakens the search for deeper meaning in life.
• Redemption is the culmination of all positive human actions.
• Intention behind our actions is crucial for true giving.
• Kabbalah provides the inner meaning of Torah's teachings.
• Understanding the 'why' behind actions enriches our spiritual journey.
• Technology can be a tool for good if used with intention.
• The Torah serves as a map for navigating life's purpose.
• Everyone has a unique mission that contributes to the collective.

Finally, as mentioned in the podcast, I am gifting 5 books of Tapestry for the Soul to the first five people who will listen to the whole podcast and will reach out to me on Instagram @BenarrochDaniel

In this enlightening conversation, Yedidah Cohen shares her profound journey into Kabbalah, exploring the teachings of Rabbi Ashlag and the essence of spirituality. She discusses her personal relationship with the Creator, the transformative power of Kabbalah, and the importance of understanding one's essence. The dialogue emphasizes the love inherent in Kabbalistic teachings and the impact of these teachings on daily life and personal growth.

Checkout her work, courses and books at nehorapress.com

Here are some key takeaways:

• Yedidah Cohen has spent over 30 years studying Kabbalah.
• Her journey began with a quest for a true connection to the Creator.
• Rabbi Ashlag's teachings made Kabbalah accessible to ordinary people.
• Kabbalah emphasizes the relationship between the soul and the Creator.
• Understanding one's essence is a key theme in Kabbalah.
• The teachings of Kabbalah are filled with love and clarity.
• Personal transformation is a nonlinear journey, often with ups and downs.
• Kabbalah helps individuals understand their dual nature of good and bad.
• The essence of the Torah and the essence of our soul are the same.
• Kabbalah provides insights that are not available through other means.

Finally, as mentioned in the podcast, I am gifting 5 books of Tapestry for the Soul to the first five people who will listen to the whole podcast and will reach out to me on Instagram @BenarrochDaniel

In this deeply personal and soulful episode, I sit down with my wife, Sherry Sara, for a heartfelt conversation about what truly matters most: family, healing, and the inner light we bring into the world. Sherry opens up about her journey through Jewish education, feminism, motherhood, and her growing clarity around a mission to foster unity and unconditional love within the Jewish people.

We explore feminine energy, parenting as a spiritual path, and how the events of October 7th awakened a deeper sense of identity and purpose. At the heart of it all is the sacred work of Shalom Bayit—peace in the home—as the foundation for personal and collective redemption.

This is more than a conversation between two people—it’s a reflection on how inner healing ripples outward, how our closest relationships shape us, and how choosing love, presence, and faith can transform the world around us.

Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and follow us on Spotify and YouTube for more episodes. Follow us on Instagram for more reflections and inspiration: @BenarrochDaniel & @sherrymaya

In this deeply resonant and wide-ranging conversation, host Daniel Benarroch sits down with Reb Adam, a spiritual guide, coach, and student of the Kabbalistic tradition, to explore the essence of what matters most—both within the individual and the collective. Drawing from his personal journey from secularism to deep spiritual commitment, Reb Adam shares how his path through atheism, New Age practices, and intense Torah study led him to a life devoted to inner transformation and coaching.

Through a blend of personal narrative and profound Kabbalistic teachings, this episode dives into the central question: What is redemption, and how do we participate in it today? Reb Adam offers powerful insights into how inner healing, mindset shifts, and mentorship play vital roles in bringing about both personal and global redemption.

Together, Daniel and Reb Adam navigate core concepts of Jewish mysticism, including the paradox of duality, the spiritual architecture of the self, and the redemptive potential embedded in our everyday challenges.

You can follow Reb Adam on Instagram @rebadamyitzchak

And learn more about his work at https://rebadam.com/

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking introduction to What Matters Most, host Daniel Benarroch invites listeners to reflect deeply on the most essential questions of life. Blending spiritual insight with philosophical inquiry, Daniel explores the dualities that shape our existence—such as body and soul, giving and receiving, physical and metaphysical—and how these relate to the Jewish concept of Geula (redemption).

He discusses how inner transformation, conscious speech, and emotional responsibility are crucial to manifesting a more loving, united, and God-conscious world. Touching on themes from Kabbalah, Jewish prophecy, and the nature of human destiny, Daniel frames redemption not as an abstract religious hope, but as a deeply personal and collective journey rooted in self-awareness, service, and spiritual alignment.

If you're wondering what really matters most in today’s chaotic world—from AI ethics to inner peace—this episode is a powerful entry point into a soulful conversation about humanity’s path forward.