Life and Text Class Audio Recording
Hassidut of Social Unrest, Pt. 1 - Life and Text - Week After Shavuot
We look at texts on the issues that are on everybody's mind - social unrest and protest that has wracked America in response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. While the Hassidic tradition is primarily concerned with the inward spiritual dimension over matters of the external world, their words often touched on matters of justice and societal change.
We look at texts on the issues that are on everybody's mind - social unrest and protest that has wracked America in response to the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. While the Hassidic tradition is primarily concerned with the inward spiritual dimension over matters of the external world, their words often touched on matters of justice and societal change.
| life_and_text_-_hassidut_of_social_unrest.pdf |
| hassidut_of_social_unrest.mp3 |
Shavuot Teaching - Hassidut for the Quarantined Soul
A look at some of the most essential and uplifting texts from the Hassidic masters - from the Alter of Slobodka, Rabbi Avraham Bornsztain, and the Baal Shem Tov.
A look at some of the most essential and uplifting texts from the Hassidic masters - from the Alter of Slobodka, Rabbi Avraham Bornsztain, and the Baal Shem Tov.
| hassidut_for_the_quarantined_soul_-_shavuot_5780.pdf |
| quarantined_soul_-_shavuot_5780.m4a |
Without Peace, there is no value to Blessing - Life and Text - Parshat Naso
The Baal Shem Tov and Rav Avraham of Slonim teach us about the Priestly Blessing in Numbers 6:24 - "May the Lord bless you and keep you".
Rabbi Meir Simcha of Divinsk unpacks some of the ideas around the Nazir - the person that takes an oath to refrain from drinking wine or alcohol and does not cut their hair or shave their beard.
The Baal Shem Tov and Rav Avraham of Slonim teach us about the Priestly Blessing in Numbers 6:24 - "May the Lord bless you and keep you".
Rabbi Meir Simcha of Divinsk unpacks some of the ideas around the Nazir - the person that takes an oath to refrain from drinking wine or alcohol and does not cut their hair or shave their beard.
| life_and_text_-_naso_5780.pdf |
| naso.mp3 |
Fire, Water, Emptiness, Wilderness: meaning in the metaphors of Torah - Life and Text - Parshat BaMidbar
The Hassidim look at how fire, water and the desert become metaphors for Torah. Texts from the Zera Kodesh, Shem MiShmuel, and Rabbi Hanoch Tzvi of Bendzhin. (44:52)
The Hassidim look at how fire, water and the desert become metaphors for Torah. Texts from the Zera Kodesh, Shem MiShmuel, and Rabbi Hanoch Tzvi of Bendzhin. (44:52)
| life_and_text_-_bamidbar_5780.pdf |
| l_and_t_bamidbar.mp3 |
What is the 'holy' part of 'holidays'? - Life and Text - Parshat Behar
The Me'or Eynayim is like the 'Phish' of Chassidic commentators - meandering, brilliant, no destination - as he breaks down the nature of what makes the three festival holidays special. Also, we look at Rav Simcha Bunim and Rabbi Eliezer of Metz on 'Lo tonu ish et amito' - 'A person may not wrong their fellow'. They put some spin on it, and we talk about how they advocate for self-care.
The Me'or Eynayim is like the 'Phish' of Chassidic commentators - meandering, brilliant, no destination - as he breaks down the nature of what makes the three festival holidays special. Also, we look at Rav Simcha Bunim and Rabbi Eliezer of Metz on 'Lo tonu ish et amito' - 'A person may not wrong their fellow'. They put some spin on it, and we talk about how they advocate for self-care.
| l_and_t_behar_audio_.m4a |
There's life outside of the Torah, but not much - Life and Text - Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
We take a look at the two lines from this week's Torah portion; Leviticus 18:5 'and you shall live by them' and Leviticus 19:11 'you shall not deal deceitfully'. Existence is Torah, lying is bad, and owning a shoe store is perhaps holier than being a shochet. Hassidic and Mussar texts from the Kotzker, the Chiddushei HaRim, Rav Aharon Zoldener, and Rabbi Yisroel Salanter.
We take a look at the two lines from this week's Torah portion; Leviticus 18:5 'and you shall live by them' and Leviticus 19:11 'you shall not deal deceitfully'. Existence is Torah, lying is bad, and owning a shoe store is perhaps holier than being a shochet. Hassidic and Mussar texts from the Kotzker, the Chiddushei HaRim, Rav Aharon Zoldener, and Rabbi Yisroel Salanter.
| achrei_mot_kedoshim.m4a |
Dvar Torah on Parshat Shemini
Love and Fear in the Time of Coronavirus
A few words from the third Torah Portion in the book of Leviticus, Parshat Shemini, about fear and love, chaos and order, finding balance and breathing through anxiety in a time of Coronavirus. Also - gluten-free airport cookies.
A few words from the third Torah Portion in the book of Leviticus, Parshat Shemini, about fear and love, chaos and order, finding balance and breathing through anxiety in a time of Coronavirus. Also - gluten-free airport cookies.
| dvar_torah_shemini.m4a |
Life and Text Audio (continued)
Shemini 5780 - Silence, or Singing, through suffering
Three Hassidic commentators and their thoughts on Parshat Shemini, including the death of Aaron's sons and his reaction.
| life_and_text_shemini_5780_audio_only.m4a |
Passover teaching 5780 - Netivot Shalom and Kedushat Levi
Some torah from R' Sholom Noach Berezhinsky and R' Levi Yitzhak on ideas from the Haggadah. The Netivot Shalom explores 'In each and every generation one is obligated to see themselves as if they themselves went out from Egypt' - it means that everyone can experience the fullness of the Exodus, and personal experience of the Shechinah. Kedushat Levi examines 'What does the wise child say?' and 'There is no additional eating after one eats the afikoman of Pesach.' Afikoman and matzah are connected to newness, renewal, and creation.
| passover_5780_audio_only.m4a |
Unifying fear and Love - Life and Text - Parshat Tzav
The creator of Hasidism, the holy Baal Shem Tov, riffs on Tikkunei Zohar daf 25b, bringing in Ahavah Rabbah, the Shema, and the 10 sefirot, your head and arm tefillin, and the letters Yud and Hay.
| tzav_5780_audio_only.m4a |
Calling one to another, and finding God, with mutual responsibility - Life and Text - Parshat Vayikra
Rabbi Kalonymus Kalman Shapira - the Aish Kodesh - on Parshat Vayikra and its connection to Kedusha and Kedusha D'Sidra; the verse 'VeKara Zeh El Zeh ve'amar'.
| vayikra_life_and_text_audio_only.m4a |
Learn the tunes from Jewish prayer
Below are postings of portions of the songs and prayers from our services. Listen along to master the traditional prayers and tunes we use at synagogue.
Kabbalat Shabbat - Friday Night Service
| lecha_dodi_shabbat_eve.mp3 |
| chatzi_kaddish_shabbat.mp3 |
| lai_lai_lai_barchu.mp3 |
| shema_veahavta.mp3 |
| michamocha1.mp3 |
| michamocha2.mp3 |
| amidah_sefatai_tiftach_avot_imahot.mp3 |
| gvurot.mp3 |
| aleinu.mp3 |
Shabbat Morning
| ashrei.m4a |
| blessing_s_before_and_after_torah.mp3 |
| haftorah_blessing_-_before.m4a |
| haftorah_blessing_-_after.m4a |
| mussaf_hatzi_kaddish.m4a |
| avot_v_imahot.m4a |
| gvurot.m4a |
| mussaf_kedusha.m4a |
Shabbat Afternoon and Havdalah
| ashrei_1_ozi_vzimrat_yah_version.mp3 |
| ashrei_2_happy_are_those.mp3 |
| adonai_sefatai_tiftach_2.mp3 |
| minchah_amidah_avot_imahot_gvurot.mp3 |