Vayishlach: When Success Breeds Humility What causes people to be magnanimous? What’s the right way to handle success? When the first Chabad rebbe bested his opponents and achieved legitimacy for the new Chassidic movement, he wrote a letter to his followers which set their priorities straight. Click here for the class handout
Don’t Mix Simchas From a wedding scandal which resembles the story of Jacob and Leah, and a lesson from King Solomon’s celebration: how are we to celebrate Thanksgiving alongside Chanukah? (Parshat Vayeitzei)
Vayetzei: What Makes A Hero? The Zohar’s Story About Abraham, Rashi’s Story About Jacob, And The Rebbe’s Story About Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. What Do The Stories Have In Common? And What Was The Common Denominator Which Made Them Eternal Jewish Heroes? Click here for the class handout
Never Stop Digging When a young rabbi chanced on a synagogue’s desecration in Siberia, he knew he couldn’t remain silent. (Parshat Toldot)
Torah Class - Parshat Toldot: Turning a new leaf
The Blessing of Adoption (Parshat Chayei Sarah)
A Breakthrough Transplant This week, the news reported that doctors in NYU successfully transplanted a pig’s kidney into a human being for the very first time. Parshat Vayeira
Chayei Sarah: The Admission Test Every new bride goes through an ‘admission test’ in her new family. In Abraham’s family, there was a very high bar. Rebecca was accepted into the family only when she managed to bring several miracles into her home: A Cloud of Glory, a growing dough, and a candle that wouldn’t go out. What do those miracles represent? Click here for the class handout...
Vayera: The Biblical Story And Its Kabbalistic Interpretation In this week's Haftorah, we read a fascinating story about an evil king, a poor widow, and children who are almost taken into slavery. What's the deeper meaning? Kabbalah has the answer. Click here for the class handout
Lech-Lecha: Why Is A Jewish Lifestyle So Expensive? Not long ago, we each purchased a Lulav and Etrog set for Sukkos for a tidy sum. A pair of Tefillin is even more costly, and to send a child to a Jewish school you need to open a savings account. Why must things be this way? Click here for the class handout
Torah Lovers (Parshat Bereishit)
Laugh Therapy (Simchat Torah) What is the best way to overcome challenges and better your situation? Simchat Torah contains the answer.
Letters to Talia (Sukkot/Hoshana Rabbah) A Kibbutznikit girl wrote to a modern Orthodox soldier about her questions of faith. The result was a fascinating correspondence. What was his best answer?
The Last Jew Standing The last Jew in Spain was a 15-year-old boy who lived a lonely existence wandering the country hoping to avoid capture and forced conversion. This story never happened — it’s historical fiction. But why is it so compelling, and what should be our response?
It Was Moroccans Vs. Russians When a rabbi tried to prevent a murder on Rosh Hashanah…
A Rothschild, A Bris, And A Russian Embassy - Rosh Hashanah (2) What is the unique message of the second day of Rosh Hashanah?
The Checklists Effect - Rosh Hashanah (1) A surgeon discovered a revolutionary technique to save countless lives: checklists. What lesson can we learn from his discovery?
The Extra Covenant Parshat Nitzavim
Tishrei: The Journey Of The Holidays The Commitment Of Rosh Hashanah, The Emotional Connection Of Yom Kippur, And The Intellectual Integration Of Simchat Torah: This Map Was Outlined By The Tzemach Tzedek, Recounted By The Previous Rebbe, And Explained By The Rebbe. Click here for the class handout
The Lost Child The real meaning of the “rebellious son.” (Parshat Ki Tetzei)
Ki Tavo: The Complicated Calendar This coming year is going to be a Jewish Leap Year. How do these leap years work? Why are they instituted? And what does it say about the Jews? An astrological journey in the heavens, its impact on the Jewish calendar, and the Jewish soul. Click here for the class handout
Torah Class - Ki Teitze: Judaism And Polygamy? When was polygamy banned in Judaism? Who didn’t agree? Why was the initiator known as “light of the exile”? The history of Rabbeinu Gershom’s landmark enactments and their kabbalistic significance. Click here for the class handout
Democracy Vs. Dictatorship (Parshat Shoftim)
Shoftim: The Soldier Or The War? The Torah commands that several groups of soldiers be absolved of their military obligation. Why? Is this for the benefit of the war? Or maybe for some social purpose? Class here for the class handout
A Place In Heaven (Parshat Re'eh) # JackieMason
Tips For The Delta Variant (Parshat Eikev)
Re’eh: Traditiooon – Tradition! We all have family customs that accompany each Jewish holiday which often occupy us more than the mitzvahs of the holiday themselves. Are we exaggerating? Have we lost the proper equilibrium? Click here for the class handout
Ekev: Must I Do Everything Myself? Your advisors always tell you to delegate authority and focus on a target audience. Can these principles be applied to the world of education as well? Click here for the class handout
Va’etchanan: Are You Emotional Or Intellectual? The secret to success is to properly balance our minds and hearts. A daily ritual, dating back to the days of the Egyptians, will help you attain this balance. Click here for the class handout
A Legend Of Destruction In Honor Of Tisha B'av
