Real Women, Real Torah artwork

Real Women, Real Torah

159 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 14 ratings

An authentic Torah learning experience, produced for women, by women.
In each series, you'll listen to two incredible women bring the texts to life as they share their take on the Torah they learned.

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Episodes

The Power to Choose

January 19, 2024 19:15 - 31 minutes - 43.9 MB

Join Mushky Kovesh and Menucha Minkowitz, students at the Brooklyn Beis Midrash, in a 'Chavrusah Shmooze'. In their lively conversation, they explore the concept of sin, redefining Hashem's intention in creating the world. They discuss how our ability to choose between right and wrong comes from our unique connection with Hashem, the piece of divinity within us. The ideas discussed in this episode are based on the maamar באתי לגני תשל"א. This episode has been released in honor of Yud Shvat,...

The Journey of Prayer: Torah Ohr Vayechi

December 24, 2023 01:34 - 1 hour - 90.7 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayechi Each of Leah’s first four sons are named to reflect her deep desire to connect to her husband, Yaakov. On a deeper level, each of these sons embody a pathway through which the Jewish soul connects to her ‘husband’, Hashem. This maamar walks us through four steps in building a relationship with Hashem, each one reflected in another part of our daily prayer. The climax is shemoneh esrei, where we achieve the ultimate unity with Hashem through the quality of surrend...

Selflessness vs. Self-growth: Torah Ohr Vayigash

December 17, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 88 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayigash This foundational maamar explores the dynamic between Yosef and Yehuda as a model for two core perspectives that shape the value system of Judaism.  When Yehuda approaches Yosef to plead on Binyamin's behalf, it’s more than a face-off between two brothers; it’s a meeting of two worldviews. Yosef's is one that values spiritual self-growth as the ultimate pursuit. Yehuda sees value in submission to a purpose beyond himself. Both perspectives portray an angle of tru...

Kindling Your Inner Menorah: Torah Ohr Chanukah

December 12, 2023 20:23 - 1 hour - 101 MB

Torah Ohr on Chanukah The celebration of Chanukah centers not around the military victory over the Greek army, but a spiritual victory of the soul, represented by the lights of the menorah. This spiritual battle is one we experience every day, as we fight to ignite a fire of love inside our hearts. This maamar retells the story of Chanukah on a personal level, exploring the metaphor of a candle as a model for developing a relationship with Hashem. ד״ה ענין חנוכה

When Inspiration Dies: Torah Ohr Mikeitz

December 10, 2023 00:36 - 57 minutes - 78.3 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Mikeitz Parshas Miketz begins with Pharoah’s dream of the seven healthy cows being swallowed by seven sickly ones. This dream gives a powerful imagery for the fleeting nature of inspiration. Why does our excitement for spirituality seem to slip away as quickly as it comes? This maamar offers an answer by looking at the end of the previous parsha when ‘the butler forgot about Yosef’ as the root of the problem. We’ll explore the symbolism of each character in this story an...

Living the Dream: Torah Ohr Vayeishev

December 03, 2023 01:57 - 56 minutes - 77.6 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeishev Life in exile is a lot like a dream; an alternate reality in which contradictory experiences coexist and nothing seems to make sense. But dreaming has another side to it. It’s a time of infinite imagination that transcends the limits of reason and accesses the deepest parts of the psyche. This maamar explores the recurring theme of dreams that appears multiple times at the end of Sefer Bereishis and why Yosef is considered the ultimate dreamer. ד"ה שיר המעלות

Sibling Rivalry: Torah Ohr Vayishlach

November 26, 2023 00:00 - 1 hour - 92.8 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayishlach What was Yaakov trying to achieve in making peace with Eisav? How do we reconcile within our own souls the boundless, unchanneled energy of Eisav with the disciplined, focused approach of Yaakov? This week’s maamar will retell the story of Yaakov and Eisav’s dramatic reunion on a mystical level and give us profound insight into the internal battle of every Jew. ד״ה וישלח יעקב מלאכים לפניו https://batshevalearningcenter.com/bereishis

Rachel & Leah: Torah Ohr Vayeitzei

November 19, 2023 00:41 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeitzei Some people are naturally driven to engage with the world, while others prefer to retreat into their own spiritual oasis. Which one does Judaism prefer? This week’s parsha is our first introduction to Rachel and Leah, the two sisters who marry Yaakov and become the last two matriarchs of the Jewish people. In this maamar, we’ll explore the message behind each of their life stories and how we can incorporate both of their roles within our own lives. ד״ה וללבן...

When Idealism Fails: Torah Ohr Toldos

November 12, 2023 00:48 - 1 hour - 98.7 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Toldos What did Yitzchak see in Eisav that motivated him to shower Eisav with blessings unconditionally? What did Rivka see that made her realize the blessings had to go to Yaakov? This maamar explores the fascinating story of Yaakov deceptively taking the blessings from his father and what that teaches us about keeping our idealism in check. While Yitzchak believed in the power of Eisav’s potential, he failed to see the reality on the ground–that his energy was impossib...

The Secret of Bread: Torah Ohr Chayei Sara

November 05, 2023 22:10 - 51 minutes - 71.1 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Chayei Sara Why are human beings dependent on an act so mundane as eating food in order to survive? What is the nature of our relationship with food and what does that tell us about how we can engage with the physical world around us in a way that lifts us up, rather than dragging us down? This maamar answers these questions by exploring the mystical symbolism of the mearas hamachpela and the meaning of a cryptic line from the Arizal’s poem sung on Shabbos day, “Asader L’s...

G-d's Personality: Torah Ohr Vayeira

October 29, 2023 00:30 - 1 hour - 99.1 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Vayeira Why does the Torah so often describe G-d in human terms? Does G-d have a personality? This foundational maamar gives us insight into these questions by exploring the kabbalistic concept of the sefiros. We use the human psyche as a metaphor to understand the dual nature of the sefiros and how they bridge the gap between Creator and creation. ד״ה ״פתח אליהו״ Follow along in the maamar here. Here is a chart of the mashalim used in the first few paragraphs of the m...

Potential vs. Purpose: Torah Ohr Lech Lecha

October 22, 2023 01:00 - 49 minutes - 68.5 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Lech Lecha The first seventy-five years of Avraham Avinu’s life tell a remarkable tale of personal discovery and heroic sacrifice, but none of that makes it into the story told in Parshas Lech Lecha. We begin with Hashem’s instruction to embark on a journey and with that, Avraham begins for the first time to access the limitless potential of his soul by channeling it towards his unique life’s purpose. Visit our website for more resources on this maamar.

Ride the Wave: Torah Ohr Noach

October 15, 2023 14:46 - 1 hour - 90 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Noach Did we really need the drama of a massive flood to teach a few crooks a lesson? Based on a verse from Shir Hashirim, we discover that the flood waters are not a vengeful punishment but a peaceful cleansing and powerful lesson for living a focused life. Stand unprotected and you’ll get washed away by the flood of worldly distractions. Build yourself an ark and those same waters will lift you up to heights you never dreamed of. This episode is sponsored by the Baltimo...

Losing Innocence: Torah Ohr Bereishis

October 10, 2023 03:27 - 1 hour - 87.3 MB

Torah Ohr Parshas Bereishis What was so terrible about eating from the Tree of Knowledge? And why did it result in so much shame? In this episode, we’ll discover that ‘knowledge’ isn’t always a good thing and how that first encounter with good and evil changed the human psyche forever. Follow along in the maamar here. ד״ה ״ויאמר ה׳ אלוקים״ Visit our ⁠website⁠ for more resources on this maamar.

Introducing Torah Ohr on Bereishis

September 21, 2023 03:56 - 8 minutes - 11.8 MB

Join us on a 12-week journey through Torah Ohr on Bereishis. Explore the stories of Bereishis through a fresh lens and discover the inner strengths you never knew you had. Find out more at batshevalearningcenter.com/bereishis

Why Rabbi Akiva Laughed

July 26, 2023 13:45 - 42 minutes - 57.9 MB

Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope - Part 3 This episode explores four different angles on a story from the end of Maseches Makkos that describes four sages observing the aftermath of the destruction. Three of them cry, but the fourth, Rabbi Akiva, laughs. As they discuss the reasons for their reaction, we learn some powerful lessons about finding hope in darkness.

Titus and the Giant Gnat

July 24, 2023 18:29 - 48 minutes - 66.3 MB

Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope - Part 2 In this episode, Mushhky Steinmetz explores the story of Titus as it is told in Maseches Gittin. We learn about his horrific acts of desecration in the Beis Hamikdash and about his unexpected downfall. The Gemara describes in great detail how Titus was tortured for seven years by a mosquito that entered his head through his nose. What is the meaning of this strange punishment, and why do Chazal spend so much time telling us this tale? We'll exp...

The Three Requests

July 20, 2023 22:48 - 39 minutes - 53.6 MB

In this episode, Mushky Steinmetz explores the fascinating story told in Maseches Gittin about R. Yochanan Ben Zachai's clever escape from the walls of Yerushalayim and his conversation with Vespasion, the Roman general. The story concludes with R. Yochanan Ben Zachai making three requests of the future emperor. What is the meaning of these three requests? Why not ask for the salvation of the entire Jewish people and what is it about these three things that make them keys to the Jewish nat...

Introduction to Aggadah

July 17, 2023 18:51 - 13 minutes - 17.9 MB

In this episode, we introduce our new series, "Stories of Sorrow, Lessons of Hope" with Mushky Steinmetz. This series will explore stories from the Gemara related to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash and some of the messages the commentators take out of them. In this introductory episode, Mushky defines what Aggadah is and gives a general overview of how to understand Aggadah.

Time-bound Mitzvos: Pesach Edition

April 02, 2023 23:05 - 22 minutes - 30.3 MB

This final episode in our zman grama series is short enough to fit into your pre-Pesach schedule and packed with everything you need to know about the connection women have to the mitzvos we perform at the seder.  Adi Bitter explores the source and reason behind each mitzvah and explains if and why women are obligated to perform them. She ends with a beautiful takeaway about internalizing the deeper message of the seder at all stages of our lives. 

Time-bound Mitzvos: A Chassidic Lens

March 29, 2023 16:39 - 31 minutes - 43.1 MB

In this second episode of our series on mitzvos asei shehazman grama, Chava Goodman explores the topic from a fresh angle, based on various sources from Kabbalah and chassidus. Rather than looking at women's exemption as driven by pragmatic concerns, this mystical perspective sees it as a product of a cosmic reality. What are the masculine and feminine energies within creation and how does that explain a woman's relationship to mitzvos? Chava paints a beautiful picture of what a feminine...

Time-bound Mitzvos: What's it all about?

March 27, 2023 21:03 - 58 minutes - 81 MB

In this candid discussion with Adi Bitter, she gives an overview of the concept of women's exemption from time-bound mitzvos that is both informative and relevant. She explains the halachic definition for mitzvos asei shehazman gerama, the reasons given in various halachic sources, and the parameters for women voluntarily fulfilling these mitzvos. Throughout the discussion, she sprinkles in insights and examples from her personal life that address the misconceptions and frustrations some ...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: The Chassidic Dimension

January 01, 2023 20:15 - 30 minutes - 41.6 MB

This episode is co-sponsored by Levi and Sara Liba Schrager l’ilui nishmas Yochanan ben Béla on the occasion of his yahrzeit and by Batsheva Davidson in honor of this series and all the work that Batsheva does. In this final episode, we take a deeper look at the concept of niddah from a spiritual perspective and discover its profound symbolism in our lives. Mrs. Rivky Kaplan pulls from various Chassidic sources to give us a mystical insight into the word “niddah” and the link between the co...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Chatzitza

December 25, 2022 18:19 - 37 minutes - 51.6 MB

This episode is sponsored by Mrs. Vivi Deren, l'lui nishmas Bluma a"h bas HaRav Yisrael HaKohen Deren on the occasion of her 25th yahrtzeit, 28 Kislev, 4th lichtl of Chanukah This episode discusses the conclusion of a woman's purification process and the preparations that are necessary before immersing in a mikvah. We look at which type of chatzitzos (barriers) are forbidden from the Torah, which are Rabbinic and the ramifications of that on the way we prepare for mikvah today.  Mrs. Kapla...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Kesamim

December 18, 2022 20:40 - 49 minutes - 68.4 MB

This episode is sponsored anonymously in honor of a refuah sheleima for Henya bas Bracha Devorah Leah. In this eye-opening episode, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan sheds light on the topic of kesamim (staining), an area of hilchos niddah she has found to be wrought with the most confusion. She discusses the interplay between d'oraisa and derabanan and how that forms the basis for some of the leniencies that are employed when dealing with kesamim. She explains how our implementation of these halachos aren...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Hefsek Tahara & Shivah Nikiyim

December 04, 2022 16:30 - 39 minutes - 54.1 MB

This episode is sponsored by Chavi Russ in honor of a refuah shelaima for Moshe Aryeh Leib ben Bracha This episode explores the original sources for the hefsek tahara and the bedikos that are performed during the seven clean days leading up to immersion in the mikvah. We look at the roots of these halachos in the purification processes performed by both the niddah and the zavah during the temple era and how they both impact halacha as we practice it today. Sources quoted in this episode: ...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Why five days?

November 27, 2022 16:30 - 25 minutes - 35.5 MB

This episode is sponsored by Leia Baitelman. This episode discusses the requirement for a woman to wait five days from when she sees a flow until she can perform a hefsek tahara. We’ll trace this five day wait back to the story of Matan Torah and understand how the practice evolved from waiting three days to four and eventually five. As we explore the fascinating history behind this halacha, we'll see an example of where the divergence between Sefardi and Ashkenazi custom originates and...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: How & Why It All Changed

November 20, 2022 16:30 - 34 minutes - 47.7 MB

This episode is sponsored by Goldie Markovits in honor and appreciation of her parents, Shmuel Tzvi and Devorah Markovits. Building off of our last episode that described how niddah is defined by Torah law, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan explores the development of these halachos and the challenges that led to the shift in how we practice them today. This episode provides an important historical context that sheds light on the pragmatism behind the development of mitzvos derabanan and minhagim. ***Pl...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Biblical Origins - The Torah Definition of Niddah and Zavah

November 13, 2022 16:30 - 47 minutes - 64.9 MB

This episode is sponsored by Marisa Lewitan in memory of Penina Yalta bas Yosef Yitzchak. May her neshama have an aliya! In this foundational episode, Mrs. Rivky Kaplan gives us a glimpse into an era thousands of years ago, when the laws of tumah and tahara took center stage of Jewish life.  We look at the Torah's definition for the tumah of niddah and zavah and what the purification process looked like for each. Understanding the complexities inherent in these categories of tumah and the ...

Demystifying Hilchos Niddah: Introduction

November 06, 2022 16:00 - 18 minutes - 25.9 MB

Join us as we embark on a journey with Mrs. Rivky Kaplan, from Tzfat, Israel, unraveling some of the common questions and confusions women have surrounding hilchos niddah.  This series goes beyond the practical dos and don'ts you might learn at kallah classes and offers a window into the history and development of these halachos, providing important context for their day-to-day practice.   In this introductory episode, we’ll discuss the goal of this series, the significance of this area of...

The Paradox of Being Human

October 06, 2022 19:18 - 47 minutes - 65.4 MB

This is the final episode in our 3-part Tishrei series with Chana Hirschowitz. In this episode, Chana introduces a maamar from Likutei Torah on Shemini Atzeres. It paints the paradox of our human experience and leads us to a deeper understanding of our true nature. We explore how what seems to be two opposing forces work together to choreograph a beautiful dance. The combination of working on ourselves with a real acceptance of who we are is what achieves a dynamic relationship with G-d. ...

The Voice in My Head

September 29, 2022 19:34 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MB

This is the second episode in our 3-part Tishrei series with Chana Hirschowitz.  In this episode, Chana introduces another maamar from Likutei Torah on Shobbos Shuva that looks at teshuva from a cosmic perspective, drawing a parallel between our own individual experience of teshuva and the world's global journey towards Moshiach. Within the miniature world of the human psyche, we examine the role that our thoughts play in bringing us to teshuva. While our thoughts are separate from our iden...

The Biggest Sin of All

September 21, 2022 15:37 - 47 minutes - 64.6 MB

Join us for the first of a 3-part series with Chana Hirschowitz, exploring the spiritual journey of the month of Tishrei.  In this episode, Chana introduces a beautiful maamar from Likutei Torah that encourages us to turn inward and look at Rosh Hashana from the perspective of our own soul's experience. We discover two dimensions to the neshama; a more superficial dimension that is vulnerable to outside influences and a deeper one that is as infinite and unchanging as G-d Himself. We discov...

He Never Gave Up On You

August 28, 2022 21:11 - 50 minutes - 69.3 MB

When Rosh Chodesh Elul rolls around, there are mixed emotions associated with the upcoming month of introspection. Is it an ominous, tense and foreboding month as we await the dreaded day of judgement? Or is it a month of closeness, connection and hope, as we rekindle a loving relationship with G-d.  In this episode of our monthly maamar series, Zeldy Friedman takes us on a powerful journey through the maamar "Ani Ledodi" 5726. The maamar analyzes the famous analogy the Alter Rebbe gives fo...

Making Space for the People Around You

July 31, 2022 11:10 - 45 minutes - 62.6 MB

In honor of Rosh Chodesh Av, Peshy Raitport joins us to explore a beautiful maamar of the Rebbe Rashab on the theme of ahavas Yisrael. What makes it so difficult for us to get along with other people and why is it that certain people trigger us more than others? This maamar challenges us to take an honest look at ourselves and recognize that at core of all jealousy and divisiveness is our own ego. When our own self-consciousness takes up all our emotional space, it leave little room for othe...

Women's Talmud Torah - Practical Applications (Part 3)

July 31, 2022 00:48 - 29 minutes - 41 MB

This is the last episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, interview Mrs. Rivky Slonim, a shlucha at Binghamton University, an author and lecturer who focuses on the intersection of halacha and contemporary life with a special focus on Jewish women. We explore the challenges women face in integrating serious Torah learning into their lives and the steps we can take to overcome those challenges. We discuss these questions and more:...

Women's Talmud Torah - Practical Applications (Part 2)

July 27, 2022 11:00 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MB

This is the sixth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Rebbetzin Holly Pavlov, a lecturer, published author and founder and director of She’arim College of Jewish Studies. We explore the necessity for in-depth Torah study for women in the modern age and how to make Torah alive and relevant in the lives of Jewish women. We discuss these questions and more: What is your vision for the students of your seminary? Wh...

Women's Talmud Torah - Practical Applications (Part 1)

July 25, 2022 19:35 - 36 minutes - 49.9 MB

This is the fifth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Mrs. Sara Morozow, high school educator and beloved kallah teacher who lectures on topics related to chinuch for young women and teenage girls. We explore the role Torah study plays in the life of a modern frum woman both before and after she gets married and starts a family. We discuss these questions and more: In the years before they get married, many wom...

Women's Talmud Torah - The History (Part 2)

July 21, 2022 20:45 - 1 hour - 86.9 MB

This is the fourth episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Dr. Tali Loewenthal, a professor of Jewish studies at University College London and an academic whose research focuses on the history of Chassidic women. We explore the origins of the tradition amongst the Kabbalists to educate their daughters and how that has impacted the evolution of Chassidic women's Torah learning from the start of the Chassidic movement ...

Women's Talmud Torah - The History (Part 1)

July 18, 2022 19:48 - 47 minutes - 64.9 MB

This is the third episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Dr. Leslie Ginsparg Klein, the academic dean of Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary & College. She is a scholar, author and lecturer whose research focuses on the history of Bais Yaakov. We discuss the evolution of the Bais Yaakov movement in Eastern Europe and the impact it has on girls’ education today. We discuss these questions and more: What theological...

Women's Talmud Torah - The Sources (Part 2)

July 13, 2022 14:00 - 56 minutes - 52.8 MB

This is the second episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, scholar, lecturer and board member at Batsheva Learning Center. He discusses the core halachic principles that impact the development of halacha in general and the development of women’s Torah study in particular. Rabbi Yaffe zooms in on the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s nuanced view of women’s Torah study, based on sources from the Rebbe’s letters ...

Women's Talmud Torah - The Sources (Part 1)

July 11, 2022 13:37 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MB

This is the first episode in our new podcast series exploring a woman's relationship with Talmud Torah. In this episode, we interview Laurie Novick, a talented educator and director of Deracheha.org. She explores the original halachic sources that discuss the mitzvah of Talmud Torah for women and lays the groundwork for understanding the fundamental halachic issues surrounding this topic. We discuss these questions and more: Is a woman obligated to study Torah? If yes, what? Aren't there s...

Making Judaism Natural

June 29, 2022 16:48 - 51 minutes - 71.2 MB

In this episode of our monthly series, Adina Weisner joins us to explore the famous maamar "V'atah Tetzaveh", in honor of Gimmel Tammuz.  What does it look like when our relationship with G-d is an expression of the core of who we are? How do we peel away the layers of the relationship that may be superimposed by external drama and discover a yearning for G-d from deep within ourselves? How can we make Judaism an authentic, natural part of our lives?  Join us as we learn excerpts of this p...

Losing Yourself to Joy

May 31, 2022 18:15 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MB

What's the difference between healthy self-esteem and inflated ego? Between honest self-awareness and unhealthy self-consciousness? Between respectful expectation and self-centered entitlement? Between superficial satisfaction and deep joy? In this episode of our monthly maamar series, Shoshana Wolf and Hadassah Shemtov explore a rich and relatable maamar of the Frierdiker Rebbe in preparation for Shavuos. The maamar (linked here) is based on the narrative of receiving the Torah and the two...

How does halacha approach sexual abuse?

May 06, 2022 17:42 - 1 hour - 90.7 MB

Ponder Point #6 - From The Archives A one hour discussion with Rabbi Avraham Zajac. Explore the sources of topics you always wondered about.

Speaking the Language of your Inner Animal

May 01, 2022 20:19 - 44 minutes - 61.6 MB

We've all had moments of inspiration, when a deeper, truer part of ourselves emerges and our everyday struggles melt away. But inspiration doesn't last long, and when it fades, we come crashing back into our ordinary lives as though it never happened. What if we could approach inspiration differently? What if we could transform our regular, human selves into a window into our G-dly consciousness? The key is to start not with spirituality, but with an honest awareness of ourselves and the mes...

Just One Step Towards Redemption

April 06, 2022 15:31 - 51 minutes - 70.9 MB

This episode of our monthly Maamar series explores the concept of leaving Egypt as both a global, historic journey towards Moshiach and a personal, daily journey out of our own comfort zones. What is the interplay between our personal redemption and the global one and what kind of significance can that give to our daily struggles? Delve into the text of a beautiful maamar "Kimei Tzeischa" 5742 with Menucha Schwartz, and discover how yetzias miztrayim is not just a one-time event but an ongoi...

The Lottery

March 03, 2022 21:00 - 37 minutes - 51.3 MB

Why do we name the holiday of Purim after the lottery that Haman threw to destroy us? How can the randomness inherent in a lottery symbolize a miracle Hashem deliberately orchestrated to save us? In this episode of our monthly maamar series, Shaindle Sharfstein and Hadassah Shemtov explore a profound maamar on what the core of the Purim story is all about. They discuss the nihilistic perspective that Haman represents, the flaw in his reasoning and what that tells us about the nature of free...

Going Out of Your Mind

February 01, 2022 17:25 - 49 minutes - 67.8 MB

In this episode, Goldie Markovits and Hadassah Shemtov study a short maamar about the spiritual Egypt inside of all of us and how we can experience a personal exodus. They explore how it is possible to bridge the gap between the cool, calm, collected mind and the fierce, fiery, flickering heart.  How do we allow the truth we experience in our mind to touch our heart, inspire it, and ultimately, release the unbounded energy contained within it?

A Thirst that Can't be Quenched

January 03, 2022 19:34 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MB

In this episode of our Monthly Maamar series, Ettel Kaplan and Hadassah Shemtov explore the existential yearning that our soul experiences while in a body, based on the sixth maamar in Kuntres Umaayon. Their discussion flips our picture of Judaism on its head and challenges us to consider: Is life about finding the answers or uncovering our deepest questions? Is it about arriving at knowledge of the truth or living in wonder of the unknown? Is it about finding contentment or discovering o...