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In the shadow of the tragic murder of two young Israeli diplomats, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who dedicated their lives to peace, we confront the heart-wrenching questions: Are we still the Chosen People? Can we still believe in humanity when humanity seems to fall apart? This week’s Torah portion, Bechukotai, addresses blessings and brutal curses, followed by the surprising laws of erchin, evaluating human worth. From this strange juxtaposition, Chassidic masters draw a powerful truth: even after unspeakable loss, the value of a human soul remains eternal and divine. Through stories of survival and sacred resistance, from Auschwitz to Washington D.C. we rediscover that our calling is not diminished by darkness, but rather revealed by it. This class is dedicated to the memory of Yaron and Sarah, may G-d avenge their blood.

Takeaways:

1. The antidote to darkness is dignity. The Torah teaches us that even after curses, we must return to affirming the value of each soul.
2. Giving heals. The symbolic 143 shekel of erchin counters the 143 curses, showing the power of charity and sacred commitment.
3. Pain does not diminish worth. Jewish identity is not dependent on external conditions. We remain chosen not despite suffering, but in how we respond to it.
4. A moral education saves lives. The solution to violence isn’t only policy—it’s character, conscience, and responsibility to G-d.
5. We rise because we remember. From the bloodied streets of exile to the halls of peace diplomacy, the Jewish soul remembers who it is and why it’s here.

#YaronLischinsky #SarahMilgrim #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #Bechukotai #MoralResponsibility #Chosen #Kabbalah #Sermon #Israel #Antisemitism #chosenpeople #humanworth

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Lag B’Omer isn’t just a day for bonfires and bow-and-arrows. It’s the Hilula—the joyous “wedding day”—of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the mystic who gave us the Zohar and opened the gates of Jewish spiritual consciousness. But why a wedding on the day of someone’s passing? This class explores the paradox at the heart of both life and love: how our greatest limitations can be our most profound doorways to infinity.

We’ll explore Talmudic, Kabbalistic, and Chassidic sources—from the soul-body dynamic, to the power of mitzvot, to why life is likened to a wedding. You’ll discover how the soul’s “marriage” to the body mirrors our own sacred relationships and how Lag B’Omer invites us to celebrate the holiness hidden in the now.

3 Takeaways:

1. Life is a Wedding, Not a Waiting Room
   Rabbi Shimon taught us to stop postponing joy. Every mitzvah, every act of love, is a divine moment worth celebrating now—not later.
2. Paradox is the Pathway to Eternity
   Through the union of opposites—soul and body, heaven and earth, law and love—we don’t diminish ourselves. We become eternal.
3. Kabbalah Illuminates the Ordinary
   Lag B’Omer marks the unveiling of the soul of Torah, where every halachah becomes a mystical spark and every moment a gateway to the Infinite

#lagbaomer #zohar #Kabbalah #mysticism #Jewish #chassidic #chassidus #chabad #Hillula #soul #meaningoflife #meaning #JewishSpirituality #soul

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In this eye-opening class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a cryptic Midrash on the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu and how it unexpectedly shook the biblical figure of Job. Through this lens, we’ll uncover what this story teaches us about moral responsibility, the danger of silence in the face of injustice, and the timely relevance of speaking up — especially when it’s uncomfortable. With a nod to current events and a dose of Chassidic insight, this session challenges us to rethink what it really means to be a bystander.

Key Takeaways:

-Even silence can be a statement — and sometimes, a dangerous one.

-The Torah invites us to see not only the sin of action, but the sin of inaction.

-Ancient Midrashic voices still speak to modern struggles with injustice and moral clarity.

-Spiritual leadership begins with accountability — even for what we don’t say.

-In a world filled with noise, knowing when to speak can change everything.

#TorahPortion #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons #Acharei #nadav #avihu #silence #Courage #MoralResponsibility #Antisemitism #jewishhatred #holocaust #jewishleadership #YomHashoah #holocaustremembrance #chabad #Rabbi #yisroelbernath

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In this powerful class on Parshas Tazria, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores why the Torah repeats the phrase “the Kohen shall look.” Drawing on the teachings of the Meshech Chochma, we’ll discover the Torah’s revolutionary approach to healing—not just diagnosing the symptoms, but seeing the entire person. This class reveals the spiritual roots of what modern medicine now calls "holistic care," and challenges us to become more compassionate, wise, and soul-aware in how we view others—and ourselves.

Key Takeaways:

Double Vision: The Torah instructs the Kohen to look twice—once at the affliction, and once at the person—because true healing begins with empathy, not just analysis.

Timing is Everything: There are moments when even truth must wait—for the sake of kindness, joy, and emotional safety.

See the Soul: Before declaring someone “impure,” see their heart. Understand the difference between rebellion and pain, behavior and backstory.

Holistic Before It Was In: Thousands of years before integrative medicine became a buzzword, the Torah already taught us to heal bodies by caring for souls.

Relational Wisdom: Whether in parenting, teaching, or friendships—don’t just fix the problem. See the person behind the problem.

#Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #Tazria #HolisticHealing #Kohen #Tzaraat #Jewish #JewishSpirituality

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In this transformative pre-Passover class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath invites us to reimagine one of the most perplexing passages of the Haggadah—the confrontation with the so-called “wicked” child. At first glance, it seems to suggest aggression. But look again. Beneath the surface lies a profound truth about love, empathy, and the infinite potential within every soul. We explore how the seder is not just about telling a story—it's about healing the parts of ourselves and our loved ones that feel like outsiders. We uncover the inner Tzaddik hiding behind the rebellious exterior, the wisdom in our struggles, and the quiet yet revolutionary power of radical acceptance. The class culminates in a powerful meditation on “Nirtzah”—the moment we stop striving and start trusting that our best is enough.

Key Takeaways:

1. Look Beneath the Words – The “wicked” child isn’t wicked. He’s wounded. Real listening means tuning into the cry behind the comment.
2. Empathy Over Argument – “Blunt his teeth” isn’t an invitation to silence—it’s a call to go beyond verbal combat and into soulful connection.
3. Every Part Belongs – The Four Children represent not just four people, but four parts of ourselves. Don’t exile your Hyde—transform him.
4. Rebel ≠ Reject – Even our flaws can be tools for growth. The goal isn’t to eliminate the Yetzer Hara, but to elevate it.
5. Your Best Is Enough – The final step of the seder, Nirtzah, is the antidote to “I’m not good enough.” It reminds us: G-d is already pleased. The only one left to convince is ourselves.

#Passover #Seder #Hagaddah #chabad #Kabbalah #Israel

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Navigating the choppy waters of our inner Nile, where the Pharaoh of Negative Thought reigns supreme, Rabbi Bernath offers a sage map for the modern soul's Exodus. Picture this: an inner Pharaoh, all ego and no ear, refusing the logic we offer as liberally as matzah at Pesach. It's an ancient tale, yet as current as our latest tweet.

Enter Moshe, our timeless hero, speaking Hebrew to a Pharaoh who's as lost in translation as a tourist without Google Maps. The catch? It's not about the words, but the Divine energy they carry, slicing through stubbornness like a hot knife through butter.

Consider the Chafetz Chaim, whose Yiddish plea melted Polish hearts without a single word understood—a testament to the soul's language, transcending the babble of Babel.

Then there's the 7/38/55 rule, a reminder that our vibes speak louder than our vocabulary. The body's ballet and the tone's tune tell tales our tongues can't touch.

So when faced with our own Pharaoh—be it doubt, fear, or the Sunday Scaries—Rabbi Bernath advises a strategy as bold as it is biblical: Speak in your soul's native tongue. No translation needed. For it's not the clarity of argument, but the purity of our Divine essence, that can topple tyranny within.

In essence, Rabbi Bernath suggests, when logic's light dims and reason's ropes fray, it's time to unfurl the banner of our inherent holiness, declaring our truths in a language beyond words. Like Moshe, we stand before our inner Pharaoh not to debate, but to demonstrate—a conduit of Divine will, unyielding and unfiltered.

In doing so, we don't just speak to our shadows; we illuminate them, transforming the inner Egypt into a land flowing with milk, honey, and the sweet freedom of self-mastery. So let's raise our staffs, part our personal Red Seas, and march towards a promised land of inner peace and purpose, one holy utterance at a time.

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The Passover Seder isn’t just a tradition....it’s an invitation. Not just for guests around your table, but for you. An invitation to show up emotionally, spiritually, and vulnerably. This class explores five Seder moments that, when fully embraced, can transform your night from ritual to revolution.

We’ll journey from the cracked matzah to the humble matzah, from our collective memory to our personal growth, from the bitterness of trauma to the sweetness of faith. Discover why incompletion is a gift, how humility is the key to freedom, and why the Seder might just be history’s original group therapy session.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Invite Yourself In
   The opening words of the Seder aren’t about inviting others—they’re about inviting yourself. Your full, vulnerable, questioning, present self. This is your moment to enter the story, not as a spectator, but as the protagonist.
2. Celebrate What’s Broken
   Yachatz teaches that brokenness isn’t a defect—it’s a doorway. By honoring what’s missing, we create space for growth, connection, and Divine presence. Real healing begins when we stop pretending to be whole.
3. You Are Part of a 3,337-Year Legacy
   While other civilizations forget, we remember. The power of the Seder is memory with mission: to remind us that no matter where we are, freedom is always the next chapter if we have the courage to write it.
4. Humility is Freedom’s Secret Ingredient
   Matzah isn’t just flat—it’s freeing. The opposite of ego isn’t weakness; it’s openness. Freedom requires the courage to say, “Maybe I don’t know everything.” That humility invites new beginnings.
5. Freedom Begins in the Heart
   Egypt isn’t just a place—it’s a mindset. It’s the voice that says, “This is how it’s always been.” But G-d gave us a hidden “escape hatch”—a shift in perception, a crack of hope, a step toward healing. Your freedom begins when you stop being “right” and start being real.

#Passover #seder #freedom #matzah #Jewish #Judaism #pesach

Passover Seder, Freedom, Matzah, Humility, Jewish Identity, Vulnerability, Brokenness, Personal Growth, Group Therapy, Jewish Memory, Healing, Transformation, Ego, Yachatz, Exodus, Egypt, Legacy, Soul Work

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