Never underestimate an ordinary day (or month) or an ordinary act. Sivan Rahav-Meir discusses her journey to Torah Judaism, the lessons she learned along the way, and how that applies to the “ordinary” month of Cheshvan. Reb Zusha on what can we take from Tishrei to Cheshvan. Download the mekorot here Recorded at OU Israel’s L’Ayla […]

What does the name MarCheshvan mean? What can we learn from a month with no red-letter days, especially in contrast to the previous month, Tishrei? Taking the growth of Tishrei and applying it to everyday life. Download the mekorot here Recorded at OU Israel’s L’Ayla Rosh Chodesh Women’s Event

Julie Levi tells her personal story about living with clinical depression and how to find the sweetness in the bitter and in ordinary everyday life. Recorded at OU Israel’s L’Ayla Rosh Chodesh Women’s Event

All disagreements in life result from poorly-defined expectations. The Chofetz Chaim discusses faith within halacha in the context of partnerships with non-Jews and Shabbos.  His discussion of the importance of Torah in his introduction to the Mishna Brurah. This shiur is sponsored by Chana Spivak in loving memory of her son, בנימין אליעזר. Download the […]

How do we prepare for Selichot? Do we lose any sleep over our sins as we approach Rosh Hashana, the Day of Judgement? Selichot are meant to wake us up. to shake us up. Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime

According to the Levush Selichot are modeled after davening, we begin with Pesukei D’Zimra, then kaddish, then the thirteen middot and selichot (which parallel the amida), followed by Tachanun and full Kaddish. What are the halachic ramifications of this? The minhag is that the one who davens Selichot should daven the rest of the day […]

Many of the Maharal’s writings focus on the distinction between the world as it should be and the world as it is. The difference between חומר and צורה parallels the difference between the Jews and the nations of the world. Delivered 17 Elul 5778 (August 28th, 2018) at the OU Israel Center, Jerusalem.

As cognitively active beings, Man must make sense of his environment and if concepts cannot be grasped or things don’t add up, tension and frustration ensues.  For some, the challenge of confusion leads to a more concerted effort to arrive at a sensible conclusion. The mathematician’s difficulty with an equation results in rigorous mental gymnastics […]

At the start of Elul, rather than plunging ourselves into cheshbon ha’nefesh (accounting of one’s soul), many advise to begin by strengthening the core areas of our avodas Hashem.  Since we are involved in tefilah in this program, and since tefilah is certainly one of the core areas of our service to Hashem, we are reviewing four segments in particular, since they […]

The preparation for Teshuva begins from Rosh Chodesh Elul. The function of Elul is not just to daven but to plead so we are ready when Rosh Hashana arrives. Is Elul merely a preparation for Rosh Hashana or does it carry its own importance? Shiur provided courtesy of Torah Anytime