This Jewish Life - With Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe

Jewish law makes a strange distinction regarding the prohibition of envy: Envy of someone else’s physical, material and intellectual gifts and successes is prohibited, while envy of another’s spiritual achievements are permitted and encouraged. What is the rationale for that distinction and why does it mirror the prohibition of arrogance? We also learn that of the fine pattern strung through the Ten Commandments, why some always wear ties when praying and several interesting Heavenly proclamations made before a child is even born.

While humans have seemingly progressed, improved and evolved in many areas of life, in the arena of relationships we are comparatively neanderthals, and we are regressing. Surprisingly, a 3300 year old document will succinctly instruct and guide us in four sentences more successfully than all the relationships and self help books in Barnes and Noble.

There is a fine line between arrogance and a keen understanding of the brutal facts; between humility and delusion. Did Moses – the humblest of men – know that he was the Jewish greatest prophet? Is the smartest guy in the room allowed to know that fact without transgressing on the severe sin of גאוה, haughtiness? Join Rabbi Wolbe in grappling and pondering these important questions.

The deeper meaning and insight into the various holidays and festivals in the Jewish calendar.

Click HERE for part 1 We continue our exploration of the themes and insights of the progression of a Jewish life.

The words of our Sages in the Talmud were written with the utmost precision and exactitude. Thus, when encountering perplexing statements in the Talmud (as in the subject of this class) it is a grave error to consider that the authors made a mistake or even to only study the statement superficially without straining to understand the true meaning and intent. Often the wisdom of the Talmud is concealed beneath a thick layer of profundity, and only after digging fastidiously will you begin to understand the unfathomable depth of the the words. In the very first book of the Talmud, Tractate Brachos, we find this incredibly confounding statement: שלשה מעין העולם הבא, אלו הן: שבת, שמש, ותשמיש. תשמיש דמאי? אילימא תשמיש המטה – הא מכחש כחיש? אלא תשמיש נקבים. (ברכות דף נז:) Translation in English: Three things are a measure of the World To Come. They are: Shabbos, the Sun, and tashmish. What does tashmish mean? If you say tashmish hamita (sexual intercourse), it weakens. Rather, it must be referring to tashmish nekavim (bowel removal). Join us as we attempt to unravel this intriguing but puzzling gem of Talmudic wisdom.

Us Jews are privy to the most valuable thing on Earth: The Almighty’s precious Torah. All too often we neglect to realize the enormity of this reality, but if you stop for a second and truly analyze it you will recognize how astonishing it is. Mere mortal humans, the most fallible and feeble of all creatures; these same humans who are constantly swayed by our petty whims and desires  have access to the wisdom and instructions of the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and Earth?!? If this alone will not blow your mind away, some of the incredible content of the Torah likely will. In this class we discuss some of the Torah’s statements regarding the early existence and development of children and talk about what it means for us. Click HERE for part 2

Human all have a collection of positive and negative character traits. Judaism teaches us that we must perfect our character and acquire all the good characteristics and rid ourselves of our negative character maladies. But religiosity is not the only reason why change is imperative. Relationship breakdown only occurs due to bad character. Proper parenting is only possible if the parent has good character. Productivity and willpower can only result in someone who has succeeded in achieving those wonderful characteristics. Learning how to improve one’s character is a very valuable skill indeed. In this class we learn the broad strokes of the Mussar approach to achieving good character.

Spousal selection is a perplexing and vexing part of life for most people; at least if the rates of failure in marriage are indeed what they are reported to be. The average person does not now where to start, what to do, what to look out for and how not to make a grievous and costly mistake by making a poor selection. The result is a convergence of an enormously important decision and an utter lack of knowledge of how to go about making that decision. For guidance and direction in this area of life we turn to the Almighty’s book of life instructions (a good idea for any difficult situation) and analyze the Torah’s exhaustive description of the vetting and selection of a spouse for Isaac – focusing on the minutiae of all the small details – and attempt to draw insight and instruction that is as relevant today as ever.

Three times in the Torah we are commanded to experience the emotion of love: “Thou shall love your fellow as yourself” (Leviticus 19, 18) “Thou shall love the foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10, 19) “Thou shall love Hashem your God with all your hearts, with all your soul and with all your resources” (Deuteronomy 6, 5) These commandments are deeply troubling. How can God command us to have an emotion like love? You either love someone or something or you do not? Seemingly, it cannot reasonably be forced upon someone? It is also a deviation from the textual integrity to posit that the Torah is telling us to act  to our fellow in a loving manner because the words cannot be clearer: Thou shall love your fellow. Likewise, the quantity of love appears to be impossible. How can I love anyone as much as I love myself? Listen and learn how the Torah is teaching us incredible lessons in what love is and how to achieve it.