Just a moment of reflection on the fact we are still in exile may be a bit traumatic. Mrs. Juravel takes a look at a few disturbing questions that nibble away at our belief in a future redemption. Hear the power of your prayers, what they accomplish even when we don't feel it, and how to recognize when you're growing 'enough' in life.
We can often convince ourselves to resist our desire for things with tricks and mind games. How possible is it to miraculously break through such negativity? Hear how we erect internal walls between ourselves and our souls, and how tears can help with the process.
Why have we cried over the destruction of the holy Temple for centuries? Perhaps if we figure it out we can avoid the tears this coming year. It’s time for us to focus on others in a real way, and understand that we’re examples to the world of what Jews are supposed to be. Let’s build ourselves into the mini sanctuaries we can be, and inspire others – and perhaps our sincere changes will help build the redemption we so long for.
The destruction of the Beis Hamikdash was tied to baseless hatred – we destroyed those we came in contact with, so Hashem destroyed the Beish Hamikdash. How can we teach ourselves to avoid hurting others verbally, and be sensitive to those who are having monetary difficulties, are childless, or single? And how can we learn to build people's images with the words we say, even when we need to criticize?
The two warring nations of Moab and Midyan seem to have vanished into the dust of the ages. But upon analysis, their ancient attempt to cause us to sin using the forces they each represent, are still surprisingly relevant. Where do we find these two powers as the primary causes for destroying our holy temples, and continue to work against us? And one of them is still internally enmeshed in us, perpetuating the exile it brings until we can break out? A talk for Tisha B'Av from an angle you've never heard before.
Many of the rituals surrounding Tisha B’Av have a way of bringing on the feelings of being victimized. But an even greater unrealistic expectation is to mourn for a Temple we’ve never experienced. Rabbi Kirzner explains what treasures were really lost as the Temple burned down, and the responsibility we can initiate to rebuild it.
Jacob’s dream of angels ascending and descending a heavenly ladder carries even greater ominous overtones then just the length of the four exiles. The 4th angel ascended but never fell back, seemingly to continue climbing – dooming us for eternal exile. How did God’s response that He would push the angel back calm down Jacob, and what does the seeming strangeness of the ascendance of the final angel imply about the internal exile we are mired in today?
There's one day every year we try to face the reality of who we are, where we are, and why. Rav Pincus compares and contrasts the past horrors that have befallen the Jewish people to the current tragedy of scores of Jews being lost to their heritage. Can we feel the pain of Hashem? Are we willing to do all it takes to end our galus? A must-listen to help shake us up - to truly take stock.
What can God really expect from a generation light years away from the great spiritual heights we had reached in the past? Rav Noah demolishes every excuse with one powerful point - God, Who controls all powers and abilities, is surely backing us up to break out of exile. How come we hesitant taking the next step?
Happiness is hard. Why is it we get so down when we hear one negative comment directed our way, even when cushioned by tons of positive feedback beforehand? This talk by Rabbi Yochanan Zweig explores our egocentricity and expectations, and how a vague sense of dissatisfaction extends to viewing others negatively, and pulls us to even hate them for no reason.