Stress is a common condition that can cause personal health problems and the unraveling of relationships. How can we avoid, or at least reduce the negative effects it has on us? Mrs. Braunstein weighs in with Jewish wisdom: to side step our self-made stress, to keep our priorities in perspective, and to maintain a semblance of inner calm, even during times of upheaval.
The Torah sternly warns us against misjudging another's actions negatively. But likewise, living with a blind eye in this tough world is also fraught with problems. With extraordinary sensitivity, Rav Berkovits turns this ever present dilemma into a valuable tool for getting better in touch with your own judgmental tendencies, and for learning how to react to another's actions with greater patience and forbearance.
Discover your potential and task in life by listening to what's going on within. Rabbi Berkowitz explains why Hashem tests us, and why He makes some things in life extremely bothersome for us. What do we need to know in order to translate these events into becoming the best people we can.
There is a Torah approach for the appropriate way of to do just about everything -even fighting. If someone is out to harm you, you have the right to fight back. But where does protecting yourself begin and revenge start - and end? This landmark lecture deals with the worrisome conflicts that push our buttons and boils our blood.
What does it take to get up from a fall? Many of us dread even the thought of it. God however, took this into account by creating the antidote of 'teshuva' before He completed creation. Using Rabbi Elazar ben Dudai's amazing Talmudic story of his encounter with a woman of ill repute, Rabbi Kahn shows how the subsequent necessary emotions he went through brought him to complete teshuva - on the spot.
How do we make changes that last from year to year instead of watching them fizzle out soon after Yom Kippur? Rabbi Morgenstern offers a number of practical ideas and shows how even a small success is a big gain when Hashem reviews our overall progress.
The evil inclination can be split into two sections: the fiery physical desires that we are born with, and the more intellectual arguments that pull us away from serving God. Which of these is quicker to overcome, and which will haunt us until the day we die, and how should we deal with each of them differently?
The Yetzer Hara is very crafty in drawing us away from Hashem in ways we barely notice. A tzaddik can nevertheless remain stable despite this unpredictable state of affairs. Rabbi Orlowek discusses the value of being aware of your smallest actions, thereby gaining to see the cumulative effect of your actions - which can help to stabilize your perception of the world.
Your wants are controllable, and you'll probably be held accountable for not paying closer attention to them. Rabbi Orlowek explains that when a person aims toward a specific goal, he's given an extra boost to reach it. This talk is an eye-opener for learning how you can strengthen your ratzon.
The Sages tell us that the first man, Adam reached from the earth till the heavens - in height and in stature. His height was permanently reduced once he was banished from the Garden, but the potential of his spiritual stature is still available to us. What focus must we be aware of to reestablish this stature and dignity in our lives?