How does refraining from work really bring us any closer to the higher purpose of Shabbos? Rav Berkovits differentiates between the spiritual reality of Shabbos and the other six days. In comparing the act of creation to building the tabernacle in the desert, hear how the reality of Shabbos, nature, and evil interact to make our 'rest' on Shabbos a vital factor for world stability.
Can you leave the dryer running as Shabbos enters? Are there problems besides the light that goes on when opening the door of the fridge? Rav Berkovits has compiled scores of little-known Shabbos halachos that most people won't chance upon without spending serious time studying the intricate laws of Shabbos.
After hearing the 39 Melachos explained by Rav Berkovits in lay terms, you will feel a new sense of freedom in knowing what you can and can't do on Shabbos. The purpose and meaning of each melacha is covered along with numerous examples and cases where the principles apply.
Imagine if all the pleasure that all human beings ever had from the beginning of time was compressed into one intense moment! WoW! Shabbat gives a taste of that ecstasy. So why don't we feel it? Hear the frame of mind and preparation necessary for a tiny taste, plus hear a beautiful synopsis of the depth and splendor of this holy day.
All men have a few burning questions here. Why do women have a monopoly on this mitzvah, and is there a small portion of this mitzvah that also applies to them? How and where should a husband light when he stays in a hotel on a business trip? We also learn where and when to light on college campuses and in dorm rooms. Hear how various halachic authorities trace the Sephardic Minhagim back to the Shulchan Aruch.
Yom Kippur comes once a year to cleanse the slate of aveiros between you and Hashem. Would you like to have those sins forgiven without all the Yom Kippur trials and tribulations - on a regular basis? Rabbi Orlowek shows how listening intently to kiddush on Friday night has a similar power to whiten your spiritual 'garments.' Hear about the sweet rejuvenating power of Shabbos.
Upon inspecting the Jewish calendar, it becomes clear how each Yom Tov has it’s own unique tenor. What is the essence of Shabbos that we can fix in our minds? Rav Pincus’s esoteric answer shows the similarity between Shabbos Kodesh and the Beis Hamikdash, and how Hashem’s loving face expresses itself to us on this holy day.
The Rabbi’s say that if we aren't yearning for Shabbos, we are not yearning for the return of the Beis Hamikdash either. And just as the Beis Hamikdash serves as a channel to feel Hashem's oneness and forgiveness, so too by Shabbos.
A generation that has a hard time relaxing will sadly have a hard time relating to the Shabbos day. Rebbetzin Weinberg lists 19 reasons people just can't relate to this day of rest. Hear a beautiful description of the seven day cycle that the world turns on, and how all the mental blocks people have toward this time can vanish into thin air by better appreciating the peace this holy day has to offer.
What affect does the essential nature of Shabbos have on my life? This talk exemplifies how Shabbos is Judaism's central pillar to Jewish survival. Hear an inspiring discussion to awaken an invaluable appreciation of Shabbos, and to infuse more meaning into the rest of your week.