Rebbetzin Heller is a senior lecturer at Neve Yerushalayim College in Jerusalem. Amongst her many areas of expertise are the role of women in Judaism and analysis of the lives of women in the Bible. Rebbetzin Heller herself is an example of a woman who has managed to balance her responsibilities as the mother of a large family with her roles as international speaker and author.
Sometimes the yetzer hara approaches us with logical arguments that are easy to deflect. But how well can we deal with desires that hit us with urgency and emotion force? Hear a fascinating lecture on our powers of imagery and its capacity to fight negative impulses. Rebbetzin Heller also flips the concept by examining the illusionary portraits of greatness we sometimes construct in our minds.
Rebbetzin Heller takes a close look at the middos that muffle the Yetzer Tov's voice. The main character traits that make the Divine presence harder to feel are haughtiness and anger. Learn to recognize the trap of self-importance, and the pretense it uses to masquerade as humility. She then looks at controlling the intellect in ways to check anger from impulsively reacting.
We all have dreams, but can we access them, and if so, how? Rebbetzin Heller discusses a passage in Likutei Halachos that assures us the ability to become the Kohen Gadol in the Beis Hamikdash. That is, within our own mundane lives. Every day there are opportunities for us to push away barriers between us and Hashem that no previous generation has broken down. Also hear a fascinating countdown of the end of days according to the Vilna Gaon - where we fit in, and how to react to the tragedies happening all around us.
Forty days before a person is born, a divine voice proclaims that so-and-so's son will marry so-and-so's daughter. The Malbim claims that this proclamation is actually the original shidduch (match) that binds the body to the soul. Also, while a person is still in the womb, an angel teaches the fetus all of the Torah and then makes it take two oaths before being allowed to be born. Hear Rebbetzin Heller's clear and deliberate explanation of these ideas - but first find a quiet setting to follow her train of thought.
By understanding and defining ourselves as a soul in its natural spiritual dimension as opposed to how we relate as a body can have a great ramification on our understanding the lives we lead. What follows death, and what is resurrection of the dead, and how can we understand heaven and hell in far more tangible, desirable terms than as clouds and harps or pits of fire? Rebbetzin Heller also gives us a peek into teaching these difficult concepts to children.
We often escape being in God's presence and avoid seeing the bigger picture of life - it being a bit too uncomfortable to face. Rebbetzin Heller describes how we block God out of our higher consciousness, and how that state plays itself out in our every day life. Hear steps on how to gently bring it back into view.
Our world bombards us with TV coverage, endless advertisements, and paparazzi. Is it any wonder that we equate importance with visibility? Yet by God, who is 'The Ultimate Importance' and encompasses all that we see and don't see, how are we to appreciate His 'Importance' and connect emotionally with Him.
Have you ever been told to have faith and to believe that things will turn out fine - and they don't? Is there a way to distinguish true bitachon from fantasies we hope will come about? Real trust in God leads to inner peace and happiness, which can't be rivaled for its serenity and quality of life. Hear what it takes.
If we had true belief in God's omnipotent ability to direct our lives towards the greatest good, wouldn't we then be totally anxiety free? And is there any redeeming factor from our cycle of negative thoughts that eats us up? Rebbetzin Heller draws a surprising conclusion, there are things to worry about in life, but perhaps different from what we might think.
On the first of Elul we add 'L'Dovid Hashem Ori' (Perek 27) to our prayers. But just how does this Psalm relate to teshuvah? Rebbetzin Heller takes a closer look at the fears and obstacles that sprinkle our lives, and despite our aversion to facing them, she helps us appreciate their enormous ability to draw us closer to Hashem.