Rabbi Ari Kahn graduated Yeshiva University with a BA in psychology and an MS degree in Talmud. A renowned speaker, he has lectured worldwide. Currently Rabbi Kahn is a Senior lecturer at Aishs Essentials, Fellowships and Executive Learning Center pragrams as well as the Director of the Foreign Student Program for Bar Ilan University. Rabbi Kahn is the author of the recently published book, Explorations, an in-depth analysis of the weekly Torah reading.
Many say that the hatred of Joseph's brothers spawned negative spiritual forces that brought about the destruction of the 2nd Temple. How could it be that these tzaddikim caused God's holy dwelling to topple - and why so many centuries after the story of Joseph? Rabbi Kahn uncovers the layers of hate that Jacob's sons bore. Can we say the discord within the Jewish people today stemmed from this as well? If you have time for just one lecture, this may be a good choice.
This beautiful class by Rabbi Kahn explores our role in coronating Hashem as our King on Rosh Hashana. Hear the amazing gifts our loving Creator bestows upon us in return.
We are told that on Rosh Hashanah we can experience compassion within judgement? But aren't these ideas diametrically opposed? Have you ever noticed how people enter a state of denial on committing a wrongdoing? Rabbi Kahn reminds us how to apply our minds to earn a positive judgement.
The sacrifice of Isaac is a very perplexing episode. Why did God ask Abraham to offer his son, and why didn't Abraham even attempt to plead for mercy? And why did Isaac, a 37 year-old man allow himself to be bound on the altar? Also, if this is one of Abraham's 10 tests why is it called 'The Sacrifice of Isaac'? The answers are extremely pivotal on how we are to approach Rosh Hashanah.
Is there a time when the holiday of Rosh Hashanah ends and Yom Kippur begins? Why do the Ten Days of Repentance take place in the gap between the solar and lunar cycles? What symbolism do the sun and moon have and how do they interact with one another? Rabbi Kahn describes the mystical moments of twilight that harken us back to the point of creation - giving us regenerative powers despite rules of nature to the contrary.
At the end of days all the nations will plead with Hashem to also test them. He will offer them the mitzvah of sitting in the Sukkah. Rabbi Kahn probes the core difference between Jewish and non-Jewish thinking, and why the Sukkah plays such a pivotal role in Jewish thought. Hear also a breathtaking insight into the Sukkah from the biblical story of Jacob and Esau.
Most have heard the basic Chanukah story between the Greeks and Jews. However, there was a deeper civil war going on at the same time between the 'old Jews' and the 'new enlightened Hellenized Jews'. Hear the background and outcome of this intense and tragic struggle for cultural supremacy.
We know that Esther was not interested in being the beauty queen of Shushan, but the question remains - why didn't she even try to lose the pageant? Furthermore, the Talmud tells us she was a victim of rape, and although she had no religious imperative to put herself in mortal danger or give up her chaste status, what drove her to give up her most treasured possessions?
Can public drinking be part of the same Judaism that usually takes life so seriously? And more, what's this holiday of costumes and parties all about? In his usual candid style, Rabbi Kahn first gives a thorough introduction to Purim, then examines the sources of all the merrymaking, and concludes with a synopsis of the purpose of it under the surface, without our ending up under the table.
Once Esther entered Achashverosh's chambers to plead for her people, her marriage to that evil man was irrevocable. How did this righteous queen's precedent cause her to lose Mordechai, and how does it play out with subsequent halachic cases? Rabbi Kahn looks at a number of halachic authorities and differing levels of infidelity.