Rabbi Noah Weinberg zt"l was the dean and founder of Aish HaTorah International. Over the last 40 years, his visionary educational programs have brought hundreds of thousands of Jews closer to their heritage.
In this classic series on Mesillas Yesharim, Rav Noah explores basic concepts that are the foundations of Judaism. Follow his pithy wisdom as he examines the nonsense we often get sucked into, and the capacity for mitzvos to pull us into a relationship of love with G-d. A fascinating class that asks some hard-hitting questions about what we get out of following G-d’s commandments.
Why were we put into this world? The point is the World to Come. Hear a powerful view of the world we inhabit, and the appropriate view of self as a soul, instead of a body. The goal of the world is to teach us about love of G-d. Have one eyebrow raised? Join Rav Noah as he shows clearly that deep down we know all of these concepts to be true.
Are we alert when we are serving G-d? The Mesillas Yesharim examines the different levels people live on when living in this world, some of them more aware of why we’re alive, and some less. Do we know what we’re living for? Rav Noah has us laughing and wincing at the same time as he shows our minds to be miles away when we could be truly connecting to the Divine.
It’s important to remain aware of what we do, and the results of those actions. Rav Noah expounds on the Mesillas Yesharim’s teachings to make a reckoning of what we’ve done each day and the motivations behind that. It’s important to keep viewing the bottom line – what we’ve lost by inappropriate behavior and what we’ve gained by the positive.
Mesillas Yesharim is a classic sefer written by the 'Ramchal'. His simple, yet penetrating words have guided many seekers through the last few centuries, and have been a beacon of light in a world of confusion and darkness. Rabbi Noah Weinberg brings insight and practical clarity to this wellspring of wisdom.
In the future, the simple of the simplest can be the ones sitting in the front row with the Avos, while the learned of the learned will wonder why they are sitting way in the back. How does hearing God's messages hold the key for a box seat, and how can we block out all the static in the world to achieve it?
The fear of God is all-encompassing. Even though one is a scholar, deals well with others, and lives a good life, Heaven will still be critical when this core midah falls short. In this session, Rav Noah discusses the first level of fearing God, which is 'doing the right thing because of society's pressure'. We may think we are above this, but Rav Noah has us laughing at ourselves by revealing the foibles of human thinking.
What is freedom? Rav Naoh challenges the usual definitions by forcing us to consider the following: can you picture yourself enslaved on all sides by a hostile world? Now, can you picture yourself breaking free of those shackles - to live in ways you've dreamed about, but never thought possible?
Pesach is the time of our quintessential experience of freedom. Indeed, we proclaim at the Seder that we are still slaves, and we hope to be freed by next year. Do we really know what we’re talking about as we lift the matzah? Rav Noah exhorts us to think about what we’re doing as we’re doing it, and gives a powerful message to take into your Pesach Seder.
Understanding what blocked Pharoah from getting God's message of “Let My people go,” may offer us a valuable clue to understand what’s preventing us also from hearing His messages each and every day.