Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, founder and director of The Jerusalem Kollel (www.thejerusalemkollel.com), is a widely respected authority on Halachah and well known for his telephone tapes on Shmiras Halashon. He is well known as a teacher and lecturer throughout Jerusalem and was ordained at the Mirrer Yeshiva, Jerusalem.
How literally do we need to follow the concept of learning Torah day and night? Rav Berkovits eloquently explains how learning Torah can sensitize your mind and heart to live a more aware, vibrant and spiritual life.
Redeeming your firstborn son - how does it work and where does it stem from? Giving up on our first fruits shows appreciation to G-d for all the produce bestowed upon us. Paralleling that, pidyon haben is a gesture of thanks directed heavenward for the family that He has graciously given us. Rav Berkovits follows up with a detailed guide of what to expect during the ceremony.
This fascinating class on modesty puts all the various lessons, practices, and thoughts you've heard on the subject into their appropriate categories. Rav Berkovits defines when to abide by the rules of your community, what is acceptable to wear in the privacy of your home, and what behavior and body parts must remain out of sight in the presence of men. Lively questions address a few burning issues that are rarely discussed.
By dressing, acting, or speaking a certain way in public but not in private, we are making a statement about our self-respect. Is self-respect something we intrinsically possess, or is it dictated by the embarrassing awareness of those around us? In contrast, how do we access dignity if we need to move on an issue which goes against the norms of our community? Hear how the Torah views its' women on these issues, and taste a bit of the self-worth you're entitled to.
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.
Returning home from Yeshiva with fire in your eyes and spring in your step is just great says Rav Yitzchak Berkovits – but let's be realistic. At times your home life may be uncomfortable, or even downright hostile. So what can you do to show you’re still normal? This class will help to navigate a much smoother home coming.
Going back with a newly observant status to a home that doesn't quite match the standards you have set for yourself can be challenging - and confusing. First of all, be aware that whatever you do will be making a statement, and prepare for what you'll be facing before you suddenly find yourself in a mess. What happens when Mom is trying to talk to you and you're davening? Or Uncle Jeff wants to hug you hello? Included is an area that can often cause a flare up - the laws of Kashrus.
Rav Berkovits continues this important subject for a person who is visiting his non-observant home – particularly in regards to Shabbos. The fact that you can't ask any Jew to break Shabbos for you, even if they don't keep it themselves, makes the day extra complex. For instance, can a family member serve you a coke from a refrigerator that has a light sensor? Is it okay for them to turn off the television set for you, even if you never asked them to do so? And what about the problem of milk and meat, with all the possible mess-ups that can (and will) occur.
What is the status of a not-frum relative? Are they considered to be a tinok shenishbah, or are they categorized more severely? And how do we deal with day to day issues that arise, like helping with non-kosher groceries, or bigger problems like non-Orthodox marriages, or worse - mixed marriages, and relating with a new non-Jewish member of the family?
Halacha is complicated enough even without dealing with all the ‘shittos.’ How can we know which, or whom to follow? Should we just be machmir for every opinion, or is there a sliding scale of when to observe certain chumros? Rav Berkovits, himself a renowned posek, clarifies this confusing, charged, and very essential subject.