Aish Audio

The most impressive victory against the mighty Greek empire was a small but significant revolt from the Jewish people. Even still, the Jewish nation was not surprised by this victory. There was an extremely threatening ideological issue at stake. Hear a most articulate speaker discuss this intense power struggle.

The Chanukah story is unique among Jewish successes. Without prophecy to guide them, this small group of freedom fighters changed the face of the Jewish nation forever. Inspire this Chanukah with more meaning and understanding.

Purim is a funny and very unusual Jewish holiday! Rav Berkovits describes how we are to party till we no longer know what's up - or down. He takes us through the 'whole' Megillah and explains how this story teaches us to perceive the Divine puzzle of life in action.

Rav Berkovits in his naturally systematic and orderly way, goes through all the laws of the month of Adar and the Purim day itself. A thorough lecture to learn or review most of the laws relating to Purim.

Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits is a widely respected teacher with a unique ability to present a wide range of Jewish thought and practice in the most clear and understandable manner. The author of two books on shemiras haloshon (the practice of positive speech), Rav Berkowitz has taught and counseled thousands of students, from the novice to ordained rabbis. In this talk, Rav Berkowitz addresses the guidelines needed for chesed.

Rav Berkovits gets into the nuts and bolts of this confusing and emotional topic. Hear the basic rules, guidelines, and principles to help you decide when, and how much, and under which circumstances to distribute your maiser money to bring about the most good.

Nedarim is one of the least known areas of practical halacha. Generally, we are discouraged from making nedarim, but there are times when they are appropriate. Rav Berkovits elucidates the distinction between hafara and hatara and when to use the overused phrase 'bli neder.'

In this series given to men, Rav Berkovits offers invaluable council and practical guidelines for choosing your 'eizer knegdo.' Pertinent questions addressed in this shiur are: 'How do I know she is for me?' 'Why doesn't she attract me?' 'Why am I so confused about what I want? Very real dating issues are what this talk is all about.

If you are considering getting married or maybe very close to popping the question, listen up young men as Rav Berkovits shares some great practical advice for the most important decision of your life. Issues addressed: Your responsibilities to your Kallah, spending money, expectations of married life, dealing with parents and in-laws and much more. This talk is a must hear for every chassan, and chassan wannabe.

In an area as sensitive as shidduchim, a careless word can suddenly derail a potentially harmonious lifelong marriage. This important class, based on the laws of shemiras halashon by the Chofetz Chaim, instructs family, friends, and shadchanim how to differentiate between subjective and objective information that flies about during the shidduchim process. A must for almost everyone.

Men, marriage is a challenge, a responsibility and a commitment. It is also an important factor to reach your ultimate meaning in life. But like all lasting pleasures, time and effort are needed to build a cohesive relationship. Rav Berkovits explains all the basic tenets a healthy Jewish home should strive for. If you want what's best for yourself and your future family, it's very worthwhile to hear this concise overview.

In a session given to young married men on Shalom Bayis, Rav Berkovits pinpoints key encounters between the Matriarchs and Patriarchs that set down fundamental rules for marriage. How could Rivka trick Yitzchak? Why did Yaakov speak so harshly to Rochel? When is silence the better part of valor and can you learn to offer non-judgmental opinions when you feel your wife is wrong? Hear this insightful and even humorous talk examinng how the Torah is still our most reliable guide for domestic peace.

If no other human being is around to see your attire or hear your words, how is it possible to measure your own self-respect? Rav Berkovits's discussion goes to the heart of being dignified in your own eyes. Step forward to enter the realm of integrity, and freedom from seeking the approval of others.

Mankind has wrestled with the following question for thousands of years: Is competition good or not? Rav Berkovits describes the story of King Solomon and the two mothers fighting over the live child from a perspective that most of us have never heard before. He explains how to benefit from the competitive drive - without hurting others in the fray.

Where does the concept of collective mass responsibility stem from, and what does it really mean? In short, why should we be accountable for other peoples' actions? Rav Berkovits discusses our halachic obligation, and explains the nature of the Jewish nation as an entity unto itself.

Rav Berkovits explains the entire shmiras halashon sefer of the Chofetz Chaim. Hear it straight from one who has himself mastered the skills of communication and of guarding his tongue. This series is ideal for advanced students intent on following along in a sefer, or just on solidly reviewing the laws of proper speech.

We all want polite kids, so naturally we cringe when our children speak in ways that may be forbidden. Rav Berkovits begins with a short review of the pertinent laws of forbidden speech and then he brings cases of kids who keep violating them - and explains how and at what stage a parent should intervene. Also, what if a child is always hurting other people verbally? Hear how to convey these laws, and at the same time not squash their need to communicate.

Rav Berkovits gives a clear presentation of the laws of lashon hara, rechilus, and motzei shem rah - perfect for when you want to brush up on the halachos.

Addressing both teachers and parents, Rav Berkovits defines 'lashon hora', and clarifies what can be discussed about a child, and what not. He sets down halachic guidelines and offers practical advice on how to gently educate children on this topic without stifling them, or becoming overzealous. A great talk!

The joke about 'whenever two Jews discuss a topic, a third opinion inevitably pops up' serves to remind us how much Jews differ. Considering all the outlooks and lifestyles within Jewish life today, how possible is it to consider oneself as part of a cohesive community? Rav Berkovits addresses the range of variables involved in choosing a suitable community and Rabbi for you and your family.

When raising our children, Rav Berkovits advises us that every chinuch consideration should be future-oriented. If your children are neglecting certain mitzvos out of rebellion, forcing them just won't generate warm feelings towards you - or to their inner spiritual yearnings. Hear a fundamental talk on being equally attentive to the short, and the long-term needs of your children's growth and well-being.

This class covers the laws of "beged ish" the habits of men and women as they apply to the opposite gender. Rav Berkovits brings contemporary examples such as: wearing clothing of the opposite gender, dressing up on Purim, men looking in the mirror, a woman taking up arms, and many more. An interesting talk.

For many wives, the experience of 10 Days of Awe consists of cooking, kids and keeping house. In this two part class Rav Berkovits firstly explains how a responsible husband, particularly during the month of Elul, can encourage his wife to grow, and in what ways he can help lessen her burden. In the second part hear practical ways he can share his daily acquired knowledge with her - especially during the first year of marriage. Learn the art of sharing life messages with the one you love the most.

Lettuce is a known problem when it comes to checking for bugs because the pesky green fly it attracts is so well camouflaged, and looks so much like part of the leaf. Rav Berkovits gives some easy tricks to get around infested vegetables. Also discussed are various opinions on the kashrus of milk and cheese - such as chalav stam, and using powdered milk or rennet in cheese.

Buying meat from the butcher is not quite as simple as the packaging makes it sound. It's important to know basic information, such as what glatt really means, and how the veins are removed from the meat, if at all. And what if you notice a chicken wing is broken after you get home? How does one kasher liver, and what do you do if an egg has a bloodspot? Rav Berkovits covers a lot of ground with great clarity.

The basic parameters of the laws regarding meat and milk seem simple - don't cook them together, eat them together, or derive benefit from a mixture of the two. In truth, it can get complicated. Rav Berkovits gives a detailed rundown, from how to deal with eating one after the other, what to do when meat and milk accidentally get mixed, and much more. A must listen for keeping a kosher kitchen.

What is the status of a pot or pan that cooked something non-kosher? Is it necessary to throw out dairy food that was cooked in a meat pot or vice versa? What if parve food was cooked in a meat pot - is it considered meat? Rav Berkovits also deals with sharp foods, and where the law differs regarding their usage.

Ovens and stoves can be pretty straightforward until the major culprit is taken into account - how and where steam rises and touches can become very problematic. It affects passing one pot over the other, as well as adding spices to cooking food. And can you use the same oven for meat and dairy? Once again, steam comes into play. Rav Berkovits also covers the basics of koshering various kitchen utensils, as well as appliances.

Rav Berkovits gives a broad look at the laws of Kashrus, covering the basics as well as areas you may have been unaware of. Knowing what goes into making meat and chicken kosher (even if don't plan on doing it yourself), how to deal with buggy foods, and many other important subjects can help you know when there is a potential problem, and what to ask.

Keeping a kosher kitchen requires a great deal of knowledge, at the very least to be able to know when to ask a question. Rav Berkovits gives a detailed review of the laws regarding meat and milk, pots and pans, and everything in between. An excellent refresher for someone who wants to brush up on their halachos quickly.

In his typical clear style, Rav Berkovits first gives a clear background on where the halachos of toveling dishes stems from. Which materials need to be toveled, and which can be put aside? What happens if you're eating at a home in which the dishes weren't dipped in a mikvah? And what if you use a utensil only for storage? Rav Berkovits covers all this and more.

Halacha with a heart - it's claimed that 'money makes the world go round'. If so, then you can be sure that Judaism has some insightful comments on the subject. Take a panoramic overview of the do's and don'ts of managing finances. Hear about backing out of a deal; when is a sale final; neighborly feuds concerning rights and much more. A fascinating talk that is in everyday language for everyday 'give and take' situations.

In this second class on money matters, Rav Berkovits continues by tackling some trickier subjects such as: competition, employment, salaries and lending money. Whether you are immersed in business or consider yourself a business novice, the principles discussed will help you see the money can help the world go round smoothly.

Rav Berkovits discusses the general topic of life challenges by first giving us a framework for understanding the nature of different tests in our lives, and then delves into how each challenge is customized specifically for you. Hear the simple first courageous steps it takes to start facing them.

Of course we accepted the Torah with the words na'aseh ve'nishmah. But often we don't realize that despite defining ourselves as religious Jews, we may be contradicting our beliefs with our actions. Rav Berkovits speaks about our reactions when things go wrong and learning to accept a path to perfection that may diverge from our own agenda.

What is the chiyuv of Kiruv Rechokim? This shiur explores all the halachic obligations from 'Kiddush HaShem' to 'arvus'. Rav Berkovits emphasizes how our fulfillment of Taryag Mitzvos is contingent upon the current level of observance of the Jewish nation as a whole.

What if my doing kiruv will make a big dent in my Torah learning, to the extent that in some years time I'll be a totally different person? Am I allowed to break other mitzvos for kiruv - after all, it's spiritual pikuach nefesh. Hear how, when, and how far.

"I'm just not cut out to do Kiruv." "I'd never know what to answer." "I'd rather not get involved in certain topics of conversation." Any of these thoughts ever run through your head? But would you allow those very excuses to stop you from keeping one of the 613 mitzvos - say, Shabbos? Kiruv is a responsibility as strong as any of those. Hear why - and how to fulfill it.

Even the Chasam Sofer, who is known for his policy of isolationism in the face of the growing haskala movement in Hungary felt strongly that kiruv is must. Rav Berkovits culls far ranging proofs for the requirement to be mekarev those far from Torah, along with giving encouragement to begin doing so yourself. It can help develop your own emunah - and it may be easier than you think.

For those unfamiliar with the basis of how Judaism operates, the easiest target people use to dismiss the whole subject is the oral law. Rav Berkovits presents a totally open and comprehensive picture of the Oral Law's limitations and authority, and its uncanny ability to weather every storm.

With such a swath of rabbinical law imposed upon us, one is left bewildered. What happened to just the simple diections that G-d said in the good book? And how, on top of all the rabbinical law is a thick layer of customs. This class gives a satisfying answer to where the Rabbi's get their authority and explains how rabbinical law and custom can and do co-exist.

We spend the 9th of Av fasting, as we mourn for our Temples that were razed to the ground on that day. How does abstaining from food and drink help us realize how very helpless we are? And how does that understanding help us find our way back to the purpose for our creation, and rectifying what caused the destruction?

Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits is a widely respected teacher with a unique ability to present a wide range of Jewish thought and practice in the most clear and understandable manner. The author of two books on shemiras haloshon (the practice of positive speech), Rav Berkowitz has taught and counseled thousands of students, from the novice to ordained Rabbis. Here, Rav Berkowitz gives an enlightening talk about Succos.

Honoring one's parents is one of the Ten Commandments, with an enormous reward in store for those who fulfill it. But what if a parent tries to control a child's money, or who they want to marry, or where they wish to learn? Are we supposed to give in on all that our parents ask of us? Hear how not giving in to a parents wishes on certain issues will sometimes be a greater honor to them.

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.

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.

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.

Where does suffering fit into a person's global worldview? Is it part of the master plan for people to carry their suffering around their necks for their entire lives? And how sensitive are you to distinguish between the troubles that appear appropriate for others, but have a hard time understanding the harsh treatment you yourself receive? Hear how Rav Berkovits weaves the spiritual and physical aspects of suffering into the larger mosaic of reward and punishment.

Interested to hear what the term "kosher" really means? You could say that just like healthy eating is good for the body, so is kosher eating good for the soul. But what imbues food with a special kosher quality? This class is an excellent introduction to the laws of kashrus - from meat and dairy, to animal species, to ritual slaughter.

First and foremost, let's define exactly what 'Jewish philosophy' is. For example, can we slaughter animals for their meat, and to what extent is this considered cruelty? Using Maimonides as a base, Rav Berkovits delves into a human being's purpose in the universe and his potential to rule over nature. A 20-class series you will want to hear more than once.

If using one's brain is the focal point of being Jewish, why do we need all the commandments and all their details? Can't we just work out the right thing to do by using our head? A related question is how to understand Maimonides' statement that 'actions are a reflection of the intellect?' In the second installment of this 20 session philosophy series, Rav Berkovits, a world renowned scholar and extremely clear speaker, explains the vital role that thinking plays in attaining a balanced life.

Although it sounds crazy, we can actually attach ourselves to the infinite by becoming less and less finite. Lets step out of the theoretical realm, and start implementing this concept in a more down to earth process.

"Nothing is mundane or lowly in Eretz Yisrael--everything here is sublime," says Rabbi Berkovits. Hear a fascinating talk on the integral holiness ground into the soil of Eretz Yisrael. From the past to the present, from the historical to the political, get a sense of awe for this reality, where its very ground, people and country wondrously survive their enemies through one miracle after the next. As he explains, if you are considering aliyah to Eretz Yisrael, hear the best attitude you can adopt for a quick and total absorption.

An often less well-known aspect of Shmitah is the nullification of all outstanding debts that goes into effect at the end of the seventh year. This presents many problems for those who still desire to be repaid. How did Hillel find a way to encourage the Jews to continue lending money with the enactment of Prusbul (a document that circumvents the nullification)? And how does one make a Prusbul today?

The mitzva of V'Halachta B'drachov requires us to develop sensitivities that make us God-like. Is it really possible to emulate HaShem? Join Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits as he develops the parameters of this uplifting mitzva while conveying a wonderful new perspective on Torah life to us.

What elements does a 'prayer' need to be considered a complete prayer? If God always knows what we are thinking, why pray in the first place? Are there specific guidelines for how to request, and what types of things we have a better chance of asking for? Hear great answers to these questions, plus how God arranges to send His messages to us.

The seemingly cookie-cutter dress code and lifestyle of Orthodox Jews appears to scream the word 'conformist' from every thread. Where in Torah is there room for individuality? Rabbi Berkovits gives a brilliant expose on where each person's true essence is to be found, plus how the Torah pushes us to reach our deepest level of self-expression. That being said, why do religious men continue to dress in similar garb?

There is a Torah approach for the appropriate way of to do just about everything -even fighting. If someone is out to harm you, you have the right to fight back. But where does protecting yourself begin and revenge start - and end? This landmark lecture deals with the worrisome conflicts that push our buttons and boils our blood.