Don't laugh - the Torah may be holding us to 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'. Torah laws governing your physical health are more implicit than you think. Can you cheat on the low cholesterol diet your doctor prescribed for you? How about ensuring yourself enough sleep? On the extreme side, Rabbi Finer comments how cigarettes, dangerous sports, and drugs fit into the overall picture of guarding yourself and your family's well being.
In his second shiur on health and halacha, Rabbi Feiner explores hazardous activities that can be injurous to one's health, like cigarettes or drugs used for their relaxing effect. How about getting kicks from harrowing sports like bungee jumping or skydiving? Also hear how the Torah classifies common pastimes like roller coasters or tackle football - both of which can result in injury. A fascinating class.
On Passover, the act of speaking at length about Yetzias Mitzrayim is so essential that we are given extra credit for every effort made. Hear why your ability to communicate is one of the primary factors in making us human, and what gives speech so much power. Rabbi Feiner connects this power to the number seven and to accepting the Torah on Shavuos.
We Jews have become so separated from our glorious past and oblivious to how close we were to HaShem to appreciate how isolated we are. However, the lonely Kotel stands its solitary watch besides the site of the 3rd Temple. Rabbi Feiner’s fervent shiur stirs up a desire to hasten the Redemption, and awakens a new resolve to move beyond our humdrum existence.
We prepare ourselves during Elul to enter the gate of judgement on Rosh Hashanah. But in this day and age what value is there in evoking fear? Aren't there better, more positive emotions than fear to start the new year with? Hear a fast paced class on how to serve Hashem using the complete spectrum of human experience.
Why is the Akeidah mentioned so often during Rosh Hashanah? Rabbi Feiner descends to a level of incredible depth as he discusses the fear of Yitzchak, and the deep connection between that and the Day of Judgement. How does that shed light on our screaming our to God using the Shofar?
We would expect the day before Yom Kippur to be a solemn day of planning one's introspection. Yet the commandment of the day is to EAT! Rabbi Feiner explains how engaging the physical can help to enter the spiritual. He also explores deeper insights into the numbers seven, eight, nine, and ten. Captivating as always.
We light eight candles, but shouldn't it really be seven? Rabbi Feiner lifts this famous question up a notch by analyzing the deeper significance of these numbers, and draws out a most powerful message.
Rabbi Feiner identifies seemingly unrelated Jewish symbols in the Purim story that help us spot the guiding hand of Hashem. Aspects he elaborates on include the sense of smell, the Zodiacal sign of Pisces, the image of Purim as a bed, and other concepts that indicate how, despite all we have going against us, we miraculously continue to survive.
Shvat is the Rosh Hashanah of Ilanos - of Trees. The Zodiac sign of this month is portrayed by a bucket. The symbolism of trees growing, and buckets pouring water to nourish growth is very similar to a person's spiritual growth. Rabbi Feiner packs the classes with amazing information and wisdom.