Until his death in 1999, Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg was Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisroel in Baltimore. For more than 50 years, Rabbi Weinberg taught in various capacities at Ner Yisroel, as well as traveling the world imparting his wisdom to thousands of eager listeners. He is the older brother and mentor of Rabbi Noah Weinberg, the dean and founder of Aish HaTorah.
Although we can never fully understand why the Holocaust happened, Rav Weinberg's discussion on suffering, punishment and teshuva in relation to the Churban Bayis Sheini shows the deeper underlying causes for large-scale tragedies. This talk is an important reminder of how history repeats itself.
When someone intentionally does an act that may hurt another, will God dictate the outcome - or is the victim at the mercy of the aggressor's free will? Rav Weinberg examines the dynamics of this critical topic by comparing the basic tenets of free will vs. hashgacha to known events that transpired during the Holocaust.
Living in Eretz Yisrael is a glorious mitzvah. So what is it about Zionism that causes Rabbanim of the past and present to oppose this brand of Aliya? Rav Yaakov's uncanny understanding of the Arab mindset, the pre-Holocaust era, assimilation, and the political climate in the Middle East offers us a piercing insight into the Land of Israel's core conflict.
Some said Rav Yaakov was way ahead of his time, and others say it was his pure genius, but he himself considered it little more than pure logic. Many years ago he spelled out all the causes, and the obvious consequences surrounding the unending struggle for the land of Israel. Hear a penetrating overview of the Palestinian issue.
What possibility is there that terrorists are exploiting the morality and decency of Western society to promote their agendas? For instance, they set up their innocent women and children as human shields and then viciously attack our innocents, while demanding freedom of speech to broadcast their hatred and intolerance? Rav Yaakov explains the irony of how blatantly the noble principles we espouse are being used against us, and that under the circumstances it may be ethical to adopt a more assertive response.
Rabbi Weinberg clearly spells out why Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jews, and how the present unstable predicament is from our own doing. From the first line of Torah until today's headlines, understand why the struggle for its possession is an endless saga, and how we've become our own worst enemy. His explicit prognosis of events were given many years before it was seen as a problem.
What practical ideas and inner feelings should we be experiencing in awaiting the Moshiach every day? Rav Yaakov explains the Rambam's approach for developing a mindset that will lead to spiritual and emotional fulfillment. Hear what Moshiach will accomplish and the role he will play during the final days.
If all the generations before ours were unable to bring Moshiach, is it delusional to think we could be successful in doing it? Rav Yaakov Weinberg gives a fundamental understanding of what Hashem realistically expects us to accomplish, and how we might better direct our lives and efforts to achieve those goals. This class gives a refreshing clarity on as difficult topic.
Aren't people expected to tolerate everything today? The only thing not tolerated is someone who's intolerant. If so, tolerate everything - even if it causes damage or hurt. Ok, so where do we draw the line? Rav Yaakov exposes the hypocrisy of an attitude gone overboard, and how such freedom lead society to chaos. As always with Rav Yaakov, be prepared to be challenged. A valuable talk on human behavior.
What are the deeper implications of the humanist who is so proud to serve humanity for its own sake? According to Rav Yaakov, that elevated state, which is often adopted to replace religion, appears to be a noble philosophy to follow. But on closer examination this belief has dark undertones that usually results in greater suffering and personal debasement.