The Shema Podcast for the Perplexed

Our Creator used the Hebrew Letters as the building blocks or programming code of His creation. This means that our Hebrew name and the name of everything in this world has tremendous significance.  In this episode we are joined by my dear friend and teacher, Rabbi Daniel Cotlar, to elucidate for us the significance of what is in a name.

The topic explored today is why the Almighty instructed us to build a Mishkan (Tabernacle), the subsequent Temples and why the Jewish people have been yearning for millennia, for the building of our third and permanent Temple. In this episode our guest Rabbi Menachem Bresler enlightens us to the purpose of the Temple in allowing our Creator to dwell among us and unite the spiritual and physical worlds.

Since the giving of the Torah over 3300 years ago, the revelation of the Almighty has been steadily diminishing, as it fades to its dimmest point right before the arrival of Mashiach, when the Almighty reveals himself to the world. The Almighty in order to train us for the times we live in today, orchestrated the events of Purim, to provide us a roadmap for finding Him in times when there exists the illusion that He is hidden. In this episode our guest is Rabbi Ari Winkler, the founder of my shul, Heimish, who provides us brilliant insights into the lessons of Purim.

How do we reconcile why our Creator, who has no needs, requested of us to bring sacrifices during the times of the Mishkan, 1st and 2nd Temple and G-d willing soon, the 3rd Temple? The short answer is clear and that it is for our benefit, by how so? In this episode we have the brilliant, witty, funny, and average, Rabbi Bucsko joining us to help demystify the subject of the purpose of sacrifices.

This is one of my most favorite episodes.  We have the honor of interviewing Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe on his just published book, “Upon A Ten Stringed Harp – How Torah and Mitzvos Prepare the Soul for Eternity.”  Tune in to hear firsthand about this amazing publication, that will be taking the Jewish world by storm and having a major transformational impact on the Jewish people.

G-d created the Yetzer Hara, and He created the Torah as the antidote!  The summation of everything we do as Jews comes down to how well we harness the tools of Torah and mitzvos, to succeed in this epic battle.  I have the great Rabbi Nagel joining us and sharing his wisdom on The Art of War, tactics, and strategies for defeating the Yetzer Hara.

The Almighty took our Neshama from the Heavenly realm, where it had no needs, and placed it into a body that has needs. If the purpose of creation was because G-d wanted to bestow goodness, then wouldn’t it have made more sense for Him to just create the Heavenly realm and stop there.   Why did the Almighty think it is necessary to confine our lofty Neshama in a lowly body and world? Part of the answer is that it is not possible for one to appreciate what one has always possessed.  Being able to contrast lacking something and then receiving it, allows one to gain the appreciation of what they received and for the One who bestowed it. The real benefit of prayer for us is way beyond the material needs that the Almighty provides to us when we request them. The real benefit to prayer is for us to gain the recognition and appreciation of our benevolent Creator in each of our lives. In this episode I have the brilliant and entertaining, Rabbi Gavriel Jacknin join us to discuss how to connect with our Creator through prayer.

The Almighty took our Neshama from the Heavenly realm, where it had no needs, and placed it into a body that has needs. If the purpose of creation was because G-d wanted to bestow goodness, then wouldn’t it have made more sense for Him to just create the Heavenly realm and stop there.   Why did the Almighty think it is necessary to confine our lofty Neshama in a lowly body and world? Part of the answer is that it is not possible for one to appreciate what one has always possessed.  Being able to contrast lacking something and then receiving it, allows one to gain the appreciation of what they received and for the One who bestowed it. The real benefit of prayer for us is way beyond the material needs that the Almighty provides to us when we request them. The real benefit to prayer is for us to gain the recognition and appreciation of our benevolent Creator in each of our lives. In this episode I have the brilliant and entertaining, Rabbi Gavriel Jacknin join us to discuss how to connect with our Creator through prayer.

Rabbi Noson, the primary disciple of Rabbi Nachman, stated that if a Jew does not live with recognition that everything occurring to them, is being orchestrated by the Almighty and all for their good, then it does not matter if they declare their belief in G-d from the moment they wake up, to the moment they go to sleep, the reality is, is that they are an atheist.Our infinite and eternal Creator, desires so much for us to know that he is guiding our lives and it is all for the good, that he instructs us twice daily to remind ourselves of this truth. We state this idea in the first verse of the Shema; our King who created the heavenly and physical realms and our Father that governs our daily affairs to bring us closer to Him, is One.Our guest in this episode is Rabbi Yaakov Klein, author of the book, “The Story of our Lives,” which is inspiring Jews around the globe. Listen in as we discuss the Chassidic teachings of Rabbi Nachman, his epic tale of “The Lost Princess” and how we too can find our lost princess.

Often in our endeavors to grow as Jews, we sometimes can’t see beyond the challenge directly in front of us and we forget that we are building something much bigger than ourselves. In this inspiring episode, I interviewed Rabbi Yissachar Granitsky. He tells an incredible story of his life as a non-Jew, the event’s G-d created to lead him to a Yeshiva in Israel, so that he could hear a Rabbi ask him, “Who is your G-d? and What are you pursuing?” Armed with focused purpose that he wanted to pursue the G-d of Israel, steadfast resolve, and an unwavering belief, that if one follows the Torah, then The Almighty will take care of the rest, led him to build multi-generational wealth. As a Rabbi and patriarch of the amazing Granitsky family, now eighty plus strong and G-d willing still growing, the principals he shares, if internalized and taught to our children, will enable us to do the same.