The Shema Podcast for the Perplexed

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.

Our Siddur is replete with prayers for the coming of Moshiach. It is something that for millennium we have anticipated. After listening to Rabbi Yaghobian speak on this matter, I felt like a character from the 90’s movie Pulp Fiction; a woman who was overdosing from a heroin, only to be brought back to life via an adrenaline shot through her sternum into her heart.  Rabbi Yaghobian’s words were like that adrenaline shot, causing me to wake up and see, that the Era of Moshiach is no longer an idea for some distant future, but the reality we live in today, as we are now living in the Era of Moshiach.WARNING: Listening to this episode will create an insatiable desire to learn Torah, do mitzvos with intention, improve ones’ character traits and help out their fellow Jews by supporting Jewish Outreach organizations.

In this amazing episode I interview Richard Green, CEO at the Clarion Project.  Richard began his career studying at the AISH HaTorah Yeshiva, under Rabbi Noah Weinberg.   Shortly after the 911 attacks, Rabbi Weinberg explained to Richard that while he has devoted his life to Jewish Outreach, there is an eminent threat to Jewish lives as a result of radical Islam.  While the world needs Jewish Outreach Rabbi’s to save souls, the world also needs those that will be dedicated to the mitzvah of Pikuach Nefesh (saving a life).   Richard heard his calling and started the Clarion Project and a life committed to exposing and reducing the threats of extremism to create a safer world not only for the Jewish people but all Americans.  After listening to this podcast check out their documentaries at https://clarionproject.org.

A common statement I have heard from fellow Jews is, “I don’t study Torah and keep the mitzvos but, I’m a good person and that’s what G-d really cares about.”   In this episode I have the witty, brilliant, and entertaining, Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe join us to delve into and unravel this statement. Whether you are someone who has asked this same question or a Torah observant Jew, the insights he provides during this conversation will leave you with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of why the Almighty gave us the 613 mitzvos.

A common statement I have heard from fellow Jews is, “I don’t study Torah and keep the mitzvos but, I’m a good person and that’s what G-d really cares about.”   In this episode I have the witty, brilliant, and entertaining, Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe join us to delve into and unravel this statement. Whether you are someone who has asked this same question or a Torah observant Jew, the insights he provides during this conversation will leave you with a much deeper understanding and appreciation of why the Almighty gave us the 613 mitzvos.