Send us a text

In this class, Rabb Yisroel Bernath delves into the profound symbolism of the dreidel, a cherished Chanukah tradition. By examining the four sides of the dreidel and their connection to the human psyche—ego, bodily urges, reason, and the compulsion to destroy—we uncover a deeper narrative about human behavior and spirituality. Through the lens of Jewish mysticism, the dreidel becomes a metaphor for balancing our inner struggles and aligning them with our divine essence. The class further explores historical parallels between the human psyche and the four empires that clashed with Judaism, demonstrating how these lessons remain relevant in contemporary life.

Key Takeaways:
Four Dimensions of the Psyche: The dreidel's four sides symbolize the ego, bodily urges, reason, and the destructive impulse, all of which can either harm or elevate us.
The Fifth Dimension: The dreidel’s point represents the divine spark within each of us, guiding our moral clarity and purpose.
Historical Reflection: The struggles of Babylonia, Persia, Greece, and Rome against Judaism mirror the internal battles of the human spirit.
Spiritual Growth: Chanukah teaches us to harness our inner forces, transforming them into tools for divine expression and moral refinement.
Relevance Today: Understanding the interplay of our psychological elements can lead to personal and societal improvement rooted in universal morality.

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

The second half of Genesis is filled with dreams that carry profound messages about life, destiny, and action. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the dreams of Joseph, the butler, and the baker, uncovering their deeper meanings. Through Joseph’s interpretations, we learn a critical distinction: the difference between being active participants in shaping our destiny versus passive observers of life’s circumstances. By understanding this lesson, we are empowered to take charge of our challenges, break free from our personal prisons, and transform our sighs into meaningful deeds.

Key Takeaways:
Active vs. Passive Living: The butler's active role in his dream symbolizes life and freedom, while the baker’s passivity reflects helplessness and demise.
Joseph’s Wisdom: Joseph’s interpretations teach us that being proactive in life leads to growth and redemption, while inaction can trap us in stagnation.
Prison as a Metaphor: Everyone faces limitations—whether emotional or circumstantial. The key is to take action despite those constraints.
The Power of Deeds: Small, intentional actions can break cycles of despair and open the door to freedom and purpose.
A Call to Action: Whether facing personal struggles or communal challenges, the solution lies in doing—no matter how small the first step may seem.

#biblestudy #joseph #dreams

Genesis, Joseph, dreams, butler, baker, action vs. inaction, personal growth, Jewish continuity, proactive living, spirituality, freedom, empowerment, meaningful deeds.

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

In this deeply personal and profound sermon, we confront the unanswerable question of why tragedies befall righteous individuals, using the life and legacy of Rabbi Zvi Kogan HY"D as a source of inspiration. While acknowledging the pain and darkness, we explore the Jewish response: to transform sorrow into an unstoppable commitment to goodness, light, and purpose. Drawing from the teachings of the Rebbe and our Patriarchs' connection to wells, we learn that even in the depths of despair, the hidden springs of resilience and holiness can be uncovered to nourish a world in desperate need of light.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Purpose
   Rabbi Zvi Kogan lived a life filled with purpose, building a vibrant Jewish community. His legacy teaches us that purpose gives life meaning, even in the face of adversity.
2. Transforming Pain into Action
   The Jewish response to tragedy is not paralysis but action. Every mitzvah we do brings Divine compassion into the world and counters the darkness of fear and hatred.
3. The Symbolism of Wells
   Our forefathers' wells symbolize the discovery of hidden strength and inspiration amidst struggle. Just as spring water emerges pure and life-giving from beneath the earth, so too does our greatest light often emerge from our deepest struggles.
4. Small Acts, Big Impact
   Simple, consistent actions—lighting Shabbat candles, giving tzedakah, or teaching children—create ripples of light and holiness that transform the world.
5. Carrying the Legacy
   Rabbi Kogan’s legacy challenges us to be lamplighters, bringing light to the darkest places through courage, faith, and consistent acts of goodness.
6. Faith in Justice
   The phrase HY”D, “May G-d avenge their blood,” reaffirms our faith in G-d's ultimate justice, rejecting chaos and vengeance while affirming our role as bearers of moral clarity.

Pledge A Mitzvah in Memory of Rabbi Zvi Kogan HY"D. https://onemitzvah.org/tzvi/rabbi-bernaths-team

#chabad #Torah #Sermon #RabbiZviKogan #mitzvah #ParshatToldot #meaning #Bible #BibleStudy #Rabbi

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

This week's Torah portion, Vayeira, captures the surprising encounter between Abraham and three angelic visitors. Expecting divine revelations, the angels instead find Abraham busy with hospitality — preparing food, fetching water, and overseeing their comfort. They question, “Where is Sarah your wife?” seeking a glimpse of the true tzaddik, only to find that her holiness, too, is concealed within the humble details of life. Through Abraham's actions, the angels learn that genuine holiness is not in escaping earthly concerns, but in bringing light to them. Abraham demonstrates that true spirituality is about bringing heaven into the everyday, a mission passed down through his descendants.

Key Takeaways:

1. Spiritual Greatness in the Mundane: Abraham’s greatness is revealed not in miraculous acts but in his devoted, everyday service to others, emphasizing that holiness is found within the ordinary moments.
2. The Tzaddik’s Mission: Abraham’s role as a tzaddik teaches us that spiritual leaders embody selflessness, focusing on the needs of others as a path to divine connection.
3. True Hospitality as Divine Work: By hosting the angels, Abraham exemplifies how simple acts of kindness can elevate humanity above even angelic beings.
4. Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: The narrative illustrates that our purpose is not to transcend the physical but to infuse it with sacredness, creating a “home for G-d” here on earth.
5. Holiness Concealed and Revealed: Abraham and Sarah’s roles demonstrate that true spiritual power may often be hidden, discovered in moments of kindness and commitment, rather than in overt displays of sanctity.

#Torah #TorahPortion #Bible #Abraham #Holiness #Spirituality #Judaism #Jewish #JewishHistory #BibleStudy

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Send us a text

This week, Rabbi Bernath's sermon delves into the profound moment in this week's Torah portion when G-d calls Abraham to leave everything familiar and embark on a journey that would define not only his own life but the life of humanity. The Midrash’s metaphor of a palace in flames becomes the key image for Abraham's—and ultimately all of Judaism's—mission. Abraham's journey begins with a cry to G-d, asking why a beautiful world, brimming with order and wonder, is engulfed in suffering and strife. G-d’s response, “I am the ruler of the palace,” calls Abraham, and all of us, to act as His partners in repairing the world. Through G-d’s implicit challenge, Abraham learned—and taught—the lesson at the heart of Judaism: that we are tasked with extinguishing the flames of injustice and bringing G-d’s presence into our world.

Takeaways:

1. Humanity's Responsibility: Judaism teaches that we are responsible for the world, called upon to combat injustice and protect life, not simply to observe the beauty or lament the flames.

2. The Power of Moral Courage: True goodness demands moral courage, the bravery to condemn evil unequivocally and protect the innocent. Abraham’s journey ignites the mission of Judaism: to oppose wrongdoing without compromise.

3. Rejecting Passivity: The Midrash urges us to reject passivity in the face of evil. Like Abraham, we are called to ask tough questions of ourselves and society and to lead by example, striving toward a world of compassion and righteousness.

4. Redefining Leadership and Society: In choosing leaders and guiding our own lives, we must seek those who recognize the importance of standing up against those who “set fire to the palace,” those willing to uphold justice and moral clarity.

5. Partnership with G-d: The true beginning of the Jewish faith is the realization that we are G-d’s partners in creation, called to infuse holiness into the world by actively pursuing justice, kindness, and integrity.

#Judaism #Torah #Bible #LechLecha #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Abraham #MoralResponsibility #TikkunOlam #Leadership #Avraham #chabad #DvarTorah #Sermon

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi