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Dear Friends,
We've entered the month of Elul which means that the new year with all it's decrees and judgements are around the corner! It's both exciting and a little scary, but Hashem is good so we don't have to be afraid! Hashem gives us Elul, this last month of the year, to finish on a strong note. How do we do it? Well, that's a big subject, but we begin the discussion in this week's talk with a look at the importance of appreciating the present moment and also a look at false prophets.

– David Sacks

Dear Friends,
What is lower than the heal of your foot? Ekev or "heel" in Torah stands for so many things -- from the actual bottom of your body, to spiritual insensitivity, to the end of days. It can also stand for the emotional lows we all reach. In this talk we look at the interplay between the first two words of the Parsha and strategies we can learn for combating sadness when it comes.

– DAVID SACKS

Just days after the saddest day on the Jewish calendar comes one of the happiest! It comes to teach that Hashem's salvations can arrive in the blink of an eye. We explore this concept and the role that the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai plays in this process as well in this week's talk.

Tisha B'Av has a duel nature. On the one hand, it is the saddest day of the year. On the other hand, our Sages teach that there is light contained within it that is of the Messianic level. How are we to react to this day? And what does it tell us about living as Jews in general? G-d willing this year we will all celebrate together in the Holy City of Yerushalyim!

David

It's amazing how deep and intricate G-d's guidance of the world is. We see it in so many ways. One instances is the times the law is concealed from Moshe's eyes. The Sages explain that this happens for different reasons. Sometimes it's in order to give merit to the one who desires to know, sometimes Moshe forgets because of anger, sometimes it's to bring praise to Moshe, another time it's to fix his past deeds! In today's talk we go through each case and learn some clues on how to get our own name in the Torah!

What is the difference between men and women in Torah? How are we to understand the separation of men and women during prayer? Is it fair that men have more mitzvahs than women? Tzelafchad's daughters are heroes in the Torah. Starting with a detailed discussion of what they accomplished and how it applies to us today, we turn to a more general discussion of the different genders in light of the equality of the sexes we see in today's society.

As many of us begin our adventure learning Torah we experience a mix of emotions. On the one hand, we are overwhelmed with the depth, beauty and vastness of it all. On the other hand, taking on the practical observances are often downright scary. Whether we are able to articulate it or not, many of us feel an existential sense that if I go down this path I will disappear! First and foremost -- don't be afraid! What awaits you is the fullest blossoming of your truest self. In this talk we explore this dynamic and how it works.

So many us grew up in families where even though they were loving didn't impart Jewish educations to us. Now later in life we feel the calling of our souls and want to connect with Hashem and the Torah more deeply. The process is often a very complicated one. How do we navigate through all the ups and downs? In this talk we discuss some of the issues.

Korach led a rebellion in the desert against Moshe. He seemingly had everything and yet he lost it all. Pinchas was denied the priesthood among the Jews, remained silent, and then was miraculously granted it by G-d. When do we accept what Hashem is sending our way graciously and not put up a fight?
When do we stand up and not let the matter drop? It's a very fine line, and one we explore in today's talk. The format for today is a little different. Today's class is a question and answer session.

Our Rabbis teach that Avraham was tested with ten tests, and that the Jews in the desert were also tested ten times. The big difference is that Avraham passed all ten and we seem to have failed all ten! Rabbi Wolfson notes that in both instances the tenth test was the same. For Avraham it was the Akeidah, also known as the binding of Isaac. For the Jews it was the sin of spies. Rabbi Wolfson says in both instances the test was, how do we serve G-d when we are in a state of confusion. In this talk we examine both tests and see how we can learn tools to apply to the confusing moments in our own lives.