The Shmuz

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#27 - Respecting the Institution, America the Beautiful Mar 09, 2019

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We live in a world of disrespect. Children dont respect parents. Students dont respect teachers, spouses dont respect each other and I certainly cant respect a President or world leader who gives in to his every passion and whim. In this Shmuz we find that Torah has a very different understanding of respect, and who is worthy of respect. We are introduced to the Torahs concept of respecting the institution even if we dont respect the person. And we are brought to focus on the tremendous sense of appreciation we must have for all the good that we experience living in this land. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#28 - People Believe what they want to Believe Mar 09, 2019

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If Hashem would just show me one miracle, then I would really believe. If Hashem would just show me one clear sign -- it would change my life. This premise that seeing a miracle would make a person believe is brought into sharp relief by one central question: Why didnt the ancient Egyptians believe in Hashem? They experienced all of the greatest miracles ever shown. They lived through the greatest manifestation of Hashems hand, and yet they didnt come to believe in Hashem. Through illustrating some of the miracles shown in Mitzraim we come to a new understanding of what causes a person to believe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#29 - The Busy Generation Mar 09, 2019

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While we boast of more labor saving devices that ever before in history, It seems that we are busier today than we have ever been. In fact, we are so busy that we dont even have the time to ask ourselves what is that we are so busy with.This Shmuz focuses us on attitudes and perspectives that we pick up from the society in which we live attitudes that may be against what the Torah views as ideal, and even against what common sense says is intelligent. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#30 - Anger Management Mar 09, 2019

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We all know that anger is bad and if we have ever gotten into a situation where we lost our temper, we certainly wished that we hadnt --but what can I do? This is the way I react. He said something, I saw red and exploded. That is just my nature. I didnt ask to be born this way, and there is nothing that I can do about it. Right? In this Shmuz we are introduced to the motivation and the mechanics of doing that most difficult of tasks -really changing ourselves. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#31 - The Voice Inside Mar 09, 2019

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Have you ever heard of something called a guilty conscience? What about a Jewish guilty conscience? While we all recognize that Voice Inside, that seems to moralize and lecture to us when we have stepped over the line, we assume that this is just one of those things that we have to sort of ignore. In this Shmuz we are brought to understand that Voice that HASHEM put inside every human is actually a highly sophisticated tool --almost a moral compass-- that will allow us to find our path amongst the many choices that life brings our way. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#32 - Understanding Nature, Putting the 'WOW' Back Into Nature Mar 09, 2019

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Who can look at a sunset and not say Wow, look at the beauty of this world.? Yet, it seems that we rarely do that. It is almost as if we are detached from the natural world -- As if the world of lions and tigers and bears is a place reserved for taking our children to when they are little, but has no connection to our lives.The Rishonim tell us that the surest way to come to understand that there is a creator of the world is to look at the creation and say just that. Wow! Look at the wisdom, look at the vastness; look at the sophistication of this world. But looking at the world with an eye to see its creator requires attention and training. This Shmuz helps us focus on the Wow behind nature thereby allowing us to be moved by the awe inspiring miracles with which HASHEM has created the world in which we live. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#33 - Where Was G-D During the Holocaust? Mar 09, 2019

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We read about the Holocaust, we study about the holocaust, we memorialize the Holocaust, and yet it seems that this question isnt dealt with. Where was G-d during the Holocaust? Yet, isnt this one of the most basic questions a thinking person must deal with?Tracing the historical rise of Nazism and Adolph Hitler, a strong case is made for seeing the presence of G-d during these horrific times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#65 - Davening Part III - Power Prayers-The Impact of Tfilah Mar 09, 2019

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A close look at tefilla defies human logic. Simply by saying particular words with kavannah, we can reverse judgments in Heaven. How is it possible? It doesnt make sense!The answer is that it doesnt have to make sense. On one level, davening is a chok. But more than that, davening is a gift. Its an escape hatch we can use to get out of trouble any time.This Shmuz will teach you to treasure the mitzvah of tefilla and help you to tap into its life-changing power. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#66 - Mark of the Man Mar 09, 2019

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A popular notion in the secular world is that people are just like animals. Animals live and breathe; we live and breathe. Animals walk on four legs; we walk on two. Whats the big difference?The Torah tells us that the difference is staggering. Its true that humans have an animalistic side, but we also have nishomas. By nurturing the nishoma, we can reach limitless spiritual heights. Thats something no animal can do.The nishoma requires specific nourishment for its growth: Torah. Learning Torah beats back the animalistic desires and propels the nishoma forward. It takes discipline, but the pay-off is enormous. By reminding you of just how much you stand to gain, this Shmuz will not only motivate you to learn, itll help you enjoy learning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#67 - Understanding and Eliminating Jealousy Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

If theres one thing that makes smart people act dumb, its jealousy. When people are caught in its clutches, they forget every other bracha in their lives. Nothing is as important as what the other guy has, whether it be money, happiness, or kavod.The good news is that jealousy is surprisingly easy to work on. Because its so irrational and illogical, clear thinking is all it takes to neutralize it.This Shmuz will give you the hashkafos you need to quell that green-eyed monster once and for all, put you on the path to conquering jealousy forever, leaving you free to really enjoy your life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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