The Shmuz

Latest Episodes:

#34 - Isreal: Exalted Nation / Oppressed People (Why Did G-d Allow the Holocaust to Happen?) Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

Throughout history all things change, the only constant that seems to cross all cultural and time barriers, is that everyone hates the Jew. Is there a Torah perspective that can explain why the Jewish nation is so tortured and oppressed? If we accept that G-D controls what happens on this earth is there a reason why His nation, the Chosen People are so downtrodden? Are there forces involved that control the very destiny of Israel?This Shmuz explores some of the underlying causes of the Jewish Nations state throughout history, including the Why behind the Holocaust. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#35 - Hashem and Man: Master and Servant (Understanding Humility) Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

We know the Torah gave us a specific mitzvah - to work on our character traits, but how do I change my very basic, underlying emotional makeup? Much like as with any character trait, I didnt wake up in the morning and say, I just want to be a big, fat, arrogant buffoon. I didnt wake up and say, I would like to consider myself the most important human on the planet G-d's gift to humanity. But what can I do? Thats how I feel. Now what? This Shmuz helps us deal with the gaavah, arrogance, as it functions in our lives. How do I recognize if I am affected by this trait? How do I work on this issue?Understanding our relationship with HASHEM is the first line of defense against arrogance, and as it turns out, the sense of humility is central to all of avodas HASHEM. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#36 - For the Love of Money Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

I heard hes worth 10 million dollars, is not so uncommon an expression for us to hear, even within our own community. The reality is that to many people, their self worth is equal to their net worth. While we assume that our values come exclusively from a Torah Perspective and not from the world around us, the reality is that the world we live in has a real effect on our thoughts and attitudes. In our society money has a prominence and significance that affects even bnai Torah.This Shmuz helps us focus on the Torahs view of money and how to shape our attitudes towards it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#37 - Three Types of Miracles, The Fifth Level of Emunah Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

Hashem created this world. Hashem orchestrates this world but there is another dimension of Hashems relationship with this world -- Hashem is the maintainer of this world. A very deep Shmuz that deals with the way that HASHEM interacts with this world, and directly deals with some fundamental questions: How I can have free will, when HASHEM knows what I am going to do? How can HASHEM be in so many different places at the same time? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#38 - Where is Hashem, The Sixth Level of Emunah Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

We are trained from our school years to say boruch Hashem and im yirtzeh Hashem. Yet it seems that something is lacking. While we mouth the words that Hashem is responsible and we thank Hashem, if we are honest with ourselves we will soon recognize that what is lacking from our sentiments is Hashem. The sense of Hashems presence and involvement in our life that we talk about is what is missing from our understanding. Understanding the sixth and highest level of emunah, we are brought to understand some of the deepest thoughts of which man is capable. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#39 - I Need, Needs Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

It is clear that Hashem is capable -- very capable. It is also clear that Hashem has great wisdom -- enough wisdom and capacity to create the cosmos and all that it contains, with words alone -- from galaxies that stretch over billons of light years, to tiny amoeba that float in a sea of flotsam, all parts of the whole, all harmoniously integrated, all so seemingly perfect. Yet Hashem created man incomplete, with many needs. It seems that Hashem could have created man to be much less needy - yet Hashem didnt. This Shmuz focuses us on the importance of needs in our life. And we come away with the understandings that not only arent these" needs" frivolous things to be rejected; they are actually an essential part of the growth process of life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#40 - Acher, The Importance of Torah, Founding an Organization Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

Elisha Ben Avuha was one of the greatest Torah scholars who ever lived--He was a tanna, a great Torah teacher, and the rebbe of Rebbe Meir -- until he became Acher, the Heretic. In that state he undid all of the good that he had accomplished, and did things that were purely evil. Yet, when he died, he wasnt allowed into Gehenom, because of the merit of Torah until his student, Rebbe Meir, begged for mercy. Through this gripping story we are introduced to the value of Torah learning, the one act that can never leave a person. A great motivating Shmuz for setting goals and succeeding in learning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#41 - Rebbe Akiva and Rochel, Potential of the Individual Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

At the age of 40, Akiva the shepherd went off to learn and transformed himself into the Torah giant known throughout history. We all know the basic story line, but we may not know that he promptly quit and set back home -- a failure. One event changed his life and gave him the strength and fortitude to turn back and succeed. Detailing the events of Rebbe Akivas struggle, the story of sacrifice, failure and eventual success, we are introduced to some of the most moving events that shaped this great leader of men.An inspiring lesson to all of us who at one time or other felt, Im not cut out for learning. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#42 - Tricks of the Soton Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

Chazal tell us that Hashem created a malach whose sole job it is to trip up man -- to get us to sin, to get us to fail, to get us to mess up. Where is he? What voice does he speak with? How can I identify him? For most of us, without direct guidance from chazal it is difficult to quantify and identify the soton. Does he speak in my head? Whose voice does he use? How can I tell? This Shmuz brings us face to face with a powerful force that is foreign to western thought, and requires great understanding to recognize. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

#43 - Soton out of the Box Mar 09, 2019

Show notes

It seems that it should be easier now to grow than in any previous generation. We have wealth, luxuries, freedom from oppression, and we have time. We enjoy so many time saving devices and conveniences that it would surely seems that we are finally free to sit and learn. And in fact, it seems that we should be able to reach great heights - and yet it is harder than ever to serve Hashem. It seems that somehow in earlier generations it was just easier to sit and learn, but why?This Shmuz focuses on the one area that the Soton was given control over in this generation, that one area he is allowed full control over, the one area he is allowed to go full power... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected