The Shmuz

You want to be confident...but not arrogant. You want to work on your personal development, but cheshbon hanefesh is demoralizing. You know Hashem gave you talents and abilities- but are you ‘allowed’ to feel proud of your achievements? There are many contradictions when it comes to working on yourself, your middos and your self esteem. This Shmuz will help you discover the golden middle way withi...

In this unnerving Shmuz, Rabbi Shafier gives you a much needed pep-talk prior to the Yomim Noraim. Lacking motivation? Here’s your chance to get in a better place before Yom Kippur. Your battles are your jewels for all eternity, let’s use the month of Elul to face them head on.   This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service s...

We run after pleasure-whatever hits the spot for us, we indulge in it, spend money on it and wish for more. But what happens when your normal pleasures can no longer satisfy you? If you’ve ever over-indulged and regretted it, this shiur is for you. Rabbi Shafier clearly explains the role of pleasure in your life, and how to have it without the guilt.   This podcast has been graciously sponsor...

I say every morning ‘ sheasah li kol tzarci ’- Hashem, You have provided me with all of my needs. Three times a day I remind myself that You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with its desire . I know You want me to be happy, to enjoy Your world, to keep mitzvos and do Your will...so if that’s the case, WHY AM I SO BROKE? In this week’s Shmuz on the Parsha , we will take a closer look a...

Despite living in the relative luxury of the first world, many people feel as though their life is mediocre at best, and downright miserable at worst. In his introduction to The Pursuit of Happiness , Rabbi Shafier begins by challenging the listener to self-reflect on their own satisfaction with life, and offers some new insights as to what being ‘happy’ really means in our society.   This po...

This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

LISTEN TO THE FULL VIRAL DATING & MARRIAGE PANEL , from Yad L'Achim's Tu B'Av Together Truly life changing advice.  Featuring: * Dr. David Lieberman * R' Reuven Epstein * R' Bentzion Shafier This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and s...

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

Join Rabbi Shafier as he unveils Chazal’s ancient secrets on how to attain true happiness: - Learn how wider society bombards you with messages that bring you down, and what you can do to protect yourself - Stop the negativity, resentment and jealousy with a powerful shift in perspective - Gain practical strategies to move past negativity and into fulfilment   This podcast has been graciously...

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

During the period of the Three Weeks we are urged to awaken ourselves to the horrifying and the heartbreaking. The moments of our existence as a People that bring us to tears and make us long for the geula. In this moving shmuz Rabbi Shafier encourages you to look at your greatness and your failings, including your own misconceptions of the nature of Hashem and the purpose of suffering.   Thi...

Remember when we had to watch a ton of Holocaust movies to feel any stirring of emotion on Tisha B’Av? Remember when we had to drag ourselves out of our pampered comfort zones to think about what it must have been like to suffer at the hands of the Romans? It wasn’t easy to imagine what a dangerous, frightening, unpredictable world meant. Is it still hard? I don’t think so. Even the sceptics agree...

Have you ever heard the three rules of criticism? Don’t do it Don’t do it Don’t do it Ok, everyone knows how it feels to be criticized. Everyone agrees that it’s damaging to our most precious relationships. Some people have lived under the shadow of criticism their whole life, and have the arduous task of trying to rebuild their self-esteem and confidence. So if it’s so incredibly obvious as to wh...

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

This Shmuz will bring home the relevance of The Three Weeks and how to bring Hashem into your life once more.   This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

In this week’s Parsha, Pinchas is given the bris shalom after defending the honor of Hashem. The Seforno explains that as a result of this gift, Pinchas was granted longevity, a natural consequence of living ‘at peace with himself’. Unfortunately, the feeling of contentment and inner calm is something that alludes most of us. Four hundred years after The Seforno’s commentary, modern medicine also...

Bitachon can’t be learned from a book. You can learn the theory, get a grip on the fundamentals of your hashkafa and think you know that you trust in Hashem. But until you are really tested, you have no idea whether our bitachon is real or not. Being naturally optimistic or anxious isn’t an indication of where you’re holding in bitachon-that’s nothing more than a reflection of your personality. To...

You’re a ma’amim. You believe in Hashem, you believe in His Torah. But you’d probably like to get better at trusting in Hashem, right? That’s why you listen to shiurim, that’s why you’re reading this page. You might wish that you could be like the Gedolim, instead of getting bent out of shape by every bill, scared by every news report, bothered by why so many things just don’t seem fair. If this d...

This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

We see in the Torah that tefillah is powerful. Through tefillah, Sara Imeinu was given a child , a miracle like techiyas hameisim. Yishmael cried out to Hashem and was saved in the desert, despite his sins. But what gives your davening its incredible power? In this week’s Shmuz, Rabbi Shafier clearly outlines three fundamental ways your tefillah can change everything. Can your prayers make a diffe...

Practical and hashkafic tips on gaining control of your finances This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

Is it enough to be smart in this world? We are all in danger of going through life just ‘spinning our wheels’, being ever so busy and yet failing in our potential. It’s a scary concept, and one that Rabbi Shafier addresses from a relatable perspective. In the second shiur of the second perek, Rabbi Shafier shows you how to live with more awareness and make the most of your years here.   This...

Do you believe in Hashem, but sometimes feel that He’s out to get you? Then you have emunah, but lack bitachon. You see, it’s not enough to simply recognize that Hashem runs the world. As frum Jews, we are also meant to internalize that Hashem is directly involved in our own lives and knows what is best for us. Too many of our problems in bitachon stem from thinking we know better than G-d. Too of...