The Shmuz

You know that your year is decreed on Rosh Hashanah. Every aspect of your life is carefully designed by your Creator. You also know that you’re commanded to do your hishtadlus and daven that Hashem rewards your efforts. But how much hishtadlus is too much? How am I meant to tell when Hashem’s answer is ‘no’ or whether He wants me to keep up with the effort and tefillos that I’m investing in? In th...

Why do people so often focus on what is missing instead of appreciating what they already have? In this uplifting class, Rabbi Shafier explores the incredible amount of goodness G-d places into your life and why true happiness depends on learning to recognize it. Through powerful examples and practical insight, this lecture offers a refreshing perspective on gratitude, material success, and the de...

Our weekly Shmuz Live will be on a super-relevant topic this week: What to do when your bitachon is tested to the max. We’ve all got ‘stuff’. Baggage. Static. Nisyonos . We all need a Torah perspective to know how to respond to both major world events as well as the everyday traffic of life.   This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain...

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

Why do you sometimes feel pulled in two different directions — wanting to do what’s right, yet struggling with temptation, anger, or selfishness? In this thought-provoking class, Rabbi Shafier explores the Jewish understanding of the human soul and explains how every person contains both a higher spiritual side and a powerful instinct-driven side. Through deep Torah insight and practical wisdom, t...

Why do some people inspire others while some push them away, even when they mean well? In this insightful class, Rabbi Shafier explores the power of words, the importance of speaking with sensitivity, and the impact your thoughts have on your emotions and actions. Drawing on a fascinating Torah story about Moshe, Miriam, and prophecy, this lecture offers practical wisdom for improving your relatio...

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 a frum Jew, you also want to internalize that Hashem is directing your own life and knows what’s best for you. Too many of our problems in bitachon stem from thinking we know better than G-d. Too often we assume...

Why do some people grow through hardship while others feel crushed by it? In this inspiring class, Rabbi Shafier shares the remarkable story of Rabbi Eliezer Ben Hurcanus and explores a powerful Jewish perspective on purpose, struggle, and human potential. Through memorable examples and deep insight, this lecture challenges you to see your life differently. You are not a victim of your circumstanc...

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

If miracles are so powerful, why do people still struggle to believe? In this fascinating class, Rabbi Shafier explores the story of the Exodus from Egypt and reveals a surprising truth about human nature: people often see only what they are willing to see. Through powerful examples, personal insight, and Torah wisdom, this lecture challenges us to approach life with greater honesty, openness, and...

If miracles are so powerful, why do people still struggle to believe? In this fascinating class, Rabbi Shafier explores the story of the Exodus from Egypt and reveals a surprising truth about human nature: people often see only what they are willing to see. Through powerful examples, personal insight, and Torah wisdom, this lecture challenges us to approach life with greater honesty, openness, and...

What explains the survival of the Jewish people against every prediction of history? In this fascinating class, Rabbi Shafier explores how the Jewish nation survived exile, persecution, and repeated attempts to destroy them... yet still kept the Torah alive and returned to the Land of Israel after nearly 2,000 years. This powerful lecture will challenge the way you see Jewish history and leave you...

As we relive the journey to Har Sinai, this powerful Shavuos Shmuz explores one of the most astonishing moments in human history: the Jewish people becoming so overwhelmed by their longing for Hashem that they were willing to die just to come closer. What awakened this supernatural desire? Why did the revelation at Sinai ignite a love so intense it shattered the barriers of the physical world? In...

Are you ready to start living a more contented life? Then tune into this class, where Rabbi Shafier unveils Chazal’s ancient secrets on how to attain true happiness. Learn how society bombards you with messages that bring you down… and what you can do to protect yourself. This week, you’ll get practical strategies* and insightful advice on how to move past negativity and appreciate the riches you...

How fragile is your ego? Do you know someone who will never admit to being wrong? They will stubbornly refuse to acknowledge the facts and stick to their story as if their very lives depend on it. Unfortunately, this quirk is not just limited to hardened criminals and pathological narcissists. Within all of us is the overwhelming desire to protect our ego and soothe our sense of self. It’s very un...

Learn why your soul thirsts for learning and discover how to rise above your animalistic side this Yomtov   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

Get real about your Torah learning with this motivating Shmuz ! 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 have the capacity to experience HASHEM. It's not enough to only have faith that He is present—you must also learn how to encounter Him. This Shmuz will show you how   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 donatio...

Why do yeshivos place such enormous emphasis on learning Gemara — even when so much of it seems disconnected from everyday life? In this eye-opening and deeply inspiring shmuz, Rabbi Bentzion Shafier uncovers the true purpose of Torah learning and what it is really doing to a person beneath the surface. With remarkable clarity, he explains that every human being is a constant battle between the Ne...

Have you ever wondered why Torah comes so easily to some people while others struggle for every line they learn? In this deeply encouraging shmuz, Rabbi Bentzion Shafier reveals a life-changing יסוד about how Hashem truly measures greatness. Through the lens of Moshe and Aharon — two vastly different individuals who nonetheless stood equal in the World to Come — Rabbi Shafier uncovers the Torah’s...

Why would 24,000 talmidim of Rabbi Akiva — great men of Torah — be lost over something that seems so simple: a lack of respect? This powerful shiur uncovers what kavod really means, and why it is far more than just good manners. Through Chazal, real-life examples, and sharp insight, Rabbi Shafier will reveal why respect is a foundational principle that shapes our relationships, our growth, and our...

Sometimes, it feels like Torah is out of reach. You might think you're not smart enough, dedicated enough, or focused enough. Shavuos seems to be for the talmidei chachamim , those who thrive on losing a night's sleep for the sake of learning. But what about us regular folks? What we need is a spark of motivation. This mini-Shmuz is not just about finding role models; it's about becoming a role mo...

Comparison and judgment are integral to the human experience. Subconsciously or not, you are constantly rating yourself against others. The problem is when you’re so focused on measuring up in the here and now that you disregard your Olam Haba ranking. And the really scary part? Many frum Jews are going to get a big shock after ad meah v’esrim . The truth is, the real competition is not against ot...

Rabbi Bentzion Shafier takes listeners on a powerful and eye-opening journey through one of the Torah’s deepest lessons: why Klal Yisroel had to remain inside during Makkas Bechoros, and what it reveals about דין, protection, and the reality of spiritual danger. But this shmuz goes far beyond the Korban Pesach. With warmth, clarity, and profound insight, Rabbi Shafier explores how Hashem relates t...