Rabbi Effie's Podcasts

Dvar Torah for Chag Sukkot 5787

Shiur delivered in Tel Aviv to FJL Alumni and friends: When we think about Teshuva (repentance) during the High Holidays, we often default to a legalistic mindset: counting transgressions, fixing mistakes, and seeking forgiveness. But is Teshuva merely a corrective measure, or can it become the ultimate spark for a vibrant, deeply passionate Jewish life? In this special class, we reframe the High...

"Aliyah L'Regel": An inspirational journey through the Jewish Calendar through the lens presented by teachings of great Jewish thinkers. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. As Yom Kippur approaches, our focus sharpens on repairing human relationships and standing before God in complete vulnerability. But how do we bridge the gap between abstract spiritual ideals and practical,...

"Ripped From The Headlines": Presenting topics in current events considered through the lens of Jewish law and thought. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. In an era of viral TikTok videos, internet sleuths, and crowdsourced moral judgment—a phenomenon dubbed "secular sharia"—publicly exposing someone's wrongdoing can happen in an instant. But when societal norms shi...

"Ripped From The Headlines": Presenting topics in current events considered through the lens of Jewish law and thought. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. When news broke of a major class-action lawsuit against Golda Ice Cream for mislabeling products as "sugar-free" despite containing sugar levels well above permitted limits, it ignited a public health controversy. But...

A classic parable of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov with a lesson about our capacity to change to prepare us for Yom Kippur

A powerful lesson from Rabbi Chaim of Sanz to prepare for Yom Kippur

A powerful story to inspire our prayers on Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

"Aliyah L'Regel": An inspirational journey through the Jewish Calendar through the lens presented by teachings of great Jewish thinkers. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. The arrival of Rosh Hashanah brings both rigorous halachic protocols and deep, soul-stirring themes as we prepare to stand before the Almighty. From the practicalities of morning preparation to the profound...

"Ripped From The Headlines": Presenting topics in current events considered through the lens of Jewish law and thought. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. When news broke of a major class-action lawsuit against Golda Ice Cream for mislabeling products as "sugar-free" despite containing sugar levels well above permitted limits, it ignited a public health controversy. But beyond consumer pro...

Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech 5786

Short ideas to prepare for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur

"Aliyah L'Regel": An inspirational journey through the Jewish Calendar through the lens presented by teachings of great Jewish thinkers. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. The calendar sequence of the High Holidays seems intuitively backwards: why stand trial and receive our annual judgment on Rosh Hashanah before we undergo the intense process of cleansing and repentance on...

"Ripped From The Headlines": Presenting topics in current events considered through the lens of Jewish law and thought. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. With the steep rise in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among IDF veterans, service dogs have shifted from a medical novelty to a vital, life-saving therapeutic tool. But as these essential support animals enter daily religious life...

Shiur to prepare for Rosh Hashanah delivered in Tel Aviv to FJL Alumni and friends: How much of Hashem's judgment on Rosh Hashanah is based on my good vs. bad deeds and how much is dependent on my "mazal"/flow? How do I set my mind on what is important to think about and pray for on Rosh Hashanah? How do I successfully invite Hashem's mercy into my life through my interactions with others?

Shiur to FJL Global Alumni (on Zoom) to prepare for the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The shiur covered: How to set our mind and soul for the flow of weeks starting from Elul leading into Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah How can Rosh Hashanah be called a holiday when it is the Day of Judgment? Why is Rosh Hashanah a uniquely Jewish holiday when we are celebrating the birth...

שיעור בסגנון "כולל יום שישי" בבית כנסת לכו נרננה, רעננה על פרשת השבוע

A Rosh Chodesh Av shiur with FJL's Next Chapter with Rabbi Effie Kleinberg. As we stand on the threshold of the Nine Days, we encounter one of the most enigmatic moments in Talmudic history: Rabbi Akiva laughing amidst the ruins of the Beit HaMikdash while his colleagues wept. How could a leader find joy in the face of absolute devastation? In this powerful shiur, we delve into the spiritual visio...

A Rosh Chodesh Av shiur with FJL's Next Chapter with Rabbi Effie Kleinberg. As we begin the Hebrew month of Av, we are met with the famous rabbinic dictum: "Mishenichnas Av mema’atin be’simcha" —when Av enters, we diminish our joy. But how do we practically process this shift without falling into despair? In this insightful shiur, we unpack the deeper psychological and spiritual mind...

Opening shiur of the FJL Next Chapter 2026 cohort with Rabbi Effie Kleinberg . When we stand on the precipice of a major life transition, how do we navigate the shift from the structured environments of our past to the uncharted horizons of our future? In this powerful launch session, Rabbi Kleinberg unpacks a curated journey of classical and Chassidic sources to redefine how we view growth, accou...

"Medinat Yisrael and My Jewish Identity": Significant issues and moments in the history of the modern State of Israel and how they have shaped and impacted the identity of the Jewish people. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. Building on our previous discussion about Israel-Diaspora tensions, this episode takes a deeper, more introspective look at what moving to Israel actually demands of...

"Aliyah L'Regel": An inspirational journey through the Jewish Calendar through the lens presented by teachings of great Jewish thinkers. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. As the spring months unfold, Jewish communities around the world share a timeless tradition: the weekly study of Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers). But often, we read these brief, punchy ethical maxims as...

"Ripped From The Headlines": Presenting topics in current events considered through the lens of Jewish law and thought. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. What counts as a true emergency when it comes to breaking Shabbat? While we know that saving a life ( Pikuach Nefesh ) overrides almost all Torah prohibitions, modern scenarios push the boundaries of this rule to its absolute l...

"Aliyah L'Regel": An inspirational journey through the Jewish Calendar through the lens presented by teachings of great Jewish thinkers. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. If you look closely at the text of the Torah, a surprising omission stands out: the holiday of Shavuot is never explicitly linked to the historical event of Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah). Instead, t...

"Medinat Yisrael and My Jewish Identity": Significant issues and moments in the history of the modern State of Israel and how they have shaped and impacted the identity of the Jewish people. Class delivered at Midreshet Torat Chesed. When prominent Israeli journalist Hagai Segal published an opinion piece calling Diaspora Jews who haven't moved to Israel "traitors," it spar...