Online Torah Classes with Rabbi Mendy Goldberg

Beyond Right: The Values that Shape Judaism's Civil Code Lesson 2 Beyond Restitution In seeking to restore the rights of plaintiffs, Jewish courts actively assist offenders in achieving full repentance too. Why? Discover the advantage of properly undoing damage over mere compensation.

Bechukotai The End of days, or the beginning of days. This week the Jews are told the reward and punishments for observance, or lack of it, in following G-d's word. The reward sounds really out of this world, with unfathomable types of change in the nature of the world. An unseemingly possible utopian reality. Can it really happen?   

Beyond Right: The Values that Shape Judaism's Civil Code Lesson 1 Beyond Good Neighbors Most laws are designed to protect the rights of people and their property. But Judaism’s civil code is driven by a different goal. Explore how laws of damages and disputes support a uniquely Jewish view of the human mission.

BEHAR What is your financial future? How do you plan your income? Looking at the Torah's description of the Sabbatical Year, one can wonder, "What Was G-d Thinking?" How can we earn or have supply by not working with the ground? As we look to the mystical teaching of this mitzvah, we learn a contemporary lesson for all, even non-farmers of money investment and management. Where your real profits a...

Emor - Sefirat Haomer During the period of the Omer, we mourn the passing of Rabbi Akiva's 24000 students. How was Rabbi Akiva able to move passed this tragic event? With hi new 5 students he rebuilt the mastery in the Talmud as we know it today. Rabbi Akiva taught us the most important strategy of overcoming challenges and times of duress. Moving on and seeing the real idea in everything in life.

Kedoshim As Moses gather the Jews together, his first command to them is to tell them to be Holy. How is that at all possible? What does it mean to be holy?  Does holiness mean asceticism? How can we, the average person be "holy"?  

Sefirat Haomer During the time between Pesach and Shavuot, we count the Omer, and we mourn the passing of the 24000 students of Rabbi Akiva. What we can learn from them, and how can we better our relationship with G-d and our fellow, as they are both inter-related and inter-connected.

Pesach How many years were the Jews actually enslaved in Egypt? We can find various amounts ranging from 430, 400, 116 or 86 years, so what really was it? By answering the above, we find a contemporary lesson of how we view what slavery means today. Finding meaning and solace in life, depends on how much out of you comfort zone you are willing to go.   

Tazria Why is the time frame of purity for newborn boy different than for for a girl? Understanding this, helps us in our perspective for a fundamental principal in education. We continue this theme in the Passover Seder, and how Joseph role modeled this for his brothers.

Tzav What is a better way to serve G-d, having a routine, or periodic excitement?  The Sons of Aharon passed away due to thein uncalled for sacrifice, or due to being intoxicated, didn't they know better? The pig will once again become kosher. Why the pig? When will this happen and why?  

Purim The one holiday that has a requirement to be joyous, to the extent of not knowing the difference of "blessed Mordechai and "Cursed Haman." What does intoxication mean in Jewish thought? Learn the contemporary message in the story of Purim, and we intoxicate our soul in reaching purity.  

Lesson 6 ACT NATURAL, CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN DO Those that can't, don't. Those that can, do. And you can. At its core, Mount Sinai is Mountain Do. Physical actions, called Mitzvos by the Creator, engender spiritual and physical change in the universe.

Lesson 5 CLUB MED, EAT BETTER, SLEEP DEEPER, WORK HIGHER All of life is elevated by meditation. Here we zoom in and focus on three of life’s essentials: when we consume, when we repose, when we hustle-bustle.

Pekudei It's All About Perception Why does Moshe go out of his way to detail the donations and expenses of the construction of the Tabernacle? Should one be concerned what others may think or say? How does one avoid people having the wrong perception about them, or what they are doing though it may be well intended. 

Lesson 4 HERE AND WOW, FREE EVERY MOMENT Long before living in the moment gained its moment in the spotlight, G-d gifted us the incredible power to live with, live in, live up, and transform every single moment of our lives. It's happening now, at this very moment.

Vayakhel Doing the Same Thing Every Day, Isn't that Boring? Every day in the Holy Temple, Two sacrifices were brought daily, regardless of what other event was going on. Why was it so important for these sacrifices to be brought daily? The leap year in the Jewish calendar is so the the lunar year is in sync with the solar year. What's the need for both the solar and lunar calendars?

Lesson 3 DIVINE ANIMATION, JOY VEY G-d animates everything, perpetually. Discovering G-d is opening ourselves to life's divine animation. Results include but are not limited to increased joy, more resilience, and deeper purpose.

Ki Tisa After the sin of the Golden Calf, G-d calls the Jews the "stiff neck nation". Moshe in their defense refers to them as the " stiff neck nation." How can their problem be their redemption? Was being stubborn a good thing, or not? Is anything in this world inherently bad?  How do we deal with the seemingly negative emotions or desires we seem to never get away from? 

Lesson 2 SPIRITUAL AWAKENING, TUNE IN, PLAY ON What is spirituality and how do I tune into its song? Meditation is the instrument that allows you to play the spirited music of existence, and the voice that enables you to sing the soul of every experience.

Tetzaveh Everyone loves nostalgia, looking back and seeing how better it was back then, but was it? Are we that bad? Or were they really Good? Exploring the absence of Mosesis this weeks parsha, G-D is teaching us a monumental lesson, of the responsibilities of our generation, not withstanding our lack of the greats of yesteryear. 

Lesson 1 MIND CONTROL, I THINK THEREFORE I CAN Mind over matter—when you mind, life matters. The Torah teaches that our brains don't control us, we control our brains. When we harness our awesome gray matter, dreams become a matter of fact.

What Are Kids Doing On The Ark? Terumah The holiest place in the world, is the Holy of Holies in the Holy Temple. On it were the Kerubim, our sages discuss what these Kerubim were. Many believe they were in the shape of baby boy and baby girl. However why would there be the images of baby boy and girl on the Ark of covenant? Learn the lessons we can learn from this and much more.

The Wonders of the Oral Law Mishapatim Why did G-d give the written law so vague? Why are there some many arguments within the Oral Law, in trying to understand the Written law? Can't the rabbis agree on anything? Moreover most common custom and practices in Jewish law are not even mentioned in the Torah?

Yisro Why Ask Your Rabbi? Why do people ask their all kinds of questions, from business advice, health to politics? Does the Torah have all those answers? Who was the first to ask material needs from a spiritual advisor? When we understand the story of the giving of the Torah, we will understand and appreciate the fusion of the spiritual and material. How a rabbis guidance in every area of life, i...

Beshalach What's the most difficult thing for G-d to accomplish? Our sages juxtapose the splitting of the sea, and the finding your partner in life as the most difficult things for G-d to accomplish. What do the two have in common? Why for a G-d who can create the universe, do we even suggest has difficulty in putting together a man and woman? Learn what really happened as the Jews encounter their...