Reb Leibish Hundert Weekly

Why does Yom Kippur only work once we’ve appeased our neighbors? Rav Leibish Hundert explores the inner dimensions of  teshuvah  (repentance), childhood trauma, and the “uncircumcised heart.” In this week’s  shiur  on Parshat Matot-Masei, we delve into: The Law of Forgiveness:  Why seeking appeasement is more than just a ritual. The Rebbe-Student Dynamic:  The danger of pushing a soul away too har...

"All this is worth nothing to me."  How can a person who has reached the pinnacle of power, wealth, and prestige be utterly consumed by a single man who refuses to bow? In this installment of our Purim series,  Rav Leibish Hundert  dives into the dark psychology of Haman (Megillat Esther, Perek 5) to uncover the "Inner Serpent" that still whispers to us today. Moving between th...

How can a day of total destruction be the source of our greatest healing? In this soul-stirring  shiur , Rav Lebisih Hundert of Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo (Jerusalem) explores the teachings of Reb Shlomo Carlebach on the inner dimensions of  Tisha B’Av . Moving through the profound "Feeling the Pain of Destruction," Rav Lebisih dives into the paradox of the Holy Temple: why it is considered...

Good shabbos! Note: outside of Eretz Yisrael parshas Balak is being read this week.

"We should be so happy that we don't even remember the Temple isn't standing." Rav Lebish Hundert shares a "bombastic" teaching from the 1500s that explains the true, hidden purpose of the Purim feast. Purim isn't just about celebrating a past miracle; it's about a state of consciousness that is higher than both Exile ( Galut ) and Redemption ( Geulah ). Recorde...

Is hatred just another sin, or is it something far more destructive? Rav Lebish Hundert shares a soulful Breslov and Carlebach perspective on the destruction of Jerusalem and the path to its rebuilding. Learn how to transform "have to" into "longing to" and find the "misfit stone" within your own soul that belongs at the head of the corner. Recorded at Yeshivat Simcha...

Is your spiritual life feeling dry? Rav Lebish Hundert shares Rebbe Nachman’s secret to finding God when He feels furthest away. Learn the concept of  Yichud HaRikchuk  and find out why feeling distant is often the first step toward a much deeper connection. Recorded at Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, Jerusalem. Recorded July 1, 2026.

Why do we often hide our real selves when we show up to talk to God? In this moving  shiur , Rav Lebish Hundert shares a powerful Breslov parable about an orphan, a secret pain, and the true meaning of friendship. Drawing on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman and the insights of Rav Kivak, Rav Hundert explains why "talking Torah" is sometimes a mask for the soul, and how we can build a &quot...

"Where are you?" In this week's deep dive into the inner dimensions of Parshat Korach, Rav Leibish Hundert explores the transformative power of  Ma’alin B’Kodesh —the principle that in holiness, we must always ascend. Starting with the simple halachic order of our Tallit and Tefillin, Rav Leibish unpacks a profound psychological roadmap: life isn't about jumping to the finish lin...

“How can pain  not  cause a separation between the one in pain and the One providing it?” In this week’s installment of our series on Rebbe Nachman’s path to the heart (based on the teachings of Rav Kivak), Rav Leibish Hundert dives into the "Pikpuk"—the tiny, almost imperceptible doubts and complaints that build a thick wall between us and Hashem over time. Drawing on the classic metaph...

“The miracle doesn’t start when the war is won; it starts the moment your perception changes.” In this soulful  shiur  recorded on the 23rd of Sivan—the very day Mordechai the Tzaddik sent his second set of letters across the Persian Empire—Rav Leibish Hundert dives into the inner mechanics of Redemption. In this episode, Rav Leibish explores: The Mystery of the Animals:  What are the  “Ha’achasht...

“God created the world for those people who know the secret of beginning.” In this deeply moving  shiur  from Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo in Jerusalem, Rav Leibish Hundert explores the inner dimensions of  Bereishit  through the lens of Reb Shlomo Carlebach’s teachings. Moving from the subterranean tunnels of the Temple to the modern-day struggle with spiritual exhaustion, Rav Leibish invites us to re...

In this soulful and deep dive into the inner dimensions of ParshatsShlach, Rav Lebisih Hundert explores the profound connection between the failure of the  Meraglim  (the Spies) and the corrective medicine of the Mitzvah of  Tzitzit . Drawing from the Shulchan Aruch, the Arizal, and the teachings of Rebbe Nachman, Rav Lebisih discusses: Healing the Heart & Eyes:  How the heart and eyes act as...

Why would Esther invite the arch-enemy of the Jews to a private banquet with the King? In this installment of our Purim series, Rav Lebish Hundert dives into Perek 5 of the Megillah, exploring the 12 cryptic reasons offered by the Gemara ( Megilla 15b ) for Esther’s counter-intuitive invitation to Haman. Drawing on the transformative teachings of  Rebbe Nachman of Breslov  ( Likutey Moharan, Torah...

Good shabbos! (Note: Outside of eretz yisroel, Parshas Nasso is being read from the Torah this week). #torah #jewish #jewishlearning

Can a single breath change your reality? Rav Lebish Hundert explores Rebbe Nachman’s radical approach to prayer when you're feeling stuck, muted, or anxious. If you can't talk to God like a friend today, Rebbe Nachman says: just sigh. Join the  chevre  at Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo in Jerusalem as we learn to turn our pain into a vessel for unification and freshness.

We all have layers of "sediment" from life—grievances, fears, and old narratives that block our light. Rav Lebish Hundert discusses the two stages of healing: the character work of  Sefirat HaOmer  and the revelatory power of  Matan Torah . Discover how a deeper connection to the "Black Fire on White Fire" of the Torah’s letters can heal the imagination and bring a "fresh...

"Why does it often feel that the harder we try to get close to Hashem, the further away He seems to move?" In this episode, Rav Lebisih Hundert dives into  Meishiv Nafshi (Siman 20)  and Rebbe Nachman’s  Torah 74 , unpacking one of the most vital paradoxes in the life of a seeker:  Hisrachakus hu techilas ha'hiskarvus  — Distance is the beginning of closeness. In this shiur, we explo...

In this soulful 49th-birthday shiur, Rav Leibish Hundert dives into the inner dimensions of Megillat Esther (5:3). Why does Achashverosh offer Esther only "half the kingdom"? Through the lens of Chassidut and the teachings of the Izhbitzer and Rav Nachman, we explore the deep secret of  Chatzi HaMalchut —the 50/50 partnership between us and Hashem. Rav Leibish connects the "rushed" redemption of P...

"God, let my Zaidy be healthy." In this soulful deep dive, Rav Lebish Hundert explores Rebbe Nachman’s radical teaching on spontaneous prayer: that the shortest path to the Infinite is through your mother tongue. Drawing on the lectures of Rav Kivak (Avraham Tzvi Kluger) and the legacy of Rebbe Nachman, we explore: The Power of "Anochi":  Why the very first word of the Ten Comm...

Is your religious identity a bridge to the Divine, or just a performance? In this deep dive into the inner dimension of Purim, Rav Lebish Hundert (Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo) unpacks a startling insight from the Gemara: the word  Frummy  as a mask used to frighten children. Drawing on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and the Rebbe Reb Meilech, Rav Lebish explores: The "Sandwich Metaphor":...

Rav Lebish Hundert (Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo) explores the profound teaching that Torah must be learned with "great joy" ( Simcha Gedola ). Drawing on the wisdom of Shlomo Carlebach, this  shiur  challenges us to move past the "should's" of religion and find the life-giving energy hidden within the letters. Highlights include: Why  Birkat HaTorah  is the "inside of the...

Why do the greatest leaders of the Jewish people always seem like outsiders? In this profound exploration of  Parshat Bamidbar , Rav Lebish Hundert takes us from the technical laws of  Eruv Tavshilin  to the heart of the "Lost Sheep"—the cry of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. As we prepare for Shavuot and look at the census of the tribes in the desert, we discover a startling paradox: the most...

Are you a "bad neighbor"? In this deep and soulful exploration of Parshat Behar-Bechukotai, Rav Lebisih Hundert dives into the inner dimensions of the  Beit Knesset  and the radical definition of what it means to be a neighbor. Drawing from the  Shulchan Aruch , the  Ramban , and the transformative teachings of  Rebbe Nachman of Breslov , Rav Lebisih challenges our modern tendency toward...

Do you ever find yourself "working the system" with Hashem? In this powerful shiur based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and Rav Kivak, Rav Leibish Hundert explores the "inner lawyer" we all carry—the voice that rationalizes our mistakes and hides our true selves behind Torah sources and justifications. Rav Leibish challenges us to stop "hiding in the garden&q...