Reb Leibish Hundert Weekly

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Purim is rapidly approaching! What does it truly mean to "wake up"? In this installment of our series on the inner dimensions of Purim, Rav Lebish Hundert explores the profound moment Queen Esther "donned her royalty"—moving from a state of victimhood and "prison clothes" to active, Divine agency. Drawing on powerful imagery from the  Zohar Hakadosh  and the secrets o...

Good shabbos!

Have you ever experienced a powerful "awakening"—a burst of inspiration to do Teshuvah, visit a Tzaddik, or finally fix a bad habit—only to have it vanish a week later? In this episode,  Rav Lebish Hundert  explores a revolutionary teaching from  Rebbe Nachman of Breslov  regarding the "New Yetzer Hara." We often mistake a loss of inspiration for a spiritual failure. Rebbe Nach...

Why is it that we can learn Torah for years, feel inspired in the moment, and yet remain fundamentally unchanged on the inside? In this episode,  Rav Lebish Hundert  explores a powerful teaching from  Rav Kivak  (based on the path of  Rebbe Nachman of Breslov ) regarding the "receiving vessel" of the soul. He distinguishes between general inspiration—what he calls "spiritual window...

"If being connected to God makes you a person who still has the glee to jump in a puddle—that’s the kind of religion I want." In this deeply moving  shiur ,  Rav Lebisih Hundert  explores a mysterious passage in the Gemara: Why does the tradition record Mordechai passing through a simple puddle on his way to save the Jewish people? Drawing from the radical teachings of  Rebbe Nachman of...

Why do we go from the highest high of Pesach straight into 49 days of intense counting? In this installment of the  Inner Dimensions  series,  Rav Lebisih Hundert  (Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, Jerusalem) dives into the profound teachings of  Rav Shlomo Carlebach  to uncover the Kabbalistic machinery behind the spring holidays. In this episode, we explore: Vitamin M:  Why Matzah is "unfiltered light"...

Are you stuck in a "spiritual teenage wasteland"? In this episode, Rav Lebish Hundert (Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo) unpacks the profound psychological layers of Sefirat HaOmer. This isn't just a countdown to Shavuot; it’s a 49-day process of healing the core wounds of our childhood and teenage selves to achieve true maturity ( Gadlut ). Rav Lebish explains the Arizal’s hidden structure of the Omer: Th...

Come enter Pesach feeling connecting, present, and aligned. #jewishlearning #passover #pesach #torah

"The most painful thing in the world is to be on the outside." Rav Lebish Hundert explores a radical perspective on Passover cleaning: it isn't about the dust, it's about the "Mashu"—that tiny, almost invisible mental block that keeps us from connecting to Hashem and those we love. In this episode, we learn: Why jealousy is a "spiritual mistake" based on a lac...

good shabbos!

In this profound episode, Rav Leibish Hundert dives into the core of  Hisbodedus  (Jewish meditation/secluded prayer), focusing on the concept of  Ne’emanus v’Hismasrus Muchletus —Total Loyalty and Self-Surrender. Drawing from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and the  Sefer Hishtapchus HaNefesh , Rav Leibish explores why true spiritual connection requires us to leave "not even a hair...

Why does the Mishnah call the night of the search for  chametz  (leavened bread) "light"? In this episode of the  Shlomo Carlebach Series , Rav Leibish explores the profound spiritual preparation for Passover. Drawing on the wisdom of the  Mei HaShiloach  and Rav Shlomo’s soul-stirring insights, we learn that the physical act of cleaning for Pesach is a "vessel" for a much grea...

Good shabbos! #jewish learning #torah #jewishholidays #purim

Restoration isn’t about becoming someone new — it’s about returning to who you already are. In this installment of the Meshiv Nafshi series, we explore what it means to rebuild after distance, confusion, or spiritual fatigue. How do we reconnect? How do we come back without shame? And what does real teshuvah look like in daily life? A grounded, practical teaching on renewal and inner alignment. Re...

Reb Shlomo taught that every Jew carries a holy fire — even when it feels buried. This class reflects on teachings inspired by Reb Shlomo Carlebach: longing, brokenness, song, and the courage to love beyond judgment. What does it mean to see the holiness in yourself — and in others? A warm, searching exploration of Jewish spiritual resilience. Recorded on Feb 22, 2026.

There’s a kind of brokenness that opens the heart. This shiur continues exploring the teachings and spirit of Reb Shlomo Carlebach — vulnerability, prayer, and the holiness inside emotional struggle. What does it mean to be both brokenhearted and deeply alive? A reflective, soulful class on authentic avodah. Recorded on Feb 15, 2026.

What happens when tefillah stops being formal and becomes personal? This session in the Hitbodedut series goes deeper into direct conversation with Hashem — honesty, resistance, silence, and the courage to speak without scripts. We examine how personal prayer reshapes emotional life and builds real relationship. A practical and spiritual guide to living with awareness. Recorded on Feb 24, 2026.

Why is it sometimes hardest to speak when we need to most? In this installment of the Hitbodedut series, we explore the resistance that shows up in personal prayer — distraction, silence, discomfort — and how to move through it. Practical insights into building consistency and emotional honesty before Hashem. A grounded class on turning inward without escaping reality. Recorded on Feb 10, 2026.

Purim reveals what looks random is anything but. In this shiur, we unpack the inner dimension of Purim — hidden miracles, divine concealment, joy as spiritual resistance, and the power of acting even when clarity is absent. What does it mean that Hashem’s name never appears in the Megillah? A deep dive into emunah beneath the surface. Recorded on Feb 23, 2026.

Purim is not just celebration — it’s confrontation. In this session, we examine Amalek as doubt, spiritual cooling, and inner fragmentation. How do we recognize it? How do we fight it? And why is joy the weapon? A focused teaching on clarity, courage, and emunah in confusing times. Recorded on Feb 16, 2026.

What does faith look like when nothing looks miraculous? This shiur explores the spiritual message of Purim — divine orchestration beneath political chaos, personal responsibility within hiddenness, and the courage to act even when certainty is absent. A thoughtful preparation for Purim rooted in depth and clarity. Recorded on Feb 9, 2026.

What does it mean that Moshe Rabbeinu was born and passed on the same day? In this shiur, we explore the spiritual depth of 7 Adar — concealment, leadership, humility, and the hidden light that continues guiding Am Yisrael even when it seems absent. A reflection on presence within concealment, and what it means to lead without being seen. A powerful meditation on emunah, legacy, and inner strength...

Why does the Torah follow the Ten Commandments with laws about property and damages? Rav Leibish Hundert (Rosh Yeshiva of Simchat Shlomo) reveals the inner light hidden within the "social" laws of Mishpatim. With the joy of Adar on the horizon, this shiur dives into the concept of  Na'aseh V'Nishmah —the radical "Yes" we give to life before we even understand the detail...

Why do we often only turn to prayer when we are either desperate or deeply inspired? In this soul-stirring shiur, Rav Leibish Hundert explores the concept of  Tamid —the power of constancy in our relationship with Hashem. Drawing from the text  Darchei HaYichud , Rav Leibish compares the practice of Hisbodedus to a "Bayis" (a home) and a marriage. Just as a home is a place you return to...