The Characters You Do Not Know

From living a well balanced life to understanding how Halacha deals with depression. 

We will use 2 teshuvot of Rav Asher to develop a Jewish approach to Mental health issues in general. 

Analyzing the Shem Mi'Shmuel and using common midrashic ideas to understand Tu Bi'Shevat's relevance to our lives. 

Ever wonder why in so many shuls across the world who daven early every day of the week they daven later on shabbos morning? In this class we will trace the source of this practice and try to understand its benefits and limitations. 

What are the reasons so many people want to be buried in Israel?  Is there ever a reason to exhume and move a body? Who makes that call?

Is the modern crockpot an example of Hatmanah Bi'Miktzas (partial insulation) or not? 

Learn how to lead Kabalat Shabbat.

We will discuss the two ways of looking at the Mitzvah of lighting Chanuka candles. Is it an obligation to create a spiritual space like Mezuza or is it an obligation on each individual to light candles. 

Can you make Israeli Salad? Cucumber Salad? Ceviche? Why yes or why not? 

On the books the Rabbis explain that we cannot invite non-Jews to Yom Tov meals. But is that always true? Let's take a look at the Sugya on Beitza 21b

Three views on whether to invite a guest to shul or for a shabbos meal if they will drive as a result.  

Anim Zemirit to Uncle Moishe's Pizza Song

Anim Zemirot: Classic tune

If you ever wanted to learn to daven Mussaf this is the basic Nusach with a couple of tunes. 

You know the Midrashim. Let's try to understand why Hazal told Og's story the way they did. Make sure to have a Chumash available, seeing the textual parallels inside will be very helpful. 

What happened to Chur? He appears out of no where and then we never hear about him again... A closer look at who he was may help us unravel the mystery. 

Who was Charvona and why do we also remember him favorably? 

They are Moshe and Aaron's first cousins. They may be behind the scenes, but they may be some of the founding members of a very important group of volunteers. Can you guess what I'm referring to? If not take a few minutes and learn something new. 

We know she is the daughter of Yitro and wife of Moshe, but what do we know about her? 

He is lurking in the background of the Yehuda and Tamar story, but his role seems irrelevant. What do we learn from his inclusion in the text of the Torah?

We know she is the mother of Moshe, but by name she is only mentioned 2X in the Bible. Yet Hazal read her into as much as they can. We will try to understand what may be motivating them from the text and an overall view of Moshe. 

The Torah recounts the 70 souls going down to Egypt tribe by tribe. But for some reason Shaul is called Shaul b Hakenanis. Who is she? And why is she mentioned?

A conversation in middle of a genealogy?! That breaks all of the rules.  The range of views to explain this anomaly in Hazal, Rishonim and Achronim is quite broad.  

Yehudit, Basmat, Machala, Anah, Oholivama and Basmat the 2nd.  3,4,5 or 6?  What do we learn about Esav from his choice of wives?

He was the son of Esav and the father of Amaleik. Is he the link that can help us understand the Jewish relationship with Amaleik? Let's see how Hazal understood Elifaz.