The Maggid of Melbourne

In this podcast, Levi revisits the notion that redemption is dependent on retaining names, language, and clothing. This picks up a theme discussed in a previous podcast, adding two new perspectives. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Names, Language and Clothing Revisited first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Ma...

The responsive Barkhu prayer is ubiquitous in the prayer service. In this podcast, we explore how it works, when it is said, its mystical valence, and what you might do if you come late and miss Barkhu. The Maggid of … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: My Friend Comes Late to Services first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: My Friend Comes L...

Are you in favour or not? Just before he heads into his Chassidus class, Levi shares with his podcast chavrusos, a fascinating document that reflects one of the innovations of early Hasidism. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Mebourne: Are you in Favor or Not?: Opposing Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Part 2 first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue rea...

The early hasidic movement was the subject of much debate. Levi recounts the tale of the opposition to his namesake, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Opposing Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Part 1 first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: O...

This podcast concludes the mini-series (at least for now…) where Levi has explored the Turkish custom of waving before the Amida prayer. Perhaps you can help find an earlier source for the practice… The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 8 – A Wave Goodbye to the Turkish Gesture first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue...

Levi goes to the microfilm collection in the National Library of Israel (… although he would like to go to Oxford!) to locate a seventeenth century source of the Turkish custom. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 7 – Waving in Manuscript first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbo...

In this next installment in the series, Levi shares a source from the legacy of Rabbi Yitzhak Luria about the waving practice. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, community … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 6 — Kabbalistic Waving first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melb...

A visit to the Machane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, convinces Levi to rethink how he is pronouncing the name of an Aleppo rabbi. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 5 – A Short Detour From Waving first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbo...

The excavation of the Turkish custom of waving before the Amida continues in this fourth part of the series. This time the journey takes us to Livorno, Italy. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 4 – Waving in Livorno first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: W...

In part three of this series about a captivating Istanbul custom, Levi shares more evidence of the practice… this time from Izmir, Turkey. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 3 – Izmir first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Wavi...

Following on from the last episode of The Maggid of Melbourne, Levi identifies further sources for the Turkish custom wave in prayer, offering an explanation for how a a practice recorded in Baghdad is to be found in Istanbul. For … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey Part 2 – How did the Ben Ish Hai Wave? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The M...

Having just returned from Istanbul with a group of Pardes students, Levi reflects on a fascinating Turkish prayer custom. For more about the Pardes Educational Seminar to Turkey, see www.theseandthose.pardes.org/turkey. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Waving in Turkey first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading T...

Our sages have said that the Jewish People were redeemed in the merit of not changing their names, their language and their clothing. In this episode of the Maggid of Melbourne Speaks, Rabbi Levi Cooper asks if this is really … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Names, Language and Clothing first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Names, Langu...

How do we encourage unity, while recognizing individuality? Levi Cooper refracts this issue through the lens of Jacob's parting words to his children. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Unity and Individuality first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne:...

Levi considers loneliness and spiritual quests in light of Jacob's nighttime struggle with a mystery assailant. For more on this theme, listen to Levi talk about spiritual journeys here. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Reacting to Loneliness first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne:...

Levi considers the goals of the genre of Midrash, by looking at the Sages' interpretations of the stones that Jacob put around his head. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: What’s the Point of Midrash? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: What's the Point o...

Guinness announced that they are going vegan … but until then is this famous Irish stout kosher? Does adding dried out fish bladders when making beer, mead, or wine make it not kosher? Levi Cooper discusses. The Maggid of Melbourne … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Have a Beer with Levi first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Have a Beer w...

What is the significance of our name? Is it an empowering force, or does it limit our potential. Levi suggests that we strive to fulfill the potential of our names, with the hope that we go beyond that potential. The … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Our Name and Beyond… first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Our Name and Beyond… at Elmad...

In this short podcast, Levi explores how hasidic masters view the role of others – significant others, loved ones, people close to us – in our spiritual journeys. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: The Individual Nature of Spiritual Quests first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne:...

In this short podcast, Levi considers the custom of Shalom Zakhar – the gathering on Friday night after the birth of a baby boy, before his circumcision (brit milah). The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Levi Cooper on Shalom Zakhar first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Levi Cooper o...

In 5 minutes, Levi Cooper considers the recent unrest in Israel in light of the tragedy of Cain and Abel. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, community rabbi, lawyer, … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: There is no Replacement for a Brother first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: There...

Discussing the unique commandment of Hakhel, Levi Cooper ponders the challenge of bringing children to Shul. How do we balance the need to maintain synagogue atmosphere and our desire to give our children lasting experiences? The Maggid of Melbourne … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Hakhel — Should we Bring Children to Shul? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading...