Torah Unraveled

Revival of Ruth How to Make Judaism Real With Rabbi Ari Sollish Recorded live in Atlanta Shavuot is the day we received the Torah, and on it we read the Book of Ruth. What is the reason for this custom, and what can we learn from it? Ruth teaches us what it means to accept the Torah—on the Torah’s terms.

The Sound of Silence Shedding Bias for Personal Growth With Rabbi Ari Sollish Recorded live in Atlanta How do you unite with another human being, to become “like one person with one heart”? This lesson suggests going for a hard reset by putting yourself aside and focusing on others to reveal the common bond.

Challenging Intuition Three Life-Lessons from King David's Counselor With Rabbi Ari Sollish Recorded live in Atlanta Just when you think you have everything figured out, you discover a whole new realm of depth that takes you to the next level. This class finds personal meaning in three pearls of wisdom from the last testament and life lessons of Achitofel, King David's advisor.

The Kabbalah of Cheesecake What's the Fuss over Milk and Meat? With Rabbi Ari Sollish Recorded live in Atlanta Unyielding. Compassionate. Standing firm. Giving in. What is the ideal temperament? This lesson sheds Kabbalistic insight into the relevance of Torah here on earth, and the laws of mixing milk and meat.

The Rabbi and the Heretic A Dialogue of Torah’s Timeless Messages With Rabbi Ari Sollish Recorded live in Atlanta One of the most important Chassidic insights is the unique partnership of mutual giving that exists between G-d and the Jewish people. G-d does his part by giving from above, while we do our part by giving from below. But if there is one event in Jewish history that seems to contradict...

“The Rebbe’s Revolution” A Day of Learning: An Evening of Inspiration In Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe With Rabbi Manis Friedman (Recorded live on June 21, 2020)

Counting Diamonds: The Rebbe on the Value of the Individual A Day of Learning: An Evening of Inspiration In Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe With Mrs. Shifra Sharfstein (Recorded live on June 21, 2020)

“Excuse Me, Are You Jewish?" How the Rebbe Reclaimed the Essence of Judaism A Day of Learning: An Evening of Inspiration In Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe With Rabbi Ari Shishler (Recorded live on June 21, 2020)

Marching Orders: The Rebbe’s Final Discourse & Call to Action A Day of Learning: An Evening of Inspiration In Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe With Rabbi Ruvi New (Recorded live on June 21, 2020)

When Does this All Get Better? The Rebbe on Hope and Destiny A Day of Learning: An Evening of Inspiration In Honor of the Lubavitcher Rebbe With Mrs. Dena Schusterman (Recorded live on June 21, 2020)

Bequeathing the Heritage A Primer for Acting, Feeling, and Identifying as Jewish With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 19, 2021) What is the defining feature of a healthy relationship? Doing things for each other? Remaining committed even when there’s betrayal? Perhaps another intangible we’re not even talking about? The joyous holiday of Sukkot provides a...

I Love You. I See Your Flaws. Let’s Improve True Love Doesn’t Blind; It Embraces and Hopes for Better With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 8, 2021) Come to think of it, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are really the same thing: two serious days about making things right for a new year. So why do we need them both? “High Holiday” doesn’t have the same ring to...

Canceling the Culture of Cancel Culture Finding Common Ground from a G-dly Perch With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on September 1, 2021) In divisive times, when neighbors, friends, and even family turn on one another, it is more important than ever to find common ground that unites us all. Indeed, the New Year provides us an opportunity to gain a G-dly perspective...

Rewrite History The Superpower of the Baal Teshuvah With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on August 25, 2021) Have you ever wished you could rewrite the past and retrieve a broken part of yourself? Through a surprisingly fresh look at the horrible list of curses in our parshah, we discover a most incredible power: the power to redeem the irredeemable.

How Humility Keeps You High Recognizing Your Limits Is the Secret to True Growth With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on August 18, 2021) To assume infallibility is a dangerous game. History has demonstrated time and again that he or she who deems themselves beyond reproach is most often the first one to fall. A fresh look at the mitzvah to erect a fence on the roof o...

Let Go and Move Forward To Leave Egypt, You Must Really Leave It Behind. All of It With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on August 11, 2021) A Jewish king is not allowed to own too many horses. Sounds interesting, but why? So he doesn’t head back to Egypt and settle there. A fascinating ride through some complex halachic intricacies lands us at the doorstep of this important conclusion:...

A Perfect Exchange Gaining Perspective on the Things That Vex Us Most With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on August 4, 2021) “I have given you blessing and curses; take a good look and make the right choice!” Scripture declares. Is this really such a choice that requires examination? A deep look at some thorny theological questions gifts us this nugget: How we look at life is, indeed,...

Once You Pop, You Can’t Stop Giving Up Halfway Is Not an Option With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on July 29, 2021) Have you ever started a new pet project or embarked on a new “year of change”—and then you fell flat just a couple of months in? This class argues that when fate sets you down a certain path, G-d expects you to see it through to the end. The good news? He empowered you...

The Uncomfortable Truth Appreciating That We’re Catching Up to the Torah With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on July 21, 2021) There’s a certain sense of wonderment that children seem to lose as they mature. An inspired Mishnah and a curious quirk in the mitzvah of Torah study urge us to maintain that sense of wonder—and the humility that comes with it.

The Mark of True Love Doing What’s Best, Not What’s Easiest With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on July 14, 2021) A puzzling debate between an eminent Torah sage and a band of heretics leads to the former coming out with this bizarre statement, “If Moses loved the Jews so much, why did he keep them in the desert for forty years?” The answer: Because he truly loved them.

“I’m With You There, Too” How Our Mistakes Are Part of the Master Plan With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on July 7, 2021) You may have heard that all challenges thrown your way are there to lift you up to a better space. But dare we argue that even your wanton misdeeds and the malicious sins you commit: they, too, are part of G-d’s vision for a better you? We can, and we will.

Gatekeepers of the Torah Dispelling the Notion That Anyone Has a Claim More than You Do With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on June 30, 2021) Dispelling the Notion That Anyone Has a Claim More than You Do Does the Torah really belong to every Jew? Aren’t there class divisions in Judaism: say, for example, the priests and the rabbis? Perhaps the Torah actually highlights some of our di...

Redefining Messiah Are You Waiting for the Right Messiah? With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on June 23, 2021) Ask anyone in synagogue what Messiah is, and you’ll get answers about utopia, peace, love, and harmony. While that’s not untrue, it’s time to take a proper look at the legal definition of Messiah so we know what we’re waiting for. The answer may surprise you.

A Rational Mind Is Great. It’s Also Extremely Limiting Why Logic Alone Is Not Enough With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on June 16, 2021) It’s wonderful, even necessary, to understand and appreciate religion. But just as you don’t love your spouse, your children, or your parents strictly because it makes sense, so it is with G-d: to really enjoy the relationship, your commitment must...

Aim High Emulating Korach’s Noble Intentions With Rabbi Ari Sollish (Recorded live at Atlanta on June 9, 2021) For too long, Korach has been perceived as a one-dimensional villain. This class argues that there’s much to learn from his intentions. After all, there’s something to say about someone who has a passionate drive to connect with the Divine. Ask yourself: Does a lack of G-d in your life ma...