The Live Kabbalah Podcast- Daily Wisdom, Deep Conversations, Inner Transformation

This year is the year תשפ'ה, symbolizing the power that we have in our communication. פה also means “here” or presence. It is a year to be mindful and present to what is in our hearts and to communicate, share, sing, and express praise and gratitude from an authentic place of connection to ourselves and others ❤️

More than a regular "New Year" celebration, Rosh Hashana is a complete cosmic restart. Kabbalah explains that Rosh Hashana is celebrated on the sixth day of creation and not on the 25th day of Elul because the purpose of all of creation is that Adam—man and woman—should actualize their God-given potential.

We carry many old fear-based beliefs and perspectives that affect our relationship with G-d and the High Holidays. Beliefs and narratives that G-d is all about judgment, reward, and punishment prevent us from accessing the unconditional love and compassion available to us. Only by challenging and releasing the old narratives, beliefs, and perspectives can we make way for the new.

We are often the greatest self-critics. A Chassidic saying states, "More than the negativity of sin/mistake is the sadness and self-loathing that follows." In this class, we will explore the auspicious month of Elul, which helps us mend the perception of duality by recognizing that the Creator is found within all aspects of ourselves. In the Song of Songs, G-d is described as the "s...

In this episode of the Live Kabbalah podcast, Rabbi Amichai is joined by special guest Jessie Shapiro, an Ontological Coach. Together, they explore the significance of inner reflection and discuss how grounding ourselves in the earth helps us connect more deeply with our emotions and bodies.

Elul is a time of reflection and introspection when we examine who we are and who we are becoming. The Alter Rebbe famously said that during the month of Elul, "the King is in the field." This is a reference to the potential of the month of Elul. During this month, the King—Hashem—is in the field and is more accessible than ever. In Shulchan, it says that even Torah scholars who learned...

In this teaching we explore the profound Torah of the B'Nai Ysaschar, Rav Tzadok Ha'Cohen of Lublin and the Lubavitcher Rebbe for a deep understanding of the transaction of the months of Tammuz and Av to the auspicious month of Elul. Elul is a doorway and a portal in time that allows us to see that every situation we are placed in is exact. Once we find the door or gate, we can walk throug...

The 15th day of the month of Av stands out as one of the year's most potent days. According to the Talmud, Israel has seen no greater days than the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur. This date, marked by the full moon in Av, symbolizes the peak of descent following its ascent. From a Kabbalistic perspective, the moon embodies the Shechina—the feminine aspect of the Divine presence. Its ascent signifie...

In this captivating class, we explored the biography of the esoteric master of Kabbalah, Rabbi Yitzchak Luria Ashkenazi, the Arizal, the greatest Kabbalist of the past thousand years.  Recorded on the 5th of Av, 8/8/2024, the Hilula (day of passing) of the Arizal, we delved into his extraordinary biography, including his transformative years in Tzfat and the profound impact of his teachings, as ca...

AnaRina Kreisman on the Rich History and Spiritual Essence of Jerusalem In this episode of Live Kabbalah's podcast, we heard from AnaRina Kreisman, the director of Align with Zion and a tour guide for the City of David Archaeological site. We delved into Jerusalem's 5,000-year history, from its ancient roots to Charles Warren's discovery of the City of David in 1867. We explored the si...

What is the difference between Destiny and Fate? Many of us think we know what these words mean. What is the actual definition and difference between the two? In this week's Torah portion- Pinchas, we learn about the division of the land of Israel to the tribes. This division was done by the casting of lots and via the Divine spirit. The casting of lots is called Go'ral in Hebrew or fate....

This powerful class discusses how to contend with our inner and outer darkness. The darkness we see in the world mirrors our inner darkness, yet we have the key to transmuting it into light, and it's called Rachamim- compassion. We know that the week's energy is encoded in the week's Torah portion. In the Torah portion of the week (July 19th), Balak, the king of Midyan, hires Ba'al...

One of the main pillars of life is the recognition that we can always start again. The great Chassidic masters said that even if someone commits the worst sins, they can and need to start again. What prevents us from starting again is the lack of belief in ourselves and in the Creator's infinite love and compassion.  While we are so harsh, shameful, and judgemental of ourselves, G-d looks at u...

The story of the spies, found in this week's Torah portion Shelach (Numbers 13-14), involves twelve leaders, one from each tribe of Israel, who were sent by Moses to scout the Promised Land of Canaan. Upon returning from their mission, ten of the spies reported that, while the land was indeed bountiful ("a land flowing with milk and honey"), its inhabitants were powerful, and their c...

What is the secret of the Jewish spirit? Despite persecution throughout world history, the Jews survived the mightiest empires. The secret of the Menorah, which Kabbalah and Chassidut elaborate upon, captures the unity and essence of Divine connection or self-sacrifice, which is our essence.   The Menorah is a symbol of the Jewish people. Beyond its profound symbolism, it carries a message of hope...

At the young age of 13, Adam contended with cancer in his right hip which was eventually amputated. In his journey as a paraplegic Olympian tennis player ranked 8th in the world, Adam had to quit his Olympic aspirations after sustaining another injury. This led him through a long trek in Africa, to South America, Australia, Israel, and ultimately to himself. Adam is a motivational speaker, coach,...

What is the Kabbalistic essence of the month of Sivan? It is about instilling presence within contradictions.   The Torah says, regarding the month of Sivan, "They (the Israelites) encamped around the mountain." Our sages say that this was the first time true prevailing peace was achieved from an interpersonal point of view. After all the days of counting and inner accounting, the ultima...

What is holiness? The Ramban (Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman of Barcelona, Spain) says it means "removed from the mundane." In this week's Parsha Emor, we learn about the innate holiness found within the Kohen, which translates into a different level of responsibility they have towards the collective.  In truth, all of us are called Kohanim. As the Torah says, "I will make you a nation...

As we transition from the month of Nissan—Aries into Iyar Taurus, we transition into a different phase of consciousness, which is unique to Iyar and the month of May. The Arizal teaches about three phases of consciousness. These three archetypes are experienced on a superconscious level on the Seder night, and then we strive to internalize this experience. How do these phases reflect in our daily...

Charoset: The Sweetness of Liberation - The Symbolism on the Passover Table We are happy to welcome botanical expert and historian Avraham Dahan, the author of the Talmudic Encyclopedia of Plants & Herbs, as a guest teacher. The presence of Charoset on the Seder table is deeply rooted in Jewish tradition and symbolism, particularly during the Passover holiday, which commemorates the Israelites...

In our Parsha, Tzaria, we learn about the leper and the healing from leprosy.  Leprosy is a skin condition with a spiritual root. The Torah says that if a person suspects that they have leprosy, they must "come to the Kohen" and show him the white patches. The Kohen determines whether the person is an actual leper and quarantines him for seven days.  In our Inner Vibe class, we will delv...

The month of Nissan represents the above nature dimension. The name Nissan means miracles, and during this month, we assume the above natural reality of love, joy, and compassion as our true selves.

A profound class on the roots of shame and how we may heal it. Shame is something we all have. In fact, it is part of our human DNA and is stamped deeply into our psyche. After the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, Adam, the first man, was asked by G-d in the Garden of Eden, "Where are you?

A deep dive into understanding life's journeys. As much as we do not yearn for or anticipate expansiveness/redemption, it is found within the challenge itself, and one of life's great lessons is this recognition. The Torah portion of Pekudai culminates the book of Shemot-Exodus. The book begins by recounting the children of Jacob's descent into Egypt or exile. Yet this recounting is de...

The Zohar teaches that we are comprised of the spiritual higher self, which is called our "other half." We are also comprised of our lower ego-centric self. We are interested in uplifting the ego self by utilizing the power of choice and observation. This Shabbat is the first of four special Torah readings that spiritually prepare us for the holidays of Purim and Passover. The Zohar says...