Spiritual Tools For An Outrageous World

Dear Friends,The world needs more deep Torah.  I feel privileged to present Reb Shlomo Carlebach giving over the Ishbitzer Rebbe on the first three words of Parshas Bechukosai.  The standard translation is “If you walk in My ways..” Hashem promises all sorts of blessings.  But it’s so much deeper than that.  What the Ishbitzer reveals here is the secret to how to shine.  This means not just how to emanate a holy glow, but how to ensure that after you complete an action that it continues to reverberate through the world with positive consequences.The post The Ishbitzer Rebbe on “How To Shine” first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post The Ishbitzer Rebbe on “How To Shine” first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,A good heart is a great thing!  In this week’s talk we look at a bunch of different topics, including an analysis of the heart based on the sefirah count, stories about Log B’Omer, my last conversation with Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and demystifying “brilliant” speakers.The post A Good Heart first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post A Good Heart first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,Why was Moshe selected to get the Torah on the top of Mount Sinai and not you or me? The question itself is kind of mind blowing, it isn’t mine, it’s Reb Shlomo Carlebach’s. The answer takes us to the depths of what it means every time we immerse ourselves in deep learning.The post Why Did Moshe Get the Torah? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Why Did Moshe Get the Torah? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,Speech creates reality.  Our Sages teach that Hashem spoke the world into being.  Reb Shlomo Carlebach  said it’s even deeper than that.  Hashem actually sang the world into existence.  In this week’s talk we look into the power of speech, how to tie your shoes according to the Torah, what the first Divine directive was, and further adventures of the letter Beis inside the letter Pay (see chart).The post Singing the World into Existance first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Singing the World into Existance first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For most of us, waiting is the hardest part. And yet when we look at our lives, so much of it is filled with waiting.  Or is it?  Sometimes, maybe even often, we confuse waiting with living.  During this time of the year, between Passover and receiving the Torah, we have a special mitzvah not just to count the days until we get to our destination, but to actually bless the waiting!  How do we do that? We discuss it in this week’s talk.The post Freedom and Forgiveness first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Freedom and Forgiveness first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,There is so much going on!!  We are in the awesome holy month of Nissan, which marks the beginning of the universe and the dedication of the Holy Tabernacle which was a microcosm of the universe.  It is also the month that the Jews leave Egypt.  In this talk we explore a number of ideas — including the interrelationship of freedom and forgiveness, the souls of Noach and Moshe, and the nature of miracles and human effort. By the way, Sir Isaac Newton was fascinated by the Holy Temple and felt that understanding the dimensions of it were the key to grasping the shape of the universe.The post Mixing Fire – Pesach 2010 first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Mixing Fire – Pesach 2010 first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Maze See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,What does it mean to unify the Name Yud kay with Vav kay?  What does it mean that every Parsha in the book of Shemos/Exodus starts with the letter vav except the final one which starts with the letter aleph?  How is the first word of the Torah — Breisheet — a microcosm of human history?  How do we go about revealing the hidden?  Lots and lots of ideas in this week’s talk!The post Unifying the Name of Hashem first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Unifying the Name of Hashem first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Somewhere between the hidden and the revealed, between the great salvations of Purim and Pesach, between yesterday and tomorrow, lie our lives.  The post Basic Faith – Wheaties for the Soul first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Basic Faith – Wheaties for the Soul first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since Purim is all about things flipping over for the good, I thought it would be cool to look at the word Purim in At Bash to see what new levels we can uncover.  Lots of interesting concepts, including an explanation of the philosophy of the At Bash system itself.The post Purim in “At Bash” – Through the Looking Glass first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Purim in “At Bash” – Through the Looking Glass first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

One of the most remarkable passages in the Torah is when Mordecai turns to Queen Esther and says, rest assured that Hashem is going to save the Jewish people — the only question is are you going to be part of it?  (4:13)  Using this passage as a springboard we look into the parameters of free choice and how Mordecai’s words still echo in our lives today.The post Does Free Choice Exist? – Purim 2010 first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Does Free Choice Exist? – Purim 2010 first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tons of ideas in the this one relating to Purim, happiness, purity, hiddeness, acceptance of Torah, gematria, pregnancy, bris mila, butterflies, and hope.  Nothing compares to Purim!!!!The post Purim – Holiday of Secrets first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Purim – Holiday of Secrets first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,“Who is G-d?  What is G-d?”  This week’s talk begins with that question and evolves from there!  Join us for a free wheeling tour through ideas ranging from basic beliefs to the giving of the Torah to achieving harmony in a world where all of us are given certain desires in our hearts and then told not to act upon them!  What sense does that make?  A lot actually, as we explore the role human beings play in restoring balance to the universe.The post Achieving Harmony first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Achieving Harmony first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,When we received the Torah at Mount Sinai, Hashem looked at the pureness of our hearts and asked, who will guarantee that our hearts will remain like this always?  We said that “we” would guarantee it.  But the Gemara teaches (Avodah Zarah 5a) that that was the wrong answer!  We should have said “Hashem, You guarantee that we stay this way!”  Contained here is a fundamental lesson about gratitude and how to avoid the trap of relating to ourselves when we are really trying to connect with G-d.The post Who Will Guarantee Our Hearts Will Remain Pure? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Who Will Guarantee Our Hearts Will Remain Pure? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,Our Holy tradition teaches that Hashem created the world with the letters of the aleph-bais.  With this in mind, our Sages teach in the Talmud (Shabbos 104) that there is a system called A”t B”ash where we reimagine words by exchanging the last letter of the alphabet for the first letter, the second to last letter of the alphabet for the second letter and so on.  More than just “playing games” to derive new spellings, the Sages are offering us a new portal into accessing the infinity of the Torah.  In this talk we deeply explore the geometry of this world and the next, and the opportunities available to us only in the here and now.The post Portals To Other Dimensions first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Portals To Other Dimensions first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

To understand the nature of the Purim miracle is to understand life itself.  In this week’s talk we look into it, while first beginning with an appreciation of what it means that historically the events of Purim transpired during the holiday of Passover.The post Understanding The Miracle of Purim first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Understanding The Miracle of Purim first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,How many wings does an angel have?  This may sound like the most esoteric of questions, but the Torah actually tells us the answer — and even better how many they have today (hint – two fewer).  We also discuss the story of Yoseph and how he prepared for his fateful encounter with his brother before he was sold.The post How Many Wings Does an Angel Have? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post How Many Wings Does an Angel Have? first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,In this week’s talk, we explore a wide array of ideas associated with Hanukah, from it being historically the last holiday to be added to the Jewish calendar, to the fact that it must be celebrated in a person’s home, to it’s yearly connection to the story of Joseph, the amazing story of a little known Jewish hero, and beyond.The post Hanukah – An Overview first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post Hanukah – An Overview first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,This week’s Torah portion is unique in the Torah in that there are no “breaks”  — no white spaces within it.  It is no coincidence that this portion also contains the account of Yakov, Jacob our forefather, running for his life, finding his soulmate, entering into the business world and raising a family.  If you think you don’t have any time in your schedule to do anything — then this week’s talk is for you!The post No Time For Anything! first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post No Time For Anything! first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dear Friends,We are living through a time often called the “age of information”.  Ironically, the barrage coming at us can often obscure that which is most essential to keep in the forefront of our consciousness.  In other words, sometimes the more we know the less we end up knowing!  In this week’s talk we pull the lens way back to observe the overall pattern that informs not only our personal lives, but all of creation.The post The Grand Pattern first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.The post The Grand Pattern first appeared on Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.