Introduction: What are the laws of Tisha B'Av? What are the customs when Tisha B'Av falls on a Sunday/Motzei Shabbat? The Main topic: What do the ten generations between Adam and Noach listed in the Torah, Parashat Bereishit, come to teach us? Rabbeinu Yona teaches us an essential lesson about...
The Power of Community and Ramifications of Removing oneself from Community – part 2
Identifying with a community is also sharing in the community's sorrow. The Talmud teaches us that only one who participates in the community's sorrow can truly rejoice with their community. How is that truly connecting to the Tzibur, community, and not self serving? Rav Weiss explains Rashi's interpretation of the...
Live Life to the Fullest! – Life & Afterlife
Rav Frankenthal dives into the Mishna in the second chapter of Pirkei Avot discussing a perspective on life - from Judgement Day to what we control and don't control in our lives. One of the main take-aways from the Mishna is to live life to the fullest, and realize that...
The Power of Community and Ramifications of Removing oneself from Community
The Second Chapter in Pirkei Avot, misha #4, discusses the point of not separating oneself from the community - al tifrosh min hatzibur. What does Hillel mean by this statement? Why is this an essential quality to a Jewish lifestyle? How does one distance themselves from the community and why is...
The Golden Path – What Path Should We Choose? Ch.2, Mishna 1
Rav Weiss discusses the commentary of Rav Yitzchok of Velozin for the first Mishna in the Second Chapter of Pirkei Avot : איזוהי דרך ישרה שיבור לו האדם? What is a path that one should pursuit? The path one should pursuit, according to Rav Yitzchok of Velozin is the path...
Giving vs. Receiving – What is the balance?
How can we properly do a mitzvah that is "Good for the giver and good for the receiver"? According to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, altruism needs to be balanced with the needs of the receiver. How do we strike that balance? Rav Weiss examines the appropriate balance of giving Tzedaka,...
Pirkei Avot 4:21 – Harnessing our Desire for good
The Mishna says that "Desire removes one from the world". However, Rabbinu Yona dives deeper into the essence of desire and explains how desire is a basic and fundamental need for every person, and when harnessed and channelled correctly, desire can be our greatest strength.
Creating a lasting relationship with a Rabbi – The balance between awe and closeness
Pirkei Avot - the 5th and 6th mishnayot in Chapter 1, discusses the importance of creating a lasting relationship with a Rabbi, a Teacher. The Mishna gives us guidelines how to create an appropriate relationship with a Rabbi - the balance between being close and creating an appropriate distance of...
“Derech Yeshara” – Building our Ideal Spiritual Path
Rabbi Yehuda Hanasi, Rebbi, explains the concept of "Yashar" - the path the man should take in his spiritual journey is the path that is "Yashar". What does "Yashar" mean? Literally, the word means straight, however Rav Aryeh Weiss brings down the teachings of the Natziv of Volozin, who gives...
Introduction to Pirkei Avot
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