Kesher L'Tzadik - Connecting to Our Tzadikim

Dr. Henry Abramson (https://henryabramson.com/, @hmabramson) Dean at Touro University (https://www.touro.edu/, @wearetouro) shares about the life and remarkable written works of the Rebbe and visionary, Rav Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piacezna Rebbe.  4 Cheshvan: R'Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, the Piacezna Rebbe (1889-1943). Tragically killed in the Holocaust. His entire life he continued to inspire others & maintain strong emuna even under enormous duress. Author - Aish Kodesh, Chovas HaTalmidim, Bnei Machshava Tova ect. Henry Abramson, a native of northern Ontario, earned a PhD in History from the University of Toronto and has held visiting and post-doctoral positions at Cornell, Harvard, Oxford and the Hebrew University of Toronto. He currently serves as a Dean of Touro University in Brooklyn New York. The author of several books, including Torah from the Years of Wrath, 1939-1943: The Historical Context of the Aish Kodesh, his work has been recognized with received research and teaching fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and he received the Excellence in the Academy Award from the National Education Association. His online lectures in Jewish history have been viewed more than five million times, and he is the author of the Jewish History in Daf Yomi Podcast in All Daf, an App from the Orthodox Union. He is currently working on a major three-volume history of the Jewish people for Koren Publishers, Jerusalem.

R' Yaakov Klein delves into the unique life of Rebbe Nachman and shares his thoughts about the spiritual revolution he brought into the world.  R’ Yaakov Klein is an author, musician, and lecturer devoted to sharing the inner light of Torah through his books, music, and lectures. He will be joining Jewish Futures as the founding director of Eilecha, a new organization focused on creating opportunities for spiritual growth and experiential education in the local community and beyond. Through classes, content, events, trips, and experiences, Eilecha aims to foster a Jewish experience that is deep, passionate, sincere, joyous, healthy, and eminently relevant, charting a course "Eilecha", toward a vibrant life lived in the warmth of Hashem's embrace. Eilecha broadcast link: http://wa.me/13473918819?text=subscribe

Rav Moshe Weinberger shares several personal stories about his Rebbe, Rav Dovid Lifshitz and how the Klausenburger Rebbe had a special motherly care for all those who needed to be uplifted. Rav Weinberger is the founding Morah d'Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY (https://www.aishkodesh.org/) & has served as Mashpia in Yeshiva University since 2013 (https://www.yutorah.org/rabbi-moshe-weinberger/). Rav Weinberger is a noted speaker who draws upon a vast array of sources in his shiurim. The diverse currents of the MaHaRal, RaMChal, Ba'al Shem Tov, Vilna Gaon, Rav Tzadok HaKohen, Rebbe Nachman, The Ba'al HaTanya, Rav Kook and others merge within him and are transmitted to countless Jews of all backgrounds thirsting for knowledge, inspiration and guidance. Rav Weinberger has also been intimately involved in Jewish education and outreach for almost thirty years. He has developed a library of shiurim on T'filah, Chassidus, Hashkafah, Rav Kook's sefarim,the Aish Kodesh's sefarim, among others, that are listened to by men and women all over the world

Rabbi Shlomie Gestetner shares about the life and impact of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and some personal stories about how the Rebbe inspired him in such a profound way.  Rabbi Shloime Gestetner is the dean of the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies. An Australian native, he has lived with his family in Jerusalem for the last 30 years. He is the Rabbi of the lively Mayanot Shul in Nachlaot and grandfather to a kah growing clan. For over 25 years, the Mayanot Institute of Jewish Studies (www.mayanot.edu) has reached tens of thousands of Jewish students through innovative formal and informal education programs. Building a solid foundation of Jewish education, a new generation of young leaders proud of their Jewish identity, ready to respond to growing threats to Jewish continuity and to our homeland with renewed pride and a sense of empowerment. At Mayanot, students of diverse backgrounds study together in an open yet academically challenging environment. Students are encouraged to question, challenge and explore three thousand years of Jewish wisdom and apply it to contemporary society. Mayanot has brought over 50,000 Birthright participants to Israel since 2000. The Mayanot Men’s & Women’s learning programs help young Jews between the ages of 18 and 32 deepen their Jewish knowledge and commitment while developing their learning skills and mastery of Torah texts. Graduates of Mayanot programs have been active on 120 campuses and 190 communities worldwide, encouraging more young Jews to participate in Jewish life, Torah and taking a leading role in defending Israel on campus.

Rav Yosef Carmel Rav Yosef Gershon Carmel was born in Jerusalem in 1953. He is the Rabbinical Dean of the Eretz Hemdah Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, and the Av Beit Din of the "Eretz Hemdah - Gazit" network of Batei Din. In 1987, with the partnership of Rav Moshe Ehrenreich and under the Presidency of HaGaon Maran Harav Shaul Israeli zt"l, they founded the Eretz Hemdah Institute. Rav Carmel is a graduate of the Nir Kiryat Arba Hesder Yeshiva and was Rosh Metivta there for more than ten years. He was a combat soldier in the IDF during the Yom Kippur war as well as the first Lebanon war. Rav Carmel is a senior lecturer for Tanach at Jerusalem College since 1985. Rav Carmel heads the 'Ask the Rabbi' program which provides Halachic answers in English to questioners from around the world. To date, more than 20,000 replies have been sent out. He is the author of many articles on Tanach and Halacha, the book Tsofnat Eliyahu – a commentary on the Vilna Gaon’s commentary on the laws of financial damages in Shulchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat, the book Tzofnat Yeshayahu – from Uziya to Ahaz – a commentary on the prophecies of Yehsayahu during one of the stormiest times in Jewish history, and nine volumes of "Reponsa B'mareh Habazak'. Eretz Hemdah Eretz Hemdah is the premier institution for training young rabbis to prepare for Israeli Rabbinate's rigorous Yadin Yadin examinations. Eretz Hemdah, with its distinctive blend of Religious Zionist philosophy and scholarship, coupled with community service, ensures its graduates emerge with the finest training, the noblest motivations and the strongest connection to Jewish communities worldwide. Eretz Hemdah also provides advanced training programs for community rabbis all over the world, including in North America, Europe, England and South Africa. Additionally, Eretz Hemdah serves as a response center to questions regarding Jewish life and Halacha. Each year, thousands of questions, arriving both from laymen and rabbis, are answered, and numerous volumes of these answers have been published, both in English and Hebrew. Many of Eretz Hemdah's graduates serve in the "Eretz Hemdah–Gazit" chain of Batei Din. These Batei Din, spread all across the State of Israel, handle monetary cases in a swift and just manner, with the decisions legally enforceable under the Israeli and international arbitration law. We invite you to visit us personally in Jerusalem. Until then you can learn more about Eretz Hemdah Institute by visiting us at http://www.eretzhemdah.org

Rav Reuven Taragin, a great great grandson of Rav Bengis, shares about the life of this great Talmid Chacham, and what we can learn about maximizing our time. Rav Taragin is the Dean of Overseas Students at Yeshivat Hakotel where he is responsible for the quality and message of the overall program and the welfare of each of its students. Despite his many responsibilities, Rav Taragin manages to develop a deep kesher with each of the talmidim both while they are in yeshiva and afterwards (he maintains personal contact with each one of the yeshiva’s alumni). He is well-known for his shiurim in Gemara, Tanach and Machshava, his inspiring talks, signature tisches, and the personal advice he offers to talmidim. Rav Taragin is also the Educational Director of World Mizrachi and the RZA (Religious Zionists of America). In that position he drives educational initiatives that strengthen the relationship of communities and individuals in the USA and around the world with Eretz Yisrael.

Rav Mordechai Kaplan delves into the uniqueness of Rav Yisrael Baal Shem Tov and how he re-energized the Jewish people forever. Mordechai Kaplan - Rebbe and Program Director at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah. Owner of Kaplan Custom Tours, tour operator and group organizer. Runs the Tzama Nafshi Baderech trips to both the Ukraine and Eretz Hakodesh.

Rav Ally Ehrman shares about the life of the Tzadik & Gaon Rav Aryeh Tzvi Frommer HY"D (1884-1943), Rosh Yeshiva in Sochatchov & Chachmei Lublin. Rabbi Ehrman is a former Rebbe at Yeshivat HaKotel and Netiv Aryeh and Rosh Kollel of Kollel Iyun Hanefesh in Yerushalayim. He has authored numerous sefarim including Shiras Yitzchak, Simchas Shmuel, Simchas Hanefesh and also scores of articles in English and Hebrew. He is an acclaimed darshan and has served as scholar in residence for various congregations throughout the New York area. His style is to weave together the various strands of Jewish thought in order to bring out an inspiring and relevant message. He recently started a "skype-yeshiva" where he learns privately with men of all ages [including college students] at all levels from the comfort of their home or office. To join the yeshiva or to invite Rabbi Ehrman to speak in your shul you may contact him directly at ally.ehrman@gmail.com. He blogs at http://mevakeshlev.blogspot.co.il and is a certified marriage counselor. Artice mentioned in the episode: https://seforimblog.com/2019/06/rav-aryeh-tzvi-frommer/

In this episode Rav Yisroel Kaminetzky shares about the life of his tremendously accomplished of his grandfather "Doctor Joe" who played such a pivotal role in establishing Jewish education in America. Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky is the founding Menahel of the Davis Renov Stahler (DRS) Yeshiva High School for Boys. Prior to that, he was a Rebbe at Yeshiva University High School for boys for five years. For the past twenty years, he has served as the Educational Director and Mashgiach of the NCSY Summer Kollel Program in Israel. He is a graduate and a Musmach of Yeshiva University.

Rav Hanoch Teller shares beautiful stories about his Rebbe, the one of a kind Gadol & Posek, the great Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach. Rabbi Hanoch Teller (https://www.hanochteller.com) is a globe-trotting modern-day maggid (storyteller of yore) renowned as the King of the Storytellers and the Shakespeare of the Yeshivah World. He has lectured before audiences on five continents, in 40 American States and 24 other countries, delivering a precious and inspiring message that is cherished for a lifetime. His presentations – imbued with joy and drama, laughter and pathos — provide a one-of-a-kind experience for listeners young and old from all across the spectrum. The classes he teaches in numerous Jerusalem educational institutions are in great demand. The aptly-named, award winning storyteller and master teacher is also a prolific author, whose critically-acclaimed books (28, at last count) have sold over a quarter-of-a-million copies world-wide, and are translated into five languages. He has also written and produced two popular documentaries: Do You Believe in Miracles? and Reb Elimelech and the Chassidic Legacy of Brotherhood that have been screened and televised the world-over. His wide array of audio lectures on spiritual giants, the lessons of the Holocaust and the birth of the modern city of Bene Brak and various other subjects, have been hailed as “audio and pedagogic classics.” For decades, Hanoch Teller has been a senior docent at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. His sweeping knowledge and sensitivity help to transform the infinite banality of horror into an intensely personal encounter that participants declare life-changing and unforgettable. In 2021 Hanoch Teller launched his popular podcast: Teller from Jerusalem, sharing stories from the struggle to build the modern State of Israel intertwined with lessons for Character Development. Born in Vienna and raised and educated in America, Hanoch Teller displayed his passion for scholarship early on, when he was the only high-school student in New England selected to serve on the Governors’ Council of Education. He continues to study in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he lives with his wife, Aidel, and their children and grandchildren.

Rav Aryeh Lebowitz delves into what made Rav Moshe Feinstein unique, most notably his world renown Torah knowledge while at the same time truly exemplifying Moshe Rabbeinu's mida (character trait) of anivus (humility).  Rav Lebowitz's thousands of shurim can be found here - https://www.yutorah.org/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/  Rabbi Lebowitz is the director of Semikhah at RIETS as well as the Mara D'asra of Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere https://www.bknw.org/. He was previously a Rebbe at Lander's College for Men and an eleventh grade Rebbe at the DRS Yeshiva High School (HALB).  Rabbi Lebowitz grew up in the Five Towns community and spent two years learning in eretz Yisrael at Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh , where he developed a close relationship with Rav Ahron Silver, who taught him his derech halimud and encouraged him to pursue a career in Klei Kodesh. Upon his return from Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Lebowitz attended Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, where he majored in finance. Rabbi Lebowitz has published numerous articles on practical halachic topics in various journals, including several recent articles in the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society. Prior to founding the Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere, Rabbi Lebowitz spent three years as Assistant Rabbi at Congregation Sha’aray Tefillah in Lawrence. While at Sha’aray Tefillah, Rabbi Lebowitz also served as the Rosh Kollel of the morning kollel, one of the foremost centers of adult education in the Lawrence community.

Rav Raphael Willing shares about the unique life of Rav Yaakov Chaim Goldwicht (1924-95) & how this classic Litvishe style Rosh Yeshiva had such a profound impact in the Mizrachi/Hesder community in Eretz Yisrael through his phenomenal dedication and love to his thousands Talmidim. Rav Raphael Willig is a second generation talmid of Kerem B'Yavneh. He is a RaM in Yeshivat Reishit Yerushalayim and is Menahel Ruchani at Mesivta Bet Shemesh.

Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (1849-1927), better known as the Alter of Slabodka, had a great impact on the development of the yeshiva world both in his own day and beyond. Incorporating the ideals of the mussar movement into the yeshiva curriculum, he furthered the growth of both mussar and yeshivos by sending his students to existing yeshivos and by opening new ones. His philosophy of 'gadlus ha'adam - greatness of man', became the byword of his yeshiva in Slabodka, and eventually to the Land of Israel when he transferred the yeshiva to Chevron. Yehuda Geberer is a historian and tour guide of Jewish historical sites, and is the host of the Jewish History Soundbites podcast. Twitter - @JSoundbites https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1wDcp7GnWTqIFLesCByqu077lv5eLAB5SdODnkXaOkVsCfSQQdoSV8aApxZEALw_wcB

Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson was the wife of the Lubavitcher Rebbe and the daughter of the Previous Rebbe. Throughout her lifetime she personified the ideal of mesirus nefesh for other Jews, living a life of devotion, compassion, and courage. She made tremendous efforts on behalf of others but always chose to remain out of the spotlight, never wanting to receive special attention or publicity. Through the memories and stories of those who had a personal relationship with her, we can “meet” the Rebbetzin and, b’ezrat Hashem, build our own connection to this wondrous Tzadekes. Shoshana Judelman is passionate about teaching Torah and Jewish History. She holds a BA in History and an MA in Jewish History. She is very grateful to have made Aliyah with her husband and 6 children to Efrat in 2013. Shoshana teaches Chassidus for the Shiviti Women’s Institute in Jerusalem and in the Shirat David Community in Efrat as well as co-leading inspirational trips to Ukraine and around Eretz Yisroel for women. Shoshana has also been a guide at Yad Vashem since 2014 and recently finished a course with JRoots to be a guide in Poland.

Dovid Bashevkin shares thoughts about the unique and profoundly impactful life story of Rav Aryeh Kaplan. Whether it's the writing, the translating, or the overall inspiration to all Jews, no matter how close or far they may seem, the legacy of Rav Aryeh Kaplan reverberates strongly even till today.

Rabbi Yehuda Weinberg shares some small words to describe a huge man & discusses how to reach such great success. Rabbi Yehuda Weinberg, son of the late Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Noach Weinberg, z'l, grew up in Aish HaTorah. Until Rav Noach's passing in 2009, Rabbi Yehuda Weinberg was at his father’s side helping to further his father's mission to empower every Jew to create a relationship with the Almighty; and to discover the truth and significance of Torah in order to tap into his or her unique potential and ensure the vibrant continuity of the Jewish people.   Rabbi Weinberg was appointed by his father to continue his legacy, and as part of the general management team of Aish HaTorah and Director of the Israeli Division in Aish Jerusalem, Rabbi Weinberg has initiated innovative programming to connect unaffiliated Israelis with Torah ideals that are so close.    There is a thirst among all Jews for authentic, meaningful, relevant Jewish education, and Rabbi Weinberg and Aish Jerusalem are helping to quench that thirst in the heart of Jerusalem.

Rav Moshe Weinberger shares personal recollections how the Alter Rebbe had such an important impact on his own life & outlook. Rav Weinberger is the founding Morah d'Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY & has served as Mashpia in Yeshiva University since 2013. Rav Weinberger is a noted speaker who draws upon a vast array of sources in his shiurim. The diverse currents of the MaHaRal, RaMChal, Ba'al Shem Tov, Vilna Gaon, Rav Tzadok HaKohen, Rebbe Nachman, The Ba'al HaTanya, Rav Kook and others merge within him and are transmitted to countless Jews of all backgrounds thirsting for knowledge, inspiration and guidance. Rav Weinberger has also been intimately involved in Jewish education and outreach for almost thirty years. He has developed a library of shiurim on T'filah, Chassidus, Hashkafah, Rav Kook's sefarim,the Aish Kodesh's sefarim, among others, that are listened to by men and women all over the world.

Rav Reuven Taragin delves into the uniqueness of the Rambam, even from among all our great Talmidein Chachamim, and how we can be inspired by the Rambam to enhance our Limud Hatorah and Avodas Hashem. Rav Taragin is the Dean of Overseas Students at Yeshivat Hakotel where he is responsible for the quality and message of the overall program and the welfare of each of its students. Despite his many responsibilities, Rav Taragin manages to develop a deep kesher with each of the talmidim both while they are in yeshiva and afterwards (he maintains personal contact with each one of the yeshiva’s alumni). He is well-known for his shiurim in Gemara, Tanach and Machshava, his inspiring talks, signature tisches, and the personal advice he offers to talmidim. Rav Taragin is also the Educational Director of World Mizrachi and the RZA (Religious Zionists of America).  In that position he drives educational initiatives that strengthen the relationship of communities and individuals in the USA and around the world with Eretz Yisrael.