Kabbalah for Everyone

• Who Really Wrote the Torah? A Conversation on G-d, Truth, and the Power of Ideas

  Send us a textIn this heart-open, mind-stretching class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath dives headfirst into one of the most profound questions ever asked: Who wrote the Torah and what do we mean by G-d? Sparked by a challenge from Ilana, a thoughtful soul who just "won the raffle" and then handed Rabbi Bernath some of the hardest theological questions he's faced, this class isn't a debate, it’s a bridge. Drawing from Torah, Talmud, Rambam, Tanya, Harari, Einstein, Spinoza, and Chassidic mystics, we explore traditional belief, academic scholarship, and the honest soul-searching that sits between them.Is the Torah a divine blueprint or a human masterpiece? Or… could it be both?Together, we walk a path between Sinai and the seminar room, from ancient revelation to modern doubt and discover that sometimes, the questions themselves are the invitation to a deeper relationship with truth.Key Takeaways:Traditional Belief Holds Depth: Torah mi-Sinai means Moses recorded divine revelation over 40 years. It's not simplistic, it’s layered and deeply rooted in Jewish collective memory.Modern Scholarship Brings Honest Challenges: Thinkers like Harari argue that the Torah was assembled over centuries, reflecting political and social needs. These critiques must be addressed, not ignored.Kabbalah and Chassidus Provide a Bridge: Divine revelation doesn’t exclude human expression. The Torah flowed through Moses’ voice and personality, G-d worked with human vessels.Assumptions Shape Interpretation: Believers and skeptics alike interpret the same data through different axioms. Acknowledging this fosters respectful dialogue rather than defensiveness.The Torah’s Endurance Is Itself a Testament: Its moral vision, power to unite, and enduring relevance across time and culture hint at something more than human genius, it points toward the Divine.This Is Not About “Winning” an Argument: It’s about honesty, humility, and the courage to explore big questions together.The Torah Is a Living Document: Beyond history or philosophy, Torah continues to speak—not just inform, but transform. That may be its greatest proof of all.#Torah #God #Judaism #sinai #Moses #Divinerevelation #Documentaryhypothesis #YuvalNoahHarari #Kabbalah #Jewishtradition #BiblicalCrticism #Tanya #Spinoza #chassidus #Faith #theology Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• A Personal Message from Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

  Send us a textPurchase a raffle ticket here (there's 32 hours left!) http://www.charidy.com/ndg-I hope you are well. This Wednesday marks something deeply personal for me and Sara.Exactly 20 years ago, we arrived in Montreal with a few suitcases, a tiny apartment… and one big, beating dream:To build a Jewish home for anyone who needed one.Not just a synagogue.Not just programs.But a place filled with warmth, love, and belonging for every soul.In those early days, we ran school workshops and young professional events, saying yes to every opportunity to bring a little more light into the world.And then 17 years ago, we opened our own little centre in NDG.That dream — it grew.Today, thanks to the incredible community we’ve built together, that small seed has become something beautiful:-JMontreal our matchmaking service (212 engagements and counting!)-A Jewish centre where everyone is welcome.-Montreal’s only Jewish shelter for young adults in crisis-Mental health and life coaching for those struggling-A hospitable oasis for Jewish Students facing anti-semitism at Concordia.Some of you know me from Instagram or the Kosher Love documentary.But this… this is the heart of my life’s work.And now, we’re dreaming even bigger.We want to grow the shelter.Support more young people.Make more matches.Create more space for joy, healing, and Jewish connection.But we can’t do it alone.That’s why I’m writing to you today.This Wednesday, our 20-year anniversary is also the last day to buy a raffle ticket.Your ticket is more than a donation. It’s a vote of confidence.It says: "I believe in this. I want this to grow."And yes, you can also win big!Buy your raffle ticket hereFrom the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey.Let’s build the next 20 years — together.With love and gratitude,Rabbi Yisroel BernathP.S. If you’ve already bought tickets — thank you from the bottom of my heart.Your support means the world to us, and you’re helping us make this dream grow stronger every single day.Please consider forwarding this email to a friend who might also want to be part of something meaningful.Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• The Serpents: When the Poison Becomes the Cure: Finding Healing in the Very Place You Were Hurt

  Send us a textIn this deep and soulful journey through Parshat Chukas, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks one of the most perplexing and powerful moments in the Torah: the copper snake on a pole.Why did G-d command Moses to use the very symbol of suffering, the snake, as a healing instrument? What does it mean that people had to look up at the snake to be cured?Through timeless Jewish wisdom, vulnerable personal insight, and psychological depth, Rabbi Bernath explores the mystery of pain, the challenge of resilience, and the spiritual art of transforming darkness into light. You’ll walk away with a new perspective on your own struggles and perhaps, a new path to healing.Key Takeaways:Transformation, Not Avoidance: True healing doesn’t come from avoiding our pain, but from facing it with courage and elevating it with meaning.The Snake Above vs. the Snake Below: The same experience can be seen from a higher or lower perspective. One brings despair; the other, depth.The Poison Is the Cure: Just like antivenom is made from venom, your healing may emerge from the very thing that once hurt you.Don’t Run, Look Up: When we stop running from the “snakes” in our lives and look upward—to G-d, to our higher selves—we discover the blessing buried in the bite.Every Crisis Holds a Blessing: Like Jacob wrestling the angel, we can say to our struggle: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That’s Jewish resilience.You Are Sacred Even in Pain: Sometimes the deepest truth is not an answer to your question, but the awareness that your soul is Divine, loved, and never alone.#healing #Judaism #Jewish #coppersnake #healingthroughpain #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology #JewishResiliance #struggle #Redemption #divinepurpose #traumatotransformation #trauma #God #snake #parshatchukat #spritualgrowth Click HERE to purchase a raffle ticket www.ndgraffle.comSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• The Mutiny: Moses, Korach, and the Relentless Pursuit of Peace

  Send us a textIn this gripping class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delves into the tragic and turbulent rebellion led by Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and On ben Peles against Moses and Aaron. The narrative unveils not just a mutiny, but a masterclass in leadership, humility, and boundless love for even the most stubborn opponents.Through an exploration of four key episodes involving Dathan and Abiram, Rabbi Bernath uncovers their long history of discord and defiance. Yet the class’s emotional apex comes with Moses’ unexpected final act: rising to personally appeal to his bitterest enemies, even after G-d commanded their separation. Why? Because Moses could never give up on the potential for peace—even with those who never sought it.Drawing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s insights on Parshas Korach, this class challenges us to ask: When is the pursuit of unity too much? And what makes someone truly worthy of leadership?Takeaways:True Leadership Is Relentless Love: Moses teaches us that real leadership isn’t about titles or power, it’s about never giving up on people, even those who oppose you.Some Quarrels Are Lifelong—Still, We Try: Dathan and Abiram weren’t new to conflict; they had a history of opposition. Yet Moses still pursued peace, one last time.“Do Not Keep Up a Quarrel” Isn’t Just a Nice Idea—It’s a Lifesaving One: The Talmud’s teaching, rooted in Moses’ actions, reminds us that unity is sacred—even if it means swallowing our pride.The Power of One Final Attempt: “Moses stood up and went to Dathan and Abiram.” That one verse becomes a model for all of us: Don’t assume it’s too late to make peace.We Each Carry a Spark of Moses: As the Tanya teaches, every Jew carries a part of Moses’ soul. That means we each have the capacity to rise above ego and reach out in peace.Peace Doesn’t Mean Passivity: Pursuing peace doesn’t mean tolerating abuse, it means knowing when to fight injustice and when to humble yourself for healing.#Torah #Moses #Judaism #Bible #BibleStudy #Korach #ParshatKorach #humility #Rebbe #mosesleadership #Peace #TorahLessons #TorahPortion Click HERE to purchase a raffle ticket www.ndgraffle.comSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• The Thing I Fear Most Is Fear: From Vain Tears to Healing Power | Why Fear Paralyzes, and How We Are Finally Ready to Rise Above It

  Send us a textOn the night of Tisha B’Av, the Jewish people cried out of fear, not from a real threat, but from a perceived one. That night became a tragic turning point in our history, not because of a divine punishment, but because fear itself became the seed of generations of sorrow.This class explores the deeper meaning of those "vain tears" through Torah, psychology, and metaphor. From the self-fulfilling prophecy of the spies, to Harvard's famous "Rosenthal Experiment," to the chained circus elephant who forgot her strength, we see how fear and self-image can imprison entire generations.But we are no longer that generation. We are living in a time of healing and empowerment. This Tisha B’Av, we are called to rewrite the script. To cry no more. To rise with resolve. To finally break free and bring healing, light, and redemption to our world.Key Takeaways:Fear isn’t always logical, but it’s always powerful.Even miracles won’t help if we don’t believe in ourselves.Vain tears become real pain.When we cry over imagined powerlessness, we invite genuine suffering, because we surrender our G-d-given strength.We see ourselves as grasshoppers and so does the world.The way we perceive ourselves shapes how others treat us.Belief creates reality.Like elephants chained by false memories, we stay stuck not because we are weak, but because we think we are.This is the age of healing.We’re not grasshoppers. We’re not victims. We are a generation with tools, strength, and clarity. It’s time to remember who we are.Tisha B’Av will be transformed.With courage, truth, and unity, even our day of weeping will become a day of joy, with the coming of Moshiach.#fear #healing #Jewish #Judaism #shlach #TorahPortion #Torah #TorahLessons #Bible #BibleStudy #TishaBav #Spirituality #Moshiach #Spiritual #lubavitch #RabbiWisdom Click HERE to purchase a raffle ticket www.ndgraffle.comSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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