There is a broad consensus amongst our Gedolim that we are in a period of time now calledIkvese Demeshicha– or theEnd of Days. (Click here to read this letter from the Gadol HaDor Rav Chaim Kanievsky stating emphatically that we are indeed in the days known as the Ikvesa demeshicha or the End of days). More recently Rav Kanievsky has been reported as urging the Jewish Olam to make aliyah for the imminent redemption. When asked what message he had for klal Yisroel at this time and for a chizuk for the Jews of chutz la’aretz (the Diaspora), Harav Kanievsky solemnly declared: “The coming of Moshiach is imminent and he is on his way… It is stated in the Talmud that after the conclusion of the shmitta year Ben Dovid (the scion of Dovid) will come.”To view this report, click here.
To drive this point further into our consciousness, take a look at this wonderfully done 2 minute video about a young boy who goes to sleep in Galut and wakes up in Geula. To view, click here.
How does a Torah observant Jew in the 21st century traverse such a potentially volatile and confusing time period? What can we rely on, when from every side, every aspect of life is unravelling? We have nowhere to turn, no solutions, other than turning to Hashem Himself. This is the answer given in the Mishnah at the end of mesechta Sota. The Mishnah asks: “upon whom do we have to rely? “ and it answers: “we can only rely on our Father in Heaven,” (‘Avinu Sh’bshamayim’). Thus, there is one basic overarching strategy for dealing with this time period which is "relying and turning completely and only to Hashem". (to learn more about what we need to strengthen ourselves during the End of Days, go to our Community of Resources/Binyan Olam .)
Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein zt"l stated very poignantly in a shiur he gave during Parshat Yisro in 2009 that only those Jews who hold on tight to their Emunah and trust in Hashem during these times of turbulence and uncertainty will merit to witness the unfolding of history and be a part of the climactic finale of the final redemption (to hear a 5-minute excerpt from this shiur, click here).
In taking these words very much to heart, we have embarked on this endeavor to provide you with easy, fingertip access to multiple resources, including: seminars, audio links with inspiring shiurim and uplifting musical selections. Videos and inspiring articles. They all share one aim: to build a community of Jewish women who are dedicated to developing a more palpable and personal relationship with the Creator. It is in the merit of the righteous women, the Midrash tells us, that the Geula will unfold. Amongst these women are those who are building their homes and teaching their loved ones the secret of “relying and turning completely and only to Hashem”
A Woman's Avodah in Elul
Rabbi Itamar Schwartz, author of Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
Rabbi Itamar Schwartz, author of the life-transformative seriesBilvavi Mishkan Evneh, shares with the women in Klal Yisrael what the unique potential is in the month of Elul: the power of Renewal. Rabbi Schwartz speaks in hebrew with an accompanying english translation. To download, click here.To receive an english transcript of this class, go here.
To view and download Bilvavi's extensive transcript on the Avodah of Elul called Elul Talks, click here.
To receive Bilvavi's newsletters and parsha sheets weekly in your inbox, email: info@bilvavi.net.
Growing Through Elul
Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky, Becoming Divine.com
Listen to another captivating shiur by Rabbi Yaakov Zalman Labinsky on the deeper meaning of Elul and how to "Grow Through Elul" as opposed to "Go Through Elul". To download, click here.
To listen to other fantastic shiurim by Rav Labinsky, go to:BecomingDivine.com
Teshuva in Elul: Back to Healthy Boundaries
Nechama Sarah Burgeman, Author of the 12 Dimensions of Israel, Moshav Tarom, Israel
Join my dear friend and colleague Nechama Sarah Burgeman for an exclusive, hands on class which will give you a clear road map of a healthy teshuva process. Drawing from her extensive knowledge of the Arizal's teachings and through the perspective of the Imahot (our foremothers). you will discover how to balance yourself and return to a place of being present and centered in life. In this class, Nechama Sarah will guide us through relationships with Feminine Torah, Movement, Music and Meditation. Reclaim your healthy boundaries and bring the lost parts of your soul back into center. To watch this shiur click here
Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Aish Kodesh and YU Torah.org
I’d like to share with you my favorite series to listen to during Elul in preparing to “greet the King in the field”. A not to be missed series by Rabbi Moshe Weinberger on the classic kuntris from the Ba’al HaTanya: Ani l’Dodi v’Dodi Li. To download the first of twelve in the series, click here.
To view and download the whole series, click here.
Talking to Hashem all day long
Rabbi Itamar Schwartz, author Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh
We read in Parshat Vayeshev all about Yosef HaTzadik. The verses describe Yosef as an “Ish Matzliach”: a “Man of Success”. What is the secret of Yosef’s success? Rashi brings the midrash which describes how Yosef’s master Potifer observed Yosef constantly whispering something under his breath. What was he whispering? To solve this riddle, the Ramban and the Arbanel and other Rishonim bring down that Yosef HaTzadik was praying to Hashem, repeating and internalizing over and over: "Shiviti Hashem l'negdi Tamid." This, the Rishonim conclude, was Yosef’s powerful formula for success. If this is the "key to success", what is the meaning behind these sacred words? To unravel this mystery, check out my article here. To hear the accompanying mp3's to this article, click here and here.
We are blessed in our generation to have someone who epitomizes this avodah. To hear a wonderful shiur describing this practice from today's "ish matzliach" the "Bilvavi", Rabbi Itamar Schwartz. on The Importance of Talking to Hashem all Throughout the Day click here .
Also just released, a fantastic essay dealing specifically with a Woman's Power of Speech. Get a sneak preview into the Bilvavi's just released new sefer: GATEWAYS TO HASHEM FOR TODAY’S JEWISH WOMAN. For the PDF, click here.
For information on how to order this book, click here.
Recovering Our Self-Respect
Rav Moshe Weinberger, Aish Kodesh, Woodmere, NY
In this riveting shiur, Rav Weinberger reveals the urgency of restoring Jewish kavod (honor), internally and externally. Using the debate between the angels and Moshe Rabbeinu on Har Sinai as a back-drop, Rav Weinberger explained that we need to make ourselves worthy of this world and of Hashem being concerned with us. How do we do this? By respecting ourselves, appreciating our G-d given strengths, and understanding our status as a nation of kohanim ([G-d's] priests). This urgent message of Teshuva is needed now more than ever!
Why G-d Lets Bad Things Happen and How to Make Them Stop
Rabbi Doniel Katz, The Elevation Seminar
Rabbi Doniel Katz captivates us once again with a phenomenal series answering the ageless question: “Why do bad things happen…” This is particularly relevent now in light of all the darkness and confusing in the world right now. Rabbi Katz shares with us the secret of how strengthening our consciousness of always being in Hashem’s loving Presence can diminish many of our problems in life. Download here.
Learning to build and maintain this "G-d Consciousness" is not only a way to diminish many of our problems but is also a wonderful way to correct our debilitating character traits. Follow this personal and very practical account of one woman’s struggle with anger and how plugging into a greater awareness of Hashem’s constant and loving presence enabled her to overcome this debilitating middah.
Be a "Spiritual Settler" and Not a "Spiritual Nomad"
Rabbi Tzadok Cable, Rav of Kehillas Ezra Hasofer Ramat Beis Shemesh Gimmel
Every once in awhile I hear a class that's so right on, so hits the "nail on the head" , and so resonates with my"G-d Direct" wave length that I want to climb to the top of some high roof top and yell out: "hey women of Klal Yisrael, you gotta hear this stuff!" The Rav clarified the difference between being a "spiritual settler" vs. a "spiritual nomad". From the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to sleep at night, we need to acquire the mind set of being "b'Makom" ; of being in "Hashem's place" and as such everything we do should be integrated within that framework and focus.
LISTEN for yourself to this transformative class. Your Avodat Hashem will never be the same again!
And while we're on the subject of Simcha, if you liked the above shiur, you must listen to Rabbi Cable's class from Rebbe Nachman's "Avodat HaSimcha". To download, click here.
To be a part of this or any other one of Rabbi Cable’s new live "ZOOM" chaburah community, go to:https://thebinahtree.com/or email.
Bringing Redemption Through National Will
Rabbi Pinchas Winston, Telzstone, Israel
Listen to a captivating shiur by Rabbi Pinchas Winston who has made it his life’s mission to prepare this generation for the imminent redemption. What’s left for us to do? We need to develop a strong national will for Geula. This means making the prospect of Redemption more real and palpable in our lives.
To access the video of this talk that was given recently in Ramat Beit Shemesh, click here. To access the mp3 recording, click here.
Hitbodedut: The Total Game Changer
Devorah Sisso Stieglitz, "Breakthrough" workshops
Meet Devorah Sisso Stieglitz! Our latest addition to the “G-d Direct Torah” family, Devorah’s “Emunah Torah” is refreshingly real and down to earth. Listen here to this wonderful class on Hitbodedut: The Total Game Changer. This class is part of a 6 part series Devorah gives on line called Breakthrough. In this series, you'll learntools to identify what's keeping you stuck in life, "break through" them, move on to the next stage, and attract what you truly want into your life... while recognizing that it's all from Hashem. Get excited about your future and your incredible potential again. This is another one of those "hit the nail on the head" classes on Emunah that you'll want to listen to over and over.
World Wide Nishmat Kol Chai Event
courtesy of Torah Any Time
A couple years ago, on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, something very special and unique took place in Klal Yisrael. Over 4,000 women came together from all around the globe to join in the Nishmat Kol Chai Worldwide Event. This event celebrated thousands of women saying Nishmat Kol Chai for 40 days in a row. It was a celebration of our gratitude to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and a celebration of us, Jewish women, and our power to unify to bring the Redemption, closer, IY"H! This event featured inspiring and empowering talks by Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi; Rabbi Aryeh Nivin; Lori Palatnik and a special bracha from Rebbetzin Leah Kolodetsky. daughter of Hagadol HaDor, HaGaon, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.
If you haven’t seen this yet, or even if you have and you want to see it again, click here now.
An Interview with Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt"l
Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, zt"l
For the first time in 36 years, made available now to our G-d Direct Torah community, you can hear Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan zt”l in a radio interview he gave in 1980. To hear Rabbi Kaplan describe the importance of hitbodedut/meditation and the examples he demonstrates on how to attain a state of “aloneness” and closeness with the Ribbon shel olam is truly life altering. Thank you to Rabbi Avraham Sutton for making this audio available to us. To download, click here.
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger pierces to the depths of the “pintele” yid with this shiur that he gave to a group of women in Lawrence, NY upon their completion of the Sefer Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh a few months ago. Rabbi Weinberger tackles the difficult questions of how to maintain emunah amidst pain and suffering and how to transition this generation from one that “hears” and knows about Hashem’s existence to one that “sees” and “feels” Hashem’s existence moment to moment. A must hear preparation to help us plug into the potential for "Ahavat Hashem" in the air right now.. To access this shiur, go here.
Inculcating Emunah in our Children
Rabbi Avrohom M.Alter, Yeshiva Migdal Torah, Chicago, Il.
Every once in a while, you hear a class that you can listen to over and over and over again. The truth is my Rav, Rabbi Avrohom M.Alter, has many shiurim that fit this description but this one really struck a deep chord within my “Emunah driven” heart. Listen for yourself and see. This shiur on how to educate our children in Emunah and Bitachon is really about how to educate ourselves in Emunah and Bitachon. Once we get it, they’ll get it too! This shiur should be on your “favorites” to be listened to all year round. For download, click here.
Question of the Ages: How Much Hishtadlus vs. How Much Bitachon?
Rabbi Avrohom M. Alter, Lakewood, NJ
In the Torah Portiion, Parshat Vayashev, Yosef HaTzadik's request for "protexia" from the wine steward cost him an extra two years in jail according to our Sages. Seems like a reasonable request to me but Yosef is held accountable for this "extra act" of histadlut (effort) on his part which brings up the age old question: When is 'enough' enough? When is enough ... really 'too much'? Haven't we all been perplexed by this question? Hishtadlus vs. Bitachon - how much is proper? In matters of Shiduchim, Parnasah, Yeshuos, etc. Is it true that G-d only helps those who "help themselves"? When is 'enough' histadlus really 'too much' histadlus? Rabbi Avrohom Alter gives a brilliant answer to these and other questions on how to understand the delicated balance between Bitachon and Histadlut, Click here to download.
Feeling Safe in an Unsafe World
Chaya Hinda Allen, Jewish Positive Thinking
Go HERE to receive a beautiful guided Imagery by Chaya Hinda Allen (www.JPThink.com) to help us feel Hashem's love for us and His loving protection. Practical and inspiring, we need this chizuk now more than ever! This track teaches us how we can empower ourselves to face the challenges of stressful times with courage. As Chaya Hinda explains: “By using our minds and our imagination (tziurei halev in the words of Rav Dessler) we can create deep and enduring feelings of trust and connection. It must be practiced, it doesn't necessarily come at once… No one is born trusting Hashem. It is the effort we put in to guide our minds and to think these thoughts that create the protection."
To be a part of Chaya Hinda's on-going on-line Thinking Positive! course, visit..
You can also now become a part of a growing community of Jewish Women led by Chaya Hinda Allen by becoming a memeber of Chaiyil. Members receive an 18-minute installment of Chaiyil every day - either an uplifting audio message, member success story, guided bitachon experience or practical exercise. To hear a sample chizuk message on the power of our wanting and willing, click here. To sign up and receive more daily chizuk messages click here.
Empowering Jewish Women to Action
Rebbertzin Chaya Levine
We learn that in the merit of the Jewish Women, we were redeemed from Egypt and in the merit of the righteous Jewish women in the future, we will be redeemed again. As we enter into this difficult time period, now more than ever we need to gather ourselves together as Jewish women, do Teshuva, and pray that our Unity is no longer built on tragedy but rather built on Positive Actions and Unity Initiatives. Listen to Rebbetzin Chaya Levine, widow of Rabbi Kalman Zeev Levine, Hy”d, who was amongst the four kedoshim brutally murdered in Har Nof. During this very personal and poignant meeting with Rebbetzin Levine, she described for us one such powerful initiative. She also not only gives us as Jewish Women a Call to Action, but shares with us her personal story from the morning she learned of her husband’s death till today.
Special thanks to the Yashar Foundation for making this meeting possible. To download, click HERE
To view a very inspiring video with Rebbetzin Levine and others describing this project in more detail,click HERE.
One Entity: The Essence of a Jewish Marriage
Rebbetzin Ruchi Goldenberg, Beit Shemesh, Israel.
Chazal teach us that there exists a marital relationship between HaKadosh Baruch Hu and Klal Yisarel. In order to properly appreciate this relationship paradigm better, we need to understand what is the essence of a Jewish marriage, what is the inherent holiness between husband and wife. Having been married almost 20 years, I’m just now beginning to understand thanks to Rebbetzin Ruchi Goldenberg. LISTEN to this beautiful and eye opening shiur revealing the true secrets of marriage or as the Rebbetzin teaches: “This is the way Hashem created the world; a woman draws her inner identity, her essence, from her husband.” This was a big chiddush for me and I'd like to share it with you.
This shiur is based on a chapter from a newly published sefer entitled: My Soul Desire published by Beis Hamidrash Neizer Yisrael of Harav Avraham Tzvi Kluger. To read this excerpt, click here.
