This week’s episode is dedicated in honor of Rav Dr Howie Apfel   In this episode we take a closer look at the basic challenges of understanding the History of Ancient Egypt.  How deeply is the Ancient Egyptian documentation connected with Egyptian Avoda Zara? How much will this connection complicate our attempts to understand the documentation?    What are the real and clear lessons can we learn from Egyptology?    Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a...

  In this episode we take a deeper look at why the phenomenon of Egyptology has such an attraction to people. Why are people more interested in Egyptology than Greek and Roman History?   Similarly, we look at how to reconcile Egyptology with Tanach? Did the ancient Egyptians value History? How does this affect the way we understand Ancient Egyptian History?    This week’s episode is sponsored as a רפואה שלימה לאיתן לב בן תמרה יפית  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We...

  In this episode we look at how perception of reality affects our lives. We also look at how different people have different perceptions of reality. Why do some people pursue brochas from Rabbanim more than others?    We also start looking at how people in the world at large have out of proportion interest in Ancient Egypt.  What are the basic reasons for this?    We also look at the difference between, ‘aitza’ and ‘hadracha’.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We...

 In this episode, we look at the basic methodology of how to examine Historical stories. When should we accept a story as factual and when should we reject a story.    We also look at how and why the machlokes of R Avrohom Kalisker and the Baal HaTanya was never resolved. And what part did Elazar of Disna play in this complicated situation? Similarly why did the Baal HaTanya protest R Avrohom Kalisker wanting to start his own tzedaka organization?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi...

 In this episode we take a deeper look at the challenges and limits of education. How do we understand the ideal of education? How does an ideally educated person see himself?  What lesson should most of us take from the basic challenge of true education and knowledge? How does this relate to the machlokes between R Avrohom Kalisker and the Baal HaTanya?    We also start looking at some of the important details of the machlokes. Who were the secondary figures in this machlokes? What part did...

 In this episode we look at R' Avrohom Kalisker’s part in establishing the Ashkenzi community in Israel. We look at why R' Avrohom Kalisker initially attacks R' Shnuer Zalman. We similarly look at how this was part of a greater question of how the average Chassid should focus his efforts in Avodas Hashem.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours,...

   In this episode we take a more careful look at the part charisma plays in communal leadership. We also discuss why the Rambam tried to avoid communal leadership.    We take a careful look at R Avrohom Kalisker time with the Vilna Gaon. And we similarly discuss why R Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk didn’t try to bring him to his attempted meeting with the Vilna Gaon in 1772.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute...

 In this episode we look at the part that charisma plays in History. Was every great Rabbi by definition a charismatic figure? Is it possible that charisma was a significant factor in the Vilna Gaon’s decision not to meet with R Menachem Mendal of Vitebsk and the Baal HaTanya in 1772? Was charisma a factor in R Avrohom Kalisker’s leadership? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. ...

In this episode we take a more careful look at the Vilna Gaon’s theory of, ‘Incongruent Actions’? How many places does he apply this to? Is there a difference between where this concept is working at a behavioral level and when it is working at the Nefesh level. We also examine the issue of when we can say that History can be a proof to questionable actions. Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the...

  The main topic of this episode is the Vilna Gaon’s theory about, ‘Incongruent Actions’. The episode starts with a quick synopsis of my comments of the crisis of solution in the Gaza War.    What was the real cause of Nathan of Gaza’s fall? Was the entire issue a result of the lack of commitment to Torah and similarly lack of Yiras Hashem? Or is there a deeper issue that is part of this? We will look at a number of the Vilna Gaon’s comments in Mishley to properly understand this.  Nach...

In this episode we look at the deep complexities of how the world relates to the State of Israel.  What are the main elements of this very complicated phenomenon? How should that effect how Israel should conduct its Foreign Policy?   We also look at the basic tension that exists in a Democratic country between popular will and responsible governance.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key...

   In this episode, we look at the basic structure of how modern government works, and how this creates a challenge in governance. We also look at why specifically there is a challenge now.    We also discuss where in Torah we can find information that can give us direction in these issues.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements,...

  In this episode we look at the Historical factors than have enable Israel to largely conduct this war in a successful way. How is it that the IDF has become such a trusted institution? Which policies brought it to this place? Who was involved in making these decisions?   We also look at the cause of lack of trust in the motivations of some of the major political figures. What defines a responsible and capable political figure? How had Netanyahu’s legacy been affected by the events? Nach...

 In this episode we take a look at how our understanding of this event has been affected over the last months. We examine the unique facets of this conflict as opposed to the other Israeli Arab conflicts. We also look at the looming crisis that is brewing on how to deal with this conflict.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements,...

  In this episode we examine more of the technical details of zman Tefila. How late is one allowed to start Shachris? What defines starting Shachris?    We also start taking a new look at the Vilna Gaon’s opposition to Chassidus. How many elements were there to his opposition to Chassidus? What was the Vilna Gaon’s attitude to practical Kaballa? Does this have anything to do with his opposition to Chassidus?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day...

In this episode we take a more in depth look at the origins of the different Nusachs. Can someone change from Ashkenaz to Sefard, or from Sefard to Ashkenaz? What is the issue connected to?    We also look at the issue of does Chassidus have any antinomian element to it? Where does the practice of davening after, ‘the time of Tefila’, come from? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. ...

In this episode we take a more in depth look at the second arrest of the Baal Tanya. We look at how the Russian government generally dealt with the Jewish community in those times and how this affected this story. We also focus on the Sabetian accusations. Why would the Czarist government consider this a serious accusation?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  ...

In this episode we look at why the Russians decided to release the Baal Tanya. We similarly look at the second arrest. What caused the second arrest? Why was it shorter than the first one?   We similarly look at some of the Baal Tanya’s statements on tefila. Similarly we look at his expert leadership in dealing with the issue of separate minyanim.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key...

In this episode, we look at the first arrest and imprisonment of the Baal Tanya.  What events caused this to happen? Where was he held in jail?  Why was he held in jail for so long? How much danger was he in? How involved was the Csar Paul involved in the case?    We also clarify what I mean when I refer to the theological machlokes between the Gra and Chassidus.  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur...

   In this episode, we examine Kissinger’s youth more carefully based on a documentary produced by people in the KAJ community. We also look at the challenge of morality.   We also look at R Shnuer Zalman of Liozna’s part in the machlokes between the Chassidim and the Misnagdim. What affect did R Shneur Zalman have on this machlokes? When did he become one of the primary figures in the machlokes? What caused the new outbreak of hostilities in 1798?  Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach...

Henry Kissinger was one of the most important American diplomats of the twentieth century. He aroused very strong feelings and opinions in many circles. Why is this true? What is his key legacy? What lessons can we learn about life from Kissinger and his legacy? Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us...

In this week’s episode we take a deeper look at how to properly understand R Chaim Voluzhin’s comments on the issue of Torah Lishma. We also discuss how to synthesize the comments we saw from the Vilna Gaon with R Chaim Voluzhin’s presentation Nach Yomi: Join R' Wittenstein’s Nach Yomi on WhatsApp. We learn a perek a day five days a week, with a nine minute shiur covering the key issues. Click here to join!  For tours, speaking engagements, or sponsorships contact us...

Many assume that R Chaim Volozhin completely argues with the Tanya about how to understand Torah Lishma. In this episode, we take a closer look at the issue. We specifically look at a number of statements from the Vilna Gaon in Mishley that discuss the issue. How does this affect how we understand R Chaim Volozhin’s comments on the issue?   We also take a closer look at the custom of wearing hats and jackets for davening, and how people relate to this is a practical sense. Nach Yomi: Join...

  In this episode we take a deeper look at the potential benefits of proper Torah learning. How does this have the potential to give us the tools to deal with the challenges of maintaining commitment in our times?    We also look at how there are parallelisms between Tanya and Nefesh HaChaim in their understanding of high level Avodas Hashem.    We also examine if there is a connection between the Chassidic practice of wearing a bekesh or jacket when they learn and the Tanya’s definition of...