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In the shadow of the tragic murder of two young Israeli diplomats, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who dedicated their lives to peace, we confront the heart-wrenching questions: Are we still the Chosen People? Can we still believe in humanity when humanity seems to fall apart? This week’s Torah portion, Bechukotai, addresses blessings and brutal curses, followed by the surprising laws of erchin, evaluating human worth. From this strange juxtaposition, Chassidic masters draw a powerful truth: even after unspeakable loss, the value of a human soul remains eternal and divine. Through stories of survival and sacred resistance, from Auschwitz to Washington D.C. we rediscover that our calling is not diminished by darkness, but rather revealed by it. This class is dedicated to the memory of Yaron and Sarah, may G-d avenge their blood.

Takeaways:

1. The antidote to darkness is dignity. The Torah teaches us that even after curses, we must return to affirming the value of each soul.
2. Giving heals. The symbolic 143 shekel of erchin counters the 143 curses, showing the power of charity and sacred commitment.
3. Pain does not diminish worth. Jewish identity is not dependent on external conditions. We remain chosen not despite suffering, but in how we respond to it.
4. A moral education saves lives. The solution to violence isn’t only policy—it’s character, conscience, and responsibility to G-d.
5. We rise because we remember. From the bloodied streets of exile to the halls of peace diplomacy, the Jewish soul remembers who it is and why it’s here.

#YaronLischinsky #SarahMilgrim #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #Bechukotai #MoralResponsibility #Chosen #Kabbalah #Sermon #Israel #Antisemitism #chosenpeople #humanworth

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Lag B’Omer isn’t just a day for bonfires and bow-and-arrows. It’s the Hilula—the joyous “wedding day”—of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the mystic who gave us the Zohar and opened the gates of Jewish spiritual consciousness. But why a wedding on the day of someone’s passing? This class explores the paradox at the heart of both life and love: how our greatest limitations can be our most profound doorways to infinity.

We’ll explore Talmudic, Kabbalistic, and Chassidic sources—from the soul-body dynamic, to the power of mitzvot, to why life is likened to a wedding. You’ll discover how the soul’s “marriage” to the body mirrors our own sacred relationships and how Lag B’Omer invites us to celebrate the holiness hidden in the now.

3 Takeaways:

1. Life is a Wedding, Not a Waiting Room
   Rabbi Shimon taught us to stop postponing joy. Every mitzvah, every act of love, is a divine moment worth celebrating now—not later.
2. Paradox is the Pathway to Eternity
   Through the union of opposites—soul and body, heaven and earth, law and love—we don’t diminish ourselves. We become eternal.
3. Kabbalah Illuminates the Ordinary
   Lag B’Omer marks the unveiling of the soul of Torah, where every halachah becomes a mystical spark and every moment a gateway to the Infinite

#lagbaomer #zohar #Kabbalah #mysticism #Jewish #chassidic #chassidus #chabad #Hillula #soul #meaningoflife #meaning #JewishSpirituality #soul

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In this eye-opening class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a cryptic Midrash on the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu and how it unexpectedly shook the biblical figure of Job. Through this lens, we’ll uncover what this story teaches us about moral responsibility, the danger of silence in the face of injustice, and the timely relevance of speaking up — especially when it’s uncomfortable. With a nod to current events and a dose of Chassidic insight, this session challenges us to rethink what it really means to be a bystander.

Key Takeaways:

-Even silence can be a statement — and sometimes, a dangerous one.

-The Torah invites us to see not only the sin of action, but the sin of inaction.

-Ancient Midrashic voices still speak to modern struggles with injustice and moral clarity.

-Spiritual leadership begins with accountability — even for what we don’t say.

-In a world filled with noise, knowing when to speak can change everything.

#TorahPortion #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons #Acharei #nadav #avihu #silence #Courage #MoralResponsibility #Antisemitism #jewishhatred #holocaust #jewishleadership #YomHashoah #holocaustremembrance #chabad #Rabbi #yisroelbernath

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Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? 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/donate

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Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi