Succos - Joy of Submission

What does the midrash mean when it says that we leave our homes and enter the Succah to atone for the deserved punishment of exile? How does the mitzvah of Succah relate to the command to do teshuva (repent)? What does going into exile accomplish? What is the special joy of Succos? Why do we use the 'leftovers of the granary and the winery' to create our succah?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 28:07

Haazinu-Succos - Song of Joy

How does the concept of the song move from one of repentance to one of joy? How is that manifest as we move from Yom Kippur into Succos? How is the Torah brought from a higher realm to be accessed here below? How does this parallel the aspect of song? Where do we find this idea in the holiday of Succos?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 19:45

Always Happy

This was Erev Shabbos of Chol Hamoed Pesach at the Kotel. I was in a crazy mood. Enjoy!

Shmini - Simcha and sadness

What is the connection between the joy of the first of Nissan and Hashem's joy with the creation of the world? Why was the joy of the mishkan marred with a remembrance of the Golden Calf with Aharon's offering? Why did they have a sacrifice at this point that atoned for the sale of Yosef? Why did the Shechina only come into the mishkan as a result of Aharon's service, but not with the service of Moshe of the previous seven days? Why was the incredible joy of the mishkan's dedication marred by the deep loss of Aharon's sons?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 16:42

The antidote

The previous video represents the sadness of disconnection and hate. This video is the joy of connection to Hashem. Yasher Koach R' Gutman Locks!

Joy of Unity

This song testifies to the great joy that unity brings. The words are הנה מה טוב ומה נעים שבת אחים גם יחד - how good and how nice is it when brothers sit together. When we look for the good in our friends and neighbors by judging others favorably we can find great joy in unity.

This is the next song in my new series called "A song and a thought."

Do not fear at all

Many things in life can make us fearful. Whether it is the fate of our livelihood, the fate of our children, the fate of our people in Israel, or the fate of the world. When our faith is placed solely in Hashem, we need not fear.

Rebbe Nachman says "כל העולם כולו גשר צר מאד והעיקר לא לפחד כלל" - the whole world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to fear at all. When we know Hashem is taking care of us and protecting us we can truly place our trust completely in Him and face our challenges with confidence.

Click here to hear my rendition of the classic song, composed by Rabbi Baruch Chait.

Rejoice!

Are you looking for a little pick me up? Rebbe Nachman says that it is a great mitzvah to always be joyous. Here's a little song that might help.

It's part of a new podcast series I am working on, which you should be able to find on itunes already (in the section on Judaism) and I hope to have up on my website soon bezras Hashem.