Lecture Recordings
The following recordings are from lectures I have given on different occasions. Wherever possible, I have included a link to the study sheets used during the lecture.
The Kabbalah of Relationships: An ongoing class on Kabbalistic and Chasidic ideas related to love, dating, commitment, marital relationships and more. The class is offered weekly, live, via web-conferencing and Facebook Live. For more information, see Kensington Torah Circle FB page.
The Teachings of Izhbitz: The Izhbitzer school of chasidus contains some of the deepest and most radical teachings in the chasidic movement. Founded by R. Mordechai Yosef Leiner ( (1801-1854), author of the Mei Hashiloach, it continued with such luminaries as R. Yaakov Leiner (1828–1878), author of the Beis Yaakov, R. Tzadok Hakohen of Lublin (1823-1900), and R. Gershon Chanoch Henech Leiner of Radzin (1839–1891).
In this class, we examine major themes of Izhbitzer's chasidism, such as free will, G-d's foreknowledge, prayer, Torah, tests and trials, states of consciousness, and attachment to G-d. Class is give weekly at Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, in Nachlaot, Jerusalem. Please click here for the list of recordings and source sheets.
In this class, we examine major themes of Izhbitzer's chasidism, such as free will, G-d's foreknowledge, prayer, Torah, tests and trials, states of consciousness, and attachment to G-d. Class is give weekly at Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo, in Nachlaot, Jerusalem. Please click here for the list of recordings and source sheets.
Inception and the Question of Free Will: Do we have free will? Are our thoughts our own or do they originate elsewhere? Is time relative, and if so, can it be transcended? These are questions raised by Christopher Nolan's 2010 film Inception. For answers, we look at sources from Jewish philosophy, Kabbalah and Hasidism.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the accompanying study sheets, please click here.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the accompanying study sheets, please click here.
Asceticism and the Decentered Self: Early chasidism taught a new way to deal with the problem of the self -- not by trying to destroy it through ascetic practices, but by expanding, or decentering it, by seeing it in the broadest possible context. The following is a lecture that I gave at York University on the topic.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the study sheets, please click here.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the study sheets, please click here.
Power, Control and Freedom in the Religious Life: A look at Haredi life through the teachings of the philosopher, Michel Foucault. How is power exercised? Who controls it? How is it internalized? Given at the David Cardozo Academy, as part of a series of talks on Judaism and modern philosophy.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the accompanying study sheets, please click here.
To download the audio file, please click here.
To download the accompanying study sheets, please click here.
Finding the Soul in Jewish Education: This lecture was also delivered at the David Cardozo Academy, on Nov. 10, 2009
To download the audio file, please click here.