Six Levels of medicine and healing

The Torah is an expert medicine book given to us by the Almighty to heal our souls and psyche from the pain and bitterness that we carry around. Most of all, the health that the Torah seeks to give us is the ability to see the Divine, and experience Divine Providence in every aspect of our lives. In one of his many deep parables, Rabbi Isaac of Homil, one of the greatest thinkers in Chabad, draws a parallel between the 6 stages by which the Torah heals the soul and the 6 increasingly powerful types of medicine practiced in the medical world to heal the body.... | continue reading

Yat (19) Kislev Archive

Tuesday marks the 207th anniversary of the redemption of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chassidut Chabad, from a death sentence imposed on him by the Czarist government. This day is known as the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) of the study of Chassidut, the most advanced revelation of the secrets of the Torah, and the deepest explanation of the mysteries of Kabbalah. 207 is the numerical value of the word "light," in Hebrew. Yat Kislev is the perfect time to commit yourself to regular study and growth in the study of Chassidut. This archive includes recordings of classes given by Rabbi Ginsburgh on Yat Kislev of years past.

And You said: "I will surely do you good..." (Genesis 32:13)

A traditional Chabad melody set to the words spoken in prayer by Jacob in this week's Torah reading and sung by Rabbi Ginsburgh and students. listen (recorded in kfar chabad, dec. 15, 2005)

Face to Face: The Four Relationships of Jewish Education

The complete picture of Jewish education includes four archetypal relationships between the student and his or her mentors. In each relationship, the role of the student is differnt, as is the role of the educator. Each of the four facets is meant to develop different facets of the student's character and well-being. This lecture is based on Rabbi Ginsburgh's Hebrew book on education Panim El Panim and serves as a concise introduction to The Art of Education in English. | listen to recorded class (recorded in Chicago, Nov. 25, 2005)

Reward and Punishment in the Eyes of G-d

The final verse of chapter 62 of Pslams reads: "To You G-d is loving-kindness for you pay according to his deeds." The obvious question to be asked, is if God pays you in reward for your actions, this is not kindness, for you deserve it, so why is God's loving-kindness praised for paying what is due? The primary answer given by the Ba'al Shem Tov is that a person should not feel the he or she deserves anything. Regardless of what he may or may not have done, everything is a true gift from G-d expressing the Almighty's loving-kindness. There are ten more responses given to this question in Chassidut, many of them attributed to the Ba'al Shem Tov himself. Each one teaches us something more about the nature of Heavenly reward and punishment. All 11 responses are explained and corresponded, in order, to the sefirot in a tour-de-force of Kabbalah's power to unify diverse Torah interpretation. listen to recorded class (recorded in Kever Rachel, Dec. 1, 2005)

measuring apptitude in education: the 12 senses

On the High Priest's breastplate, 12 precious stones were set. Each stone represented not only one of the twelve tribes of Israel but also one of the twelve general apptitudes that characterize the makeup of every human being. The High Priest was the model educator as he was able to identify each "student's" apptitude by the holy stones on his breastplate. To be an educator requires that we too learn to identify our students' special gifts, which they need to complete their life's journey.... listen to recorded class (recorded in san francisco Nov. 20, 2005)

science and kabbalah: from geocentrism to heliocentrism and back

One of the most revolutionary ideas proposed by modern science is that it is not the sun that revolves around us, but we that revolve around the sun. The response of the holy Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin to this idea, dubbed heliocentrism, provides the basis for a seminal discussion of the impact of Kabbalah on science (and vice versa). Heliocentrism and the geocentrism it replaced are discussed in terms of the Divine service of the Tzadikim, the righteous leaders of the generation. listen to recorded class (english) part 1 | part 2 (recorded at stanford university Nov. 21, 2005)

"Hebrew: The Ideal Programming Language"

Hebrew has 22 letters, 231 gates, and 1540 roots. It is the only completely logically structured language and therefore presents us with the ideal model for organizing information and meaning. Hebrew, the holy language of the Bible, by which G-d created the world is thus the perfect language for all information systems. listen to recorded class (english) part 1 | part 2 | chart 1 | chart 2 (recorded at UC Berkeley, Nov. 20, 2005)

"He Who Rests on the Praises of Israel"

In 1712, when the Ba'al Shem Tov was 14 years old, he was part of a secret society of hidden tzadikim in Europe, and was recognized as the one who would become the leader. The young Yisrael made a suggestion that the members of the society not only act passively but also do something active to connect simple Jews with their Father in Heaven.... continue reading | listen to recorded class (english) | download pdf (320KB)

A Time to Create and the Creation of Time

The first verse of the Bible contains four nouns: "the beginning," "Elokim," "the heavens," and "the earth." The Chassidic masters gave different interpretations of the role that "the beginning," i.e., time played in creation. Coupled into the discussion on the nature of time and its role is a beautiful correspondence of these four primary nouns with the four types of ego-nullification discussed in Chassidut, the highest of which gives a person the ability to see the world from G-d's perspective.... read article | listen to recorded class (Hebrew) | download pdf (230KB)

From Noah's Rainbow to Isaac Newton's Prism

The sign of the covenant G-d made with Noah after the flood was the rainbow. Almost 4000 years later, Isaac Newton studied the nature of light and color through prisms. Newton shares so much in common with Noah that he can be clearly identified as Noah's modern reincarnation. continue reading | download pdf (120KB)

putting all your (chaotic) eggs in one basket

First tries are usually chaotic. They are prone to irregularity and unsustainability. The Torah offers us different methods of capturing the chaotic energies of beginnings into productive and stable states that can be used over and over again. Learn how. (from a class delivered September 19, 2005 to N'shai Chabad of the Holy Land in Jerusalem) continue reading | listen to recorded class part 1 | part 2 | download pdf (240KB)

the natural consciousness of teshuvah

The ascent to G-d through teshuvah must be such that it leads to your nature becoming truly one with God, and then: just as G-d is both transcendent and immanent at the same time, so the Jew can be "above," and "below" at the same time. This is the essence of what we call natural Jewish consciousness... (from a class delivered on October 9, 2005 in Jerusalem) continue reading | download pdf (190KB)

A Mother's Role

In honor of the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Channah Schneersohn, the Lubavitcher Rebbe's mother, Rabbi Ginsburgh teaches about her role in shaping the Rebbe's outlook on exile, Mashiach, and redemption. continue reading | download pdf (105KB)

the importance of being earnest

Many of the problems that we encounter as individuals and as a society today are rooted in the loss of a sincere and straightforward belief in G-d. On the one hand, the modern individual is full of cynicism and contempt for anyone who still holds on to his innocence. On the other hand, the same modern person is finding himself more and more drawn to various forms of witchcraft, magic, alternative remedies, psychic readings, etc., all with the hope of finding some comfort, solace, and security from life's difficulties and infirmities.... (from a class delivered on September 10, 2005 in Crown Heights)

continue reading | listen to recorded class part 1 | part 2 | download pdf (680KB)