Popular Shows by Thank You Hashem טנק יו השם
448 episodes
#
Name
Release Date
Duration
1
You'll Never Regret Being Kind
You'll Never Regret Being Kind
Mar 4, 2026
59:49
In this powerful episode, we sit down with singer and songwriter Shaindy Plotzker for a conversation that goes way beyond music. Shaindy shares about the home she grew up in, the values that shaped her, and the message she’s passionate about spreading: you will never regret being kind. From school social dynamics, to what it really means to give, to unforgettable moments she’s experienced in hospitals and community events, this episode is packed with inspiration, real stories, and practical takeaways for anyone trying to live with more purpose.
2
You Were Born For This with Gitty Rappoport
You Were Born For This with Gitty Rappoport
Jun 13, 2026
58:23
In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Mrs. Gitty Rappoport shares her journey from feeling disconnected from Yiddishkeit to discovering that Torah is not just a history or a checklist, but the deepest expression of who we are. She shows how every part of our personality was given by Hashem for a purpose, and how the more we connect to our neshama, the more we become our truest selves. As we close out the season with our final video, we’d love to hear from you! Please email us your feedback, questions, or thoughts at [email protected]
3
Nikanors Amazing Doors
Nikanors Amazing Doors
Aug 3, 2025
5:52
One man’s sacrifice to bring honor to the Bais Hamikdash and the amazing miraculous doors that endured the test of time!Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
4
The Day the Sun stood Still
The Day the Sun stood Still
Aug 3, 2025
5:40
Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
5
Living With Heart with Maya Namdar
Living With Heart with Maya Namdar
May 2, 2026
42:52
Real connection starts with simply noticing another person. In this episode, Maya Namdar shares how her daughter’s ability to truly see others left a lasting impact on everyone around her. Through powerful stories and lived experience, this conversation reframes what it means to care, to include, and to show up for the people in your life.
6
You're Not Broken with Shterna Ginsberg
You're Not Broken with Shterna Ginsberg
Jun 6, 2026
1:07:15
In this powerful conversation, Mrs. Shterna Ginsberg reframes anxiety as an opportunity to reconnect with the truth of who we are. With warmth and clarity, she teaches us how to notice the anxious voice, stop bullying ourselves, and access the steady, loving strength of the neshama within.
7
Redefining Feminine Power
Redefining Feminine Power
Apr 11, 2026
1:06:24
What does it really mean to be a powerful woman?In this episode, Rochi Pinson shares how challah, food, and Shabbos reveal a deeper kind of feminine power rooted in presence, nourishment, and purpose.She also speaks about priorities and how real clarity comes from choosing what matters most.This conversation challenges the idea of “doing it all” and offers a more meaningful path forward.
8
The Queens lost Treasure
The Queens lost Treasure
Aug 3, 2025
3:24
The wonderful story of a lost gem and the real reward for doing what’s right !Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
9
Secret Tunnels
Secret Tunnels
Aug 3, 2025
4:31
The Kings secret visits to the Great Rebbe Yehuda Hansi, and the friendship that helped shape history. Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
10
The Old Man is Snoring
The Old Man is Snoring
Aug 3, 2025
3:34
The extent one must honor his parents and the extent of the reward for this amazing mitzvah!Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
11
Finding the Light with Charlene Aminoff
Finding the Light with Charlene Aminoff
May 30, 2026
43:39
The hardest moments are often the ones that build us most.In this special video episode, Charlene Aminoff opens up about the pain of being bullied as a child, the challenges that transformed her life, and the Emunah that helped her turn darkness into purpose. Through deeply personal stories about bullying, infertility, loss, motherhood, and Emunah, this conversation explores how kindness can heal, how pain can build us, and why choosing light, even in dark moments, changes everything.------------------------Bird’s Eye ViewWith Sara Blau & Faigy BlumsteinBird’s Eye View is a podcast for teen girls who want real answers to real questions — in your language.Each episode, we take relatable life situations and explore them through a Torah lens — the bird’s-eye perspective that helps you rise above the noise and see the bigger picture.Because Torah isn’t just something you learn in school. It’s your inheritance. Your strength. Your confidence. Your guide through friendships, anxiety, challenges, and growth.Own your Yiddishkeit. Live it.Real conversations. Real life. Real perspective.We want to hear from you!For feedback, suggestions, or follow-up questions, please email [email protected] to Bird’s Eye View. ✨
12
Becoming the Real Me with Rebbetzin Esti Hamilton
Becoming the Real Me with Rebbetzin Esti Hamilton
May 9, 2026
53:47
Feeling stuck is often where real growth begins.In this episode, Rebbetzin Esti Hamilton opens up about the inner world of teenage girls, from awkward moments and self-doubt to the quiet work of becoming who you’re meant to be.Through honest perspective and practical insight, this conversation redefines struggle as part of the journey, and shows how small shifts in mindset can lead to a deeper, more meaningful connection with yourself and with Hashem.
13
Aryeh Blumstein - Powered by Faith
Aryeh Blumstein - Powered by Faith
May 27, 2022
33:36
Emunah is the core of our identity as a nation with 3,000+ years of putting our complete faith in One Above, but nowhere are its inherent challenges and apparent impediments more pertinent than in the realm of parnassah. The role of hishtadlus; coping with failure; the lucky and unlucky breaks; powering through those difficult periods––if you live with emunah, you will truly see emunah at work at your workplace. In this conversation series, Laibel Schwartz and TYH Nation sits down with business leaders and prominent members of the community to hear how they apply emunah at work and the impact emunah has on their business and personal lives. Join us on this journey of emunah and success. Laibel Schwartz x TYH Nation ------------------------ Laibel's Take on episode 1: In this first episode, I approached the interview with equal parts excitement and trepidation. Any time you embark on a new endeavor, you rely on your emunah and raise your eyes heavenward saying “Thank You Hashem” for this opportunity. How much more so when you set out to be a vessel for spreading emunah among our community of Baalei Batim. Speaking with Aryeh was eye-opening in that his emunah and connection to HKB”H shone through not only during those portions where we were discussing emunah, but even while conversing about the daily work grind. The lens through which he sees Hashem’s involvement in his work is inspiring and carries relevant lessons for all of us. Enjoy! ------------------------ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emunah-at-work/id1626505346 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4n9e549k8I1akXJVH4czY8?si=76f55f66827e411c Laibel can be reached on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laibelschwartz/ or by calling his office at 845-418-2527 Thank you Avraham Kohn and the entire Laibel Schwarz team for making this project happen!
14
Chosen With Purpose with Sivan Rahav-Meir
Chosen With Purpose with Sivan Rahav-Meir
May 23, 2026
39:07
In this episode, journalist and speaker Sivan Rahav-Meir shares her journey from becoming frum as a teenager to rising as one of the Jewish world’s most influential voices. She reflects on why this generation is searching for something deeper, more meaningful, and more real. Through powerful stories and honest insight, this conversation reminds us that Torah isn’t just part of our past, it’s the foundation of our future.
15
Class 1
Class 1
Jun 2, 2026
1:06:55
Hisbodidus 101 with Faigy
16
Tznius Reframed
Tznius Reframed
Mar 28, 2026
51:17
What if tznius wasn’t about restriction, but about clarity, dignity, and discretion?Torah educator, international speaker, mindset coach, and founder of the Truth or Dare Movement, Yaffa Palti shares a powerful Torah perspective on identity, boundaries, and self-respect, offering a refreshing way to think about tznius and what it means to shine from the inside out.
17
The Magic in the Everyday - Rebbetzin Tzipora Weinberg
The Magic in the Everyday - Rebbetzin Tzipora Weinberg
Apr 25, 2026
54:51
What does it look like to actually live with awareness of Hashem, not just believe in it? In this episode, Rebbetzin Weinberg explores a powerful idea from Chassidus: that nothing in our lives is random, and even the most ordinary moments are filled with meaning, purpose, and connection. Through stories and real-life insight, she challenges us to notice the hidden “miracles” we’ve stopped seeing, and to experience Yiddishkeit as something alive, personal, and deeply real.
18
You Write Your Own Story
You Write Your Own Story
Mar 7, 2026
39:33
Slovie Jungreis-Wolff, acclaimed author, lecturer, and daughter of Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, shares a powerful Torah perspective on building authentic self-esteem in a world obsessed with external validation.In this conversation, she reveals why real identity comes not from what we wear or own, but from discovering our unique "spiritual fingerprint"—the singular gift each person brings to the world. She shares the counterintuitive truth that self-worth grows when we shift focus from ourselves to making others' eyes shine.Through personal stories, timeless Torah insights, and the legacy of her mother, this episode is a reminder that your light is not accidental. It is intentional. And the world is waiting for you to use it.
19
Class 9
Class 9
Aug 25, 2026
38:17
Faigy Blumstein
20
The Power of Letting Go with Goldy Guttman
The Power of Letting Go with Goldy Guttman
May 16, 2026
43:20
Sometimes the pressure to have everything figured out is exactly what keeps us stuck. In this episode, Goldy Guttman shares her journey from special education to leading Kosher.com, and the Emunah that guided her through every unexpected turn. Through honest conversation and relatable stories, this episode explores what it means to let go of control, trust the process, and discover that Hashem is with you in every step of the journey.
21
Connection, Not Perfection
Connection, Not Perfection
Apr 18, 2026
56:27
What does it really mean to have a real relationship with Hashem through tefillah? In this episode, Mrs. Faigy Zelcer, founder and director of Penimi, shares a deeply honest approach to tefillah, exploring the natural ups and downs, from feeling connected to feeling completely numb. She challenges common misconceptions and reframes tefillah as a dynamic, human experience rooted in relationship, not perfection.
22
Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly Imperfect
Mar 21, 2026
46:18
In this thoughtful episode, we sit down with educator Suri Weingot to explore the Torah perspective on one of the most universal experiences of growing up: struggle. Through powerful stories and Torah insights, Suri reframes inner battles not as failures, but as opportunities to grow and choose the right path. This conversation offers a refreshing perspective on why struggle itself can be one of the most meaningful parts of becoming who we’re meant to be.
23
Learning to Lead
Learning to Lead
Mar 14, 2026
56:35
In this episode, we sat down with Sara Rivkah Kohn, founder of Links Family Services, to talk about real leadership. She was just a girl in a tiny elementary school class of nine where everyone ended up with multiple jobs. Yearbook, G.O., choir, whatever needed doing. And it turns out those early experiences of figuring things out, making mistakes, and learning from people further along shaped everything that came after. We talk about the tension of being confident enough to lead while staying humble enough to listen. About choosing between two good things when you can't do both. About why she refuses to write "go-to guides" for grief because every person needs something different. And how studying Navi as an adult completely changed her understanding of what it actually means to protect the people you're responsible for. This conversation is about growth, hard choices, and becoming the kind of leader you'd actually want to follow. Not because you have it all figured out, but because you're willing to keep learning.
24
Raphael Mandelbaum - Greater than just business
Raphael Mandelbaum - Greater than just business
Jun 17, 2022
22:58
TYH Nation Presents EMUNAH AT WORK Raphael Mandelbaum www.LanTreebuild.com Laibel's Take on episode 2: This episode went in a direction that is quite different from what one would expect of an individual in the high-stress world of real estate development. Raphael’s approach transcends beyond the understanding that Hashem has a plan, even when things seem bleak. Instead, he sees our task of living with emunah as an elevated mindset that applies to all we do. Raphael’s message, seeped in the timeless lessons of Chasidus and machshava, is that we are to take life as a whole, both the holy and the mundane, as part of a greater mission to live in a world where mind matters over matter. It wouldn’t make sense, according to our guest, that all the waking hours we dedicate to work and the material world should not be part of our spiritual journey. Emunah at work is part of emunah and kvod Hashem everywhere. ------------------------ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://l.tyhnation.com/3b2jBxH Listen on Spotify: https://l.tyhnation.com/3Qsjvja ------------------------ Emunah is the core of our identity as a nation with 3,000+ years of putting our complete faith in One Above, but nowhere are its inherent challenges and apparent impediments more pertinent than in the realm of parnassah. The role of hishtadlus; coping with failure; the lucky and unlucky breaks; powering through those difficult periods––if you live with emunah, you will truly see emunah at work at your workplace. In this conversation series, Laibel Schwartz and TYH Nation sits down with business leaders and prominent members of the community to hear how they apply emunah at work and the impact emunah has on their business and personal lives. Join us on this journey of emunah and success. Laibel Schwartz x TYH Nation #EmunahAtWork #Faith #TYHnation #thankyouhashem Laibel can be reached on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laibelschwartz/ or by calling his office at 845-418-2527 Thank you Avraham Kohn and the entire Laibel Schwarz team for making this project happen!
25
Miracle Dirt with Nachum Ish Gamzu
Miracle Dirt with Nachum Ish Gamzu
Aug 5, 2024
7:14
Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. Miracle Dirt with Nachum Ish Gamzu Talmud Bavli, Taanis 21a CREDITS Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine Graphics by Flash of Design, and TYH Nation
26
The Tragic Tale of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
The Tragic Tale of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza
Aug 13, 2024
5:41
The Tragic Tale of Kamtza and Bar Kamtza Talmud Bavli, Gitten 55b The Talmud recounts this sad story to show us how much is at stake when two people can’t learn to forgive each other. Follow along as we explore the story of Kamtza & Bar Kamtza as the story comes to life with the clear message of bringing the Geula with Ahavas Chinam, simple love for each and every Jew. Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine Graphics by Flash of Design, and Tzivya Kravitz
27
Extending my personal mission
Extending my personal mission
Jun 20, 2026
3:43
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
28
Keep Calm and Carry On with Hillel Hazaken
Keep Calm and Carry On with Hillel Hazaken
Aug 26, 2024
5:02
Talmud Bavli, Shabbos 30b We all have times that our patience is tested and times we lose our cool. Come along on this amazing story of how Hillel remained calm despite the efforts of a man trying to make him angry, as we learn the great lesson that losing a fortune of money is better than losing yourself. Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. NEW EPISODES MONDAYS NOON EST Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine Graphics by Flash of Design, and Tzivya Kravitz
29
The land of Israel and being humble
The land of Israel and being humble
Jun 13, 2026
4:19
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
30
Frozen with Hillel Hazaken
Frozen with Hillel Hazaken
Sep 2, 2024
3:15
The amazing story of how Hillel risked his life to catch some precious words of Torah. Teaching us that when we really want something, nothing can stand in our Way!! This story can be found in Talmud Bavli, Yuma 35b. Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world-famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine Graphics by Flash of Design, and Tzivya Kravitz
31
Camping in the Dark with Rebbi Akiva
Camping in the Dark with Rebbi Akiva
Jul 31, 2024
3:32
Talmud Bavli, Berochos 60b Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. CREDITS Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine
32
Eli Schwebel - Thank You for the Music
Eli Schwebel - Thank You for the Music
Aug 11, 2024
1:13:52
About the Guest: Eli Schwebel is a Brooklyn-based recording artist and producer with deep roots in Jewish music. He played a key role in revitalizing Jewish Acappella and introduced a pop-rock sound that redefined traditional Jewish music. His solo album, Hearts Mind, is considered groundbreaking in the genre. Eli has performed at prestigious venues like Avery Fisher Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Jerusalem Theater, and recently had sold-out shows at Joe's Pub and David Geffen Hall. He has shared the stage with prominent artists such as Mordechai Ben David, Matisyahu, and Avraham Fried, and has performed with D'veykus and The Rabbi's Sons. Coming from a rich musical lineage, Eli is the son of renowned tenor Rivie Schwebel and the grandson of celebrated Chazan Aaron Schwebel and mezzo-soprano Florence Wassner. About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music. Follow WIJM on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/whatisjewishmusic?utm source=ig web button share sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Follow Eli Schwebel on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/elischwebel?utm source=ig web button share sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== Eli Schwebel - Original Music https://www.elischwebel.com/music
33
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Oct 1, 2025
11:03
Meditate with Faigy Blumstein: Yom Kippur
34
Tzedaka Saves Lives with Rebbi Akiva
Tzedaka Saves Lives with Rebbi Akiva
Aug 19, 2024
2:59
Talmud Bavli, Shabbos 156b This dramatic story of Reb Akiva’s daughter escaping certain death because she showed kindness and gave charity to the needy teaches us the wonderful lesson of how we should treat each and every Jew in need. Tzedaka Tatzil Mimaves - doing kindness could save your life! Rebbi Nachman teaches us that some people use stories to help them fall asleep, but Yidden know that holy stories actually help us wake up! Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal. Hosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari Silman AI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz Music and SFX by Yehudah Pinsker Filmed by Mendel Laine Graphics by Flash of Design, and Tzivya Kravitz
35
Hashem has many messengers
Hashem has many messengers
Dec 13, 2025
7:49
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
36
The Story of Rebbi Akiva
The Story of Rebbi Akiva
Aug 3, 2025
5:09
The amazing story of how, through consistency and sacrifice a simple 40yr old shepherd became the great Rebbe Akiva!Join TYH Nation and world famous singer and storyteller, Mendy Worch, on a journey through the stories of the Gemara, meeting some of our greatest sages as they teach us the lessons of our Rabbis. The visual effects will enhance your appreciation of the valuable life lessons contained in the words of Chazal.Listen on 24Six https://24six.app/app/video/content/1...Listen on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/27rE1Ew...Listen on Amazon Podcast https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/598...Listen on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...TYH Nation PresentsONCE UPON A DAFwith Mendy Worchhttp://TYHnation.com/DAFCREDITSHosted by Mendy Worch Produced by Ari SilmanAI Illustrations and edited by Mendel Katz
37
What’s the Avodah of the Iran war?
What’s the Avodah of the Iran war?
Jun 23, 2025
50:14
Episode 6: What’s the Avodah of the Iran War?In this timely and thought-provoking episode of “Tachlis, What’s My Avodah”, we hear from Reb Yussie Zakutinsky as he addresses the unfolding situation with Iran and the growing concerns about war.As the headlines grow more intense, many of us are left wondering what we, living far from the front lines, are supposed to do. Are we just spectators? Is watching and worrying all that’s expected from us?Reb Yussie gives clarity, perspective, and direction, helping us navigate this heavy time with purpose.We discuss:• What is the inner avodah during a time of war?• Is there something specific that Jews in America are meant to be doing?• How do we channel our concern into action that actually helps?We hope this episode brings guidance, grounding, and a sense of responsibility to all who listen.Tachlis, What's My Avoda? Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita | R' Yakov Wohlgelernter
38
Avraham Fried - Soul Music for The Masses
Avraham Fried - Soul Music for The Masses
Mar 3, 2024
41:40
About the Guest: Avraham has been inspiring audiences around the world with his unique blend of Chassidic, contemporary music for over thirty five years. He has released more than twenty five CDs. From NYC’s Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to London’s Wembley Hall and Tel Aviv’s Heichal Hatarbut, Avraham has performed in front of sold out audiences. Avraham's music is colorful. It is a delightful mix served in Yiddish, Hebrew, and English. There's upbeat music that will make you want to dance, and inspiring, heartfelt ballads that will make you want to pray and connect to something higher. About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music.
39
The pain of not being able to help another Yid
The pain of not being able to help another Yid
Jun 6, 2026
4:29
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
40
Yossi Green - Authenticity and the Power of a Melody
Yossi Green - Authenticity and the Power of a Melody
Feb 18, 2024
1:12:03
About the Guest: Yossi Green (born 1955) is a Hasidic Jewish composer of contemporary Jewish religious music. As of 2013 he had written more than 700 melodies[3] in the genres of pop music, classical music, liturgical music, Hasidic music, and show tunes. His songs have appeared on more than 120 albums and CDs. His clients include most of the superstars of the Orthodox Jewish music world. He has released four greatest hits albums titled Shades of Green, and a solo album, The 8th Note. He regularly performs at charity benefits accompanied by popular Jewish singers under the rubric "Yossi Green & Friends". About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music.
41
Class 5
Class 5
Jul 14, 2026
48:27
Faigy Blumstein
42
The Relationship of Kavod and Oneg Shabbos
The Relationship of Kavod and Oneg Shabbos
Nov 28, 2024
4:26
Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita Welcome to The Inner Light of Shabbos, a podcast Shiur dedicated to delving deeper into the beautiful and familiar aspects of Shabbos. Harav Yussie Zakutinsky invites you to explore the profound significance behind the rituals, traditions, and experiences that shape our weekly celebration. From the serene lighting of the Shabbat candles to the soulful melodies of Zemiros, and from the sanctity of the Kiddush to the reflective moments of Havdalah, we uncover the layers of meaning that can often be overlooked in our routine observance. Take another look at these cherished practices, uncovering the spiritual insights and historical roots that enrich our connection to Shabbos. Tune in to discover the inner light that Shabbos brings to our lives, and how each element of this sacred day can elevate our spirits and bring us closer to Hashem.
43
Class 2
Class 2
Jun 10, 2026
1:07:08
Faigy Blumstein
44
Helped by the Tzadikim of the generation
Helped by the Tzadikim of the generation
May 30, 2026
11:16
TYH Nation PresentsHold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikimwith Harav Yussie Zakutinsky----There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos….----Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWqListen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
45
Alex Claire - Authentic Expression in Jewish Music
Alex Claire - Authentic Expression in Jewish Music
Aug 13, 2024
40:08
About the Guest: Alex Clare, a British singer-songwriter, first gained widespread recognition with his breakout single "Too Close" in 2011. Born and raised in Southwark London, Clare's musical journey was shaped by the iconic music scene flourishing around him. After parting ways with his record label and embracing Judaism, Clare moved to Israel to Study in Yeshiva. This marked a profound evolution in his life and artistry, as he began infusing his songs with themes of faith, identity, and heritage. Alex is currently working on releasing his first Jewish album with 'Thank You Hashem' and Mendy Portnoy. He aims to infuse a sense of authenticity into the world of Jewish music. About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music. Chapters: 00:00 growing up 01:23 early music influences 02:14 starting to play music 03:08 what is a publishing deal? 07:24 strong London music scene 11:45 becoming religious 13:14 first interaction with Jewish music 15:12 listening to MBD 15:57 authenticity 19:15 Jewish music has gotten better 22:00 group writing sessions 23:32 living in Israel 24:31 what is Jewish music? 31:50 what will the music sound like in the beis hamikdosh? 33:50 what's coming up for Alex Clare 34:22 live music session
46
A thought of teshuva
A thought of teshuva
Jul 23, 2022
4:07
Gut Voch everybody. In the summer months, I can’t call it a minhag but very often what happens in camp late night motzei shabbos whatever it is they tell ghost stories and try to scare each other. Let me tell you a holy ghost story, the intention isn’t to scare anyone, hopefully we'll get some chizzuk. The story goes like this, don’t ask me to explain it, this is the maaseh. The Kotzker Rebbe was once walking with one of his chassidim and as they were passing by a particular area there was a bunch of hoodlums, of goyim. They were standing there, they saw the Kotzker and his talmid and they began to throw rocks at them. Saying anti-semetic things. Immediately the chassid, see these rocks coming so he ducks down behind the bush. But the Rebbe just stands there and continues walking. The chossid turns up and says Rebbe you have to hide, they’re throwing rocks. The Rebbe says Meh, there’s no goyim, there’s no rocks. Let me tell you something, those guys over there they’re not from the living. They’ve already passed on. They don’t realize it yet. They think they’re part of the world, but they’re not really. I’ll prove it to you. Stand up, you’ll see that all these rocks coming your way they’re not going to hit you. They’re not real. When you go close to them you’ll see that they’re wearing clothes of the dead. They go closer and that’s what they're wearing. The Chossid after this experience turns to the Kotzer with an amazing question and says Rebbe, how do I know that I’m alive? Maybe I’m also stuck thinking I’m alive but am not really. The Kotzker says if at any point in your life, you ever had a hirhur Teshuva, you ever had a real thought to becoming a better person that’s a siman that you’re alive. But if a person goes through life without even a moment of thinking or wanting to become better, then it could be that they’re not alive. That’s the siman of life. The siman of life doesn’t mean to be a tzaddik, or to be the person we want to become. But it’s the wanting to be that person. Having a thought of Teshuva of becoming better, that’s called being alive. When Hashem says I’ve placed before you good and bad, life and death choose life He doesn’t say choose good he says choose life. Good is something that comes after you choose life. Life is to want to do good. Now that you’ve chosen life you’ll be good. You have to choose life, and that means to have thoughts of Teshuva and become better people. That itself is making us alive, it’s injecting us with life-force itself. Hashem should help us, this week should be a week of Chayim, chayim amiti’im. True life, of growth, of Cheshek, desire, Hirhur Teshuva. We should be zoche that not just as individuals, all of klal yisroel should have that hirhur teshuva and choose that life and connect to life in a real way, in a pnimiyusdik way. With that be zocheh to the CHay Hachayim B’vias goel tzedek bimherah byamenu amen.
47
Having faith in Hashem
Having faith in Hashem
Nov 19, 2022
3:44
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
48
Staying Unfrozen
Staying Unfrozen
Jan 20, 2022
5:58
A Gut Voch Chevra, let me tell you a Maaiseh. The story goes, that the Baal Shem Tov once went to a number of his students in the bais medrash and he said, let’s go on a trip together. This is something he did very often; he would go on these mysterious trips and he would hand-pick particular chassidim for particular trips. One time he comes to a group of them and said we’re going on a trip together. They all get into the wagon, the Baal Shem Tov whispers the destination in the ears of the horse, he sits back and continue on. After a number of hours they find themselves in front of a frozen lake. Now, just to appreciate the scene, this was, the dead of winter in Russia by a frozen lake. The custom was in those days, a particular religious custom that the non-jews had, that in the middle of the winter during the time when they had their holidays in December and January the whole community would come out to the frozen lake, the children would ice-skate and so on. The children would also take sticks and carve crucifixes in the ice, that’s what they would do. then the priests would come, they would have ceremonies there, they’d have Mas there and it was a whole thing. Obviously not the place for a jew, not a place for the Baal Shem Tov, but this is where the wagon ends up in front of the frozen lake while all of this is going on. This is very strange, the students look at the Baal Shem Tov, and say “Maybe we took a wrong turn somewhere.” The Baal Shem Tov sees where they are and all of a sudden he becomes very excited. He jumps out of the wagon, he sees what’s going on, all the children making crucifixes, he sees the priests doing their services over there and the Baal Shem Tov gets even more excited. He puts on his gartel, straightens his shtreimel and walks over there. All the non-jews see this rabbi coming, they’re so shocked by the scene. They’re frozen solid and they didn’t know what to do. The Baal Shem Tov begins to close his eyes, daven and shuckle it’s mamash a whole Avoidah. The students don’t know what is going on over here, first they try to tell him, “Rebbe, this is maybe not the right place for us” but the Baal Shem Tov is completely fixated on this scene, completely in a state of Dveykus. After about half an hour or so, of being in that dimension he would go to and doing his avodah. The Baal Shem Tov says okay, “Ois Gepolt” mission accomplished. He takes off his gartel and they go back to their hometown back to the Beis Medrash. After all this the students go over to the Baal Shem Tov and ask him what in the world was going on?'' The Baal shem Tov says, there’s something in reality, the Ribono Shel Olam created the world in such a way that water is the source of all life. All good things, all delicious things, all holy things come from water. Water can be a mikvah, water sustains vegetation. Life comes from water, it’s unbelievable. But look at this, that lake that we visited is the same water. You see what happens when water freezes over, it can become an avodah zara mamash, it becomes an idol. A crucifix can be etched on the ice. There is such a phenomenon. The Baal shem Tov says I came to the world to try to fix that. There shouldn’t be such a thing that water should turn into a crucifix. What’s the eitzah, how does a person stop this from happening? The Baal Shem Tov says that such a thing could happen, when it’s extremely cold the water turns to ice and it can become mamash a crucifix. What’s the eitzah? Very often the world is cold outside, you can’t snap your fingers and make it summer time. So what can you do? The Baal Shem Tov said even if it’s cold the only reason the water froze is because the water was still, it wasn’t moving. If water is moving then no matter how cold it is outside, moving waters are not going to freeze. The Baal Shem Tov said the eitzah for a jew is you try to stay warm. You try as hard as you can, but sometimes it’s the
49
Aaron Gordon - Emunah as a Tool for Growth
Aaron Gordon - Emunah as a Tool for Growth
Jul 30, 2022
16:55
TYH Nation Presents EMUNAH AT WORK Aaron Gordon ------------------------ Laibel's Take on episode 4: Being a Yid is about responsibilities. Responsibilities towards Hashem. Responsibilities towards a fellow Yid. And responsibilities towards our children, including the heavy burden of instilling emunah into their hearts — like our parents did to us. All our experiences help sharpen this emunah and bring it into brighter focus so that it can be passed forward to the next generation. Adam HaRishon was told that “by the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread.” While this may exclusively seem like a curse, our conversation with Aaron helped me realize that it carries with it a tremendous blessing. We all embrace perceptions in our youth of what our emunah and relationship with HKB”H is supposed to look like. But as we face new challenges and go through our personal and professional journeys, we gain clarity and find our own path, one that can then be imbued in those who come after us. ------------------------ Listen on Apple Podcast: https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify: https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp Listen to more episodes https://tyhnation.com/pages/emunah-at-work ------------------------ Emunah is the core of our identity as a nation with 3,000+ years of putting our complete faith in One Above, but nowhere are its inherent challenges and apparent impediments more pertinent than in the realm of parnassah. The role of hishtadlus; coping with failure; the lucky and unlucky breaks; powering through those difficult periods––if you live with emunah, you will truly see emunah at work at your workplace. In this conversation series, Laibel Schwartz and TYH Nation sits down with business leaders and prominent members of the community to hear how they apply emunah at work and the impact emunah has on their business and personal lives. Join us on this journey of emunah and success. Laibel Schwartz x TYH Nation #EmunahAtWork #Faith #TYHnation #thankyouhashem Laibel can be reached on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/laibelschwartz/ or by calling his office at 845-418-2527 Thank you Avraham Kohn and the entire Laibel Schwarz team for making this project happen!
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Motzie Shabbos, Shabbos Teshuva
Motzie Shabbos, Shabbos Teshuva
Oct 1, 2022
9:38
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- A gut voch everybody. Motzei Shabbos shuva, everybody’s getting ready for Yom Kippur. I’ll tell you a Yom Kippur’dik Maaseh. It’s always a good thing to say stories of Tzadikim but in this time of year it’s important to say stories of R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. One Yom Kippur people were gathering in the shul and they were getting ready to start Kol Nidrei. They see in the corner of the room that there was a man clearly drunk and rieked? Of alcohol. People were thinking and talking saying what’s he doing drunk in shul for Kol nidrei? Finally the Rebbe comes in. The gabbaim quickly go open the Aron kodesh and they begin to take the sefer torah out for kol nidrei. Davka at that moment this drunk guy wakes up. He doesn’t even know what’s going on, he thinks it’s simchas Torah he screams 100 Ruble Ata horeisa. Everyone shushes him. The Berditchover turns to them and says let him be. And that’s what happened, that guy in the back was saying Ata Horeisa and dancing and everyone else said Kol Nidrei. Everyone was curious and went to ask the Rebbe why he didn't do anything about the man. The rebbe said, this guy's name is Reb Shmuel. He’s not a drunkard, he’s a good guy. How did it happen that he got drunk for Kol Nidrei? It was erev Yom Kippur, and this Shmuel got a message from one of the surrounding shtetlach that there was a widow who was late on their rent. You had to give rent to a Porutz and oftentimes they were antisemites. This widow with her children owes rent, she was very behind in her payments. This porutz (landlord) decided that he would take advantage of this time of year and on Erev Yom Kippur he threw them in jail. This Reb Shmuel heard about this, and he said how can I go about my day and let this family be in jail for Yom Kippur. So he goes to the Porutz and he says you don’t know who I am, but what’s it going to take to get this family out at least for Yom Kippur. The Porutz says I'm not budging. They’re staying here until I get every single penny they owe. And how much is it? He says 1000 ruble. He says I’ll give what I can give but I don’t have that money. Okay so they’re staying in jail. Reb Shmuel leaves, he’s not a gabbai tzedaka, a fundraiser by profession but I need to step up. I’ll give what I can, and I’ll go knock on doors. The problem is, everyone in the town was poor. The Gabbaim already went around collecting money for the poor people in the community, it was going to be difficult to raise money for a family from another town they don’t know about. He’s struggling to get the funds. After all his efforts in collecting money for Erev Yom Kippur he has 700 Ruble altogether which is an amazing accomplishment but this Porutz isn’t budging. He gave all the money he could, collected from the yidden as much as he could. As he’s walking home thinking of ideas, he sees people in a bar. And he happens to notice amongst all the people there, there was one particular table of young men dressed nicely and classy. He figures you know what, it can’t hurt to try. He goes into the bar, they look at him, they can tell that he needs something. He gives them the whole story with this widow and children who are stuck in jail for the holiday season and that he needs 300 more ruble. They see, hey we can have fun with this guy. They say, if you drink this whole bottle of Vodka we’ll give you a hundred Ruble. He’s not used to drinking, he sits down and starts preparing. He takes it down, they were super shocked and they give him a 100 ruble. They say you know what, if you drink another bottle we’ll give you another 100. He was already losing balance, pushing himself to take down the second. By now he’s already out of...
51
Shlomo Friedman - Asking Questions
Shlomo Friedman - Asking Questions
Aug 17, 2022
28:04
Questions, questions, questions. Our generation seems to have so many questions. Yet some people, and especially parents, are afraid of questions, part of which because we're trained that way — to be afraid. But once upon a dor, there was a time for questions! They were asked in the right way and answered with clarity. But is there a reason WHY this generation has so many questions? Perhaps a better way to look at this is a restructuring of mindset. Because what are questions if not a neshamah yearning for something so tangible, and authentic? Questions have a clear call to action. They say: "We don't WANT to live a fake existence! Give me something REAL!" In today's episode, we dive straight into the tough questions with Shlomo Friedman, CEO of Imperial Real Estate, a real estate brokerage that has overseen Lakewood's biggest residential developments of the past decades. One topic was Sales, and what started off with "questions," pivoted, and spun around again. Because: as a salesman, when do tactics become harmful? Shlomo takes us through the one factor that determines the ישרות of a sale, reveals how he "became close to Hashem through my business," and the Rav's surprising answer to a question that changed his life. Hint: the physical and spiritual worlds aren't so different, and our questions and searches that wind down alternative paths may just be two sides of the same coin, that have the same goal at heart. And while the beginning may capture your mind, the end will enthrall your heart, with a powerful message for business, life, for all ages, to fuel our everyday search and "reconnection" to Hashem. Laibel's take: It's not every day you get to spend time with someone who you feel comfortable diving deep with; but Shlomo Friedman is a special person, with a unique ability, passion, and perspective. Getting to the heart of what he does was meaningful for both of us. As the owner of Imperial Realty, Shlomo is responsible for the many changing faces of Lakewood, helping it develop into the thriving Jewish center we know it as today, and here, we dive into his journey, to see how his quest began with a question, the challenges that he faces, and what it takes to be authentic truly. We focus on business, life, and the series of challenges that so many of us as parents and children "clash" with throughout our lives. This particular meeting with Shlomo changed my life. And if you take the time to digest it, it might just change yours, too
52
Drink a Bottle of Vinegar
Drink a Bottle of Vinegar
Feb 19, 2022
3:11
A gut voch everybody. They say a Maaseh from the Divrei Chaim, the Sanzer Rov. There was once a yid in one of the neighboring towns and he had a very bad ulcer. He was going from Doctor to Doctor to try to find a remedy and it kept on getting worse and painful. Someone told him, the Sanzer Rov is not too far away you should go get a bracha. This man wasn’t particularly a follower of the Divrei Chaim but he believed in tzadikim so he said okay fine It’s a good idea to try. So he goes, travels to the Divrei Chaim. The Rov asks what the problem is, he says he has a bad ulcer. The Divrei Chaim closes his eyes and he says I think it would be a good eitzah if you walk down the block to the supermarket and buy a bottle of vinegar. If you drink the bottle you’ll have a refuah sheleima. Vinegar is never good to drink straight, and certainly not if you have an ulcer but that’s what the Divrei Chaim said and that’s what he does. He goes to the store, buys a bottle of vinegar, drinks and he was miraculously healed. A couple of years later this person has a friend who also develops an ulcer, also tried going from Doctor to Doctor trying to get advice but nothing’s working. The friend tells him I have the perfect advice for you. Go to the store, buy a bottle of vinegar and drink it. You'll feel better, that's what happened to me. He goes to the store, gets a bottle of vinegar and drinks it and he’s platzing, mamash dying from it. Quickly they don’t know what to do so they rush him to the Divrei Chaim. He was pale and white almost on his deathbed and he asked what happened? The man answers that I have a bad ulcer and I drank a bottle of vinegar. The Divrei Chaim asked, What are you doing drinking vinegar when you have an ulcer? It's the worst thing you can do. The man begs, Rebne. Please help me, give me some advice, I'm dying. The Rebbe closes his eyes and he says you know what, go to the store, buy a bottle of vinegar and you’ll be healed. He goes, buys it and has a refuah sheleima. It’s not the vinegar that cures, it’s the emunas chachamim, it’s a blessing from the tzadikim. Sometimes they have to bring us to have faith in them, they make us do strange things sometimes. It’s not the vinegar, it’s the tzadik and following their advice. Hashem should bless us, we should be zocheh to always know what the truth is. To never attribute our success to the bottles of vinegar, always attribute our success to our Emunah, Bitachon, davening, mitzvos and tzadikim of our generation. We should be zocheh to have a blessed week, a lichtigeh voch, a kavodik voch, a voch filled with geulah, simcha and nachas ad bli dai.
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On the shoulders of ordinary people
On the shoulders of ordinary people
Feb 12, 2022
4:36
A Gut Voch everybody. They say that when the Baal Shem Tov davened shachris Mincha or Maariv he had a very long Shmonei Esreh. One particular davening everyone was finished and people were standing around in the back waiting for the Baal shem tov to finish on Shabbos morning. Some of the chevra got together and said, usually we know how long the Baal Shem Tov’s Shemonei Esreh is and we figure, we’ll have a little bit of time right now. Let’s go home, we’ll learn a little bit, make Kiddush and by the time we’re done we’ll come back and the Baal Shem Tov will be done. So they went home, they made kiddush and learned a little bit. They came back, and the Baal shem Tov was sitting there waiting for them. He asks what happened? They say “Rebbe we’re so sorry usually the Shmonei Esrei is much longer and we expected to have a little more time but I guess it went quickly today.” The Baal Shem tov says “Let me tell you a story.” There was once a group of yidden and they were walking through a forest. One of the people noticed a rare and magnificent bird on top of the tree. One of them decided that it would be worth it to try to get the bird, it’s worth a lot of money and it would be a good thing to have. The problem is, none of the people were capable of climbing the tree all the way to the top. So they all decide that what they’re going to do is build a human pyramid. Then there’ll be one person to climb up the entire pyramid to get the bird. So everyone stacks on top of each other and one person is designated to climb all the way up. As he’s climbing up all the way to the top, the Baal Shem Tov says one of the guys on the bottom started thinking to themselves the following. “Listen, what do you need me for? There’s this whole pyramid, I’m not even on top, what am I needed for? I’m unnecessary so let me just leave and everyone else will take care of it.” So that’s what he did, he climbs out of the bottom row, stands up and starts walking out. Obviously what begins to happen is everyone begins to fall on each other because he was on the bottom row, and they needed every single member to make a stable pyramid for the person to climb up to the top to grab the bird. The Baal Shem Tov said “Listen, I go to very high places in my Shmonei Esrei, but you know how or why I’m able to? It’s because of you! We’re building something together. It looks like my Shmonei Esrei is private and yours is private as well but we’re all making this pyramid together. I’m climbing up and building upon all of your avodah in order to get that bird on top of the tree. But if you think that you could leave in the middle then guess what? The whole thing collapses then I can’t reach where I usually go to. When you guys leave the room, of course my Tefillah is shorter, I can’t reach that high without you being there!” There’s a big lesson for us to learn. We see tzadikim who accomplish big things and what are we? They build on us. Every single member of Klal Yisroel is a nuclear plant of divine energy. When we come together, that’s what creates the infrastructure to allow tzadikim to reach high places. We can’t ever think “What am I worth? What’s the significance of my Avodah? Who cares about me?” The greatest of the great are only able to accomplish what they can, because of all of Klal Yisroel who created the pyramid for them to climb on. When they eventually reach that bird and accomplish whatever they can accomplish it’s because of every single one of us. We should remember that and be mechazek our avodah. Even if it feels like we’re not accomplishing much, we're a part of that bigger pyramid and it’s because of us that great things are being accomplished by very special people. Haahem should bless us with that confidence, with emunah within ourselves, emunah in tzadikim. It should be a Gezunte Voch, a Lichtogeh Voch, a week of emunah, of madraigos of Avodah. We should be zocheh to see...
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Working on our Tefila
Working on our Tefila
Nov 5, 2022
7:38
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
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What the Baal HaTanya learned by the Maggid
What the Baal HaTanya learned by the Maggid
Jun 16, 2022
7:11
A Gut Voch everybody. The Baal Hatanya the first Lubavitcher Rebbe was a talmid of the Maggid of Mezritch.The maaseh goes that it was during sukkos one year, on Chol Hamoed and the Baal Hatanya found himself traveling for a particular issue was traveling to a certain town. On his way he happened to stop off in a certain shtetel. In those days it wasn’t like his face was so well known like it would be today and he looks like a normal yid. So he goes to shul like everyone else and it happens to be a Friday, about to be Shabbos Chol Hamoed. He finishes, he doesn’t really know where he’s going to stay. The minyan in those days was that there was a corner where people who needed a place would stand and after davening people would come and invite them. So that’s what the Baal Hatanya did. Someone comes up to him and says Reb Yid, do you need a place to stay? So he brings the Baal hatanya home, they bring him into the sukkah and right away this host can tell that this guest is a very special person. The way he davened, the way he just held himself. Then something stranger takes place. They’re in the sukkah and all of a sudden they hear strong thunder, lightning in the entire sky. In a moment they heard the sound of an intense downpour. Despite the fact that it was pouring, there was thunder and lightning and their sukkah was completely dry. The Baal Hatanya wasn’t surprised by this, but the host was mamash shocked. He walks outside and he’s soaking in the rain. A step into the sukkah and he’s completely dry. He knows that it’s not because of him and it’s because of his guest. So what does he do? Nowadays he would take a selfie or something and post it online. He decides to run to tell the Rov, and what type of thing I have here and that he should come over and eat in my sukkah. So he runs over and he tells the Rov what’s going on, that he has this guest who must be a tzadik nistar and it’s not raining in my sukkah. The Rov says come on, it’s not possible. The hose says no I’m telling you, come and see. So the Rov says fine, if you’re telling me you didn’t lose your mind. So he puts on his coat and they head back and he sees no rain in the sukkah. The Rov has an eye for these things and can see that the guest is really a special yid. Yankel (the host) moves to the side and lets the Baal Hatanya and the Rov talk on the side. They’re talking in learning and the Rov is beyond shocked to have such a great person in his midst. In the middle of the conversation the Rov asked why he was traveling. The Baal Hatanya said I was doing something for my Rebbe. The Rov asks, do you have a Rebbe? You’re such an impressive and talented yid! You could be the Rebbe of all of us. The Baal Hatanya answers yes I have a rebbe, The Mezritcher Maggid. The Rov asks, you already know kol hatorah kula, you’re obviously a really big tzaddik. What can you possibly be learning from the Mezritcher Maggid that you don’t already know? The Baal Hatanya doesn’t answer. They continue schmoozing and in passing the Rov says that he has a daughter who’s looking for a shidduch. At that moment the Baal Hatanya notices a jew passing by outside the sukkah, and the Baal Hatanya says, nu how about that yid? Does he have a son? The Rov looks at him and he says he actually does have a son. This Rebbe also has ruach hakodesh. The Baal Hatanya asks, what about him for your daughter? The Rov answers that he doesn’t think it’s shayach. So why not? If you must know, I’m the Rov, and he’s a bagel salesman. He has a push-cart and he walks around selling bagels to the townspeople. It’s not a shidduch. The Rov’s daughter and bagel salesman’s son it’s not kavodik. The Baal Hatanya was taken aback by that. He said, you asked me what I learned from the Mezritcher Maggid. I can’t tell you what I learn from the Maggid. But I could tell you that I learned that I could never say such words about another jew. What I learned is what...
56
As long as you live
As long as you live
Jul 9, 2022
4:21
Gut voch everybody. The great Rebbe of Radzin, Reb Gershon Henoch was a grandson of the Izhbitzer, Reb Mordechai Yosef of Izhbitz. The story goes like this. Reb Gershon Henoch, even as a tzaddik, an adult was a very fiery, confident, creative personality. People that are like that as adults usually start off like that as children as well. So when you have a child who has a big neshama like Reb Gershon Henoch coupled with that creative, energetic, confident changing the world type of personality it could sometimes become a difficult thing to manage. Reb Gershon Henoch was a little kid and he was walking in the city. In Izhbitz at the time, there was a stream, a river and there was a narrow foot-bridge to cross that stream. The width of the bridge was only wide enough for one person to walk at a time. It happens to be that Reb Gershon Henoch’l as a kid is trying to cross and to his mazel there’s a person walking in front of him. This was an elderly chassid who was walking very slowly. Reb Gershon Henoch’l is getting a little bit antsy so he starts pushing to try to get through. The older chassid turns around and says how dare you push me, do you know how I am? I’m an einekel of the chozeh of Lublin. Reb Gershob Henoch’l on the spot without flinching says so what, the Chozeh is dead. My grandfather is the Rebbe and he’s alive. The old man hears this and is shocked to hear such a thing so disrespectful about the Chozeh. After crossing the bridge the old man goes to tell on the little boy so he goes to the Izhibtzer. He knocks on the door, he goes in and tells the Rebbe what happened, he tried to cut me off and I told him I’m the einekel of the Chozeh and he says who cares the Chozeh is dead and my grandfather is the Rebbe he’s alive. The Izhbitzer was shaken up to hear that, he calls in his grandson and he says, nu is it true that you said that? The kid answers, yes I said it. The Izhbitzer begins to shake, to say such a thing and talk like that about the Chozeh? Who am I compared to the Chozeh. Reb Gershon Henoch’l as a kid begins to get nervous, feels a little bit bad and begins to cry a little. The Izhbitzer then says, but the truth is, the Chozeh is dead and I’m alive. And as long as I’m alive, I can be as great as Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai. That’s what he said to his grandson. That’s an amazing thing. Of course it goes without saying to respect gedolei hador. But as long as you’re alive, it means that you have a spark of the divine within you and the sky's the limit. Why limit yourself to the Chozeh, you can be as great as Rebbe shimon Bar Yochai. As long as you’re alive. The Chozeh was niftar, the Izhbitzer was niftar. Tzadikim of past generations are no longer here but we’re alive. As long as we’re alive we have to dream and aspire to be great people, if we aspire to be bigger then maybe we’ll become the people that we have to become. Hashem should help us that this week should be filled with Brachos, yeshuos and potential to be actualized. B’vias G’oel Tzedek B’mheirah B’yamenu amen.
57
Staying Unfrozen
Staying Unfrozen
Jan 20, 2022
5:58
A Gut Voch Chevra, let me tell you a Maaiseh. The story goes, that the Baal Shem Tov once went to a number of his students in the bais medrash and he said, let’s go on a trip together. This is something he did very often; he would go on these mysterious trips and he would hand-pick particular chassidim for particular trips. One time he comes to a group of them and said we’re going on a trip together. They all get into the wagon, the Baal Shem Tov whispers the destination in the ears of the horse, he sits back and continue on. After a number of hours they find themselves in front of a frozen lake. Now, just to appreciate the scene, this was, the dead of winter in Russia by a frozen lake. The custom was in those days, a particular religious custom that the non-jews had, that in the middle of the winter during the time when they had their holidays in December and January the whole community would come out to the frozen lake, the children would ice-skate and so on. The children would also take sticks and carve crucifixes in the ice, that’s what they would do. then the priests would come, they would have ceremonies there, they’d have Mas there and it was a whole thing. Obviously not the place for a jew, not a place for the Baal Shem Tov, but this is where the wagon ends up in front of the frozen lake while all of this is going on. This is very strange, the students look at the Baal Shem Tov, and say “Maybe we took a wrong turn somewhere.” The Baal Shem Tov sees where they are and all of a sudden he becomes very excited. He jumps out of the wagon, he sees what’s going on, all the children making crucifixes, he sees the priests doing their services over there and the Baal Shem Tov gets even more excited. He puts on his gartel, straightens his shtreimel and walks over there. All the non-jews see this rabbi coming, they’re so shocked by the scene. They’re frozen solid and they didn’t know what to do. The Baal Shem Tov begins to close his eyes, daven and shuckle it’s mamash a whole Avoidah. The students don’t know what is going on over here, first they try to tell him, “Rebbe, this is maybe not the right place for us” but the Baal Shem Tov is completely fixated on this scene, completely in a state of Dveykus. After about half an hour or so, of being in that dimension he would go to and doing his avodah. The Baal Shem Tov says okay, “Ois Gepolt” mission accomplished. He takes off his gartel and they go back to their hometown back to the Beis Medrash. After all this the students go over to the Baal Shem Tov and ask him what in the world was going on?'' The Baal shem Tov says, there’s something in reality, the Ribono Shel Olam created the world in such a way that water is the source of all life. All good things, all delicious things, all holy things come from water. Water can be a mikvah, water sustains vegetation. Life comes from water, it’s unbelievable. But look at this, that lake that we visited is the same water. You see what happens when water freezes over, it can become an avodah zara mamash, it becomes an idol. A crucifix can be etched on the ice. There is such a phenomenon. The Baal shem Tov says I came to the world to try to fix that. There shouldn’t be such a thing that water should turn into a crucifix. What’s the eitzah, how does a person stop this from happening? The Baal Shem Tov says that such a thing could happen, when it’s extremely cold the water turns to ice and it can become mamash a crucifix. What’s the eitzah? Very often the world is cold outside, you can’t snap your fingers and make it summer time. So what can you do? The Baal Shem Tov said even if it’s cold the only reason the water froze is because the water was still, it wasn’t moving. If water is moving then no matter how cold it is outside, moving waters are not going to freeze. The Baal Shem Tov said the eitzah for a jew is you try to stay warm. You try as hard as you can, but sometimes it’s the
58
A thought of teshuva
A thought of teshuva
Jul 23, 2022
4:07
Gut Voch everybody. In the summer months, I can’t call it a minhag but very often what happens in camp late night motzei shabbos whatever it is they tell ghost stories and try to scare each other. Let me tell you a holy ghost story, the intention isn’t to scare anyone, hopefully we'll get some chizzuk. The story goes like this, don’t ask me to explain it, this is the maaseh. The Kotzker Rebbe was once walking with one of his chassidim and as they were passing by a particular area there was a bunch of hoodlums, of goyim. They were standing there, they saw the Kotzker and his talmid and they began to throw rocks at them. Saying anti-semetic things. Immediately the chassid, see these rocks coming so he ducks down behind the bush. But the Rebbe just stands there and continues walking. The chossid turns up and says Rebbe you have to hide, they’re throwing rocks. The Rebbe says Meh, there’s no goyim, there’s no rocks. Let me tell you something, those guys over there they’re not from the living. They’ve already passed on. They don’t realize it yet. They think they’re part of the world, but they’re not really. I’ll prove it to you. Stand up, you’ll see that all these rocks coming your way they’re not going to hit you. They’re not real. When you go close to them you’ll see that they’re wearing clothes of the dead. They go closer and that’s what they're wearing. The Chossid after this experience turns to the Kotzer with an amazing question and says Rebbe, how do I know that I’m alive? Maybe I’m also stuck thinking I’m alive but am not really. The Kotzker says if at any point in your life, you ever had a hirhur Teshuva, you ever had a real thought to becoming a better person that’s a siman that you’re alive. But if a person goes through life without even a moment of thinking or wanting to become better, then it could be that they’re not alive. That’s the siman of life. The siman of life doesn’t mean to be a tzaddik, or to be the person we want to become. But it’s the wanting to be that person. Having a thought of Teshuva of becoming better, that’s called being alive. When Hashem says I’ve placed before you good and bad, life and death choose life He doesn’t say choose good he says choose life. Good is something that comes after you choose life. Life is to want to do good. Now that you’ve chosen life you’ll be good. You have to choose life, and that means to have thoughts of Teshuva and become better people. That itself is making us alive, it’s injecting us with life-force itself. Hashem should help us, this week should be a week of Chayim, chayim amiti’im. True life, of growth, of Cheshek, desire, Hirhur Teshuva. We should be zoche that not just as individuals, all of klal yisroel should have that hirhur teshuva and choose that life and connect to life in a real way, in a pnimiyusdik way. With that be zocheh to the CHay Hachayim B’vias goel tzedek bimherah byamenu amen.
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A tea party with the Vizvitzer Rebbe
A tea party with the Vizvitzer Rebbe
Aug 13, 2022
8:25
Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound affect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ------
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What's the avoda of falling off a scooter?
What's the avoda of falling off a scooter?
Aug 4, 2022
48:37
TYH Nation Presents Tachlis, What's My Avoda? with HaRav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita & Yakov Wohlgelernter Episode 1: What's the avoda of falling off a scooter? Listen in as Reb Yussie explores how we are meant to think when bad things happen. Even if we can get over the first hurdle and we know that it happened from Hashem, now we have to process what does it mean for me? Is it a punishment? A message? What is it? The first of our free flowing conversations also got into superstition, and why it is a prohibition in the Torah. As the conversation progresses, Reb Yussie shares an incredible insight about one minute divrei chizzuk style ideas and explains two different approaches to connecting to ones Rebbi, The Tzaddik, a teacher, or a mentor. ---------- HaRav Rabbi Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita is the Rav of Khal Mevakshei Hashem, in Lawrence NY and a major Mashpia on the lives of all who know him and learn from him. He always encourages his talmidim to recognize the deeper and hidden element of life. He teaches that all of our experiences are lessons in Avodas Hashem, and that even in the regular everyday moments, we have to constantly be asking what’s my avoda? What does HASHEM require from me? Listen in as Yakov Wohlgelernter and Reb Yussie explore various areas of life through this perspective. Each episode will examine different aspects of everyday life and help us uncover the meaning and beauty within them. Farbrengable Studios
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Staying warm through the winter
Staying warm through the winter
Sep 20, 2022
4:39
Gut voch everybody, I’ll tell you a maaseh. One of the great chassidim of the Tzamach Tzedek named Reb Hillel PAritcher and he would repeat this story that happened to him, in this time of Elul. And to him, this brought out what Teshuva and Elul is all about. He was walking on a late winter night in Russia somewhere. Those days, the Czar had a palace that he lived in, but the Czar had many different palaces. Even though the Czar was only in one palace at a time, every palace had to be guarded and respected because it’s still his palace and he coukld theoretically be there. One time, Reb hillel Parithcer was walking by one of these palaces, and he heard a lot of screaming and moaning, it wasn’t normal. He goes in to see what’s going on, he sees a young soldier who’s being beaten mercilessly by his higher ranking officer. It was a strange sight, he goes over and there’s a whole commotion over there. This young soldier was charged with standing guard and watching the place of the Czar. Most likely the Czar wasn’t even there, and unfortunately this young boy fell asleep and his officer cae around to check on him and caught him slacking off from his job. The proper mode of conduct is when the higher ranking officer walks by, he’s supposed to stand up. This young guy fell asleep and his boots froze to the ground, and this is why this kid is being beaten up. While this is happening this kid is begging for his life, please just have compassion on me. It’s so cold, I fell asleep for one minute and my boots froze. It’s so cold and i’m so tired it’s not my fault. The office said I was there 10 years ago when you took an oath to serve the Czar. That oath should keep you warm to this day. Reb Hillel Paritcher said nu, in the Tanya it says every single one of us before we come to the world we take an oath that we will be a tzaddik not a rasha. And even if the whole world is telling you you’re a tzaddik, don’t think your work is done. We take this oath then get sent to the world with all the coldness of the inter, the tough times, our oath has to keep us warm, an inner desire to be able to make sure our boots don’t freeze to the ground. Reb Hillel Paritcher says the avodah of Elul is to remember that oath that we took, Elul will help us dance, to go vaiter and fulfill that oath today, keeping us warm in the cold winter. Hashem should help us, this week as we get closer to the Yomim Noraim we should be zocheh to remember that oath, this is ultimately the secret of Teshuva, to keep us warm with this oath. We should be zocheh to have a week of yeshua and nechamos b’vias goel tzedek b’heirah b’yamenu amen.
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Even Higher
Even Higher
Sep 20, 2022
5:31
A gut voch. Please check back soon for a transcript of episode 26!
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The Rebbe Said it Would be Yellow
The Rebbe Said it Would be Yellow
Sep 24, 2022
4:03
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky ---- A gut voch everybody. I’ll tell you a maaseh, there was a yid in Russia going back some time. He had a daughter. This daughter at a young age developed some sort of issue with her eye, an infection or something. As a chossid, the first place this guy goes when his daughter isn’t feeling well is to the Rebbe. This guy was a chabad Chassid, and at the time the Rebbe Rashab was Rebbe. The Rebbe was not only a huge tzadik but was also familiar with medicine and science.The chossid brings his daughter to the Rebbe, he looks at her and says i’ll give her a bracha for a refuah sheleima. I see what’s going on with the eye and go to this particular pharmacist, gives a name and address and tell them that he should prescribe for your daughter a particular type of cream, it’s a yellow one and he should prescribe it to your daughter. The chossid takes the prescription, goes to the pharmacist and says that the Rebbe said to write a prescription for this cream, it’s a yellow one and my daughter should have a refuah. The pharmacist looks at the note, he knows what cream it is and goes to the drug store to get it.He finds it and hands it over and the chossid is on his way. They apply the cream for a few days but nothing’s happening, it might even be getting a little worse. What’s going on? The chossid is such a chossid, he didn’t even question the Rebbe he just took the cream. He takes a look and he sees that it’s not yellow! The chossid goes back to the pharmacists and shows him, the Rebbe said it was going to be yellow cream. The pharmacist said that it’s true that very often this cream is yellow but sometimes it’s made without the pigment of yellow but it’s the same cream. It doesn’t make a difference. The chossid said the Rebbe told me it has to be yellow, so make it yellow. So what should I do> Put food coloring in it? Yup. So that’s what he does, and the chossid is happy and thinks it’s going to work. He goes home, puts on the new cream and she was healed. It’s not the cream that heals her, it’s always the bracha of the Rebbe, of the tzadik. It’s always the ribbono shel olam doing things through the tzadikim and things of this world. Because it came out of the mouth of the tzadik that it’s going to be yellow cream, even if scientifically the color of medication is yellow, it doesn’t matter because what the tzadik said is what matters most. Hashem should help us that we should have emunas chachamim and tzadikim like this chossid had. We should be zocheh to all the brachos and yeshuos that come through all the tzadikim. We should be zhocheh to have a good week, B’vias goel tzedek b’imheirah b’yamenu amen.
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Motzie Shabbos, Shabbos Teshuva
Motzie Shabbos, Shabbos Teshuva
Oct 1, 2022
9:38
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- A gut voch everybody. Motzei Shabbos shuva, everybody’s getting ready for Yom Kippur. I’ll tell you a Yom Kippur’dik Maaseh. It’s always a good thing to say stories of Tzadikim but in this time of year it’s important to say stories of R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. One Yom Kippur people were gathering in the shul and they were getting ready to start Kol Nidrei. They see in the corner of the room that there was a man clearly drunk and rieked? Of alcohol. People were thinking and talking saying what’s he doing drunk in shul for Kol nidrei? Finally the Rebbe comes in. The gabbaim quickly go open the Aron kodesh and they begin to take the sefer torah out for kol nidrei. Davka at that moment this drunk guy wakes up. He doesn’t even know what’s going on, he thinks it’s simchas Torah he screams 100 Ruble Ata horeisa. Everyone shushes him. The Berditchover turns to them and says let him be. And that’s what happened, that guy in the back was saying Ata Horeisa and dancing and everyone else said Kol Nidrei. Everyone was curious and went to ask the Rebbe why he didn't do anything about the man. The rebbe said, this guy's name is Reb Shmuel. He’s not a drunkard, he’s a good guy. How did it happen that he got drunk for Kol Nidrei? It was erev Yom Kippur, and this Shmuel got a message from one of the surrounding shtetlach that there was a widow who was late on their rent. You had to give rent to a Porutz and oftentimes they were antisemites. This widow with her children owes rent, she was very behind in her payments. This porutz (landlord) decided that he would take advantage of this time of year and on Erev Yom Kippur he threw them in jail. This Reb Shmuel heard about this, and he said how can I go about my day and let this family be in jail for Yom Kippur. So he goes to the Porutz and he says you don’t know who I am, but what’s it going to take to get this family out at least for Yom Kippur. The Porutz says I'm not budging. They’re staying here until I get every single penny they owe. And how much is it? He says 1000 ruble. He says I’ll give what I can give but I don’t have that money. Okay so they’re staying in jail. Reb Shmuel leaves, he’s not a gabbai tzedaka, a fundraiser by profession but I need to step up. I’ll give what I can, and I’ll go knock on doors. The problem is, everyone in the town was poor. The Gabbaim already went around collecting money for the poor people in the community, it was going to be difficult to raise money for a family from another town they don’t know about. He’s struggling to get the funds. After all his efforts in collecting money for Erev Yom Kippur he has 700 Ruble altogether which is an amazing accomplishment but this Porutz isn’t budging. He gave all the money he could, collected from the yidden as much as he could. As he’s walking home thinking of ideas, he sees people in a bar. And he happens to notice amongst all the people there, there was one particular table of young men dressed nicely and classy. He figures you know what, it can’t hurt to try. He goes into the bar, they look at him, they can tell that he needs something. He gives them the whole story with this widow and children who are stuck in jail for the holiday season and that he needs 300 more ruble. They see, hey we can have fun with this guy. They say, if you drink this whole bottle of Vodka we’ll give you a hundred Ruble. He’s not used to drinking, he sits down and starts preparing. He takes it down, they were super shocked and they give him a 100 ruble. They say you know what, if you drink another bottle we’ll give you another 100. He was already losing balance, pushing himself to take down the second. By now he’s already out of...
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On the shoulders of ordinary people
On the shoulders of ordinary people
Feb 12, 2022
4:36
A Gut Voch everybody. They say that when the Baal Shem Tov davened shachris Mincha or Maariv he had a very long Shmonei Esreh. One particular davening everyone was finished and people were standing around in the back waiting for the Baal shem tov to finish on Shabbos morning. Some of the chevra got together and said, usually we know how long the Baal Shem Tov’s Shemonei Esreh is and we figure, we’ll have a little bit of time right now. Let’s go home, we’ll learn a little bit, make Kiddush and by the time we’re done we’ll come back and the Baal Shem Tov will be done. So they went home, they made kiddush and learned a little bit. They came back, and the Baal shem Tov was sitting there waiting for them. He asks what happened? They say “Rebbe we’re so sorry usually the Shmonei Esrei is much longer and we expected to have a little more time but I guess it went quickly today.” The Baal Shem tov says “Let me tell you a story.” There was once a group of yidden and they were walking through a forest. One of the people noticed a rare and magnificent bird on top of the tree. One of them decided that it would be worth it to try to get the bird, it’s worth a lot of money and it would be a good thing to have. The problem is, none of the people were capable of climbing the tree all the way to the top. So they all decide that what they’re going to do is build a human pyramid. Then there’ll be one person to climb up the entire pyramid to get the bird. So everyone stacks on top of each other and one person is designated to climb all the way up. As he’s climbing up all the way to the top, the Baal Shem Tov says one of the guys on the bottom started thinking to themselves the following. “Listen, what do you need me for? There’s this whole pyramid, I’m not even on top, what am I needed for? I’m unnecessary so let me just leave and everyone else will take care of it.” So that’s what he did, he climbs out of the bottom row, stands up and starts walking out. Obviously what begins to happen is everyone begins to fall on each other because he was on the bottom row, and they needed every single member to make a stable pyramid for the person to climb up to the top to grab the bird. The Baal Shem Tov said “Listen, I go to very high places in my Shmonei Esrei, but you know how or why I’m able to? It’s because of you! We’re building something together. It looks like my Shmonei Esrei is private and yours is private as well but we’re all making this pyramid together. I’m climbing up and building upon all of your avodah in order to get that bird on top of the tree. But if you think that you could leave in the middle then guess what? The whole thing collapses then I can’t reach where I usually go to. When you guys leave the room, of course my Tefillah is shorter, I can’t reach that high without you being there!” There’s a big lesson for us to learn. We see tzadikim who accomplish big things and what are we? They build on us. Every single member of Klal Yisroel is a nuclear plant of divine energy. When we come together, that’s what creates the infrastructure to allow tzadikim to reach high places. We can’t ever think “What am I worth? What’s the significance of my Avodah? Who cares about me?” The greatest of the great are only able to accomplish what they can, because of all of Klal Yisroel who created the pyramid for them to climb on. When they eventually reach that bird and accomplish whatever they can accomplish it’s because of every single one of us. We should remember that and be mechazek our avodah. Even if it feels like we’re not accomplishing much, we're a part of that bigger pyramid and it’s because of us that great things are being accomplished by very special people. Haahem should bless us with that confidence, with emunah within ourselves, emunah in tzadikim. It should be a Gezunte Voch, a Lichtogeh Voch, a week of emunah, of madraigos of Avodah. We should be zocheh to see...
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Hearing Your Story
Hearing Your Story
Jan 12, 2022
10:34
Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound affect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ------ A gut voch everybody, a gut voch, there’s a very holy minhag by many yidden on motzei Shabbos, when Shabbos ends jews sit down for melave malka, they gather together and say stories of tzadikim. It’s a very beautiful and holy minhag, so that’s what we’re gonna do, we’ll get together virtually and say stories of tzaddikim. So for tonight I wanted to share with you a thought. What’s the significance of saying stories of tzadikim? Why is it so powerful, and what exactly is the avodah? What’s the mindset that a person should be in when you relate a story and hear a story? So to explain that, I’m going to tell you a maaseh I’ll tell you a story that explains that a little bit. The story goes like this, when the baal Shem Tov was on his deathbed, so he gathered together a number of his great students and he told each one what their shlichus, what their mission is going to be for the rest of their lives in terms of spreading the Baal Shem Tov’s teachings. For example one student he said your mission is going to be to teach my Torah to as many people as possible. To one student the Baal Shem Tov said you’re avodah is going to do kindness to other jews in my name as much as possible, and so on and so forth. To one particular jew the Baal Shem Tov said, your Avodah, your job is to say stories about me for the rest of your life. Whenever you have the opportunity to say a maaseh about me the Baal Shem, you say the maaseh. This particular Chassid, who was the storyteller of the baal Shem Tov, not only was that his spiritual mission, that was also his parnassah. He would go around from place to place, people would hire him for you know parties, shabbatons, to be the story-teller, to be the entertainment to say maasim. So there was one particular story, one event where he got a letter in the mail from a particularly wealthy elderly man, this person was having a 90th birthday, he was gathering his whole family and so on, he wanted to make a whole thing of it, so in this letter he invites this storyteller to come for the weekend, to regale everyone with maasim of the baal shem, it’ll be a very nice birthday week. So fine, 100% that’s what the story-teller does. So he travels already Thursday afternoon Thursday evening to where the weekend is going to be, and he comes off the wagon and the birthday boy comes with his whole family to go greet him everyone’s excited, they have a whole tish setup, a whole party set up and the entertainment is going to begin, he’s going to say a maaseh. The storyteller comes and everyone is looking at him, everyone’s watching for the first story of the weekend, and he says let me tell you a maaseh and he completely goes blank. This is someone you have to appreciate it, he spent years and years amassing hundreds and hundreds of stories and he knew them off by heart, this was his life, and all of a sudden he’s there and he can’t think of one story. It’s a little embarrassing, the family says listen you just traveled today, it’s been a long journey, you’re a little tired, rest up, tomorrow we’ll pick up. So he goes to bed, he wakes up the next day all refreshed and he has a whole bunch of stories he’s gonna say....
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Pockets full of Faith
Pockets full of Faith
Jan 29, 2022
3:13
A Gut Voch everybody. There’s a story that the Mezrithcer Maggid, Rav Dov Ber of Mezritch who took over Chassidus after the Baal Shemn Tov passed away said the following Maiseh. He was by the Baal Shem, it was mamash right after havdalah, there’s a knock on the door and it’s an old woman collecting money for tzedakah. Everyone is still wearing their Shabbos clothes and the Baal Shem Tov turns to his Chassidim and says this lady needs x amount of money. Everyone reach into your pockets, pull out whatever you have and we’ll pool it together to see what we have. Everyone reached in and miraculously everyone had some money. When they counted it up it was exactly what this lady needed. This was the story the Mezritcher Maggid told the chassidim. Now the Mezeritcher Maggid turned to the chassidim and asked What’s the Moifes, the miracle of this story? What’s the great lesson to learn from this story. One person said well, we see that the miracle was that they had money in their pockets even though it was just Shabbos. Another chassid said even more than that, not only did they have the money but it was exactly the amount this lady needed. The Mezritcher Maggid said it’s true these are miracles but there are countless stories of the Baal Shem that are miraculous like that. The chassidim told the Maggid, Rebbe, now you tell us what you think the amazing part of the story is. The Mezritcher Maggid said I think it’s when the Baal Shem said to reach in your pockets to see how much money you have, without doubting at all they put their hands in. Even though they knew they doidn’t have their wallets on them it was just shabbos. Their Emunah in the tzaddik was so strong that without batting an eye they put their hands in. Of course miraculously there was money there but that’s not a chiddush. The chiddush is the faith of the students. That’s what we have to learn from these stories, not just about how amazing the tzadikim are but to have faith in them. To believe in the teachings of tzadikim and their lessons. Emunas Chachomim is of vital importance for ourselves, for our generation, for our children. Hashem should bless us that this week should be filled with EMunah, emunah in Hashem, Emunah in ourselves, Emunas Chachomim, Emunah in ourselves, Emunah in Torah and in Yiddishekeit. We should be zocheh to have a Gitteh Vuch, a Lichtig Voch and a blessed Voch.
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A Teshuva Practice
A Teshuva Practice
Sep 4, 2026
14:17
Faigy Blumstein
69
Class 8
Class 8
Aug 12, 2026
49:19
Faigy Blumstein
70
Class 7
Class 7
Jul 28, 2026
43:44
Faigy Blumstein
71
The secret of the Friday night davening
The secret of the Friday night davening
Nov 21, 2024
5:21
Harav Yussie Zakutinsky Shlita Welcome to The Inner Light of Shabbos, a podcast Shiur dedicated to delving deeper into the beautiful and familiar aspects of Shabbos. Harav Yussie Zakutinsky invites you to explore the profound significance behind the rituals, traditions, and experiences that shape our weekly celebration. From the serene lighting of the Shabbat candles to the soulful melodies of Zemiros, and from the sanctity of the Kiddush to the reflective moments of Havdalah, we uncover the layers of meaning that can often be overlooked in our routine observance. Take another look at these cherished practices, uncovering the spiritual insights and historical roots that enrich our connection to Shabbos. Tune in to discover the inner light that Shabbos brings to our lives, and how each element of this sacred day can elevate our spirits and bring us closer to Hashem.
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Calling with Honesty
Calling with Honesty
Nov 29, 2025
4:55
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
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C Lanzbom - Embracing mistakes, Shlomo Carlebach and The Grammys
C Lanzbom - Embracing mistakes, Shlomo Carlebach and The Grammys
Feb 3, 2024
44:21
Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music.
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Bracha Jaffe - Connection to G-d, Childhood dreams and the Art of Juggling
Bracha Jaffe - Connection to G-d, Childhood dreams and the Art of Juggling
Feb 12, 2024
34:13
About the Guest: Bracha Jaffe has attracted massive audiences across the world, bringing high end, professional Kosher entertainment to multitudes of Jewish women. Bracha recently sold out performances in London, New Jersey, Miami and Jerusalem where audiences were enraptured by her passionate singing accompanied by the all-female, exclusive all star Zahav band. Bracha is renown for connecting all Jewish sisters through her uplifting music. Being part of her audience is getting swept up into the magic and beauty that is Bracha Jaffe and Zahav. To Listen to Brachas Music, tickets to shows and find out more: https://linktr.ee/brachajaffe About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music.
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Michael Bogart -Tower of Power, the Navy, and Divine Providence
Michael Bogart -Tower of Power, the Navy, and Divine Providence
Mar 17, 2024
57:01
About the Guest: Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Michael Bogart has deep musical roots which spread through many boundaries as well as a career in music spanning decades. Known primarily for his trumpet and trombone playing, he played the jazz trumpet chair (and conch shell) on the legendary Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Nouveau Big Band in the late 1990's. From 2000-2009 Michael was the lead trumpet, trombonist and background vocalist for soul super group Tower of Power and can be heard on several of their albums, including the critically acclaimed 40th Anniversary: The Fillmore Auditorium. He has also recorded with artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Puff Daddy, and his mothers' favorite, Neil Diamond. After taking a break from touring and recording to retire from the United States Navy, focus on his spiritual path and study jazz at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London, Michael has been busy composing and recording his own music. His music is an earthy blend of soul influenced-straight ahead jazz and Hasidic Jewish nigunim (melodies). About the Podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music.
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Rabbi Blumstien - Infusing Life with Joy
Rabbi Blumstien - Infusing Life with Joy
Aug 18, 2024
33:20
Rabbi Heshy Blumstein is a dedicated educator and spiritual leader, known for his passion in mentoring young adults and guiding Jews of all ages. He serves as the Rabbi of Yismach Moshe in Woodmere and directs the Executive Learning Program at the Jewish Enrichment Center in NYC. As a teacher at Shulamith School for Girls and the father of the Blumstein brothers, founders of the TYH (Thank You Hashem) movement, his teachings have profoundly influenced the TYH music and its message of faith and gratitude. About the podcast: Dive into the Heart of Jewish Music with Mendy Portnoy: Where Music and Soul Collide. Imagine a young boy, one of nine children, captivated by the melodies of Shabbat prayers. In his mind, the cantor's voice wasn't alone; it soared alongside a full orchestra, transforming the synagogue into a concert hall. That boy, Mendy Portnoy, grew up to become a world-class producer, shaping the very soundscape of Jewish music with TYH Music and Farbrengable Studios. Now, Mendy invites you on a unique journey – not just through hit songs, but into the lives and minds of the people who create them. Join Mendy as he sits down with iconic voices, from soulful singers to talented songwriters and industry insiders. Each episode unveils the stories behind the music, delving into the joys and challenges of the music world, and the individual spark each guest brings to their craft. Peek behind the curtain and discover the fascinating people who shape the music that moves our Jewish community. But Mendy's podcast goes beyond celebrity interviews. Growing up in a vibrant family led by an orchestra conductor-turned-Rabbi, music was always woven into Mendy's experience of Judaism. This podcast is his quest to understand the very essence of "Jewish music" – its origins, influences, and what it means to those who create and embrace it. Whether you're a music aficionado, curious about the industry, or seeking a deeper connection to the melodies that touch your soul, Mendy Portnoy's podcast is your invitation to listen, learn, and be inspired. Join him on this exploration of where music and soul collide, and discover the vibrant heart of Jewish music. Let us know what you think at [email protected]!
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Finding the meaning in every encounter
Finding the meaning in every encounter
Jul 27, 2025
5:37
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Harav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
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Part 6
Part 6
Sep 11, 2024
4:24
TYH Nation Presents ELULvate With Alex Clare TYH Torah
79
Bnei Yissachar's Lasts Words
Bnei Yissachar's Lasts Words
Jun 24, 2023
6:06
There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos….
80
A Memory From My Childhood
A Memory From My Childhood
Jul 8, 2023
7:57
There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos….
81
Give Hashem our heart
Give Hashem our heart
Aug 5, 2023
8:43
There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos….
82
The Clock that gives me Simcha
The Clock that gives me Simcha
Aug 12, 2023
6:12
There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos….
83
Hearing Your Story
Hearing Your Story
Jan 12, 2022
10:34
Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound affect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ------ A gut voch everybody, a gut voch, there’s a very holy minhag by many yidden on motzei Shabbos, when Shabbos ends jews sit down for melave malka, they gather together and say stories of tzadikim. It’s a very beautiful and holy minhag, so that’s what we’re gonna do, we’ll get together virtually and say stories of tzaddikim. So for tonight I wanted to share with you a thought. What’s the significance of saying stories of tzadikim? Why is it so powerful, and what exactly is the avodah? What’s the mindset that a person should be in when you relate a story and hear a story? So to explain that, I’m going to tell you a maaseh I’ll tell you a story that explains that a little bit. The story goes like this, when the baal Shem Tov was on his deathbed, so he gathered together a number of his great students and he told each one what their shlichus, what their mission is going to be for the rest of their lives in terms of spreading the Baal Shem Tov’s teachings. For example one student he said your mission is going to be to teach my Torah to as many people as possible. To one student the Baal Shem Tov said you’re avodah is going to do kindness to other jews in my name as much as possible, and so on and so forth. To one particular jew the Baal Shem Tov said, your Avodah, your job is to say stories about me for the rest of your life. Whenever you have the opportunity to say a maaseh about me the Baal Shem, you say the maaseh. This particular Chassid, who was the storyteller of the baal Shem Tov, not only was that his spiritual mission, that was also his parnassah. He would go around from place to place, people would hire him for you know parties, shabbatons, to be the story-teller, to be the entertainment to say maasim. So there was one particular story, one event where he got a letter in the mail from a particularly wealthy elderly man, this person was having a 90th birthday, he was gathering his whole family and so on, he wanted to make a whole thing of it, so in this letter he invites this storyteller to come for the weekend, to regale everyone with maasim of the baal shem, it’ll be a very nice birthday week. So fine, 100% that’s what the story-teller does. So he travels already Thursday afternoon Thursday evening to where the weekend is going to be, and he comes off the wagon and the birthday boy comes with his whole family to go greet him everyone’s excited, they have a whole tish setup, a whole party set up and the entertainment is going to begin, he’s going to say a maaseh. The storyteller comes and everyone is looking at him, everyone’s watching for the first story of the weekend, and he says let me tell you a maaseh and he completely goes blank. This is someone you have to appreciate it, he spent years and years amassing hundreds and hundreds of stories and he knew them off by heart, this was his life, and all of a sudden he’s there and he can’t think of one story. It’s a little embarrassing, the family says listen you just traveled today, it’s been a long journey, you’re a little tired, rest up, tomorrow we’ll pick up. So he goes to bed, he wakes up the next day all refreshed and he has a whole bunch of stories he’s gonna say....
84
My goy is bigger than yours
My goy is bigger than yours
Jul 16, 2022
4:22
Gut Voch everybody. Let me tell you a maaseh. One of the great chassidim of the Baal Hatanya was a chassid, a tzadik by the name of Reb Shmuel Munkis. This Chossid Reb Shmuel was a huge eved Hashem, a huge tzadik, but he was a little mischievous and would do things in a funny way. He was a famous chassid, this is a maaseh that they say about how he originally became a chassid of the Baal Hatanya. He had heard about the greatness of the Baal Hatanya and he wanted to come visit him. He traveled to the Baal Hatanya’s city of Liadi. But in those days, he didn’t know what the Baal Hatanya looked like he didn’t have an address. He shows up at 3 o’clock in the morning and he’s planning to find the Rebbe. He looks throughout the city and sees there’s only one house where the light is still on. So he assumed that’s got to be the Baal Hatanya sitting and learning. He knocks on the door, the Baal Hatanya comes and Reb Shmuel falls on the floor. He says Rebbe i’m here, take me in, turn me into a chassid. So the Baal Hatanya stands up and says, how do you know that I’m the Rebbe. Reb Shmuel is taken aback by the question, and says you’re the only house still lit. The Rebbe says how do you know that the Rebbe’s house is filled with light? Reb Shmuel doesn’t know how to answer. After a minute, the Baal Hatanya says this place isn’t for you, get out. Reb Shmuel says no, I’m here. I want to be a chassid, I want to come in. The Baal Hatanya says no, this isn’t for you, I don’t know why you came here, go find some other Rabbi. Reb Shmuel says no, I’m staying, I'm going to learn by you, I’m not moving. So the Baal Hatanya says you’re not leaving from my house? This is trespassing, I’m going to get the goy and he’s going to pick you up and throw you out. At that moment, Reb Shmuel begins to cry and says, Rebbe, my goy is stronger than your goy. The Baal Hatanya smiles and says ahhh, then come in. What does that mean? What’s the Maaseh? What the Baal Hatanya was trying to say was you came trying to find me because my house was lit up. In other words, You came with the assumption that by a tzadik everything is light. And a tzadik doesn’t have a goy. Doesn’t have a yetzer hara, everything is perfect and fine. By you connecting to a tzadik and trying to become one you’re goal is to become a person that’s full of light, and light alone. But when Reb Shmuel said my goy is stronger, ah, now you have a goy inside, now you can serve Hashem. Without the fake face, pretending as if there’s just light. There’s choshech in the world, there’s choshech inside of us. And aderaba, with our choshech, with our darkness, with our goy inside of us that’s how we come to serve Hashem. We serve Hashem with everything we have, especially with honesty. That’s the ikkar avodah to become a chossid, to become a tzadik you come with you go, with everything you have that’s how you serve Hashem. Hashem should help us that this week should be a week of light, of Ohr. But if we have choshech within ourselves, in those situations we serve Hashem with that choshech as well. We’re honest with ourselves, we admit it and we do our best with that choshech. Hashem should bless us that it should be a lichtigeh voch, a mazaldik voch, a simchadik voch and with that we should be zoche to the great light of all lights b’vias goel tzedek, amen.
85
Shloime Zionce on Traveling, Chassidus & Connecting with Jews Around the World
Shloime Zionce on Traveling, Chassidus & Connecting with Jews Around the World
Sep 3, 2023
33:25
Shloime Zionce, a 29-year-old Hasidic Filmmaker, podcaster, and writer, has racked up over ten million views and over 50,000 subscribers on his popular YouTube channel where he travels the world, including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Dubai, & much more. He talks to Nissim about traveling, growing up Chassidish, and connecting with Azerbaijani Jews.
86
Berel Solomon Talks Secrets to Jewish Wealth, Kanye West, & Building Bridges | The Nissim Black Show
Berel Solomon Talks Secrets to Jewish Wealth, Kanye West, & Building Bridges | The Nissim Black Show
Sep 10, 2023
42:47
Berel Solomon, an Orthodox businessman, movie producer, and financial guru, shares the secrets of Jewish wealth to the world. Berel has racked up over ten million views and over 135,000 subscribers on his popular YouTube channel where he talks about the intersection of Judaism and business. Today, Nissim talks to Berel about building bridges between other communities and how Nissim deals with his fame.
87
Working on our Tefila
Working on our Tefila
Nov 5, 2022
7:38
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
88
Having faith in Hashem
Having faith in Hashem
Nov 19, 2022
3:44
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
89
Badchan & the Baal Hatanya
Badchan & the Baal Hatanya
Nov 27, 2022
4:15
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
90
Shabbos Chanukah - Connecting to the Tzadik
Shabbos Chanukah - Connecting to the Tzadik
Dec 24, 2022
8:02
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
91
A game of "Rebbe-Chassid"
A game of "Rebbe-Chassid"
Dec 31, 2022
6:02
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
92
I knew he would never leave
I knew he would never leave
Jan 7, 2023
9:21
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
93
The Tailor and the Poretz
The Tailor and the Poretz
Jan 21, 2023
6:06
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- --- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
94
Who told you I'm a Tzadik?
Who told you I'm a Tzadik?
Feb 4, 2023
4:01
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- Gut Voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the Baal Hatanya’s sons, Reb DovBer (who later became the Mitteler Rebbe) was known as not just a genius but a huge eved Hashem. Someone who davened with intense dveykus. The mayseh goes when the future Mitteler Rebbe was young, when he was married he went to his in-laws in a different town for a shabbos. He noticed at shul when he was davening there was a particular yid wasn’t davening with as much kavannah and hislahavus that this jew could have. The Rebbe saw it as part of his avodah to help other yidden so he went over and told this yid we can all work on our tefillah and you too. This yid said I know, I need to work on it and maybe I'll get to the point where I'm doing as good as I can do and maybe even as good as you. Let me tell you why we are different. My parents are simple people. When my parents were having a kid Hashem saw that my parents were trying, simple yidden. So Hashem gave simple parents a simple child. I’m a simple neshama. Not only am I simple, I was raised in a home that was g-d feeling. I went to yeshiva but when I was 14-15 years old I had to go help my father make a parnassah. The years went on, I daven 3 times a day, go to the mikvah I learn whenever I can but that’s as far as my education goes. When it was time to have my own parnassah, my mazal was that I work in the shuk, I sell merchandise. So what do you think I do in my store all day? I’m talking to people and hondling all day, constantly. The truth is, most of my clients are non-jewish farmers. I sell farming equipment and most of the clients are non-jews. When they come and they hondle enough they’re finally ready to pay but they don’t have the money on the. So I have to keep track, write down they’re name and address and it’s a whole process to get the money. These are farmers, they work very early in the morning so I have to get there very early, before sunrise to get to their house. Then when I get there they see me and they know I’m here to collect money so they try to push it off, have me sit down, meet their family and then maybe I’ll get their money. That’s my life. When I come home, I’m already tired and I shlep myself to mincha and Maariv. I will try to open a sefer a mishna. Is my kavannah perfect? No. But it’s the best I can do this is the pekelach I was dealt with. And now he says, let’s turn to you. What about you? Your parents, your father, your mother are the tzadikim of the generation and have big big neshamos. What kind of neshmos did Hashem give them? A big neshama, so you have one too. Now that you have a big neshama, you were raised in the house of the Baal Hatanya. Raised in the house of Tzadikim, to people who are devoting their lives to Avodas Hashem. You don’t have to do anything but sit and learn and devote yourself to avodas Hashem. You have to appreciate where you come from and where I come from. That was the end of the conversation. The Rebbe never ever had a conversation like that. No one ever spoke to him like that. He was mamash shaken up. At the end of the day this yid’s right. What is my entire Avodah’s worth? Everything that I’m committing all my Avodas Hashem maybe is nothing compared to them. It’s true that my davening is greater than his, but based on the background that I have he’s right. He laid out the situation very well. Who knows what my avodah’s worth, maybe it’s worth much less than this yid. He was mamash shaken up to the core like this. He decided after Shabbos was over he’ll go back home to his father, he’s going into yechidus by the Baal Hatanya to work this out. As a side note, by these tzadikim obviously the Baal Hatanya was his father, but he was also his Rebbe. It’s a funny,...
95
Express Emunah in your own way
Express Emunah in your own way
Feb 12, 2023
4:22
TYH Nation Presents Hold on to Shabbos with Stories of Tzadikim with Rav Yussie Zakutinsky / Farbrengable Studios ---- There is a tradition amongst Jews, that on Motzei Shabbos, we get together and share stories of Tzadikim. These tales of holy people, from times long ago, can have a profound effect on our week. On Shabbos we rest from our weekday activities, and we have an opportunity to reconnect with who we really are. The energy and spirit of Shabbos enables the ultimate rendezvous with our true selves and deep moments with our Father in Heaven. And then, right before we re-enter the world of action, we sit together and recall the lives of our exalted Tzadikim, gleaning lessons, morals, and values to carry this spirit of unity forward with us…Until next Shabbos…. ---- Watch on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa0-NXTiGxS 1Ygf8 Vpvz seEDpU1dF4 Listen on Apple Podcast https://l.tyhnation.com/3nLiuWq Listen on Spotify https://l.tyhnation.com/3PaVGLp
96
Our Physical Presence
Our Physical Presence
Feb 25, 2023
6:52
A gut voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. You know, tzadikim look like they’re operating on the same plane as we are, they walk through a doorway, they breathe air like we do. But the truth is, Tzadikim and tzidkanios are operating on a different space altogether so i’ll tell you a mayseh about that. Everyone’s heard of the tzadik reb Mendel Rimanover, when he was younger he spent time by Reb Meilech of Lizhensk. One Friday night they were by the tish, with many chassidim and they get up to the soup. The waiter comes out with the soup, takes a bowl and puts it in front of Reb Meilech. Reb Meilech looks at the soup, he takes a bowl and spills it on the floor. As the rebbe spills it on the floor, Reb Mendel Rimanover says rebbe we’re going to go to jail, and Reb Meilech says no no no, we’re here. The whole thing makes no sense, what is he doing spilling the soup, what does the response mean that we’re here? After things calmed down, the chassidim asked the rebbe what happened. So this is the mayseh. Back then the yidden were controlled and somewhat owned by the Porutz, the land-owner. And for the most part the Porutz can do what he wants and it would give tzaros. But there are some things that even the Porutz can’t do and would need permission from the prince or the King. The porutz who owned the shtetl that Reb Meilech was a part of, was a big anti-semite and was always looking for excuses to get rid of yidden. He wasn’t able to fully expel Yidden, he needed permission from the higher-ups, he had to submit an official complaint against the jewish people to his higher-ups and then g-d forbid his plan would be fulfilled to expel the yidden. But in order for this claim to be made it had to be done in a proper way, with documentation and paperwork etc. The story was that Friday night, the porutz was sitting in his office with an official paper and reservoir of ink while the tish is happening. He’s about to fill out this paperwork to file his official complaint and submit it to his higher-ups and it would result in the yidden being expelled. It happens to be that porutz, his personality was an extremely superstitious person. And it happens to be that Reb Meilech knew, that if at that moment while he was filling out the paperwork if something happened that if the porutz saw something happen that was a bad sign he would stop writing the document and drop the idea. So what Reb Meilech was doing was that while he’s by his tish, that’s where his body is. Where his mind is is at the office with the porutz. When Reb meilech picked up the soup and poured ito n the floor, what he was doing in his mind in the room with the porutz was he was taking the ink and poured it on all the papers, and the Porutz stopped it all. Reb Mendel of Rimanover was on the same wavelength, he was by the porutz also, so when he sees reb meilech spilling the ink he says rebbe we’re going to go to jail for this, and Reb meilech says no were here, physically we’re actually here no one sees us there. Tzadikim are operating in a different space. What’s amazing here is you see the different levels of tzadikim, Reb Mendel Rimanover was a tzadik in his own right, he couldn’t identify a part of himself in this world. Reb Meilech was able to be with his mind in one place and to also be down in this world, with the chassidim at the tish. He was able to recognize that and sort of come to terms with that split, being in one place spiritually and one place physically. This is one of the biggest qualities of tzadikim, of being in 2 places at one time. Of being able to identify being involved with physical thing, being involved with people, being fully there but at the same time being fully elsewhere as well. That’s a big...
97
Where is your mishloach monos?
Where is your mishloach monos?
Mar 4, 2023
5:50
A gut Voch everybody, it’s almost Purim so I’ll tell you a Purimdik mayseh. The minhag of the Chozh was, on Purim everyone would come to theRebb, there was a big tish and there was a certain section off to the side where people would leave mishloach manos. No one ever thought that the Rebbe was paying attention to who gives shaloach manos or not. There was a particular year that Moishele came to the Tish, this guy was a little bit of a schlepper, a shlamazel. Never really had hatzlacha, never was matzliach in business he was always a little tzebruchen. With a complaint, things could be better. Moishele comes to the tish, the rebbe looks at him and says where’s the Shaloach manos? Everyone’s surprised the rebbe realized and Moishe shrugs his shoulders, why should I give shaloach manos? I can’t afford anything. The Rebbe says it’s Purim, you have to give. Now the Rebbe is personally asking for shaloach manos. I can’t give a can of corn, a can of peas. I have to do something nice. But he doesn’t have money to get it. So Moshe goes into the store, one of the nicer grocery stores in the area and he says I need the best packaged mishloach manos. The guy looks at him and he’s indicating, you Moishele want the nicest shaloach manos, how will you pay for it? He says today is Purim, give me what I need and I'll pay tomorrow. This was the first time the store-owner saw Moshe had a bit of an edge, a back-bone. He gives and he goes to the rebbe, he says yasher koach, you should have a freilichen Purim. Moshe leaves, he says to himself, you know I just gave the rebbe such a nice shaloach manos, my wife and kids are gonna have a shvach meal at home. So he goes back to the store, takes a whole meal, chicken, meat and the owner says how will you pay for it? He says it’s purim, i’ll deal with it tomorrow. Then he says look at how i’m dressed, how my wife and kids are dressed he goes into the clothing store with the same spiel and asks for the best stuff and we’ll work it out tomorrow. With every addition he’s standing taller, a little more confident, becoming more of a respectable person within himself. Slowly but surely, he gets home and his rebbetzin asks where’d you get all this stuff? He says it’s Purim today we’ll talk about it tomorrow. Slowly but surely the confidence that Moishy built on Purim itself, even after Purim he felt why can’t I start my own business? He goes to a friend of his and he asks for a loan in order to start this new business. His friend is a little confused and he says listen we’ll make it work and he sells the idea. Slowly but surely he builds his business and he becomes one of the wealthier people in the are, all because of the Rebbe’s Mishloach Manos. Sometimes we define ourselves as shlemazals and it’s a self-fulfilling promise. What the rebbe was saying is that you're a somebody, and you have a responsibility to live up as somebody. You have the responsibility and the right to give me mishloach manos, and through that he pulled him out of being a schlemazel. To give him the confidence to become the person he was supposed to become. Hashem should bless us, that we should walk taller with confidence, and strength. To recognize what we have to offer for the world, not to be entitled by that but to be filled with a sense of responsibility, mission and drive in order to accomplish what he has to accomplish. We should have a mazaldik voch, a simchadik voch. We should have a week filled with simcha, b’vias goel tzedek, amen.
98
Saved by the Challah
Saved by the Challah
Mar 11, 2023
6:39
Gut voch everybody, I’ll tell you a mayseh. One of the great tzadikim, was Reb Yitzchak Vorker. He was known for his Ahavas Yisroel, he was known for his overflowing kind heart. It was once an erev shabbos, he was getting ready with his rebbetzin. There was a knock on the door, and it’s a beggar. It’s not a jewish poor person, it’s a non jew who’s begging. Usually when a poor person comes they ask for money, or don’t ask for anything specific. But this beggar asked for something specific, he said that he wants some challah. He said he was hungry and he knew it was before shabbos and every jewish home has challah so he asks specifically for challah. The Rebbetzin is thinking to herself, if it was a jewish beggar it wouldn’t be a question but for a non-jew it’s different. She goes to check what she has and she sees that all she has is the 2 challahs for lechem mishna for them. They were going to have the tish so they only needed 2 challahs at home for 1 meal Friday night. The halacha is even if the Rebbetzin decided to cut a piece the halacha is you need 2 whole loaves in order to fulfill the mitzvah of Lechem Mishna. She says listen, I apologize we don’t have any challahs here and she’ll give some money instead. Reb Yitzchak of Vorke is in the other room and he hears what’s happening he comes over to the rebbetzin and says it’s okay we’ll cut a piece and give him half the challah it’s not going to bleed, no blood will come from it. Okay that’s what the Rebbe said that’s what the Rebbetzin did and that’s it, that was this part of the story. Months go by, years go by and one day Reb Yitzchak Vorke was traveling with a small group of chassidim. In those days, especially in that part of the world, traveling was extremely dangerous and you’d have gangsters going after people and ransoming them to their communities for money. So this is what happened, Reb Yitzchak Vorke is traveling and they’re attacked by a group of bandits. They’re all tied up and brought to the leader of the gand to then be sold for ransom from the Jewish community. They knew the yidden would pay so much money for any yid, especially someone who looks like a rabbinic figure. Once the head gangster is standing there and sees the Rebbe he immediately says let them go. What happened? Reb Yitzchak of Vorke notices this head gangster and after looking at him for a second he realizes he was that poor beggar that years ago came and asked for challah. Eventually he became the head of this gang, when he saw the rebbe, he said this jew saved my life when I needed saving so we’re going to let him go as well. Reb Yitzchak Vorker and the chassidim go on their way and by the time they get home the Rebbe tells his rebbetzin what happened. He says to his rebbetzin, remember years ago there was a situation where a non-jew came on erev shabbos with a funny request and I said cut the challah no blood will come from it. Even when I said that I meant it as a joke, I didn't even know what it meant. It turns out that what I said was true, because we cut the challah and gave it to that poor person, no blood, no damage, no danger is going to come because of that particular mayseh. There’s so many things we can take from that, just the kindness not just to a poor yid, but to a poor goy. To the extent that he sacrificed his lechem mishna for that. We see that the Ribbono shel olam always plants seeds. You never know what yeshua you need years later. The ribono shel olam gives us a mitzvah right now, and we don’t see the immediate schar or how it might change our lives. We have emunah, we plant seeds, we plant chesed then yeshuos come. It might be years later, we might realize it or not but every single act of chesed is planting a seed that produces peros of a...
99
Focusing on the individual
Focusing on the individual
Mar 19, 2023
6:39
Gut voch everybody. I’ll tell you a mayseh, the Frierdike Lubavitcher Rebbe, Reb Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, we know that he was moser nefesh. Literally put his life in danger constantly to spread yiddishkeit under the weight of the soviet union. To the point that it only was he always being watched by the soviets and the communists, but he was imprisoned, he was put on death row, his life was literally in danger for weeks until eventually his sentence became lessen and eventually he was just exiled and kicked out of the soviet Union and came to America. We can only imagine, someone who was imprisoned, what their mind would be focusing on. That’s the difference between us and tzadikim. It was well known that the Rebbe Rayatz’s house was being watched and monitored by the communists. Whenever a jew were to go visit the Frierdiker Rebbe it was putting their own life in danger as well, even just to associate with the Rebbe. This was a story that happened the night before the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested, his life was in the balance for mamash a month. The night before a yid comes, knocks on the Rebbe's door. He says Rebb, my problem is that Boruch Hashg=em my wife just gave birth to twins. But I need a bracha, it was a difficult pregnancy, a difficult labor she needs a refuah. The twins are healthy but they’re not nursing properly, they have some problems with the Doctors. Okay, for this yid to even come knock on the door, it’s clear that it’s a severe situation. The Rebbe gave a bracha, took down the names okay. The next day the communists break into his house, he’s arrested for a month and his sentence is reduced from death to exile and eventually he leaves. Once he’s on his way out, he stops by the house to gather his belongings to leave the country. The first thing he said when he came in the door, and seeing his family after a month he asked how’s the mother and the twins doing? With his own personal life being in danger, all the mosdos, inyanim that were dependent on him as well, what was also on the top of his mind and the first words that come out when he comes home are how are they doing. That’s what a tzadik is, they can somehow think about the individual person even when things are so overwhelming. Hashem should help us. We should be zocheh to connect to tzadikim like that, to become tzadikim like that in our own light. This week should be a mazaldik, simchadig voch, a nachasdik voch filled with Brachos ad bli dai, shefa ad bli dai b’vias goel tzedek, amen.
100
The Way of the Baal Shem
The Way of the Baal Shem
Mar 25, 2023
7:09
A gut voch everybody, so I’ll tell you a mayseh. Back in the earlier years of the movement of chassidus, of the Baal Shem there was a large opposition to it with the misnagdim. Unfortunately it’s a historical fact that families were broken because of it, let’s say you’d have one family member who became a chassid and the rest of the family were misnagdim and families fell apart because of it. The story goes that there was a young man who was attracted to the world of the Baal Shem and became a chassid. At the same time his father in law wasn’t a chassid, wasn’t a misnaged either but was certainly cautious. He was willing to give a proper investigation of the way of the Baal Shem, to see if it’s okay or if drastic measures should be taken for his daughter and the marriage but he wanted to investigate. He figures the way to test the Baal Shem’s way of life, if it’s too extreme or will take his son off the derech so he decided he would go to the Baal Hatanya. The town wasn’t too far from the father in law so he figured he would go there for a shabbos, see what’s going on and make a decision after that Shabbos. So he goes there, it happens to be that shabbos by the Baal Hatanya nothing strange was going on. Regular davening, learning it was very nice. After shabbos was over this guy was very impressed and the result of the investigation was he was more than happy for his son in law to be a chassid. But there was one thing that bothered him, not enough to make a big stink in the family but it was bothering him. He saw that the students of the Baal Hatanya spent a lot of time over Shabos learning Chassidus, learning Pnimiyus hatorah and this bothered him that they were sacrificing learning gemara and halacha. He saw everyone was happy and healthy so he was happy for this son in law but this bothered him. He saw people going to yechidus with the Baal Hatanya so I’ll give shalom on my way out and I’ll raise this issue. So he goes, he says it was beautiful. I'm coming from a different world, but I have one question. Why do you and your chassidim spend so much more time, maybe it’s only shabbos but you spend more time on chassidus than other things? Shouldn't the main learning be Gemara and halacha? The Baal Hatanya appreciated the question. He asked how do you make a parnassah? The man answered I have a business. And how much funds are in the business? He gave a certain number. The baal hatanya responded, how much of that was your funding, and how much was money from other people to start the business and maintain the business? The man said I put all my money into the business then I had to borrow some as well, but now it’s profitable boruch hashem. The Baal Hatanya said but I don’t understand, you're a learned person. The gemara said that the way a person should divide up your money should be a third in real estate, a third in business and a third should be in cash. That’s the way it’s supposed to be split up, why didn’t you follow that model? The man said okay it’s a good question, I’d say that the gemara is suggesting this model probably when the business environment is stable and everything is fine and it’s a matter of how to divide up your funds. But if the business environment is shaky to begin with then a person has no choice but to take big risks. It is risky but what can I tell you, without putting in all my money it never would take off! If everything was mesudar and there was enough money then you can follow the gemara. But sometimes you have to take extreme risks. There can be extreme rewards. The Baal Hatanya said that’s exactly why I tell my chassidim to learn a lot of chassidus. When everything is good, normal and healthy in Emunah the gemara says you split your time evenly and there’ll be time for chassidus. But in a time where