The Shmuz

901

#169 Anger Taming the Monster Within

Mar 9, 2019

44:38

We've all had that moment when we lost it and said something we shouldn't have said -- something we later regretted.The intriguing part is that when the heat of the moment has passed, not only do we feel badly about what was said, often, we can't understand what came over us? "It was like I was possessed or something". This Shmuz #169 Anger- Taming the Monster Within, deals with some of the mechanics of anger in the human, and by understanding why we get furious, we gain insight into what we can do about it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

902

#170 Sweet Revenge

Mar 9, 2019

41:57

The Rishonim tell us that nothing is sweeter then revenge. When a person feels he has been wronged, he waits - scheming and dreaming of ways to even up the score. If this is so instinctive a trait in the human, how can the Torah expect us to eliminate it? And even more significantly, revenge by definition is justified; I am only returning to him what he did to me. Why would the Torah demand that we avoid it? This Shmuz deals with a different perspective on revenge and offers us a vantage point for dealing with many life situations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

903

#171 Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

Mar 9, 2019

43:47

We all have those moments in life: a demanding boss, difficult people, situations that spin out of control. Learning how to effectively deal with trying circumstances goes a long way towards a happy, successful life.If I am easygoing by nature, the secret to handling these situations is straightforward: follow my temperament. But what if that isn't my natural bent? What if I allow things to get to me? Or what if, over and over again, I just seem to lose it? This Shmuz offers a perspective on life that allow us to more easily deal with the trying moments that come our way. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

904

#172 Tisha B'Av 2000 Years Later - Where Are We?

Mar 9, 2019

53:14

For almost 2,000 years, the Jewish people have been driven from land to land across the globe. Exiled from our home with the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash, we have been forced from continent to continent and country to country - tortured, oppressed, and banished. For a short while, we find haven in one country, only to be kicked out again and chased to the next place in a never-ending series of tragedies. This reality brings many questions: Why is the Jewish people so oppressed? Why is it that the other nations stand up to destroy us in every generation? Why is it that the one universal law of history is that everyone hates the Jew? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

905

#173 Children of HASHEM

Mar 9, 2019

40:32

Am I worthy to ask for even more than what I have been given? Why should HASHEM grant my requests? This Shmuz deals with our relationship with HASHEM, and helps us focus on some basic issues of davening and bitachon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

906

#174 The illusion of reality

Mar 9, 2019

42:46

The illusion of reality See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

907

#175 Rosh Hashana Prep - Yom Ha Din

Mar 9, 2019

36:33

"Dip the apple in the honey, have a good sweet new year." We teach our children that touching song, and that is what we all wish for: a good sweet year with bracha and hatzlacha in all that we do. But that often isn't the case. If we look back on previous years we see many things that were sweet, but also things that weren't. Some parts of our lives are downright bitter and we wish they'd never occurred. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

908

#176 A Diamond with a Flaw

Mar 9, 2019

44:33

The difference in value between a perfect diamond and an almost-perfect diamond can be a king's ransom. With the same cut, clarity, and color, a flawless ten-carat diamond might be worth two hundred dollars, while a diamond with a tiny flaw can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's right. The flawed diamond is worth more. Why? Because a completely flawless diamond is a fake. Real diamonds have imperfections. They may be small and almost unnoticeable, but they are flaws all the same. In fact, looking for imperfections is one of the methods professionals use to determine whether a diamond is a real gem or just cubic zirconium. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

909

#177 Being Grateful

Mar 9, 2019

39:22

This Shmuz deals with a basic concept in our becoming effective human beings: developing the trait of appreciation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

910

#178 To One Person You May Be the Whole World

Mar 9, 2019

43:31

While we may be aware of the influence that our thoughts and attitudes have on the way that we act, we rarely focus on the effect that we have on others. After all, who am I? Am I so important that I can really change other people? Do my actions really sway them? While this may be true for our relationship with most people, for each of us there are a few individuals on whom we have a profound influence. This Shmuz focuses on the concept that to the whole world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the whole world. By focusing on this, we come to a better understanding of the impact that we have on others and how we can use that opportunity for the best possible results. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

911

#179 The Commitments of a Jew

Mar 9, 2019

37:53

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

912

#180 Why We Want Mosiach Now

Mar 9, 2019

43:53

Since the time that we were young children, we were taught, "We want Moshiach now!" This concept is not the exclusive domain of fringe elements of Jewry; rather, it is a basic tenet of our religion. The Rambam counts it as one of the Thirteen Main Principles, and if one denies it, he is considered a heretic with no portion in the World to Come. And so, we daven for Moshiach. We sing songs about Moshiach. We wait for Moshiach. But do we understand why? Do we understand what it is that we're waiting for? This Shmuz focuses on what life will be like in the times of Moshiach, and why in fact we anxiously await his appearance. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

913

#181 Emunah in Difficult Times

Mar 9, 2019

46:07

This Shmuz deals with the attitude and approach that we should have in these trying times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

914

#182 Tolerating Evil: A Perspective on Recent Events

Mar 9, 2019

45:26

This Shmuz deals with the attitude and approach that we should have in light of recent events. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

915

#183 With Perfect Faith: Bitachon in Turbulent Times.

Mar 9, 2019

49:30

For those of us paying bills and trying to make ends meet, dealing with the uncertainty in the marketplace today has become a major issue. This Shmuz deals with the attitude and approach with which to view current events. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

916

#184- The Galus Mentality

Mar 9, 2019

42:53

He's got money." "They come from a well-to-do family." "He's a man of means." It is often difficult to sense the influence that society has upon our way of thinking until certain events transpire and bring them to light. The recent financial meltdown is one of those events. It's a chance to see how much we have adopted from outside influences. One of the negative values that we have picked up from the society we live in is rating people by their financial success, where money becomes the sole measure of "making it." It has gotten to the point that for many people, their self-worth is directly tied to their net worth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

917

#185 Responsibility

Mar 9, 2019

38:54

The adult is mature; the child is immature. The hallmark of the immature is to shirk responsibility; the characteristic of the mature is to take responsibility. While we understand that so much of being an effective human being is based on being responsible, the message that comes to us from society at large is "I'm not responsible," and "It's not my fault." It's almost counter-cultural to be responsible. This Shmuz focuses us on the role that responsibility plays in all of our relationships and its significance in allowing us to reach our potential. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

918

#152 - In G-d's Image

Mar 9, 2019

44:46

Shmuz Info Coming Soon... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

919

#153 - Marriage: A Work in Progress

Mar 9, 2019

1:01:41

Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss.Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't . This Shmuz is Part I of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

920

#155 - Chanuka: Flexi-dox Judaism

Mar 9, 2019

51:24

Sorry, Shmuz info coming soon. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

921

#154 - PART II Marriage: A Work in Progress

Mar 9, 2019

57:48

Each one of us stands under the chuppah starry-eyed, knowing full well that we have found eternal love and bliss.Yet, something happens between that moment and real life. The reality is that getting married is easy, but staying married isn't . This Shmuz is Part II of a Marriage series that deals with the essential of creating long lasting Shalom Bayis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

922

#156 - Get Out of Debt

Mar 9, 2019

58:50

Shmuz Info Coming Soon... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

923

#157 - Learning to Love Learning

Mar 9, 2019

49:05

Shmuz info coming soon...buts its a really good Shmuz! Be well everyone.-Yechiel See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

924

#158 -Me & My Big Mouth

Mar 9, 2019

44:10

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

925

#159 - 212 Degrees - Just One Degree Hotter

Mar 9, 2019

56:54

Info coming soon, iy"H. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

926

#160 - Purim: Sheep to the Slaughter and Concert Bans

Mar 9, 2019

56:40

When Adar enters we increase Joy. Yet how can we be happy when we live in such troubling times? From rockets falling daily on S'derot, to the brutal massacre of 8 of our Yeshiva Bochurim in Yeshivat Merkas HaRav -- It has been difficult to feel joy. In the midst of it all many are troubled by the recent ban by Gadolim on a concert in America. This Shmuz attempts to make sense of the events we are living through, and offers a perspective on our times. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

927

#161 - April 15th: The Test of Emunah

Mar 9, 2019

54:34

To most of us, April 15th is nothing more than a deadline for filing our personal taxes. But when a person begins thinking about life from a broader perspective, they come to recognize that April 15th is a great test -- It is a test of my beliefs in practice. Do I truly believe that HASHEM runs this world and not I? Do I truly believe that HASHEM determines how much money I am to make this year? Do I somehow believe that I will only get that amount if I bend the rules a bit?And the final test comes when I sign on the words:"Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this return and accompanying schedules and statements, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, they are true, correct, and complete."Then I face the challenge: Do my actions fit my beliefs? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

928

#162 Learning to Care

Mar 9, 2019

48:02

Of course, he's a nice guy. Everyone is a nice guy. Yet how do you explain all of the pettiness and downright nasty things that people do to one another on an ongoing basis? This Shmuz focuses us on one of the most important functions in a human: learning to truly care about another human being and sharing his plight. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

929

#163 Only the Good Die Young

Mar 9, 2019

48:34

Is there an explanation for a woman in her mid-thirties, the mother of four children, to be struck down by cancer? Does it make sense that a forty-year-old should take a jump shot on a basketball court and die in mid-air? It seems that we are witnessing more and more young people dying. The question is: why? This Shmuz focusing on understanding the reason behind all human suffering. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

930

#164 I Hate Critic

Mar 9, 2019

34:14

Info coming soon.. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

931

#165 The Art Of

Mar 9, 2019

41:30

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

932

#168 - Emunah

Mar 9, 2019

49:56

The Rishonim tell us that the most assured way to come to belief in HASHEM is to look out at the world. When a person sees the beauty of the universe; the conformity of every part working together as a unit, everything so orderly and so reliable--the sun rising every morning exactly at the appointed time; the tides always pulling in the pre-described manner; the forces of nature all so seemingly untamed, yet always performing within a predictable, set pattern; all diverse parts conforming to a master plan--the world itself cries out: there is a Master to this house!Yet, many intelligent, educated individuals look at this very phenomenon, study it, discuss it- and don't see HASHEM. Quite the opposite they attribute it all to some lucky roll of some cosmic dice. All of this wisdom just evolved, the entire plan just happened. How can we reconcile the undeniable evidence of a creator with the reality that many, many people just deny it? And how does it affect our own belief system?This Shmuz explores some of the basics of Emunah, and brings us to a deeper understanding of what causes a person to believe or not believe. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

933

#166: Everybody is doing it

Mar 9, 2019

35:01

We live in times when society at large has lost its moral compass. Particularly in the United States, once a bastion of family values and morality, we now watch daily as new innovations in decadence and promiscuity pour forth. We can't open a newspaper without being exposed to a new depth of moral decay. Ideas, concepts, and images that wouldn't have been accepted in the most base of publications a generation ago are now common place in the most respected ones. We may be tempted to assume that this doesn't affect us. After all, we are different. We don't buy into the culture of the times. And while we may feel self-assured and secure in our position, the reality is that we are human, so it can't help but affect us. The question is: what can we do about it?This Shmuz explores the influence that society has upon us, and offers practical insights to deal with it. . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

934

#167 - Sefiras Ha'Omer Countdown to Ka'balas Ha'Torah

Mar 9, 2019

36:26

We all know the importance of learning, and we certainly value it in our daily lives. Yet, somehow that sense of significance doesn't always translate into reality. there may be many days that we don't learn as much as we can, and if pushed to the wall, all of us would admit that we could be learning more. But we're not. Why is this? If we claim to truly value Torah, if we admit to its vitality in our lives, how is it that we just don't seem to be learning as much as we know we can. This explores the true motivations to learn and offers some insightful perspectives on increasing our involvement in learning Torah. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

935

#138 - The Potential and The Present

Mar 9, 2019

57:01

"Considering where I come from and what I've been through, I'm doing pretty well..." While this may be a comforting position to take, the question a person must ask themselves is: is this really all that I can be? What if I were to stop making excuses? What if I was to truly hold myself accountable to live up to my potential? What if I was to go full blast - how great could I be? This question is essential for growth, but it is also one of our greatest pitfalls. If we don't clearly see how much we are capable of, we cannot chart the course toward our potential. However, with a realistic view of where we are now and a clear understanding of what we could become might lead to depression. This Shmuz focuses us on maintaining a balance between the two views needed for steady growth: a clear understanding of where we are now and a vivid image of what we can be, even if we won't reach those levels for many, many years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

936

#137 - Being Sensitive

Mar 9, 2019

45:17

Almost all of the people that we deal with are reasonable, well intentioned individuals. And so too, am I. Yet, in the course of life, there is conflict, hurtful words, vengeful acts And, in that rare moment of self honesty, I realize that everything that happens isn't the "other guys fault". I too, am to blame. There have been situations where I acted in a manner that was cold and callous. There have been times when I acted with cruelty and malice. The question is why? It's not that I am not a nice guy, I know I am. Yet there are times when that's not the way I act. The question is why would a nice, caring individual act in a manner very inconsistent with that image? And more significantly what can I do about it?This Shmuz focuses us on one of the keys to growing in all human relationships: learning to focus on the Inner Condition how people actually feel, and learning to ignore the Outer Condition the show that people put on to hide what is actually going on in their heart. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

937

#139 - The Power of Speech

Mar 9, 2019

51:57

We know that the Torah is very exacting in regards to Loshon Horah: there are 17 negative and 14 positive commandments concerning disparaging speech. In fact, the Rambam paskens like the Gemara, that the sin of Loshon Horah is worse than the sins of Idol worship; illicit relations, and bloodshed. The question is why? Of all of our activities why does the Torah see fit that this one should be dealt with so severely? What is so egregious, so horrific? After all its only words.. ..This Shmuz deals with the Torah's view of the power of the spoken word, and its effect on human relationships. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

938

#141 - Parenting Part IV - Sibling Rivalry

Mar 9, 2019

55:14

Since the time of Kain and Hevel, it seems a given that brothers fight. Even in the most refined home, where individuals are polite and respectful, siblings take liberties with each other that they wouldn't dare take with outsiders- it is almost as if an unwritten law permits the torture of siblings. What is even more surprising is that individuals we know, good people, who outside the home are so courteous and caring, act very differently when they are amongst their closest family -- What is even more shocking is when those "People", turn out to be you and I. The question is why? Why does the very closeness and attachment we share with family bring out contention, and what can we do about it? This Shmuz explores some of the forces that drive sibling rivalry, and offers strategies to deal with it, whether in the role of parents or sibling. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

939

#140 - The Arabs and The Jews

Mar 9, 2019

58:29

The Palestinians have aspirations of political freedom as do every people. Their requests are merely of sovereignty and political rights-- and of course, once they have been granted these, they will live in harmony with their neighbors, recognizing Israel's right to peaceful coexistence. Or will they? An opened minded view of the current situation brings grave doubts to the true desires of the Arabs in general and the Palestinians in particular. This Shmuz focuses on some of the underlying causes of the Arab's attitude towards the Jews, and why Western Culture has such difficulty relating to the core issue. WARNING: If your worldview is shaped by CNN you will find this Shmuz disconcerting. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

940

#144 - Stages of Change Part II Support Groups

Mar 9, 2019

43:02

Recent studies show that in 2004, there were an estimated 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States, and 70% of them want to quit. Each year, 35% do attempt to stop, yet only 5% succeed -- clearly change isn't easy. Willpower alone isn't enough. A good program for change alone isn't enough. To make change permanent, we need outside help. Support groups are successful for this very reason. Weight Watchers reports that people who attend meetings lose three times as much weight as those who don't. Same program, same motivation. The only difference is the social component of support. Our goal as the Chosen Nation is not only to change destructive personal habits, but to change our very natures, our character traits, and our approaches to life -- the type of spouses we are, the type of parents we are, the type of human beings we. Clearly it is a formidable challenge- one that we were given a lifetime to tackle. And provided we have the motivation, systems and knowledge of how to change, we can accomplish it. In this second of a three part series on the mechanisms of change, we focus on how support systems function and how important they are in making change permanent. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

941

#142 - The Power of Laughter

Mar 9, 2019

43:12

There are certain life lessons that they don't teach you in school. One of them is the importance of maintaining a sense of humor. Not only is this one of the key elements for maintaining a sense of balance and joy as we travel through the trials of life, in terms of our relationships with others, a light touch often spells the difference between harmony and strife-love and hate. Focusing on the adage that "He who laughs, lasts.. .." this Shmuz underscores the power of laughter -- a force that improperly used, can cause much harm, but properly utilized is one of the keys to leading a successful life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

942

#143- Stages of Change Part I Denial

Mar 9, 2019

57:56

The Vilna Gaon tells us that the main reason for life is to change our middos -"If not" he says, "Why should a person have life?" The difficulty with this mandate is that it means: I have to change. While in theory I may be open to grow -- I may even recognize the many advantage to my life, in practice we humans find it very difficult to change. Ask a person who has smoked for 20 years, "How easy it is to change?" Ask a person who is 40 lbs overweight, "Don't you want to lose weight?" The reality is that even when we recognize the need to change, actually carrying out the process seems to be a daunting task-and it's not just about willpower. This is part one of a series of Shmuzin, focusing on the dynamics of change. Whether my aim is to stop: gambling, over eating, drinking, or improving my character traits; by understanding the different stages, techniques and mental states, that are a necessary part of change, we can be more successful at attaining our goals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

943

#145 - Stages of Change Part III Taking Action

Mar 9, 2019

52:05

When a person recognizes that he needs to lose weight, it isn't enough for him to read all the latest diet books and find a great plan - the person has to actually "do it." He has to go on that diet and stick to it. But "doing it" requires motivation, not just the initial motivation to begin, but long-lasting motivation that will withstand the tests of life, allowing changes in behavior to become permanent. Why is it that some people are able to maintain that positive focus and other aren't? Are there techniques for "getting motivated", and maintaining that sense of empowerment? This issue is especially relevant to us, the Chosen Nation. Our mandate is not only to change damaging personal habits, but to change our very nature, our character traits, and our approaches to life -- the types of spouses we are, the types of parents we are, the type of human beings we are. To do this, we must have a constant source of motivation and drive. Changing our very nature is difficult work. Where does this drive come from? How can we stay that motivated throughout life? In this third part of a three-part series on the mechanisms of change, we focus on using moments of inspiration and learn how to lock them in, so that we give ourselves the constant source of inspiration needed for change. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

944

#146 - The Impact of One Mitzvah

Mar 9, 2019

46:46

I do daven with a minyan. I don't. I do a chesed -- I don't. Does it really matter? Does it really make a difference? Very often we find ourselves thinking what is the big deal? Will my actions really change my life? Will they change my world? Yet every once in a while, we come across a single action that does change the world-- a shot heard around the world. Our natural assumption is that these types of acts are relegated to singular people, living in highly unusual times and circumstance. Yet, Chazal have a different appreciation of the value of a single act. From their vantage point a single mitzvah, accomplished by an ordinary person, is so important, that it exceeds anything we could ever imagine. The question is why? What is the big deal? After all said and done, it was only one Mitzvah, it's not like the entire universe: heaven and earth, are dependent upon that one act.Using HASHEM's answer to, why Nevuchadneser merited becoming one of the most powerful kings in history, as a backdrop, this Shmuz helps us enter Chazal's world view of the impact of even one Mitzvah. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

945

#148 - Rich, Richer, Richest - How to be Wealthy

Mar 9, 2019

55:23

Hot, hotter, hottest. Fast, faster, fastest. In the English language we distinguish between the adjective, a descriptive word, and the superlative, an adjective taken to its extreme. Yet when we think about wealth, that distinction somehow gets lost. If I am not as rich as Bill Gates, then I am not rich. While the Torah does not guarantee that any individual will be wealthy, it does offer a tried and true formula for a person to enjoy riches in this world. This Shmuz focuses on the concept of wealth, appreciation and the concept of being rich. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

946

#147 - Finding G-d

Mar 9, 2019

49:30

On 12 April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Upon his return, he made the famous statement, I have proven that G-d doesnt exist I was in heaven, and I didn't see any God up there." While we may find his logic simple minded, in reality, he makes a valid point. How can the Torah expect us to believe in something that all of our senses deny? We relate to the world through our five senses, yet none of them can perceive the presence of HASHEM. How can a person be expected to see HASHEM when everything he experiences clearly denies HASHEM existence? This Shmuz focuses on how we can come to see HASHEM clearly and experience His presence in our lives. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

947

#149 - The System of Tshuvah

Mar 9, 2019

51:47

We know that Tshuvah works. The Nivim told us it does, Chazal repeat it many, many times, and we even have Yom Kippur, a day created specifically for tshuvah. The question isn't whether Tshuvah works, but why I don't make use of it? Why is it that I don't stand there on Yom Kippur with tears flowing down my face, repenting, improving, ridding myself of a year's worth of iniquities? It isn't that I don't want to. It isn't even that I don't believe in it. It just seems that I don't feel a need to repent. This Shmuz focuses on the motivation to do Tshuvah and the different parts of the Tshuvah process. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

948

#150 - Being a Religious Atheist

Mar 9, 2019

45:49

An atheist is someone who doesnt believe in G-d. A religious person is someone who practices a lifestyle that serves G-d. It would therefore seem obvious that being a religious atheist would be a contradiction in terms. Yet not only isnt this correct, the phenomenon of religious atheists is far more prevalent than we realize. This Shmuz focuses us on some of the bedrock foundations of our religion and some of the strange experiences that result from living a life unexamined. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

949

#151 - Be Bold, Be Brave

Mar 9, 2019

47:46

All the great leaders and teachers of the Jewish Nation had faults and flaws. The Torah tells us the shortcomings of Avrohom, Dovid, and Shlomo. More amazingly, the Gemarah tells us that the four men who never sinned aren't counted amongst the greatest of our nation. Why? The reason is simple. HASHEM didn't put us on the planet not to sin. HASHEM created us to act - to accomplish, to change ourselves, to change our world. To do this, we need to stand up for what is right, despite the odds, despite what others will say or think. But where does a person get the courageand strength to do just that: to be bold and be brave? This Shmuz introduces us to one of the basic life outlooks necessary for a person to reach his potential. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

950

#126 - Dignity of Man

Mar 9, 2019

55:01

While there is much talk today about the importance of self esteem and its effect on a person's attitudes and accomplishments, there is a corollary benefit of understanding the greatness of man -- If I am obligated to respect myself because I was created in the image of HASHEM, then so too, I must respect you, because you also were created in that same image. In fact, Ben Azzai teaches us that if a person wants to improve his interpersonal relationships, a concept that will help him even more than Loving one's neighbor as oneself, is this understanding that All men are created in the image of HASHEM. This Shmuz focuses us on the Torah's view of the true dignity of man, and the profound effect that this concept has on our lives. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate

The Shmuz

More by Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier