Kabbalah for Everyone

• Make a Confession: Reclaiming Judaism’s Lost Art of Owning Our Goodness

  Send us a textIn this class, Rabbi Bernath reframed the very idea of confession in Judaism. While most people think of confession as listing sins and failures, the Torah introduces Vidui Ma’aser, a “confession” where the farmer proudly declares to G-d that he has fulfilled every detail of the mitzvah of tithing. Why would the Torah call this a confession? Because true spiritual growth begins not by beating ourselves down, but by acknowledging the good we’ve done. When we confess our strengths, we build the confidence and clarity to face our shortcomings without despair.Confession, then, isn’t meant to break us, it’s meant to fix us. It’s not about shame; it’s about uncovering the truth that we are divine souls who sometimes fall short but are always capable of rising higher. By celebrating our goodness first, we create the spiritual courage to transform our failures into growth.Key TakeawaysConfession in Judaism isn’t only about failure: The Torah’s “tithing confession” is actually a declaration of success.Celebrate your victories: By verbalizing what you’ve done right, you strengthen your belief in your own holiness and capacity.Healthy confession = owning both sides: “I am good and capable, and that’s why this mistake doesn’t fit me, and I can do better.”Encouragement inspires growth: Just as children thrive when parents highlight strengths before weaknesses, we too change more when we see ourselves through the lens of goodness.Chassidic joy in confession: Like the Baal Shem Tov’s cantor, we can sing our confessions, not out of arrogance or denial, but because cleansing the soul is a joyful act of uncovering diamonds beneath the dirt.Confession challenge: In the next 24 hours, “confess” something good you’ve done, out loud, to yourself or someone you trust. Let it remind you who you really are.#Judaism #Jewish #chabad #Rabbi #Kabbalah #Torah #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #torahwisdom #BibleStudy #Bible #confession #goodness #psychology #baalshemtov #KiTavo #Teshuvah #ViduiMaaser #JewishGrowthSign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

  --------  

  51:02

  --------

  51:02
• Finding G-d in Our Struggles: The Firstborn of the Unloved

  Send us a textIn this week’s Torah portion, Ki Seitzei, we learn the law of the firstborn: even if the firstborn son comes from the “unloved” wife, he must be given the double portion. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explored the deeper Kabbalistic meaning behind this law, revealing that the “beloved” and “unloved” wives are metaphors for two sides of our soul — the inspired, G-d-loving self and the struggling, conflicted self. The Torah teaches that our greatest spiritual “firstborn” often emerges from the parts of ourselves we might despise. By working with our struggles, we can produce a “double portion” of light and blessing, more precious to G-d than what comes easily.Key TakeawaysTwo Souls Within: We each have a “beloved” side (our Divine soul) and an “unloved” side (our animal soul) — both are part of our relationship with G-d.The Power of Struggle: G-d delights not only in saintly ease but especially in the victories that come from our inner battles.A Double Portion: What feels despised in us can be the source of double blessing when transformed.Self-Compassion: Instead of hating our struggles, we can embrace them as the very reason we were created (Tanya ch. 27).Messianic Promise: In the era of Moshiach, the hidden “firstborn” light of our struggles will be revealed in full splendor.#Jewish #Judaism #Torah #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #BibleStudy #Bible #FirstbornRights #AnimalSoul #Divine #DivineSoul #KiSeitzei #KiTeitzei #Moshiach #chabad #chassidus #Kabbalah #Rabbi Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

  --------  

  50:32

  --------

  50:32
• One G-d, Many Voices: How Diversity Makes Us Whole

  Send us a textRabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks a fascinating teaching: why does G-d reject the idea of a single-stone altar? At first glance it’s just about ancient rituals, but the deeper message is timeless. Real faith and real life can’t be built on “one stone” one path, one perspective, one style. True oneness comes from many stones joined together. This class explores how individuality and diversity aren’t just tolerated by G-d, they are essential to His plan.Key TakeawaysOneness ≠ sameness: G-d is One, but He created a world of diversity.The danger of single-stone thinking: When we make faith, truth, or life only in our image, we exclude everyone else.The power of many stones: Each person carries a unique piece of truth, and together we make the divine symphony whole.Celebrating difference: Authentic spirituality means honoring the uniqueness of others, not fearing it.Practical takeaway: Stop trying to make others fit your mold; instead, see how their “stone” adds to the altar of life.#diversity #Judaism #Jewish #Torah #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #BibleStudy #oneness #individuality #Unity #Faith #community #pluralism #spiritualgrowth #beloning #community Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

  --------  

  30:23

  --------

  30:23
• Rebroadcast: Elul & High Holidays - Our Marriage with G-d

  Send us a textThe 5-Step Program of Spiritual Courtship, Engagement, Marriage, Honeymoon, and Real Life: Discovering the Divine Romance in Our LivesIn this sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the deep and mystical relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, likened to a sacred marriage. Drawing from Kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings, Rabbi Bernath delves into the spiritual phases of this divine union, paralleling it with the milestones of human relationships: courtship, engagement, marriage, honeymoon, and the day-to-day reality of married life. Through the lens of the High Holiday season, this episode offers a journey of rejuvenating our connection with G-d, culminating in the ultimate intimacy that shapes our everyday existence.Takeaways:Courtship with G-d: The month of Elul as a time of divine dating, where G-d meets us in our natural state, inviting us to connect authentically.Engagement Proposal: Rosh Hashanah as the moment of commitment, where G-d proposes a deeper relationship, and we respond with the cry of the Shofar.Marriage Ceremony: Yom Kippur as the day of divine union, where we fast, atone, and solidify our eternal bond with G-d.Celebration and Intimacy: The festivals of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah as the celebration and intimate consummation of our relationship with the Divine.Real-Life Relationship: The month of Cheshvan as the time to nurture our ongoing relationship with G-d in the everyday moments, discovering the sacred in the ordinary.Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

  --------  

  22:14

  --------

  22:14
• Vain Tears: Reclaiming Our Power After Generations of Silence

  Send us a textOn the night of the 9th of Av, our ancestors cried tears of despair—tears the Talmud calls “בכיה של חנם”, baseless weeping. G-d’s response wasn’t punitive, it was prophetic: “You wept in vain, and this day will be one of tears for generations.” But what were they really crying about? And why do we still cry?This class explores the roots of generational trauma in the Jewish psyche, from the fear of the spies to the quiet despair echoing through the Jewish community today. We'll dive deep into the psychological and spiritual scars left by centuries of exile, oppression, and self-doubt and discover how fear can shape reality more powerfully than facts.Using Torah, Talmud, Chassidut, and modern psychological insight, we’ll unpack how vain tears become real sorrow—and how breaking the cycle starts with reclaiming our Divine power. From elephants in the circus to Harvard psychology experiments, this session will challenge you to reframe your internal narrative, discard inherited limitations, and begin the long-awaited journey from grief to redemption.KEY TAKEAWAYS:The Origin of Tisha B’Av: Understand the deeper meaning behind the “vain tears” of our ancestors and why this night became one of generational grief.Trauma as Inheritance: Discover how Jewish despair today is often rooted not in current events, but in stories, beliefs, and fears passed down through generations.The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: Learn how our perception of self shapes our destiny—and why seeing ourselves as grasshoppers ensures others will too.From Powerlessness to Purpose: Gain tools to shift from victimhood to empowerment, and how G-d never asks us to face a challenge without first giving us the strength to overcome it.Healing the Diaspora Spirit: Explore how our generation can begin to break the cycle of inherited fear and transform Tisha B’Av into a festival of light.#TishaBav #VainTears #GenerationalTrauma #Bible #BibleStudy #spies #TorahLessons #TorahPortion #Torah #Devarim #Deutoronomy #inneregypt Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: theloverabbi.com/eventsSupport the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

  --------  

  42:06

  --------

  42:06

More Religion & Spirituality podcasts

Trending Religion & Spirituality podcasts

About Kabbalah for Everyone

Kabbalah for Everyone: Podcasts in Family