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In this transformative pre-Passover class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath invites us to reimagine one of the most perplexing passages of the Haggadah—the confrontation with the so-called “wicked” child. At first glance, it seems to suggest aggression. But look again. Beneath the surface lies a profound truth about love, empathy, and the infinite potential within every soul. We explore how the seder is not just about telling a story—it's about healing the parts of ourselves and our loved ones that feel like outsiders. We uncover the inner Tzaddik hiding behind the rebellious exterior, the wisdom in our struggles, and the quiet yet revolutionary power of radical acceptance. The class culminates in a powerful meditation on “Nirtzah”—the moment we stop striving and start trusting that our best is enough.

Key Takeaways:

1. Look Beneath the Words – The “wicked” child isn’t wicked. He’s wounded. Real listening means tuning into the cry behind the comment.
2. Empathy Over Argument – “Blunt his teeth” isn’t an invitation to silence—it’s a call to go beyond verbal combat and into soulful connection.
3. Every Part Belongs – The Four Children represent not just four people, but four parts of ourselves. Don’t exile your Hyde—transform him.
4. Rebel ≠ Reject – Even our flaws can be tools for growth. The goal isn’t to eliminate the Yetzer Hara, but to elevate it.
5. Your Best Is Enough – The final step of the seder, Nirtzah, is the antidote to “I’m not good enough.” It reminds us: G-d is already pleased. The only one left to convince is ourselves.

#Passover #Seder #Hagaddah #chabad #Kabbalah #Israel

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Navigating the choppy waters of our inner Nile, where the Pharaoh of Negative Thought reigns supreme, Rabbi Bernath offers a sage map for the modern soul's Exodus. Picture this: an inner Pharaoh, all ego and no ear, refusing the logic we offer as liberally as matzah at Pesach. It's an ancient tale, yet as current as our latest tweet.

Enter Moshe, our timeless hero, speaking Hebrew to a Pharaoh who's as lost in translation as a tourist without Google Maps. The catch? It's not about the words, but the Divine energy they carry, slicing through stubbornness like a hot knife through butter.

Consider the Chafetz Chaim, whose Yiddish plea melted Polish hearts without a single word understood—a testament to the soul's language, transcending the babble of Babel.

Then there's the 7/38/55 rule, a reminder that our vibes speak louder than our vocabulary. The body's ballet and the tone's tune tell tales our tongues can't touch.

So when faced with our own Pharaoh—be it doubt, fear, or the Sunday Scaries—Rabbi Bernath advises a strategy as bold as it is biblical: Speak in your soul's native tongue. No translation needed. For it's not the clarity of argument, but the purity of our Divine essence, that can topple tyranny within.

In essence, Rabbi Bernath suggests, when logic's light dims and reason's ropes fray, it's time to unfurl the banner of our inherent holiness, declaring our truths in a language beyond words. Like Moshe, we stand before our inner Pharaoh not to debate, but to demonstrate—a conduit of Divine will, unyielding and unfiltered.

In doing so, we don't just speak to our shadows; we illuminate them, transforming the inner Egypt into a land flowing with milk, honey, and the sweet freedom of self-mastery. So let's raise our staffs, part our personal Red Seas, and march towards a promised land of inner peace and purpose, one holy utterance at a time.

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The Passover Seder isn’t just a tradition....it’s an invitation. Not just for guests around your table, but for you. An invitation to show up emotionally, spiritually, and vulnerably. This class explores five Seder moments that, when fully embraced, can transform your night from ritual to revolution.

We’ll journey from the cracked matzah to the humble matzah, from our collective memory to our personal growth, from the bitterness of trauma to the sweetness of faith. Discover why incompletion is a gift, how humility is the key to freedom, and why the Seder might just be history’s original group therapy session.

5 Key Takeaways:

1. Invite Yourself In
   The opening words of the Seder aren’t about inviting others—they’re about inviting yourself. Your full, vulnerable, questioning, present self. This is your moment to enter the story, not as a spectator, but as the protagonist.
2. Celebrate What’s Broken
   Yachatz teaches that brokenness isn’t a defect—it’s a doorway. By honoring what’s missing, we create space for growth, connection, and Divine presence. Real healing begins when we stop pretending to be whole.
3. You Are Part of a 3,337-Year Legacy
   While other civilizations forget, we remember. The power of the Seder is memory with mission: to remind us that no matter where we are, freedom is always the next chapter if we have the courage to write it.
4. Humility is Freedom’s Secret Ingredient
   Matzah isn’t just flat—it’s freeing. The opposite of ego isn’t weakness; it’s openness. Freedom requires the courage to say, “Maybe I don’t know everything.” That humility invites new beginnings.
5. Freedom Begins in the Heart
   Egypt isn’t just a place—it’s a mindset. It’s the voice that says, “This is how it’s always been.” But G-d gave us a hidden “escape hatch”—a shift in perception, a crack of hope, a step toward healing. Your freedom begins when you stop being “right” and start being real.

#Passover #seder #freedom #matzah #Jewish #Judaism #pesach

Passover Seder, Freedom, Matzah, Humility, Jewish Identity, Vulnerability, Brokenness, Personal Growth, Group Therapy, Jewish Memory, Healing, Transformation, Ego, Yachatz, Exodus, Egypt, Legacy, Soul Work

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The Exodus from Egypt was not just a historical event—it was a revolution in human consciousness. Moses didn’t only break the physical chains of slavery; he shattered the psychological and spiritual limitations that kept humanity in bondage. This class explores how the Exodus introduced the language of freedom, inspiring revolutions, civil rights movements, and personal transformation throughout history. We will uncover how the lessons of Pesach continue to empower us to break free from limitations, redefine our identities, and pursue a life of purpose and growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Slavery is a Mentality: The true bondage in Egypt was not just physical but a deeply ingrained mindset of submission and despair.
2. The Power of Language: Moses introduced a new vocabulary of freedom, instilling in humanity the idea that change is possible.
3. Exodus as a Blueprint: The story of the Exodus has fueled countless movements for justice, from the American Revolution to the Civil Rights movement.
4. Personal Redemption: Every time we overcome fear, bad habits, or societal expectations, we reenact the Exodus in our own lives.
5. Pesach as an Eternal Spring: Just as Passover must always fall in spring, the message of renewal, hope, and transformation is timeless.

#Passover #Judaism #Pesach #Moses #freedom #personalgrowth #personalresponsibility #civilrights #humandignity #Redemption #chabad #Rabbi #jewishholiday

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Plato argued that reality is found in perfect, unchanging ideals, while the physical world is merely a flawed reflection. Chassidic thought challenges this notion, asserting that G-d’s presence is found precisely in the imperfect, physical world. Through the lens of this debate, we explored how this idea impacts our relationships, personal growth, and spiritual journey—showing that meaning and divine purpose emerge from engaging with reality as it is, rather than escaping to an idealized version of it.

Key Takeaways:

• Plato’s philosophy separates the ideal from the real, placing truth in abstract perfection.
• Kabbalah teaches that G-d’s presence is in the here and now, within life’s imperfections.
• The Torah’s repetition of the Mishkan’s construction emphasizes that holiness is not in a divine blueprint but in human action.
• Growth, relationships, and meaning are found in embracing life’s struggles, not escaping them.
• True beauty is not perfection—it’s the courage to build something holy in an imperfect world.

Notes:

See Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, The Dignity of Difference, for a detailed explanation of this idea of Plato and its impact on Western thought.

"G-d desired a dwelling in the lowly realms" (Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 16); "This is what man is all about, this is the purpose of his creation and of the creation of all worlds, supernal and ephemeral" (Tanya, chapter 36).

#Kabbalah #Judaism #Plato #Rabbi #chabad #Jewish #Bible #BibleStudy #Torah #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Vayakhel #ParshatVayakhel

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Anti-Semitism is not merely another form of bigotry or racial hatred—it is unique in its universality, its persistence throughout history, and its deep, irrational roots. From Pharaoh to Hitler, from ancient Persia to modern-day university campuses, the Jew has been targeted with a singular, unparalleled intensity. Why? What makes this hatred different from all other hatreds?

This class delves into the core of Jew-hatred, exploring its historical patterns and its spiritual roots. The Talmudic parable of the "mound and the ditch" reveals that anti-Semitism is not simply about economics, politics, or cultural tensions—it is about something much deeper. The world has an innate reaction to the presence of the Jew, a reaction that stems from the unique role that the Jewish people play in history as the bearers of Divine morality.

Through the lens of Torah, the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and a contemporary analysis of world events—including the resurgence of anti-Semitism post-October 7, 2023—this class seeks to answer the unanswerable: Why does the world hate the Jew? And, more

importantly, how should we respond?

Key Takeaways:

1. A Hatred Like No Other – Anti-Semitism has persisted for thousands of years across all cultures and ideologies, defying conventional explanations.
2. The "Mound and the Ditch" Paradigm – The Talmud describes two types of anti-Semites: those who see Jews as an unwanted obstacle and those who feel an existential void because of Jewish morality.
3. The Sinai Connection – The world’s rejection of Jewish existence is linked to our mission as bearers of Divine ethics, which some embrace and others resent.
4. Appeasement Does Not Work – History has proven that trying to minimize or hide Jewish identity never quells anti-Semitism; it often exacerbates it.
5. The Jewish Response – Strengthening our connection to G-d, embracing Torah and mitzvot, and standing firm in Jewish pride is the only true antidote to anti-Semitism.

#Antisemitism #Judaism #Purim #JewishHistory #Haman #Rebbe #habad #chabad #Jewishsurvival #Talmud #Jewish #MoralCourage #MoralResponsibility #JewishIdentity

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The Midrash compares Haman’s plot against the Jews to a foolish bird attempting to drain the sea, beakful by beakful. At first glance, this fable highlights the impossibility of eradicating the Jewish people. But upon deeper examination, it reveals the secret of Jewish survival, the core reason for antisemitism, and the unbreakable bond between the Jewish soul and Torah. Haman’s mistake was in thinking that severing Jews from Torah would make them vulnerable to destruction—yet, as history has shown, even when Jews have drifted from their spiritual roots, their intrinsic connection to G-d and Torah remains. This class explores why the Jewish people have endured against all odds and what this means for our own Jewish identity today.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Midrash’s Metaphor – Haman’s attempt to destroy the Jews was as foolish as a bird trying to empty an ocean. But why? This metaphor reveals deeper truths about Jewish resilience.
2. The Secret of Antisemitism – Haman, like many persecutors throughout history, saw Jewish existence as a threat. Why have so many tyrants sought to destroy the Jewish people?
3. The Relationship Between Jews and Torah – The Torah is to Jews what water is to fish. Even when Jews drift, they cannot fully detach from their Divine essence.
4. G-d’s ‘Unsuccessful’ Plan – The Midrash states that even G-d could not destroy the Jewish people. What does this mean, and what does it teach us about the Jewish soul?
5. Haman’s ‘Final Solution’ – His real plan wasn’t just genocide—it was to dry up the Jewish connection to Torah and assimilate them into Persian society. This strategy failed, just as all others have throughout history.
6. The Eternal Bond – The Jews have outlived every empire that sought their destruction, proving that their essence is eternal.
7. A Call to Jewish Unity – If a Jew was Jewish enough for Hitler to send to the gas chambers, he is Jewish enough for us to love and embrace. Jewish survival is not just a historical fact—it is a personal responsibility.

#Purim #Jewish #Antisemitism #Judaism #Faith #Rabbi #chabad #Jewishsurvival #Torah #BookofEsther #Megillah

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