Episodes
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Shalom Friends,
I hope you enjoy this podcast in which I read from the incredible story of Itamar Alus, as recorded in Hidabrut’s “ואפילו בהסתרה”
If you liked it, let me know, and I’ll record the next pages. As always, I appreciate any and all feedback.
Shabbat Shalom,
Aryeh
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com -
I hope you enjoy this new podcast concept I’m exploring. Feel free to send me any feedback. Future episodes will be slower and simpler Hebrew.
Transcript in Hebrew and English translation:
שלום,
שמי אריה, וברוכים הבאים לפרק הראשון של בראשית: תורה בעברית קלה. הפרק של היום מוקדש להצלחת צה"ל.
היום נלמד קצת על חנוכה, נחבר אותו לפרשה, וגם לחיינו - כי למה לא?
קוראים בגמרא על מחלוקת בין בית הלל לבית שמאי כיצד עלינו להדליק את נרות החנוכה. זאת אומרת, יש ויכוח (argument) על מה הדרך הנכון להדליק נרות חנוכה.
בית שמאי אומרים שמתחילים בהדלקת שמונה נרות ואז מורידים כל יום את מספר הנרות עד שבלילה השמיני מדליקים רק אחד.
בית הלל אומרים שמתחילים בהדלקת נר אחד ואחר כך מגדילים בכל יום את מספר הנרות עד שבלילה השמיני, מדליקים שמונה.
אם שמתם לב בזמן הדלקת הנרות, ראיתם שאנחנו הולכים לפי בית הלל. אבל מה שבאמת מעניין הוא למה.
נכון, יש עיקרון כללי שאנחנו הולכים לפי בית הלל בכל מקום שבו הם מתווכחים עם בית שמאי.אבל יש גם סיבה יפה לדעתו של בית הלל, ועלו אני רוצה לדבר איתכם.
ההסבר לדעת בית שמאי הוא שאנו סופרים שמונה נרות ואז פחות ופחות, כי חנוכה קשור לסוכות, ובסוכות אנו מקריבים שלושה עשר פרים ביום הראשון של החג, ואחר כך פחות פחות בכל יום נוסף.
ההסבר לדעת בית הלל הוא שאנו סופרים למעלה, כי יש עיקרון כללי שאנו מתרבים בקדושה ולא יורדים בקדושה–או במילים של הגמרא: מעלין בקדש ואין מורידין.
לפי העיקרון הזה, אם נרות חנוכה הם קדושים (ואנחנו כן אומרים "הנרות הללו, קודש הם"), צריך רק להגדיל כמה שאנחנו מדליקים.
זה אולי נראה קטן, רק להוסיף נר אחד בלילה, אבל בלילה השמיני, ברור שגם הוספת אחד עושה הבדל גדול. זה מזכיר לי פרק מאחד הפודקאסטים האהובים עליי, והשפעה גדולה לתוכנית הזו, "הרגלים אטומיים" בפודקאסט "זמן עברי". https://hebrewtime.squarespace.com/episodes/36
בפרק זה, נדיה מדברת על ספר "הרגלים אטומיים", שמדבר על איך הסוד לחיים מוצלחים הם הרגלים מוצלחים, והסוד להרגלים מוצלחים הם עקביות (consistency). כדי להיות עקביים (consistent), עדיף לעשות דבר אחד קטן שוב ושוב, מאשר לנסות לעשות דבר גדול, להיכשל ולהפסיק.
זהו גם המסר של בית הלל בהדלקת נר אחד נוסף בכל ליל חנוכה. תעשה קצת, מחר תעשה קצת יותר, רק תהיה עקבי. המסע של אלף מייל, מתחיל בצעד אחד.
חג שמח
Shalom,
My name is Aryeh, and welcome to the first episode of “Bereishit: Torah in Easy Hebrew.” Today’s episode is dedicated to the success of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
Today we’ll learn a bit about Hanukkah, connect it to the parshah, and to our lives too—because why not?
We read in the gemara about a debate between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai on how we should light the Hanukkah candles.
Beit Shammai says that we start by lighting eight candles then decrease each day the number of candles until on the eighth night, we light just one.
Beit Hillel says that we start by lighting one candle and then increase each day the number of candles until on the eighth night we light eight.
Now if you’ve been paying attention during candle lighting, you’ve seen that we follow Beit Hillel. But what’s really interesting is why.
It’s true, there’s a general principle that we follow Bet Hillel wherever they debate with Beit Shammai. But there’s also a beautiful reason given for Beit Hillel’s opinion that I want to explore with you.
The explanation for Beit Shammai’s opinion is that we light eight candles and then less and less, because Hanukkah is connected to Sukkot, and on Sukkot, we sacrifice thirteen bulls the first day of the festival, and then fewer and fewer with each new day.
The explanation for Beit Hillel’s opinion is that we count up, because there is a general principle that we increase in holiness and don’t decrease in holiness. Or in the words of the gemara: מעלין בקדש ואין מורידין
According to this principle, if chanukah candles are holy (and we do say “they are holy”), we should only increase how many we light.
It may seem small, just to add one candle a night, but by the eighth night, it’s clear that even just adding one makes a big difference. This reminds me of an episode from one of my favorite podcasts, and a major influence for this show, “Atomic Habits” on the “Hebrew Time” podcast. https://hebrewtime.squarespace.com/episodes/36
In this episode, Nadia discusses the book “Atomic Habits,” which describes how the secret to a successful life are successful habits, and the secret to successful habits are consistency. To be consistent, it’s better to do one small thing over and over, than to try to do a big thing, fail and quit.
This is also Beit Hillel’s message in lighting one more candle each night of Hanukkah. Do a little bit, tomorrow do a bit more, just be consistent. The journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.
Chag Sameach
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com -
Missing episodes?
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Shalom,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe during this difficult time. Join me as I speak with Rabbi Moshe Silver about how we can feel compassion for both the Jews and Palestinians.
To learn more from Rabbi Silver about the situation in Israel, check out his latest blog post here.
Shabbat Shalom, Aryeh
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com -
I hope you enjoy this week’s podcast in which I share a meditation for shaking the Lulav with kavanot (intentions). The meditation is based on this Breslav teaching, with modifications to make it more accessible.
This Week’s Classes
Kavanah Practice Group (KPG) 15 Next Tuesday
"It is fitting that all of Israel should dwell in a single sukkah” (Sukkah 27b)
Join us on Tuesday, October 10th, as we bring this teaching to life and explore the power of unity on Sukkot. We will study two essays, one by Rav Kook: Sukkot: All of Israel in One Sukkah and one from Chabad: Unity in Three Dimensions.
All are welcome.
Zoom link Passcode: kavanah
7-7:30 PM in Israel
12-12:30 PM EDT/EST
10-10:30 AM MST/MDT
9-9:30 AM PDT/PST
Invite friends to join using this form: https://forms.gle/MXSTEYuxHs6XEtBa8
Creation Care 84 Next Thursday
Hi Friends,
Did you know that the Old Norse pagan tradition, Ásatrú, is Iceland’s fastest growing religion?
Join us next Thursday, October 5th, to find out why as we discuss this fascinating article: Swedish Ecologist Revives Old Norse Myths And Rituals To Tackle Environmental Crises
🌳 Andreas Kornevall, a Swedish-British ecologist, is dedicated to preserving Old Norse myths and rituals, using them to address contemporary environmental issues and foster a connection to nature.🌳
[Kornevall] emphasizes that it’s not the type of ritual, but ritual itself, that matters. He envisions what he calls an “ancient future,” one in which we turn once again to ceremonies and rituals — however old or new, however authentic or invented — to give shape and meaning to our presence on Earth and to help us contend with the inevitable, ongoing loss and change that our disconnect from the planet has wrought. “In the ancient future,” he hopes, “ceremonies will not be redundant, but indeed stronger.”
🌿 Meeting Details:
* Date: Thursday, October 5th
* Time:
* 7-7:30 PM in Israel
* 12-12:30 PM EDT/EST
* 10-10:30 AM MST/MDT
* 9-9:30 AM PDT/PST
* Zoom Link: Join Here
* Password: creation
For those who haven't yet, please invite your friends to sign up via this link.
These classes are provided free and donations are appreciated.
Wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful Shabbat and Sukkot.
In Blessing,
Aryeh Ronay
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com -
Welcome to a new episode of MindBodyTorah, the podcast for holistic Jewish living.
In this enlightening episode, Aryeh is joined by Manya Ronay to discuss how we can approach Yom Kippur from a place of love and compassion, offering insights into transforming fear and judgment into understanding and kindness. For those interested in exploring more, Manya offers private and group IFS sessions at www.meetmanya.com.
Looking for a summary? Check it out on the MindBodyTorah Blog.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com -
Today I spoke with Manya Ronay, an IFS practitioner, about how to achieve healthy Teshuva (repentance/return to your soul). Listen in to our fascinating conversation.
Gmar Chatima Tova,
Aryeh
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aryeh.substack.com
