Rabbi Yitzchak Lerman talks about losing his home, synagogue, and worldy possessions but remains grateful that his family survived unscathed.

The Anatomy of Peace: Why G-d had to make peace between two angels

Elul is a month of reflection, introspection, and repentance. Some in the rabbinate, in their desire to lead their fellow Jews to improve during this auspicious time, tend to focus on the negative.

Experience the miraculous exodus of the Jewish people out of the mighty Egyptian empire—in a unique, fun-filled (and educational) style!

Sarah and Avi, with help from Mitzvah Bird, return a little lost challah to his home.

Eli and Ezzy wonder what life would be like if they were still slaves in Egypt.

When Roy takes a summer vacation, Itche and Jono are left without a set. A mysterious sign is their only company...

A taste of Shazak Parsha, where the weekly Torah portion comes alive! Geared for kids... Great for adults!

How the Jewish New Year is celebrated and what it tells us about every human being and our relationship to G-d.

Study the daily lesson of Sefer HaMitzvos for day 185 with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, where he teaches the mitzvah in-depth with added insight and detail.

A virtuous heroine. A wicked villain. It’s the ancient, true story of Queen Esther, brought vividly to life in a delightfully educational way.

Take an exciting trip back in time to the court of King Ahasuerus and his beautiful Jewish wife Queen Esther as you watch the dramatic story of the Jewish victory over Persian persecution. (Please be advised this video may be too graphic for younger kids.)

Feel the rhythm…hear the beat….and let your spirit get you jumping on your feet! Get ready to sing, dance and exercise together with Mendy and his friends in this exhilarating animated workout video for the whole family.

Three artists are invited to compete by creating a masterpiece to decorate a wall in the king's palace. One artist tries to win the competition without doing any work at all — but the wise king isn’t fooled and teaches him a lesson in honesty and fairness. (Based on the Talmud, Megillah, p.6b)

Feel the rhythm…hear the beat….and let your spirit get you jumping on your feet! Get ready to sing, dance and exercise together with Mendy and his friends in this exhilarating animated workout video for the whole family.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman provides a first entry into authentic and practical Jewish meditation. Taking us step by step through the words of the first morning prayer, providing imagery and concepts for mindful focus.

Learning to blow shofar for the first time? Get expert tips and guidance from a master shofar-blower and musician.

When challenges come your way, you can confront them head-on. Better, however, is to come down upon them from above.

Have you ever wondered why we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashnah? Learn all about the meaning of the most central mitzvah of this holiday.

A compilation of moments with the Rebbe, of righteous memory, highlight some of his key messages and ideas.

Psalm 27’s prophetic poetic prose encapsulate the soul’s yearning; seeming to organically reflect Elul energy and this spiritually saturated season. Yet, while the practice of adding it to daily prayers appears to be ancient, cherished and timeworn, the earliest actual source is but three centuries old – begging many questions: where did it originate, how’d it spread so widely, and why do we say it?! Weaving an intricate tapestry of Torah to continue the thesis birthed in the part 1, an insightful and inspirational clarification, preparing us for High Holy Day Season, develops!

A taste of Shazak Parsha, where the weekly Torah portion comes alive! Geared for kids... Great for adults!

When Roy takes a summer vacation, Itche and Jono are left without a set. A mysterious sign is their only company...

When challenges come your way, you can confront them head-on. Better, however, is to come down upon them from above.

The Torah commands that a laborer's payment not be withheld even a day. G-d Himself, our Sages tell us, observes the very commandments He obligates us to fulfill. How then does G-d not immediately reward man for his/her service of Him, deferring man's reward to the 'World to Come'?! (Likutei Sichos, Ki Teitzei volume 29)

The detailed laws of returning a lost object to its rightful owner.

Finding ultimate comfort through our unyielding devotion to the will of G‑d.

Several explanations of why the Hebrew word "naara" (young girl) is spelled differently than it is pronounced thirteen out of the fourteen times it appears in a single Torah portion.

Study some of the highlights of the weekly Torah portion with insights from various commentaries.

The parshah of Ki-Teitzei contains 110 verses, and the mnemonic for it is the name Eili. Explore the coded message in this Masoretic note and its connection to the general themes of the Parshah.

Is war optional or required? How Rashi derives the rules of battle from a single word, and what this teaches us about personal spiritual growth.

Learn about the mitzvah of Maakah—to construct a fence around a rooftop to protect against a hazard. Discover an interesting exception to this obligation and the reasoning behind it as we compare and contrast different situations, and in the end, apply their spiritual dimension to our life. (Based on Likutei Sichos vol. 24 Ki Seitzei sicha 2)

Set up guardrails to carefully control and temper your ego.

The word selfless is accurately put. We will never entirely obliterate the self. We can continuously make our lives less and less about self. While it may seem counterintuitive, this is also the path to greater happiness.

A closer look into Rashi’s commentary on the prohibition to borrow money with interest as elucidated through examining varying nuances in ancient manuscripts.

How the giving of the Torah forever transformed the nature of marriage and simultaneously the relationship between G-d and His people. (Likutei Sichos vol. 39, Ki Seitzei: Sicha 3)

The Torah says that fulfilling the mitzvah of shiluach hakan (sending away the mother bird from the nest) brings long life. Rashi says that if such an "easy" mitzvah brings long life, it may be inferred that every mitzvah brings long life as well.

An amazing insight into personal growth, derived from Rashi’s perspective on what must be the easiest and cheapest mitzvah of all. (we regret the brief audio disruption in the recording)

Analysis of two halachic perspectives on marriage; teach us about two dimensions of our relationship with G-d. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 19 Ki-Teitzei)

From the mitzvah to make a fence around the roof of a new home to ensure safety, we learn that a new life-stage or a new spiritual adventure requires a new personal discipline.

The link between remembering Amalek and remembering Shabbos.

The mitzvah of sending away the mother bird from amid its young is associated with the reward of long life. We examine the Siyum (conclusion) of tractate Chullin and look to reconcile conflicting teachings regarding whether there is reward for a mitzvah in this world.

The Arizal gave a fascinating eulogy for the Ramak, which ultimately conveys how each of us at our core is immune to sin.

Learn the difference between a Shul and the Beis HaMikdash for needing a fence around the roof. A lesson in the dangers of arrogance and the need for a guardrail when reaching out to others.

Mixing animals, mixing energies. The secret of the Torah's prohibition against plowing with different animals.

Why Rashi doesn’t seem to address an obvious question in the verse.

Blessings for success in the practice of law. Every Jew has to prepare their case at this time to be presented before the Heavenly Court on Rosh Hashanah.

On Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of the Jewish mother’s dedication and self-sacrifice in fostering our nation’s deep commitment to G‑d.

A deeper look into the meanings and customs of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year: From crowning G-d as our king to blowing the Shofar and dipping apple into honey.

If you had one wish to be granted by G‑d ... what would it be?

Watch these inspiring Rosh Hashanah and High Holidays videos and learn its traditions and meaning

That first day of school, your first job interview, your first day in your own home, the first day of the rest of your life...

What parent can resist the desperate cries of his or her child? The call of the shofar is our raw guttural cry to our Father in Heaven.

The meaning and symbolism behind the shape of the ram’s horn sounded on Rosh Hashanah.

How the simple sound of the ram’s horn on Rosh Hashanah represents a Jew’s heartfelt cry to G‑d.

What is the purpose of the Ten Days of Repentance? Is it a time of solemn introspection or a time of rejoicing? Guest Expert: Rabbi Manis Friedman. (From “Messages”—Season 4, Episode 25)

Understand the meaning and the structure of the Rosh Hashanah prayer services and "why we do what we do."

Rabbi Itche Kadoozy attempts to deliver a Rosh Hashanah message. 255 times.

Just a regular, run-of-the-mill Itche Kadoozy video about the meaning of Rosh Hashannah. Except with lots of bee jokes. Don't worry, we made the video and it still doesn't quite make sense to us.

How to prepare mentally and emotionally for Rosh Hashannah as the 48-hour period on which we connect to our "higher self" by crowning G-d as King.

Rosh Hashanah is not just the start of a new calendar year; it is the renewal of G‑d’s interest in our world that comes as a result of our accepting Him as King.

The Divine attribute of Malchut (Kingship) is described as the bridge between G-d's infinity and His presence within finite creation.

From the story of the prophetess Chanah, we learn the proper way to approach G‑d and express our needs. (A text-based discussion of the first chapter of Samuel I.)

Study the daily lesson of Sefer HaMitzvos for day 52 with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, where he teaches the mitzvah in-depth with added insight and detail.

The prophet Isaiah declares: “Seek G‑d when He can be found, call to Him when He is near.” The Talmud explains: “This refers to the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.”

This series examines three major themes of the days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: 1) the coronation of G-d, 2) a time of judgment, and 3) a time for repentance.

Rosh Hashanah as the yearly coronation of G-d as king. First in a 3-part series about the High Holidays.

Rosh Hashanah as the yearly Day of Judgment. Second in a 3-part series about the High Holidays.

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the ten days in between are a time of "teshuvah" (returning to G-d.) Third in a 3-part series about the High Holidays.

G‑d is on the campaign trail to be crowned as King of the Universe again this year, and He wants your vote.

Joey and his pals find themselves stranded underwater just as Rosh Hashanah is about to begin!

Several times a year, the Rebbe would write a "michtav klali", a public letter addressed to "all sons and daughters of Israel wherever they may be." In this lecture, we review one of those letters, a Rosh Hashanah message from 1974

Rosh Hashanah is like brain surgery. Every little action can have an enormous impact.

The holiday of Rosh Hashanah marks the New Year, a time of renewal and change; yet the beginning of the yearly cycle also contains the polar theme of steadfast resolve and continuity.

On Rosh Hashana we read in the Haftorah about the birth of the prophet Samuel. Childless for many years, one year on Rosh Hashana, his mother Chana offered a prayer that elicited the Divine blessing resulting in his birth. The Talmud states that Chana's prayer is the model which all prayer aught emulate. This class will explain how to access the awesome power of prayer any time and especially on Rosh Hashana. (Likutei Sichos vol. 29, p.182)

Discover the layers of meaning in blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah, and how it elicits within G-d great pleasure.

A deeper look at the many reasons enumerated in the teachings of the Sages for shofar, and the underlying theme it conveys.

Moshe’s Limitations: Do the Kabbalists have a greater understanding of Torah than did Moshe?

Rabbi Yitzchak Lerman talks about losing his home, synagogue, and worldy possessions but remains grateful that his family survived unscathed.

The fundamental difference between Torah law and Rabbinical law.

Learn the meaning of an enigmatic Midrash stating that Hashem gave us laws because he loves us. An insight on how Judaism invites us to contribute to and innovate in Torah.

Why does the Torah compare man to the tree in the field? Discover how the key to spiritual development is working on character.

Why would we need cities of refuge when Moshiach comes?

Learn the proper techniques for washing and inspecting leafy vegetables to ensure they are free from insects and are kosher.

The Torah instructs to set up judges and police in every city. Learn a personal message about controlling your own inner city.

Judaism does not expect everyone to become Jewish. Here’s what Judaism means to non-Jews.

Once a year the synagogue becomes a dance floor and the Torah becomes our dance partner.

When the Torah says you're "unable", but means you're "forbidden" to do something—understanding Rashi’s interpretation.

The Rambam details how the area of the Beis Hamikdash was not flat; rather it was built on the elevation of the mountain, consisting of different levels of elevation (unlike the Mishkan, which was one flat level). This speaks to the heart of what it’s all

By Rabbi Naftali Rotenstreich

Is our relationship with the Torah in the form of seeing or listening?

The three mitzvahs of tefillin, tzitzis and mezuzah are designed to constantly remind us of our connection to Hashem. Yet the Rambam singles out mezuzah—discover how your mezuzah changes your life.

Are the head and arm tefillin one mitzvah or are they two separate mitzvahs? The text is nuanced— pointing to two different perspectives on the mind/heart interplay.

Join Rabbi Levi Shmotkin, author of Letters for Life, as he responds to your questions in a conversation moderated by Rabbi Eliezer Zalmanov.

Explore three degrees of appreciating Divine unity.

The Ten Commandments first appear in the book of Exodus, and later it’s repeated by Moses in the book of Deuteronomy with nuances. Discover the meaning behind the variations.

How can Hashem destroy the Beis Hamikdash? Discover how destruction can in fact be building and how exile in essence is Redemption.