Showing results by narrator "Shlomo Zacks" in All Categories

The Essential Talmud is a masterful introduction by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz to the great repository of Jewish wisdom, the Talmud. A book of profound scholarship and concise pedagogy, The Essential Talmud succinctly describes the Talmud's history, structure, and methodology. It summarizes the Talmud's main principles, demonstrates its contemporary relevance, and captures the spirit of this unique and paradoxical sacred text as a human expression of divine law. 

In a paradigm of true leadership, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of sainted memory, embraced all issues of import to Jews, Jewish life, and beyond, spurring a Jewish revival that continues to gain momentum even after his passing. Through his incisive and illuminating Torah expositions, the Rebbe inspired an awareness of a attainable higher reality and sparked an enthusiasm for Torah study among scholars and layman alike.

An astoundingly clear adaptation of Tanya, one of the most influential works of Jewish spiritual thought ever written, penned by Chasidic Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745 - 1812). This new translation and commentary by best-selling author Chaim Miller renders the text relevant for the contemporary listener with elegant simplicity. The Practical Tanya will guide you on the path of spiritual consciousness to a state of inner freedom and liberation.

What is authentic Kabbalah? What did the Chassidic teachings innovate? Finally, a book that introduces and explains the most basic precepts of this ancient wisdom, in a practical, user-friendly way. Through the 32 Gates of awareness, from The Infinite Source of all life - to finite, immediate creation, Rav Pinson guides us along the map of creation and existence according to the deeper teachings of Torah.

What is a soul? What happens to us after we physically die? What is consciousness, and can it survive without a physical brain? Can we remember our past lives? Do near-death experiences prove immortality? How does reincarnation really work? Drawing from ancient Jewish wisdom and a modern understanding of consciousness, Rav Pinson explores the possibility of surviving death, the near-death experience, and a glimpse into what awaits us after this life.

In Letters of Light, Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin explores the essence of these holy letters, illustrating how they continue to be a source of creation, reflection, prayer, and inspiration in our everyday lives. Each letter is examined in terms of its design, gematria (numerical value), and Hebrew meaning. Rabbi Raskin's insights are guided by the rich foundations of Chasidic philosophy, particularly by the illuminations of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe.

In the realm of visualizations, there are both externally based visuals where one uses an actual external object as a focal point, as well as inner creative visualizations where one creates an image within the mind's eye. In addition, there are also awareness practices with which one learns to become aware of what already exists within the inner screen of the mind's eye.

Prayer itself has taken on countless forms, from offerings to song, words to whispers, tearful supplication to sublime silence. At times, prayer is as primitive and raw as a cry for help; at times, prayer is a formulaic equation intended to effect change - but always, flowing from a place deep within, and forever with a hope for a better future.

The Lubavitcher Rabbi's Memoirs are a veritable treasure chest of Chasidic learning and lore, of anecdotes, historical annotations and commemorations, and represent the very best of informal writing from the profile pen of the sixth leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn, of blessed memory.

In this world, people sometimes feel alone; God seems to be hiding his face. Thus it was that thousands of forlorn strugglers, groping in the dark for the hand of the Divine Shepherd, poured out their hearts to the rebbe with the request that he help them find their bearings. The letters in response, whether simplistic or philosophical, are candid, but always compassionate. 

Instead of being trained to fight, the few soldiers each year selected for Talpiot are taught how to think. In order to join this unit they have to commit to being in the army for 10 years, rather than the three years a normal soldier serves. Talpiots are taught advanced level physics, math, and computer science as they train with soldiers from every other branch of the IDF. The result: young men and women become research and development machines.

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994), the Lubavitcher Rebbe, took an insular Chasidic group that was almost decimated by the Holocaust and transformed it into one of the most influential and controversial forces in world Jewry. This superbly crafted biography draws on recently uncovered documents and archives of personal correspondence, painting an exceptionally human and charming portrait of a man who was well known but little understood.

Teshuvah is one of the great gifts of life. Through Teshuvah we are able to return from pain, fragmentation and confusion to a place of greater unity and well-being, to our authentic self. Reclaiming the Self offers a glimpse into a world with-out the damaging influence of past negativity - where misdeed is transformed into merit. Questions addressed include: What exactly is Teshuvah and how does it function?

Through our perception of sound and vibration, we internalize the world around us. What we hear and how we process that hearing has a profound impact on how we experience life. This audiobook will guide you in methods of utilizing the power of sound and vibration to heal and maintain mental, emotional, and spiritual health, to fine-tune your midos and even to guide you into deeper levels of deveikus/conscious unity with Hashem. The vibratory patterns of the aleph-beis are particularly useful portals into our deeper conscious selves.  

Leadership is in crisis. In the rough seas of a borderless economy, the Internet, and outsourcing in turbulent markets, a seismic shift has changed the game. The days of the Great Man - whether a Churchill or Kennedy, even a Gates or Welch - are numbered. Virtually anyone can lead now, but how do you breed principled leaders for the 21st century? Is leadership a matter of DNA, culture, or coaching?

Catch the Jew! recounts the adventures of gonzo journalist Tuvia Tenenbom, who wanders around Israel and the Palestinian Authority for seven months in search of the untold truths in today's Holy Land. With holy chutzpah, Tenenbom boldly goes where no Jew has gone before, at times risking his life as he assumes the identities of Tobi the German and even Abu Ali in order to probe into the many stories in this strange land and poke holes in all of them.

The translation of the Tanya into English was a watershed event in Chasidic history, impacting the world spiritually and physically. The Tanya had already conquered the airwaves with the innovative "Tanya on the Radio" hosted by the late Rabbi Yosef Wineberg. The publication by Kehot of those pioneering classes in English, back in 1987, brought Chasidut to thousands of students around the world, becoming an essential tool for all those seeking spiritual guidance.

A Chassid, a Businessman is the story of Zalman Deitsch, a Chassid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who seamlessly combined these two attributes. Like most Lubavitchers, Zalman aspired to become a shliach, but the Rebbe gave him his own shlichus, in the world of commerce. He may have been a successful businessman; however, his family never heard him talk about it. In fact, one could hardly recognize him as a businessman. He always found time to study Torah, by himself, with others, and with his children. In this book, you will learn how Zalman did it. 

In Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, Tzvi Freeman explored an original means to deliver the wisdom of a great sage of our times, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, known universally as simply "the Rebbe". Now, Freeman continues with that winning format, this time along with brief complementary essays. But now, he takes us yet further, peering toward the Rebbe's vision of a world toward which all humanity is headed and demonstrating how the details of our everyday lives are vital, crucial, and especially urgent today in reaching that grand and ultimate destiny. 

Part biography, part memoir, part manual for great leadership, My Rebbe explores the evolution of Chabad's global success, its central beliefs and practices, the Rebbe's personal history, and his vision to inspire change. This moving narrative, written by one of today's most influential Jewish thinkers, will motivate listeners to contemplate their own mission in the world and aspire toward meaningful living.