Occasional Shiurim & Farbrengens

A short thought about the avodah of Elul from our Thursday Night Mishmar at Beth Jacob.

This address was given at the Beth Jacob Annual Testimonial Dinner, Rosh Chodesh Elul 2025.

In this Va'ad, we discuss a life-changing approach to the judgment of Rosh Hashanah and its impact on the entire year. Given to the Yeshiva Gedolah of Columbus a week before Rosh Hashanah 2025.
Source Sheets:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5xmew0vnbzk18u8lvs8gu/.pdf?rlkey=2s3whqt309gcdz516ch756hj8&st=mnm24m2d&dl=0

Accessing the hidden light through the inner cry of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. Given at Thursday night Mishmar 9/18 at Beth Jacob in Columbus, Ohio. Builds on some of the ideas in the shiur given the previous week, "The Din of Vitality on Rosh Hashanah".
Source Sheets:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8ckfxuar8aj3q3sdmyx7s/Rosh-Hashanah-and-Our-Inner-Cry-for-Light-2025.pdf?rlkey=5fr8rebvafj3r88po4c0ngs8c&st=kjg1x1kw&dl=0

Given in Cincinnati, Ohio, Leil Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5786

Expanded Written Version:
https://bit.ly/glow-in-the-dark-2025
I wasn't sure if I should share this with the broader oilam... but if it can help someone out there, then it's worth it.
I gave a lecture about seven months ago at a high school girls' Shabbaton. The theme of the Shabbaton was "Glow in the Dark", and the focus was on finding Hashem's light even in the darkness.
In the lecture, we explored two facets of darkness—tragedy and depression—and shared a few Torah approaches to reframing these moments into opportunities for divine closeness.
I'm sharing an expanded written version of this lecture, along with the original recording.
May we all merit to experience Hashem's glow in the dark.