The Shmuz

Man Based Morality

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 10:20:19 PST

The description for this Shmuz is coming soon!

Acher – The Importance of Torah – Founding an Organization

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 09:49:37 PST

Elisha Ben Avuha was one of the greatest Torah scholars who ever lived--He was a tanna, a great Torah teacher, and the rebbe of Rebbe Meir -- until he became Acher, the Heretic. In that state he undid all of the good that he had accomplished, and did things that were purely evil. Yet, when he died, he wasn’t allowed into “Gehenom”, because of the merit of Torah until his student, Rebbe Meir, begged for mercy.

Through this gripping story we are introduced to the value of Torah learning, the one act that can never leave a person. A great motivating Shmuz for setting goals and succeeding in learning.

The Voice Inside

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 09:40:37 PST

Have you ever heard of something called a guilty conscience? What about a Jewish guilty conscience? While we all recognize that “Voice Inside”, that seems to moralize and lecture to us when we have stepped over the line, we assume that this is just one of those things that we have to sort of ignore.

In this Shmuz we are brought to understand that “Voice” that HASHEM put inside every human is actually a highly sophisticated tool --almost a moral compass-- that will allow us to find our path amongst the many choices that life brings our way.

I Never Do Anything Wrong

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 09:43:54 PST

In this introduction to emunah, we are presented with four basic levels of belief: 1. Hashem created the world. 2. Hashem is involved in the really big picture issues - war, famine, life and death. 3. Hashem knows my inner thoughts. 4. Hashem is intimately involved in my day to day life. After outlining and defining the levels, we are given practical techniques to improve our level of belief in all four categories, so that we can not only know in our minds these understandings, but actually feel them.

Understanding Life Settings

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 19:07:46 PDT

It almost seems as if some people are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, while others are destined to suffer. Why is it is that some people are born with amazing capacity, and others are created so simple? Why is there autism in the world? Why Down Syndrome? If in fact God is just, why not mete out talents and abilities in an equal manner to all people?

Using the backdrop of a famous event brought in the Talmud; this Shmuz focuses us on some of the big picture issues of life, helping us understand “life settings”, as they apply to each person.

Why are some people blessed with success and others not?• Is there a reason for suffering in the world?
What about pain?
What about death?

View the Source Sheet for this Shmuz (pdf file) @ www.theshmuz.com

Living Like a Rock

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sun, 17 Jul 2005 07:56:27 PDT

What if I just live my life, as any other occupant of this planet? What is so bad about that? Let’s say, I am no worse than Joe the UPS driver, or Bob the mechanic, will Hashem really be upset with me?

In this Shmuz we are brought to understand how great the human is, and how much he can accomplish. Within the context of this understanding the question of “What am I accomplishing with my life”?, becomes much more acute -- if I truly have great potential and I am wasting it- if I am “living like a rock”, will I be held responsible to answer for this?

View the Source Sheet for this Shmuz (pdf file) @ www.theshmuz.com

People of Principle

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 19:04:59 PDT

We know the Avos and Imahos were great individuals -- but what made them so great? Where did they get the moral courage to see what was right, and stick to it against all external pressures?

Through the famous story of Rochel giving up her husband to her sister Leah so as not to embarrass her, we are introduced to some of the basic ingredients that shape any great person’s success – the moral strength to be a person of principle.

View the Source Sheet for this Shmuz (pdf file) @ www.theshmuz.com

Questioning G-d: Finding and keeping your Bashert

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 19:09:37 PDT

Since the time we were little children we were schooled in the idea
that, “You’re not allowed to ask questions on G-d”. But is that true?
Is it true that a person isn’t allowed to have questions about the way
Hashem runs the world?

In this Shmuz we are introduced to the fact that no one less than
Avrohom Avinu had questions on HASHEM, yet he wasn’t considered a
heretic. Understanding what our role is, and what HASHEM’s role is,
helps us to understand what is and what isn’t a legitimate question
about the way that HASHEM does things.

View the Source Sheet for this Shmuz (pdf file) @ www.theshmuz.com

Acquiring Olam Habba The Easy Way – “Everyone needs a Mike”

rebbe@theshmuz.com (Rabbi B. Shafier) — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 15:19:24 PDT

We spend our life trying to gain Olam Habbah. All of our learning, all of our chessed, all of our davening, is directed towards creating “what I will be forever”. Yet sometimes it seems that we work harder and not smarter towards our goal.

In this Shmuz, we are introduced to a simple method to dramatically increase our portion in Olam Habbah- a smarter way.