Don't Run from Your Mistakes: Why the First Jewish Child Was Named Laughter: This class was presented on Tuesday, 13 Cheshvan, 5786, November 4, 2025, Parshas Vayera, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. Why would Sarah deny the truth that she laughed? The Torah says, “because she was afraid.” Afraid of whom? Why was she afraid to tell Abraham that she laughed? After all, she was 89 years old, and Sarah stood her own in the presence of Abraham. Maybe the Torah means she was scared of G-d. But that is senseless. Did she believe that you can hide from G-d? Even more strange is the response to her denial. “But He said, ‘No, you laughed indeed.’” What was this all about? A he said/she said game in the therapist’s office? She said I never laughed; he says: No you did laugh! Okay great. Now what? The biggest question is this: When this miracle child is actually born, the name he receives is Yitzchak, which means LAUGHTER! Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter; everyone who hears will laugh with me!” Strange. When Sarah hears she will have a child, she laughs. G-d gets upset over the fact that she is laughing. He confronts Abraham about her laughter. She denies it. Then Abraham, or G-d, says: No, you did laugh, Sarah! And then when the baby was born, they gave him that very name—laughter! There seems to be some strange theme unfolding here. One of the Chassidic masters, the Sefas Emes, provides a marvelous commentary. It was the moment that created the eternal and legendary Yiddishe Mamme, who will stop for nothing to protect and to believe in her children, and offer them the maternal holding, the fit of inner regulation, peace, and self-love. Cynicism undermines our feminine energy in very profound ways. It buries our trust. Our mother Sarah needed not only to avoid it, but to transform it.

The Journey from Trauma to Trust; When I Need to Cover My Eyes In Order to See: This class was presented on Tuesday, 6 Cheshvan, 5786, October 28, 2025, Parshas Lech Lecha, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Noach Before Toldos: Showing Up for Our Children and the World from a Space of Internal Calm: This class was presented on Tuesday, 29 Tishrei, 5786, October 21, 2025, Parshas Noach, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Don’t Do Teshuvah Because You Hate Yourself; Do Teshuvah Because You Love Yourself: This class was presented on Tuesday, 8 Tishrei, 5786, September 30, 2025, Parshas Ha'azinu, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Coronating the King: Bringing Hashem into the Most Shameful, Lonely Parts of Your Being: This class was presented on Tuesday, 23 Elul, 5785, September 16, 2025, Parshas Nitzavim, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. We explore the first question asked by G-d to Adam on the first Rosh Hashanah of history: Ayeka, where are you? He did not ask him why he sinned and ate from the tree of knowledge; he asked him: Why do you need to hide from me? Can you come out of your hiding place so we can enjoy the garden together? We analyze the inner fear and shame that paralyze so many of us, and deprive us of the ability to experience internal love and bliss. The coronation of Hashem on Rosh Hashanah is the invitation to bring infinite Divine acceptance into those very shameful and scary places. The life-changing experience of embracing all our parts and allowing the love to flow freely and uninhibitedly.

Elul & Rosh Hashanah Without Anxiety: Is Chassidus Really About Healing Trauma?: This class was presented on Tuesday, 16 Elul, 5785, September 9, 2025, Parshas Ki Savo, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Can You Communicate Without Defensiveness? The Incredible Lesson of Shimon Hamsoni and Rabbe Akiva: This class was presented on Tuesday, 11 Av, 5785, August 5, 2025, Parshas Vaeschanan, at The Barn in Montebello, NY. There is a story in the Talmud, in which Shimon the Imsonite retracts his entire theory that the term "Es" indicates the inclusion of another person or item, due to a single verse in this week’s portion, “You shall fear -- Es -- the Lord your G-d.” How can we be in awe of anybody but G-d? Yet his student, Rabbi Akiva, rescues his teacher’s refuted theory. The obvious question is what did Rabbi Akiva discover which Shimon did not? Shimon could not entertain the notion of including anything in the commandment to fear G-d. For him, such a proposition would be blasphemy. Why did Rabbi Akiva, then, not have a problem of adding Torah scholars to the mitzvah of fearing G-d? How is it that for what Shimon was blasphemy was for Rabbi Akiva perfectly acceptable, and even a mitzvah?! You were selected to win the Nobel Prize for your contribution to physics. You received your tickets to Norway to attend the lavish ceremony. You were featured on the cover of Time magazine, and have been interviewed by hundreds of journals and networks. Minutes after you received the call that the Nobel Committee had chosen you from 40 possible candidates, you went from being an anonymous physicist spending the last 45 years in a laboratory to becoming a world-class scientist whose name will be immortalized in the annals of scientific innovation and discovery. You become a household name. The world is buzzing with your praise. And then… the unthinkable happens. Hours before you go to the airport to fly to Norway, you discover a subtle mistake in one of your 20,000 equations. It is a mistake that no eye has perceived and perhaps will not be perceived for many years. But it is a mistake. Your calculation is erroneous. You have refuted your discovery. You now have a choice to make. Will you allow the “small truth” to destroy your eternal glory? What would you do? It is such a story that the Talmud is addressing. If only we can internalize this type of integrity our lives can be transformed.

When the False Moshiach Came to the Baal Shem Tov for Healing; When Unkelus Raised Titus, Baalam, and Yeshu from the Grave: This class was presented on Tuesday, 4 Av, 5785, July 29, 2025, Parshas Devarim, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. The class tells the incredible story of Unkelus, who raised three people from the grave: Titus, Balaam, and Yeshu. What the Maharal and Reb Tzadok explain about the core of the Jewish soul, and how we must never confuse our blockages with our essence. We explain the downfall of Yeshu and Shabti Tzvi, and the incredible story of the false Messiah coming to the Baal Shem Tov for spiritual healing. We discuss how to view our struggling children and students who may be engulfed in confusion and pain.

Consciousness Has Been Upgraded; Are You Ready? Learning How to Trust Your Inner Divine Voice: This class was presented on Tuesday, 12 Tammuz, 5785, July 8, 2025, Parshas Balak, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Moshe Was Told He Couldn’t Enter the Land, So We Discovered the Holiness of Our Cravings: This class was presented on Tuesday, 5 Tammuz, 5785, July 1, 2025, Parshas Chukas, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

“To Everything There Is a Season:” Learning How to Transition from “A Time of War,” to “A Time of Peace”: This class was presented on Tuesday, 28 Sivan, 5785, June 24, 2025, Parshas Korach, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. What empowered Netanyahu? What was the difference between the October 7th failure and the incredibly successful war against Iran?

History Is Changing, Don’t Stand on the Sidelines: This class was presented on Tuesday, 21 Sivan, 5785, June 17, 2025, Parshas Sh'lach, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

When You Feel that Hashem Sees and Records Every Word with Love, You Change History: This class was presented on Tuesday, 29 Iyar, 5785, May 27, 2025, Parshas Bamidbar, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

Connection with G-d Does Not Mean I’m Not Triggered; It Means I Know Who I Am and Assume Ownership of the Direction of My Life: This class was presented on Tuesday, 22 Iyar, 5785, May 20, 2025, Parshas Behar-Bechukosai, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. The class explores three forms of acquisitions in Jewish law, reflecting three paths in our service of G-d. Selling the tree, selling the future fruits of the tree, and selling a tree for its fruits. Generally it is assumed that there are two moral paths through life. There is the sure, tranquil path of the perfectly righteous person who has succeeded in remaking his very character and personality—a path that few can aspire to and even fewer achieve. And there is the path of the imperfect soul whose life is an endless battle—a battle in which defeat is always a possibility and, in the long run, a statistical inevitability. A path which runs along the edge of a moral precipice, in which the slightest misstep or lapse in vigilance sends one hurtling into the abyss. Is there no other way? Is there no middle ground between utter perfection and perpetual self-doubt? Is there no way to gain control over one’s life short of remaking one’s inner self? Such was the moral landscape of man until Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi wrote theTanya and introduced us to the "banuni," “the intermediate man.”

Stories of Abuse & Triumph: The Girl Was Being Violated; They said She Was Seeking Negative Attention: This Lag Baomer class was presented on Tuesday, 15 Iyar, 5785, May 13, 2025, Parshas Emor, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. There is no other sage in the history of Judaism who has all of the Jewish people celebrating on the day that he passed away. Why is the yarzeit of Reb Shimon ben Yochai marked in such a unique and universal way? How did Reb Shimon bar Yochai end up in a cave? It seems like a classic Jewish story and conversation. One Jew, Reb Yosei, remains quiet about Rome. Reb Yehuda praises the Romans for elevating the standards of life; and Reb Shimon is critical because he said it was for narcissistic purposes. But is there a deeper theme behind this debate? The fact that the Talmud records the details of the debate, and gives us the names of the debaters, instead of just saying that Reb Shimon criticized the government, indicates there is some depth and gravitas to this debate, and that the names are important. As it turns out, the debate on Rome fascinatingly reflects a debate between Reb Yehuda and Reb Shimon in many aspects of Jewish law. The Talmud states: Chezekiah stated in the name of Rabbi Jeremiah, who said it in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, "I am able to exempt the whole world from judgment from the day that I was born until now!” (Sukkah 45b). What is that supposed to mean? The Midrash states in Avod Derabi Nasan ch. 16: Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai would say: From this you know that Israel will never see the face of purgatory. But how can a sage say such a thing?

The Kamatz and the Patach: As We Get Closer to Redemption, Our Hearts Ache to Emerge from Lockdown: This Women's Kedoshim class was presented on Tuesday, 8 Iyar, 5785, May 6, 2025, Parshas Achrei Mos-Kedoshim, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. The class explores the distinction between two identical words in Shmini and Kedoshim, "Ani," one with a Kamatz and one with a Patach. When we need to close our hearts and when we need to open it. When it comes to food and other pleasures and necessities, we must master the art of discipline and self-control. When it comes to relationships, we are capable of living with an open, confident heart.

Solar Faith Vs. Lunar Faith: Why the Women Rejected the Golden Calf and Were Given the Holiday of Rosh Chodesh: This class was presented on Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh (the first day of the month of Iyar, 5785, April 29, 2025, Parshas Tazria-Metzora, at The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY. This text-based class explores a Chassidic discourse by Rabbi Shmuel Schneerson, the fourth Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe Maharash, L'Havin Inyan Rosh Chodesh, presented on Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, 5640, October 18, 1879. The discourse explains why the holiday of Rosh Chodesh was given primarily to women. Weexplore the reason the Jews created the Golden Calf, and the unique gifts of the feminine—its ability to embody the oneness of G-d in a visceral way, rather than in a sublime, aloof way.

Your 15-Step Pesach Program To Make Space for all Your Parts and Discover Your Inner Blissful Light: This class, a detailed 15-step guide to experience your seder with mindfulness, serenity, and personal relevance, was presented on Tuesday, 10 Nissan, 5785, April 8, 2025, Parshas Tzav, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

The Hay of the Matzah Vs. the Ches of Chametz: You Can't Force Your Nervous System to Surrender: This class was presented on Tuesday, 3 Nissan, 5785, April 1, 2025, Parshas Vayikra, at a new location, The Barn @ 84 Viola Rd. in Montebello, NY.

For the Cosmic Conductor, Every Note Is Indispensable: Reconnecting to Your Own Life-Force: This class was presented on Tuesday, 25 Adar, 5785, March 25, 2025, Parshas Pekudei, at Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim in Monsey, NY. Why did Moshe feel compelled to account for every coin he received? Did people think Moses packed away some of the cash to buy real estate in Saudi Arabia or purchase his private jet? Even if it is important to know that Moses gave an accounting to teach us transparency, the Torah could have simply said that Moses gave an accounting of all the gold, silver, and copper contributed to the Sanctuary project. The theme of the entire second book of the Torah, Shemos, is dedicated to nation-building. In Genesis, we are referred to as “benei Yisroel,” the children of Israel; we are a family, and a fragmented one as such. It is only in Exodus, when we are first called an “Am,” a nation. This is the pervading thread of the entire book of Shemos. While the narratives of Genesis focus on individuals—Adam, Eve, the snake, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Lot, Hagar, Ishmael, Isaac, Rebecca, Esau, Jacob, Rachel, Leah, Judah, Joseph etc.—Exodus is a book about a people, a nation. Individuals are mentioned, of course, but all these names are discussed as representatives of a nation or assisting the formation of a nation. Shemos is about the collective, not the individual. Here comes a profound challenge. Does nation-building, by definition, come at the expense of the individual? Sure, you can’t have a nation without individuals joining together, but perhaps the value of the individual is only insofar as he or she becomes a part of the whole. The value of my “I” is only because it contributes to the “We.” The class explored the profound need for each of us to be seen, and to be able to truly see others, especially our children and students, see them in their full power and presence.