Judaism's Top Talks

National Jewish Retreat

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Listen to highlights from a variety of first-rate speakers from past sessions of the National Jewish Retreat.
The National Jewish retreat is the premier Jewish event of the year, bringing 1200 Jews of all backgrounds together for 5 days of learning, inspiration and good times. get a taste of it by listening to these excerpts ranging from Talmudic interpretation to fascinating first person human interest stories. Featuring speakers from all walks of Jewish life.

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194 episodes

Get to Know Your Soul's Personality - Mrs. Rochel Schmukler

* * Gain key insight into human personality and harness timeless Jewish wisdom for personal growth and self-discovery. * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

48m
Apr 01
Where Mitzvot Meet Mental Health - Rabbi Dr. Saul Haimoff

* * See how Jewish practice aligns with positive mental health habits to empower a more mindful and meaning-filled Jewish life. *   * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

45m
Mar 25
Decoding the Ketubah- Rabbi Mordechai Farkash

Uncover the workings of the cryptic Aramaic document that anchors every Jewish marriage. This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

49m
Mar 18
The Aleph of Happiness- Brynna Barnholtz, Noa Buchris & Avin Kreisler

* * Why is it that so many people, despite having so much, are so unhappy? Hear three students of Jewish learning who teach on their college campuses share Judaism’s practical solution for a more fulfilling pursuit of happiness. * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

50m
Mar 11
A Guided Tour Through the Afterlife- Rabbi Pinchas Taylor

* * Gain insight into Judaism’s belief in the afterlife in this guided tour through the stages of the soul’s journey after life on earth. * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

46m
Mar 04
Heroic or Horrific: Masada on (Moot) Trial

* * What really happened at Masada, and who is at fault for the deaths which occurred? A federal judge presides over the proceedings. Join the jury, hear the expert testimony, and share your take. * Featuring: Judge Nancy Miller, Expert wintesses: Dr. Henry Abramson and Rabbi Avraham Zajac, Prosecution: Dr. Martin Pritkin, Prosecutor: Mr. Rafi Kaplan * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

45m
Feb 26
Together We Can: The Power of Community - Panel

The Year of Hakhel celebrates getting together with our community. Enjoy this panel discussion with Rabbi Pinchas Taylor, Mrs. Michal OShman and Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, on the necessity of social and spiritual connectedness to promote mental wellness and create a more healthy and integrated life. Plus, take home practical tips to make your neighborhood into a community. Moderated by Rabbi Dovid Goldstein   This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

48m
Feb 19
Singing in the Rain: From Exile to Redemption- Rabbi Moshe Bryski

* * An enlightening new perspective on finding meaning in some of life’s most challenging moments. *   * This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

52m
Feb 12
In Conversation with Holocaust Survivor Joseph Alexander - Mr. Joseph Alexander & Mrs. Esther Teichtel

Hear the chilling testimony of a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor as Joseph Alexander recounts his experience living through 12 concentration camps.   This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

35m
Feb 05
The Evolution of the Talmud- Rabbi Mordechai Dinerman

Join us on a journey through the rich history of Talmudic manuscripts and print editions. You will learn that although we don’t have manuscripts that can be definitively dated to before the twelfth century, a discerning eye can use extant manuscripts to hear distinct echoes of much older ones. Delve into the fascinating stories linked to the little-known Spanish and Portuguese printings that coincided with the end of Jewish life on the Iberian Peninsula and to Soncino’s controversial decision to place Tosafos on the page of the Gemara. Discover the introduction of folio numbers by Daniel Bomberg, and join us in the search for the first rabbi to utilize this revolutionary system. Finally, we’ll delve into the heartbreaking story of the burning of the Talmud in 1553 and the draconian censorship that followed, culminating in the notorious Basel edition.   This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

50m
Jan 29
Life Lessons From the Royal Family- Rabbi YY Schochet

Hear a firsthand account of encounters with the British royal family and gain compelling lessons for everyday life. This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

42m
Jan 22
What is a Soul? - Rabbi Pinchas Allouche

Delve into the strange Talmudic encounter between Rabbi Eliezer and an "ugly" man, and what it teaches us on how we ought to find the soul in every living being. This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

43m
Jan 15
Seeing The Divine in Life - Mrs. Malka Abelev

Hear Malka Abelev’s story of personal growth and transformation and the powerful insights into perceiving G-d’s presence in our everyday lives she takes from it all. This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

25m
Jan 08
Does it All Revolve Around Us- Rabbi Yechiel Krisch

Would Einstein, Maimonides, and Copernicus agree? Unpack the surprising underpinnings of geocentrism and the open questions left by the discoveries of modern physics. This session took place at the 17th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

45m
Jan 01
The Anatomy of a Miracle - Rabbi Elie Estrin & Dr. Anthony Rossi

* When Nissi Estrin was born with congenital heart defects, his parents waged a determined battle to save him. Join Elie Estrin for a candid conversation with Dr. Anthony Rossi, director of Pediatric Cardiology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, on science, intervention, advocacy, and hope. *   * For the details of Rabbi Estrin’s son’s medical saga, SEE THIS LECTURE https://www.torahcafe.com/jewishvideo.php?vid=7e714e30b by Rabbi Estrin. This session took place at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

55m
Dec 25, 2023
In Conversation: Saul Dreier of The Holocaust Survivor Band - Mrs. Hadassah Chen & Mr. Saul Dreier

Saul Dreier survived three concentration camps at age 17. At 91, he took his drums and formed a klezmer band of Holocaust survivors. His moving story gushes faith, resilience, and remembering. This interview was conducted at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

42m
Dec 18, 2023
Wow! Women of Wonder - Panel

Mrs. Tonia Chazanow, Mrs. Chana Kalmenson, Mrs. Chanie Lipskar, and Mrs. Leah Rosenfeld discuss what make a Chabad Rebbetizn tick as well as the challenges and joys of life "in the field". This panel was featured at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

48m
Dec 11, 2023
From Altar Boy to Chabad Rabbi - Rabbi Matisyahu Devlin

Hear the story of how a teenager with a catholic upbringing’s chance encounter with a yeshiva student in a Manhattan Starbucks set him on a path to becoming a Chasidic Rabbi, husband, and father. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

58m
Dec 04, 2023
If Maimonides Were Alive Today: The Rambam on Contemporary Jewish Medical Ethics - Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman

What would Maimonides say about some of today’s most complex medical dilemmas? Analyzing Maimonides’ timeless writings we explore what his approach might be to areas including preventative medicine, the separation of Siamese twins, stem cell research, plastic surgery and Covid-19. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

56m
Nov 29, 2023
Book Launch: People of the Word - Rabbi Zalman Abraham & Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson

Authors Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson and Rabbi Zalman Abraham explore fifty long-misunderstood Hebrew words and their surprising impact on Jewish values and culture. This session took place at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

50m
Nov 27, 2023
The Connections Paradigm - Dr. David Rosmarin

Three connections, body and soul, us and others, and us and G-d, form the basis of a received Jewish model for addressing stress, anxiety, and depression called “The Connections Paradigm.” Learn concrete strategies for harnessing Jewish wisdom to better flourish in the modern age. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

44m
Nov 20, 2023
Judaism and Free Speech- Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie

James Madison said, “Free speech is one of the great bulwarks of liberty”. Americans have been debating its parameters; some say this endangers liberty, others, that it limits hate. Judaism has a history of active debate, but where does Jewish tradition place restrictions? This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

55m
Nov 13, 2023
Jewish Meditation: What, Why, and How - Rabbi Laibl Wolf

Learn and practice three Jewish meditative exercises. “Change the mind,” “tame the heart,” and “swim gracefully in a world of change” through inspiration, contemplation, and introspection. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

49m
Oct 30, 2023
Law, Not War- Rabbi Yaakov Fellig & Mr. Ben Ferencz

U.S Army Investigator Ben Ferencz documented the horrors of the Holocaust, and at Nuremberg, he charged 22 Nazis with the deaths of millions. At 103, Ben remained a beacon of justice. This session took place at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

48m
Oct 23, 2023
Monarchs, Measles, and Mitochondria: A Medical Historical Journey - Rabbi Dr. Edward Reichman

What do Shakespeare, philosopher Jeremy Bentham and English kings Henry IV, Richard III, and Henry VIII all have in common? Join this breathtaking historical tour of museums, monarchs, murder mysteries, and mummies as we explore their relationship to Jewish medical history throughout the centuries. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

52m
Oct 16, 2023
The Power of Positivity for Wellness - Mrs. Rus Devorah Wallen

This seven-step process gleaned from the Torah will help you think better and feel better, providing a powerful boost for your sense of wellness and joy in life. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

50m
Oct 09, 2023
Mesorah: the Tug of War of Halchaic Development - Rabbi Menny Chazanow

Explore the evolution of Halacha (Jewish law) from Moses to the 21st century. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

46m
Oct 02, 2023
How to Hack Time: Change Your Past and Change your Life - Rabbi Dov Greenberg

Ever wish you could turn back the clock and undo the past? Here’s a perspective that shows how you can hack time, redeem the past, and uplift your life as you head into the future. This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

53m
Sep 24, 2023
Turning Darkness Into Light - Rabbi YY Schochet

What is life in darkness, and how do we turn these feelings into true light? A life lesson from Simon & Garfunkel.

11m
Sep 20, 2023
In Conversation: Ambassador Gilad Erdan - Ambassador Gilad Erdan & Rabbi Motti Seligson

This lecture was delivered at the 16th annual National Jewish Retreat. For more information and to register for the next retreat, visit: Jretreat.com http://jretreat.com/.

49m
Aug 21, 2023