1. Bad Things Never Happen to Good People
Painful things happen to good people, but there is a crucial difference between “bad” and “painful.” That there is no operative force other than God is a bedrock of Jewish belief, but many Jews suffer from anxiety, fears, and other debilitating emotions due to lack of this basic faith. Illustrating with “miracle stories” of people who used “Ein Od Milvado—There is nothing beside God” to escape harrowing situations, this lecture distinguishes between right and wrong faith, and gives a concrete method to make faith real in your mind and heart.
2. The Wisdom of Not Knowing
Our compulsion to “be in the know” and to fill in the blanks when we don’t know leads to conjectures and condemnations. All interpersonal transgressions start with negative judgments. This lecture provides a simple antidote.
3. *The Spiritual GPS: How to Get to the Place You Want to Be
Based on Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s teachings, there are two parallel worlds. One is characterized by love, joy, confidence, and calmness, while the other is characterized by animosity, sadness, anxiety, and criticism. Shows how to determine where you are, choose your destination, and, by one simple action, get to the world of connection and joy.
4. Prayer: Why Does God Listen?
Personal prayer is the essence of a relationship with God. Many stories to illustrate why to pray and why Hashem bothers with our petty petitions. Suggestions on how to enliven your prayer life.
5. Moving Forward
The first words ever spoken by God to the very first Jew were: “Go, get going.” Judaism is meant to be a dynamic spiritual path. Concrete suggestions for how to keep moving forward, whether you are FFB or a long-time BT.
6. *How to Pass Life’s Tests
Shows how the purpose of life is to move upwards, from whatever point one starts, and therefore spiritual greatness is available to every Jew. Gives a three-step method for passing our tests (and also how to respond when we fail our tests).
7. Forging a Personal Relationship with God.
Loving God is one of the six constant mitzvot, and should also be the basis for the performance of all mitzvot. However, too often this vital basis is weak or missing in a Jew’s life. This powerful lecture offers practical suggestions for developing a loving, close relationship with your Creator.
8. Vanquishing Sadness and Guilt
Guilt is not the proper Jewish response to wrong-doing; Tshuvah is! This lecture draws on teachings of the Maharal and the Baal HaTanya to outline concrete methods for eliminating dissatisfaction, sadness, guilt, and negative thinking. It includes a guided meditation in which the listener learns the proper method for dealing with wronGodoing by actually doing the process taught by Maimonides.
9. *Spiritual Survival Strategies for Troubled Times
This lecture gives a four-point program for responding to the financial crisis by establishing a vibrant spiritual life and relationship with God.
10. India to Israel: A Bumpy Spiritual Journey
Sara Yoheved Rigler’s personal story, illustrating the contrast of the Eastern and Jewish spiritual paths. Contrasts mitzvot to meditation, marriage to celibacy, and Torah to having a guru. Includes the life-changing teaching of “choose connection.”
11. A Hidden Holywoman’s Secret of Happiness
This lecture solves the mystery of how a woman with as hard a life as Rebbetzin Chaya Sara Kramer’s could have been so radiantly happy all the time. Gives three concrete tools for happiness.
12. *Spiritual Causality: How YOU Can Protect Israel
Many dramatic stories illustrate the truth that there is only one causal factor in the universe: God. Delineates the four principles of spiritual causality. Describes the nuclear threat to the existence of Israel posed by Iran and shows how every Jew has the power to save lives.
13. The Secret of Unconditional Love
What You Can Accomplish with Unconditional Love: The Life of Henny Machlis