In this eye-opening session, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most profound and misunderstood topics of all time: What is G-d? Moving beyond simplistic childhood images of a supernatural sky-being, we delve into Jewish, Chassidic, philosophical, and even scientific perspectives on the Divine. Drawing from thinkers like Einstein and the Alter Rebbe, this class gently unpacks a paradoxical truth: G-d is not less than personal, but also infinitely more than any person. Whether you’re a believer, skeptic, or somewhere in between, this is a class that will stretch your mind and open your heart.

Takeaways:

Not All “G-ds" Are the Same
The God that many reject may not be the G-d Torah and Kabbalah actually describe.

Beyond Supernatural vs. Natural
Judaism sees G-d not as a supernatural being outside nature, but as the source and essence of all existence, both within and beyond nature.

Personal and Infinite
G-d is not a person, but also not less than personal. The Divine is both the cosmic Author and the intimate Listener.

Language & Metaphor Matter
The Torah uses varied metaphors to relate to G-d, each revealing a facet, none capturing the whole.

G-d Is Experienced, Not Just Explained
You may not "prove" G-d like a theorem—but you can encounter G-d in awe, in kindness, in Torah, and in the quiet moments of the soul.

#God #theology #thegodquestion #chassidus #Kabbalah #chabad #Spinoza #einstein #jewishphilosophy #Faith #personalgod #infinite #soul

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

In this gripping journey through Parshat Balak, Rabbi Bernath reveals the hidden spiritual war behind the political drama. Balak, king of Moav, turns to the infamous prophet Bilaam to curse Israel—but instead, Bilaam becomes an unwitting conduit for some of the most beautiful blessings in Torah. From the fall of Sichon and Og to the rise of Pinchas, this class explores how even our enemies testify to our eternal strength—and how every darkness can be transformed into light.

Takeaways

Spiritual Warfare: The real battle wasn’t fought with swords, it was waged in the heavens. Balak understood the power of spiritual energy and tried to use it against the Jews.

Power of Blessing: Bilaam, despite himself, delivered the deepest praises of the Jewish people, because truth isn’t controlled by ego, but by G-d.

The Danger Within: When external curses failed, Bilaam exploited internal weakness—seduction and immorality. The greatest danger often comes from within.

Transformation is Inevitable: Even klipah (spiritual husks) serve holiness in the end. Bilaam’s blessings live on—while his plots fade into oblivion.

Identity is Non-Negotiable: The Jewish soul cannot be cursed. Our truth is eternal, our connection Divine, and our mission unshakable—even our enemies admit it.

#ParshatBalak #Balak #Judaism #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #Bilaam #Moav #Moshiach #Curses #Prophecy #Parsha #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #TorahPortion

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

In this heart-open, mind-stretching class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath dives headfirst into one of the most profound questions ever asked: Who wrote the Torah and what do we mean by G-d? Sparked by a challenge from Ilana, a thoughtful soul who just "won the raffle" and then handed Rabbi Bernath some of the hardest theological questions he's faced, this class isn't a debate, it’s a bridge. Drawing from Torah, Talmud, Rambam, Tanya, Harari, Einstein, Spinoza, and Chassidic mystics, we explore traditional belief, academic scholarship, and the honest soul-searching that sits between them.

Is the Torah a divine blueprint or a human masterpiece? Or… could it be both?

Together, we walk a path between Sinai and the seminar room, from ancient revelation to modern doubt and discover that sometimes, the questions themselves are the invitation to a deeper relationship with truth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Traditional Belief Holds Depth: Torah mi-Sinai means Moses recorded divine revelation over 40 years. It's not simplistic, it’s layered and deeply rooted in Jewish collective memory.
2. Modern Scholarship Brings Honest Challenges: Thinkers like Harari argue that the Torah was assembled over centuries, reflecting political and social needs. These critiques must be addressed, not ignored.
3. Kabbalah and Chassidus Provide a Bridge: Divine revelation doesn’t exclude human expression. The Torah flowed through Moses’ voice and personality, G-d worked with human vessels.
4. Assumptions Shape Interpretation: Believers and skeptics alike interpret the same data through different axioms. Acknowledging this fosters respectful dialogue rather than defensiveness.
5. The Torah’s Endurance Is Itself a Testament: Its moral vision, power to unite, and enduring relevance across time and culture hint at something more than human genius, it points toward the Divine.
6. This Is Not About “Winning” an Argument: It’s about honesty, humility, and the courage to explore big questions together.
7. The Torah Is a Living Document: Beyond history or philosophy, Torah continues to speak—not just inform, but transform. That may be its greatest proof of all.

#Torah #God #Judaism #sinai #Moses #Divinerevelation #Documentaryhypothesis #YuvalNoahHarari #Kabbalah #Jewishtradition #BiblicalCrticism #Tanya #Spinoza #chassidus #Faith #theology

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Purchase a raffle ticket here (there's 32 hours left!) http://www.charidy.com/ndg

-

I hope you are well.

This Wednesday marks something deeply personal for me and Sara.

Exactly 20 years ago, we arrived in Montreal with a few suitcases, a tiny apartment… and one big, beating dream:

To build a Jewish home for anyone who needed one.

Not just a synagogue.

Not just programs.

But a place filled with warmth, love, and belonging for every soul.

In those early days, we ran school workshops and young professional events, saying yes to every opportunity to bring a little more light into the world.

And then 17 years ago, we opened our own little centre in NDG.

That dream — it grew.

Today, thanks to the incredible community we’ve built together, that small seed has become something beautiful:

-JMontreal our matchmaking service (212 engagements and counting!)

-A Jewish centre where everyone is welcome.

-Montreal’s only Jewish shelter for young adults in crisis

-Mental health and life coaching for those struggling

-A hospitable oasis for Jewish Students facing anti-semitism at Concordia.

Some of you know me from Instagram or the Kosher Love documentary.

But this… this is the heart of my life’s work.

And now, we’re dreaming even bigger.

We want to grow the shelter.

Support more young people.

Make more matches.

Create more space for joy, healing, and Jewish connection.

But we can’t do it alone.

That’s why I’m writing to you today.

This Wednesday, our 20-year anniversary is also the last day to buy a raffle ticket.

Your ticket is more than a donation. It’s a vote of confidence.

It says: "I believe in this. I want this to grow."

And yes, you can also win big!

Buy your raffle ticket here

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey.

Let’s build the next 20 years — together.

With love and gratitude,
Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

P.S. If you’ve already bought tickets — thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Your support means the world to us, and you’re helping us make this dream grow stronger every single day.
Please consider forwarding this email to a friend who might also want to be part of something meaningful.

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

In this deep and soulful journey through Parshat Chukas, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks one of the most perplexing and powerful moments in the Torah: the copper snake on a pole.

Why did G-d command Moses to use the very symbol of suffering, the snake, as a healing instrument? What does it mean that people had to look up at the snake to be cured?

Through timeless Jewish wisdom, vulnerable personal insight, and psychological depth, Rabbi Bernath explores the mystery of pain, the challenge of resilience, and the spiritual art of transforming darkness into light. You’ll walk away with a new perspective on your own struggles and perhaps, a new path to healing.

Key Takeaways:

Transformation, Not Avoidance:
True healing doesn’t come from avoiding our pain, but from facing it with courage and elevating it with meaning.

The Snake Above vs. the Snake Below:
The same experience can be seen from a higher or lower perspective. One brings despair; the other, depth.

The Poison Is the Cure:
Just like antivenom is made from venom, your healing may emerge from the very thing that once hurt you.

Don’t Run, Look Up:
When we stop running from the “snakes” in our lives and look upward—to G-d, to our higher selves—we discover the blessing buried in the bite.

Every Crisis Holds a Blessing:
Like Jacob wrestling the angel, we can say to our struggle: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That’s Jewish resilience.

You Are Sacred Even in Pain:
Sometimes the deepest truth is not an answer to your question, but the awareness that your soul is Divine, loved, and never alone.

#healing #Judaism #Jewish #coppersnake #healingthroughpain #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology #JewishResiliance #struggle #Redemption #divinepurpose #traumatotransformation #trauma #God #snake #parshatchukat #spritualgrowth

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

In this gripping class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delves into the tragic and turbulent rebellion led by Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and On ben Peles against Moses and Aaron. The narrative unveils not just a mutiny, but a masterclass in leadership, humility, and boundless love for even the most stubborn opponents.

Through an exploration of four key episodes involving Dathan and Abiram, Rabbi Bernath uncovers their long history of discord and defiance. Yet the class’s emotional apex comes with Moses’ unexpected final act: rising to personally appeal to his bitterest enemies, even after G-d commanded their separation. Why? Because Moses could never give up on the potential for peace—even with those who never sought it.

Drawing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s insights on Parshas Korach, this class challenges us to ask: When is the pursuit of unity too much? And what makes someone truly worthy of leadership?

Takeaways:

1. True Leadership Is Relentless Love:
   Moses teaches us that real leadership isn’t about titles or power, it’s about never giving up on people, even those who oppose you.
2. Some Quarrels Are Lifelong—Still, We Try:
   Dathan and Abiram weren’t new to conflict; they had a history of opposition. Yet Moses still pursued peace, one last time.
3. “Do Not Keep Up a Quarrel” Isn’t Just a Nice Idea—It’s a Lifesaving One:
   The Talmud’s teaching, rooted in Moses’ actions, reminds us that unity is sacred—even if it means swallowing our pride.
4. The Power of One Final Attempt:
   “Moses stood up and went to Dathan and Abiram.” That one verse becomes a model for all of us: Don’t assume it’s too late to make peace.
5. We Each Carry a Spark of Moses:
   As the Tanya teaches, every Jew carries a part of Moses’ soul. That means we each have the capacity to rise above ego and reach out in peace.
6. Peace Doesn’t Mean Passivity:
   Pursuing peace doesn’t mean tolerating abuse, it means knowing when to fight injustice and when to humble yourself for healing.

#Torah #Moses #Judaism #Bible #BibleStudy #Korach #ParshatKorach #humility #Rebbe #mosesleadership #Peace #TorahLessons #TorahPortion

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

On the night of Tisha B’Av, the Jewish people cried out of fear, not from a real threat, but from a perceived one. That night became a tragic turning point in our history, not because of a divine punishment, but because fear itself became the seed of generations of sorrow.

This class explores the deeper meaning of those "vain tears" through Torah, psychology, and metaphor. From the self-fulfilling prophecy of the spies, to Harvard's famous "Rosenthal Experiment," to the chained circus elephant who forgot her strength, we see how fear and self-image can imprison entire generations.

But we are no longer that generation. We are living in a time of healing and empowerment. This Tisha B’Av, we are called to rewrite the script. To cry no more. To rise with resolve. To finally break free and bring healing, light, and redemption to our world.

Key Takeaways:

Fear isn’t always logical, but it’s always powerful.
Even miracles won’t help if we don’t believe in ourselves.

Vain tears become real pain.
When we cry over imagined powerlessness, we invite genuine suffering, because we surrender our G-d-given strength.

We see ourselves as grasshoppers and so does the world.
The way we perceive ourselves shapes how others treat us.

Belief creates reality.
Like elephants chained by false memories, we stay stuck not because we are weak, but because we think we are.

This is the age of healing.
We’re not grasshoppers. We’re not victims. We are a generation with tools, strength, and clarity. It’s time to remember who we are.

Tisha B’Av will be transformed.
With courage, truth, and unity, even our day of weeping will become a day of joy, with the coming of Moshiach.

#fear #healing #Jewish #Judaism #shlach #TorahPortion #Torah #TorahLessons #Bible #BibleStudy #TishaBav #Spirituality #Moshiach #Spiritual #lubavitch #RabbiWisdom

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

In this weeks class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath reveals the Torah’s timeless wisdom for navigating today’s anxious, high-speed world. Rooted in a single verse from Parshat Behaalotecha, we uncover how the cloud that guided the Jewish people through the desert wasn’t just GPS, it was G-d’s embrace, offering a blueprint for emotional resilience. Drawing on deep Talmudic insight, the story of the Mishkan, and modern-day inspiration like the heroism of Natan Sharansky, this class is a journey into the eye of the storm… where true serenity lives.

Takeaways:
* The "Magic Pill" for Stress: A single Torah verse can reframe your entire emotional state.
* G-d’s Embrace Is Constant: Just like a baby in its mother’s arms, we can move through chaos and feel held.
* Work ≠ Work: The Torah’s definition of melachah (creative labor) holds spiritual secrets for how to balance doing and being.
* The Sanctuary Within: Whether building or dismantling, stillness comes from knowing you’re in the same Divine space.
* Tehillim as a Lifeline: Learn how Psalms became the spiritual oxygen for Natan Sharansky—and how they can be for you, too.
* Don’t Just Know the Psalm. Know the Shepherd.

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi