In this episode of "Truths Jewish Wisdom for Today," host Rabbi D Levi Brackman delves into the Torah portion of Nitzavim, found in Deuteronomy chapters 29 and 30. He explores the profound themes of covenant, blessings, and curses that define the relationship between God and the Israelites.

Brackman begins by discussing the covenant as a double-edged sword: adherence brings blessings and prosperity, while abandonment leads to severe curses and exile from the Promised Land. He highlights the Hebrew terms used for "curse," particularly "alah," which also means "oath," emphasizing that the curses are part of a divine oath linked to the covenant.

He examines the text's transition from individual responsibility to collective consequence. An individual might think they can escape the repercussions of breaking the covenant, but the text warns that both individuals and entire tribes will face God's wrath if they turn away. Brackman notes textual anomalies, such as Moses referring to "this book," suggesting the possibility of retrospective authorship and adding layers of interpretation.

Drawing parallels to William Strauss and Neil Howe's generational theory from their book "The Fourth Turning," Brackman connects the Israelites' experiences to cycles of societal change: high, awakening, unraveling, and crisis. He suggests that the Torah anticipates these cycles and offers a means to break them by choosing life and adhering to God's commandments.

He emphasizes that choosing life and maintaining the covenant isn't an unattainable goal—it's accessible and within reach. By upholding strong institutions and remembering the lessons of history, the Israelites—and by extension, all people—can avoid the destructive cycles that lead to crisis.

Brackman extends this message to the modern context, noting that while some believe society is inevitably headed toward a crisis, the teachings in the Torah portion of Nitzavim offer hope. They remind us that it's within our power to choose a different path by consciously opting for life, blessings, and adherence to enduring values.

He concludes by affirming the timeless relevance of this wisdom, encouraging listeners to "choose life" so that they and future generations may live meaningfully and avoid repeating past mistakes.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman delves into the Torah portion of Ki Tavo (Deuteronomy 26) to explore the mitzvah of Bikkurim—the offering of the first fruits—and its profound implications for our understanding of gratitude, responsibility, and continuous renewal.

Discover how the ancient practice of Bikkurim embodies a "Day One" mindset—a concept popularized by Jeff Bezos but deeply rooted in the Torah long before. By examining the unique declaration made during the Bikkurim ritual, Levi highlights the Israelites' journey from oppression in Egypt to prosperity in the Promised Land, emphasizing the reciprocal covenant between God and His people.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Ritual of Bikkurim: Understanding the historical declaration in Deuteronomy 26:5-10 and its significance.
• Contrasting Declarations: Comparing the Bikkurim declaration with the tithing declaration in Deuteronomy 26:12-15.
• Centrality of the Land of Israel: Exploring the importance of the land in Jewish identity and faith.
• The 'Day One' Mindset: How the annual offering of first fruits teaches continuous gratitude and humility.
• The Covenantal Relationship: The two-way commitment between God and the Israelites, emphasizing both divine blessings and human responsibilities.
• The Virtuous Cycle of Blessing: How gratitude and adherence to commandments create a sustaining cycle of prosperity and spiritual fulfillment.

Levi connects these ancient teachings to modern life, illustrating how the principles found in the Torah offer timeless wisdom that predates and enriches contemporary philosophies like those of Bezos.

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If you found this episode insightful, please like, share, and subscribe! Leave your thoughts in the comments below—how do you incorporate a "Day One" mindset in your daily life?

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman explores the Torah portion of Ki Teitzei, focusing on its complex laws regarding marriage and divorce. He examines how these ancient texts can be interpreted to align with modern ethical standards. Brackman discusses a case where a man falsely accuses his wife of not being a virgin, leading to intricate legal and moral questions. He highlights the role of the Talmud and rabbinic interpretations in ensuring fairness, particularly for women, through the concept of "ethical corrective." This approach allows for a more equitable application of the law. The episode also delves into the debate between literal and rabbinic readings of the Torah, illustrating how interpretations can vary. Brackman emphasizes the adaptability of Jewish law and its focus on peace, inviting listeners to reflect on the balance between tradition and modernity.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today, Levi Brackman delves into the topic of false prophets as presented in two Torah portions, Re'eh and Shoftim, from Deuteronomy. He begins by exploring why the Torah addresses false prophets in two separate sections (Chapters 13 and 18) rather than consolidating them into one. Through his analysis, Levi concludes that these two sections represent different contexts that justify their separation.

Chapter 13 emphasizes that the Torah is immutable, meaning no prophet can add to or take away from it. Any prophet who attempts to introduce new laws or encourage following other gods is a false prophet, and the Torah is clear that it remains unchangeable for all time.

Chapter 18, on the other hand, warns against practices like sorcery and divination, which were common among non-Israelite nations. Instead, God communicated through a prophet from among the Israelites. This prophet would guide in areas not explicitly covered by the Torah, such as whether to go to war, and his legitimacy would be confirmed if his predictions came true.

Levi further discusses the role of a true prophet as both a spiritual leader and a guide for the nation in uncertain times. He also addresses the implications of these teachings for modern-day beliefs, particularly how they negate the possibility of new prophets altering the Torah and challenging certain Christian beliefs that involve adding to the Torah.

In conclusion, Levi ties together the lessons from both chapters, emphasizing that the Torah remains unchanged, and any prophet attempting to modify it is false. The role of the prophet, he suggests, is to guide people in following the existing Torah and offer direction in ambiguous matters, providing a sense of guidance and support in uncertain times.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today, Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman reflects on a recent debate between Candace Owens, a right-wing political commentator, and Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. The core focus of Brackman's discussion is Candace Owens' opening remarks during the debate, particularly her references to Judaism, Jewish teachings, and the nature of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson's views.

Brackman agrees with Owens' general point about the existence of radical fringe elements in most religions, including Judaism. However, he strongly criticizes her for equating Jewish religious beliefs with white supremacy. He calls her out for falsely accusing the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of harboring hatred toward non-Jews as well as her misleading lack of context and nuance surrounding his teachings, which Owens quoted indirectly through Israel Shahak, a known critic of the Orthodox Jewish community.

Brackman stresses that while specific Jewish texts may speak of Jewish exceptionalism, they are not grounded in hatred of others. He contextualizes the Jewish concept of being "chosen" or exceptional as a religious belief, not a supremacist ideology like white supremacy. He points out that Owens misrepresents the teachings of Judaism by ignoring fundamental laws that emphasize kindness to non-Jews, particularly the obligation to treat "the stranger" with respect.

Furthermore, Brackman rebuts Owens' use of Israel Shahak as a source, citing Shahak's false claims in 1965 about Orthodox Jews' refusal to help save non-Jews on the Sabbath. He demonstrates that Shahak's story is a fabrication and defends Jewish law, which mandates the saving of all lives, Jewish or non-Jewish.

Brackman finds Owens' arguments misleading and based on historical distortions. He concludes that her remarks reflect deep-rooted prejudice, not a genuine critique, and expresses disappointment that Rabbi Shmuley Boteach did not adequately challenge her statements during the debate.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabb Dr. Levi Brackman discusses the Torah portion of Re'eh from Deuteronomy, focusing on the concept of prophets and how to distinguish between true and false prophets. He addresses the challenge of discerning genuine divine communication in a religious context, where false prophets can easily deceive people by claiming to have access to divine truth.

The Torah provides guidelines for identifying a false prophet: even if a prophet performs signs and wonders that come to pass, if they advocate worshiping other gods, they are a false prophet. Brackman explores Maimonides' views from "The Guide for the Perplexed," where he emphasizes that a true prophet must possess both courage and divination. Prophecy, according to Maimonides, involves an overflow from the active intellect (divine insight) into the imagination and intellect, allowing the prophet to foresee the future.

Maimonides also argues that a prophet's moral character, especially sexual purity, is crucial. An immoral person, particularly one with sexual impropriety, cannot be a true prophet. In "The Guide for the Perplexed" and his legal work "Mishneh Torah," Maimonides suggests that a false prophet can be identified not only by advocating actions contrary to the Torah but also by their prophecies failing to materialize.

Brackman highlights the distinction between judging a prophet at the moment they deliver a prophecy—based on their character and alignment with Torah—and assessing them over time by whether their predictions come true. He concludes by noting that while someone might not be considered a false prophet unless they explicitly invoke God's name in their prophecy, the failure of their predictions inherently labels them as false.

This episode explores the complex criteria for discerning true prophecy, blending Torah teachings with philosophical insights from Maimonides.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today", Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman dedicates the discussion to the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Av, the 15th of Av, and its connection to romantic relationships and engagements, in honor of his son Dovi's engagement. He explains that Tu B'Av is considered a joyous holiday, akin to Yom Kippur, as young women would traditionally meet their future husbands on this day, symbolizing love and partnership.

Brackman delves into the Jewish engagement and marriage process, which consists of two parts: **Erusin (betrothal)** and **Nisuin (marriage)**. In the past, these two stages occurred separately, but today, both typically happen simultaneously under the chuppah. He also describes the traditional engagement party, or "Vaart," where the families of the bride and groom commit to supporting the wedding, often through symbolic actions like the **Kenyan Suddar**, where a handkerchief is exchanged as a sign of commitment.

Brackman highlights how the ritual of the Kenyan Suddar has evolved. Originally used by families to show commitment, today the bride and groom perform this act, symbolizing their commitment to each other without the formal exchange of an engagement ring, which is given during the wedding ceremony.

The episode concludes with a blessing for Dovi and Rifkah, wishing them a happy and enduring marriage, and an invitation for listeners in New York to join in the celebration of their engagement.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.

In this episode of "Truths: Jewish Wisdom for Today," Rabbi Dr. Levi Brackman explores the first Torah portion in the book of Deuteronomy, known as "Devarim" or "Mishneh Torah." He begins by discussing the nature of Deuteronomy, which largely consists of Moses' speeches to the Israelites before they enter the land of Israel. The focus of this episode is on the story of the spies, a well-known narrative that appears both in the book of Numbers and in Deuteronomy, but with significant differences.

Brackman highlights how the story is told differently in each book. In Numbers, the initiative to send spies is commanded by God, whereas in Deuteronomy, it appears as though the people themselves requested it from Moses, who then approved the idea. Additionally, the terminology and the identity of the spies differ between the two accounts. These discrepancies lead to questions about which version is "true" and how to reconcile the differences.

Brackman presents various interpretations from traditional commentators like Rashi and Ramban, who offer ways to harmonize the accounts, and also discusses more modern perspectives, including those of biblical critics who suggest that Deuteronomy might have been written by different authors for a different audience.

The episode underscores that the Torah's purpose is not to provide a factual historical account but to convey moral and spiritual truths. The differences in the narrative are seen as intentional, tailored to the needs of the specific audience and the message being conveyed. Brackman concludes by emphasizing that the Torah teaches us wisdom and truths for living a meaningful life, rather than merely recounting historical events. This approach helps listeners understand that the focus should be on the lessons and values the stories impart, rather than on the factual details.

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Levi Brackman is a rabbi, Ph.D. in psychology, best-selling author of Jewish Wisdom for Business Success, and founder of Invown, a platform for real estate fundraising and investing.