Nov 20, 2016

Raize Guttman 11-20-16 (19 Cheshvan 5777)

So sorry...No recording available due to technical difficulties.

Nov 13, 2016

Raize Guttman 11-13-16 (12 Cheshvan 5777)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 15 – Verses 7 - 11
Hashem promises Avram the land of Israel to him and all his inheritants. This will happen through the merit of our doing karbanos / sacrifices. That is going to be our z’hus / merit. Israel is our holy, special gift, but it comes with sacrifice.

Nov 6, 2016

Raize Guttman 11-06-16 (5 Cheshvan 5777)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 15 - Verse 6 -
Avram had faith in Hashem no matter what. For Hashem this was considered a righteous act on Avram's part that he displayed this kind of faith. Avram possessed Emunah peshuta (simple faith) and had faith in Hashem no matter what his circumstances. Emunah peshuta is the most beautiful thing a Jew can display, but it is really not so simple to do.

Oct 30, 2016

Raize Guttman 10-30-16 (26 Tishrei 5777)

Parshat Lech Lecha Chapter 15 - Verses 1 - 6.
Hashem comes to Avram and tells him, don’t be afraid, I will protect you and your reward will be great. Hashem promises Avram as many children as the stars in the sky. The lesson of these 6 Verses is having Emunah. Emunah means not asking for a sign, but total acceptance of what Hashem says. Avram accepts from Hashem with total equanimity & emunah. Avram totally nullifies himself - whatever Kadosh Borahu tells him he accepts and does not say “how could this happen to me?” Hashem saw this as a great righteousness on his part! Keeping in mind we just came from the tremendous loftiness experienced from the Chaggim. Raize suggests that the way to hold onto your lofty levels of spirituality is through Simcha – by being happy with life and with whatever happens to you. Further, the only way to be truly happy is to have Emunah. A person should say, if this is what is happening to me, then this is good. If you get bent out of shape – then you are not living with Emunah – and you are not living with Simcha.

Oct 9, 2016

Raize Guttman 10-09-16 (7 Tishrei 5777)

Yom Kippur 5777 / 2016 is 2 days from now.
Yom Kippur marks the day Hashem forgave us for the sin of the Golden Calf and the day he gave the Torah. In real terms it is the culmination of our 10 days of Teshuva. Raize suggests we look at Yom Kippur not with dread, but as a day of great joy. It is a day of duality. A day to rejoice with trembling (v’gilu birada). Hashem is giving us simcha with the opportunity for atonement, forgiveness, & renewed closeness to Him. Don't look at the trials of life as punishment, but as a tremendous act of chesed from Hashem to purify and cleanse our neshamot.

Sep 25, 2016

Raize Guttman 09-25-16 (21 Elul 5776)

Erev Rosh Hashanah Shiur.
With the New Year one week away, we need to push our reset button as we focus on Hashem the King. It is our opportunity to rectify ourselves and the world. We can return to Gan Eden before the sin of Adam and to our pure neshama. This discussion includes conversation about Teshuva, Musaf service, blowing of the shofar and the Chag schedule.

Sep 19, 2016

Raize Guttman 09-18-16 (15 Elul 5776)

Teshuvah in preparation of Rosh Hashanah.
Six types of Teshuvah plus real practical approaches.

Raize Guttman

Bentching after eating bread..
Learn to bentch (say Bircas HaMazon after eating bread) in Hebrew by singing along with Raize.

Sep 18, 2016

Raize Guttman 09-11-16 (8 Elul 5776)

Parshat Lecha Lecha with Chapter 15 - Verse 1.
Including discussion of 3 levels of Yirat Shomayim.

Raize Guttman 09-04-16 (1 Elul 5776)

We finish last verse of Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 14. Verse 24.
Then discussion on the month of Elul continues. Yirat Shamayim is not about fear, it means I have a relationship with Hashem and that is what I came here to cultivate, strengthen and deepen. Elul is about getting closer to Hashem.

Raize Guttman 08-28-16 ( 24 Av 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha Chapter 14 - Verses 21, 22 & 23.
It is the small things that count, done with sincerity are what matter to Hashem - which leads us into discussion about the coming month of Elul. It is a month to evoke closeness with Hashem. "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" - "ani l'dodi v'dodi li."

Raize Guttman 08-21-16 (17 Av 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha Chapter 14 - Verses 18, 19 & 20.
The lesson Avram learns from Shem (Malchizedek) and that is to bless Hashem first. The middos of appreciation (Hakorat Ha Tov) - appreciation for Hashem first.

Raize Guttman 08-14-16 (10 Av 5776)

The Fast of Tisha B’av.
Discussion of why we fast on the 9th of Av, (which occurs this year today on the 10th of Av because yesterday was Shabbat.) In this shiur Raize highlights 5 of the major tragedies that befell the Jewish people in history on the 9th of Av.

Aug 10, 2016

Raize Guttman 08-07-16 (3 Av 5776)

Increasing mourning during this month of Av when our level of joy is decreased. What we do and don't do as Tisha B'Av (9th of Av) approaches as well as on Tisha B'Av itself. How mourning for a loved one differs from mourning the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash (The Holy Temple) on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem. Examining our relationship to our loss.

Aug 3, 2016

Raize Guttman 07-31-16 (25 Tamuz 5776)

Continuation of Parshat Lech Lecha Chapter 14- Verses 14, 15, 16 & 17.
And preparation for Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av in 5 days.

Raize Guttman 07-24-15 (18 Tamuz 5776)

Fast of 17th of Tamuz (pushed off a day to Tammuz 18 because of Shabbos).
What's it all about?
Started discussion of Parshat Lech Lecha Chapter - Verse 14

Raize Guttman 07-17-16 (11 Tamuz 5776)

Continuation of Parshas Lech Lecha Chapter 14 - verse 13.
How to emulate our father Abraham (Avraham Avinu). Three character traits that made it possible for Avraham Avinu to pass all ten of his huge life tests demonstrating how we can pass our big life tests.

Raize Guttman 07-10-16 (4 Tamuz 5776)

Continuation of Parshat Lech Lecha - Verse 13 & 14.

Raize Guttman 07-03-16 (27 Sivan 5776)

Continuation of Parshas Lech Lecha and preparation for Rosh Chodesh Tammuz in 3 days.

Raize Guttman 06-26-16 (20 Sivan 5776)

Continuation of Parshas Lech Lecha.

Raize Guttman, 6-19-2016 Sivan 12

Continutation Parshas Lech Lecha

Raize Guttman 06-05-16 (28 Iyyar 5776)

Preparing for Shavuos in one week (Sivan 6...this year falls on June 12)

Raize Guttman 05-29-16 (21 Iyyar 5776)

Continuation of Parshas Lech Lecha

Raize Guttman 05-22-16 (14 Iyyar 5776)

Today is Pesach Sheini and Lag B'Omer is in 4 days (Iyyar 18, 33rd day of the counting of the Omer) Here we will learn about both Pesach Sheini and Lag B'Omer. What is Pesach Sheini all about. Why do we eat matzoh on it even though we ate it on Pesach a month ago.

May 15, 2016

Raize Guttman 05-15-16 (7 Iyyar 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13 - Verse 13.
What is the significance of the number 13? What were the traits of the people of Sodom and how did they come to such lowly traits?

Raize Guttman 05-08-16 (30 Nisan 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13 - Verse 10.
What attracted Lot to the plain of the Jordan? How did Lot set out to go there after parting from Abram?

Raize Guttman 05-01-16 (23 Nisan 5776)

The day after Pesach. How do we take Pesach with us? Sharing our personal Pesach highlights.

Raize Guttman 04-17-16 (9 Nisan 5776)

Last class before Pesach. Important things to know before Pesach starts. Everything we do is laden with meaning, depth and is for a reason.

Raize Guttman 04-10-16 (2 Nisan 5776)

Insights into Pesach night.

Raize Guttman 03-27-16 (17 Adar II 5776)

Right after Purim. Still on a high. So much joy and uplifting on the holiday and happy singing. When the wine goes in, the secrets, the pure neshamah, comes out. Chafrashat challah at sunrise by the Kotel. How to take Purim with us through the year.
Also continued learning of Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13 - Verse 9.
Separating of Abram and Lot.

Mar 20, 2016

Raize Guttman 03-20-16 (10 Adar II 5776)

Tap into the hidden spiritual power of Purim.

Mar 14, 2016

Raize Guttman 03-13-16 (3 Adar II 5776)



Disagreements are inevitable.  How to resolve while enhancing relationships.  Three things to do and three things not to do.
Ground rules applicable to relationships, especially re shalom bais (peace in the house). Wherever there’s a relationship — particularly a close one — there’s occasional friction and conflict. How does one deal with that? How to minimize it? How best to handle ourselves? Some guidelines. 
—The 3 Rules of Fighting
—The 3 Rules of Not Fighting
—The 3 Rules of Apologizing

This is one of those classes that should not be missed. There was lively discussion at the end of the class.

Mar 12, 2016

Raize Guttman 03-06-16 (26 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13 - Verse 5.
The second month of Adar, Purim - How to be truly happy.

Feb 29, 2016

Raize Guttman 02-28-16 (19 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 13, Verse 1.
Avraham comes out of Egypt to the land of Canaan with great wealth. Why is great wealth a test???

Feb 22, 2016

Raize Guttman 02-21-16 (12 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 14.

Raize Guttman 02-14-16 (5 Adar I 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 12.

Raize Guttman 02-07-16 (28 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 11.
Upon coming down to Egypt, Avraham recognizes his wife Sarah's beauty. "Now I know that you are a beautiful women." The 5th of the 10 tests of Avraham. Rashi gives 3 explanations of this verse. The Zohar brings down the meaning and purpose of beauty.

Feb 21, 2016

Raize Guttman 01-31-16 (21 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 9.
We end a chapter of Avram's travels and begin the next test. We spoke of 3 tests so far, and begin the 4th.

Raize Guttman 01-24-16 (14 Sh'vat 5776)

Tu B'Shevat Shiur. We are going to have a sort of peros tish today - when all the different Chasidus sit by a big table and they have tons of fruit. Usually 15 kinds of fruit. The Rebbe makes blessings over the fruit, they sing the 15 Shir Ha Ma'alot (The Song of Ascents). Psalms 120-135. They signify a rising up. King Solomon had 15 steps that led up to his throne and they would sing on each step a different song of ascent when they went to speak to the King.

Raize Guttman 01-17-16 (7 Sh'vat 5776)

Parshat Lech Lecha - Chapter 12 - Verse 8.

We spoke last week about the concept that Avraham pitched Sarah's tent first. The Alkabetz brings down a Rambam regarding this verse that says a man is supposed to love his wife like himself and honor his wife more than himself. A wife must honor her husband exceedingly. (Love for her comes naturally). This exceeding amount of honor is the secret formula for a successful marriage. Today we speak about Kavod (respect/honor), which is necessary in all relationships between all people - Anyone you want to have a meaningful relationship with.

Raize Guttman 01-10-16 (29 Tevet 5776)

Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat - time when you things start blossoming.

Raize Guttman 01-03-16 (22 Tevet 5776)