Oct 29, 2017

Raize Guttman 10-29-17 (9 Cheshvan 5778)

Parsha Vayeira - Beresheit - Chapter 18 - Verses 14 - 15.

Sarah did not know she laughed inside.

Knowing who you really are and what unique gifts Hashem gave you is our purpose in life. Very often people do not see themselves. They don’t begin to understand what they are doing. Sometimes the reason is fear.

There are 2 ways to find out who you really are. One way is to pay attention to the outer messages happening in your life. Listen to what the world is saying to you and find the kernel of truth from them so you can learn from them. The other way is to pay attention to the inner messages. Look inside yourself. You can't build on your great talents and abilities that Hashem gave you if you really don’t know who you are.

Oct 22, 2017

Raize Guttman 10-22-17 (2 Cheshvan 5778)

Parsha Vayeira - Beresheit - Chapter 18 - Verses 11 - 13
Rosh Chodesh Hashem Loves Me Stories.

Info TBD

Oct 15, 2017

Raize Guttman 10-15-17 (25 Tishrei 5778)

Parsha Vayeira - Beresheit - Chapter 18 - Verse 10

As Sarah listens at the doorway of the tent, the angels are outside telling Avraham that she will conceive & have a baby. This is such a powerful verse and we have the opportunity to learn so many lessons from it.

When one does acts of chesed it is a prelude for greatness. Sarah & Avraham hurried to do for others and so they merited greatness because of it. We see more examples of others in Torah who merited greatness directly from their ability to be kind to others - Rivka, Yosef, Moshe.

It is mentioned in this verse that the tent is behind Avraham. This comes to teach us that he always positioned himself so that Sarah could hear him & benefit from his teachings. In the commentary the binyan av is that this is how Sarah became great. Because she was always open to listening, she was always learning from Avraham, and so she was always growing.

The importance of a Sh'miat Ha'ozen (the listening ear) as a tool for growth is reinforced in Mishlei - Chapter 15 – Verse 31. "The ear that listens to rebuke of life shall lodge among the wise." If you listen, you will grow. We never want to stop growing because growth means getting closer and more connected to Hashem.



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Oct 1, 2017

Raize Guttman 10-01-17 (11 Tishrei 5778)

In our shiur today Raize speaks about Sukkot. The chag is known as Siman Simchasenu. It is a time to rejoice, time to appreciate what we have and not what we don’t have – how futile and temporary this world is – concentrate on what is important in life. Family – spirituality – joy – closeness to Hashem.

The way to connect to Sukkot:

* Appreciation – the only reason the Jewish people received this holiday was because they did not complain in the desert with the clouds of glory. They complained about the water and mana, but not the clouds of glory.
The lesson: Appreciate what you have.

* Growth / Spirituality – On Sukkot we leave our permanent dwelling and move into a temporary dwelling to reinforce that life is not about things and stuff. Life in this world is about connecting with Hashem and understanding that connecting to spirituality is the only thing that can truly make us happy.

* Giving - Achdus – True unity involves thinking about others & being there for each other. It is what it is all about. On Sukkot we go out of our own self-focus and our behaviors of just wanting things to be my way - so we are then able to see and be there for others. Sukkot is a time to say it is not about me, it is about me thinking about other people. It is not about me, it is about YOU!