Kabbalah for Everyone
Kabbalah for Everyone explores the ancient Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah and shows how its teachings can be applied to everyday life. Hosted by Rabbi Yisroel Bernath, the podcast offers accessible lessons on spiritual growth, personal transformation, and practical wisdom. Rabbi Bernath brings a warm, non-judgmental approach and draws on his more than 15 years of teaching experience. The show aims to make Kabbalah approachable for listeners of all backgrounds.
Episodes
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 19: The Three Ways Your Mind Serves You | Chochmah, Binah & Da’at — From Knowing to Living
Send us Fan MailWhy is it that we can know something is true, understand it perfectly—and still struggle to actually live it? In this lesson of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the three intellectual powers described in Kabbalah and Tanya: Chochmah, Binah, and Da’at.Chochmah is the flash of insight. Binah takes that insight apart, develops it, and understands it. Da’at connect
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 18: Truth, Plan, Power | Getting Your Whole Self on the Same Team
Send us Fan MailWhat happens when one part of you knows what is right, another part is overthinking everything, and another part simply wants what it wants?In Lesson 18 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath offers a simple, practical Kabbalah framework for understanding the G-dly Soul, Rational Soul, and Animal Soul: Truth. Plan. Power.The G-dly Soul helps us identify what is true. The R
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 17: The Destination, the Road, and the Fuel: How to Get Your Whole Self Moving in One Direction
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF worksheet HERE https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/q8oy2i8fo6dg3f8j1xbfp/Lesson-17-Integration-of-the-Three-Souls.pdf?rlkey=nxq3ybh2okjepuml8dj1176wj&dl=0What if spiritual growth is not about defeating the parts of yourself you struggle with? In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a powerful Chassidic model of inner transformation through the Nefesh HaElokit,
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 16: The 101st Time | Why Being Good Is Not the Same as Growing | How the Three Souls Learn to Work Together
Send us Fan MailYou can download the PDF Worksheet HEREhttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/kti2i04bd6rgxgcpsuzr7/Lesson-16-The-101st-Time-Why-Being-Good-is-Not-the-Same-as-Growing.pdf?rlkey=nm3er9rfzuf41sy9sg7m6zw6b&dl=0In Lesson 16, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath brings together the ideas of the Animal Soul, Rational Soul, and G-dly Soul and asks one of the most practical questions in Kabbalah: How do we k
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 15: The Part of You That Never Forgot: Discovering the G-dly Soul
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF Worksheet HEREhttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gagsu8grekp6yowaaca65/Lesson-15-Nefesh-Elokit.pdf?rlkey=7azd1oa13zbj43al7t11w6m01&dl=0What if the deepest part of you was never damaged, never lost, and never truly disconnected? In Lesson 15 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Nefesh HaElokit, the Divine Soul. Drawing on Tanya, this class te
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 14: The Mind in the Middle: Who Is Educating Your Inner Voice?
Send us Fan MailIn Lesson 14, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Nefesh HaSichlit, the Rational Soul, the part of us that thinks, analyzes, interprets, plans, and explains. But the mind is not automatically wise or holy. Sometimes it becomes the brilliant lawyer hired by our desires, constructing sophisticated arguments for what we already wanted to do.Kabbalah teaches that the rational soul can b
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 13: Educating the Animal Soul
Send us Fan MailWhat if the parts of yourself you struggle with most are not meant to be destroyed, but redirected?In Lesson 13 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath moves beyond simply identifying the Nefesh HaBahamit, the animal soul and discovers the deeper Kabbalistic vision: the goal is not to become less human, less passionate, less ambitious, or less emotional. The goal is to educ
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 12: The Two Kings Within: Meeting the Animal Soul
Send us Fan MailHow Tanya teaches us to understand our inner conflict without shame and choose who gets to rule the city.Download the PDF worksheet herehttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ueahmlvp3pptfisjb3a22/Lesson-12-Animal-Soul.pdf?rlkey=dmspfv7j4b4tzlfol97awgyd0&dl=0Why can one part of us sincerely want holiness, meaning, kindness, and growth, while another part wants comfort, recognition, rev
Kabbalah for Everyone - Lesson 11: The Map Behind the Map What Kabbalah Really Is, Where It Came From, and Why It Matters
Send us Fan MailAfter ten classes exploring the language and ideas of Kabbalah, we finally step back and ask the most basic question: What is Kabbalah?In this lesson, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath traces the inner tradition of Torah from Avraham and Sinai through the Zohar, the Ramak, the Arizal, the Baal Shem Tov, and Chabad Chassidus. More importantly, we uncover the common thread running through it all
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 10: Dirah BiTachtonim - Why the Highest Essence Wants to Live in the Lowest Place.
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF handout HERE: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/05t6vd3goxbg6iz9iiwsg/Lesson-10-Dirah-Bitachtonim.pdf?rlkey=5854kgstayu6p2rzyyxitawtd&dl=0In Lesson 10 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most central teachings in Kabbalah: Dirah BiTachtonim, G-d’s desire for a dwelling place in the lowest world.After Lesson 9 introduced Atzmut, the
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 9: Atzmut - Beyond Nature and MiraclesFinding G-d in the Ordinary Moments of Life
Send us Fan MailIn this lesson, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the deepest ideas in Kabbalah: Atzmut, the Absolute Essence of Hashem. After learning about Mimaleh, the Divine energy that fills the world, Sovev, the Divine energy that transcends the world, and Ratzon and Ta’anug, will and delight, this class goes deeper still.What is beyond nature? What is beyond miracles? What is beyond wha
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 8: Ratzon and Ta’anug: What Your Soul Really Wants
Send us Fan MailYou can download the PDF worksheet here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/oy2ioeforqhuspaxj2cz6/Lesson-8-Ratzon-and-Taanug.pdf?rlkey=7bkm55v1r9xwpujfy535uih7z&dl=0What is the difference between doing what is right and actually loving what is right? Kabbalah teaches that two powerful forces shape our inner lives: Ratzon, the power of will, and Ta’anug, the deeper experience of del
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 7: Memaleh and Sovev: Finding G-d Within and Beyond
Send us Fan MailPDF Worksheet https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x2tyitbgce3vgau5jdk0z/Lesson-7-Sovev-and-Mimaleh.pages?rlkey=pw1kjroso872vevz9hp74yh2w&dl=0How can an infinite G-d be present in the ordinary details of our lives? Kabbalah teaches that we experience Divine energy in two ways: Memaleh, the light of G-d that enters our world in a form we can understand and absorb, and Sovev, the Divin
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 6: When Hidden Truth Becomes Visible Life
Send us Fan MailPDF Handout for Lesson 6 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/j1g9pqz4m12xww0h5i8yi/Lesson-6-When-Hidden-Truth-Becomes-Visible-Life.pdf?rlkey=7umxy3kyctvtxj8hy4gxjx0zt&dl=0In Lesson 6 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath continues the journey into Becheyn, the practical result of everything we learn.This class explores how the deepest hidden truths of Torah are not meant t
Help Us Keep the Light Going: A Special Message from Rabbi Yisroel Bernath
Send us Fan MailSupport the raffle at www.ndgraffle.com.In this special episode, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath opens his heart to the worldwide community that has grown around the podcast.The podcast is more than a weekly teaching. It is part of the larger mission of Chabad NDG: creating spaces of belonging, supporting students and families, helping people through crisis, and bringing Torah, healing, hope
The Gift of Feeling Too Much: Why Your Sensitivity Is Not Your Weakness
Send us Fan MailIn this special class in honour of his birthday, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most misunderstood human traits: sensitivity. While the world often tells us to toughen up and grow thicker skin, Chassidus teaches that the goal is not to suppress our emotions but to refine them. Drawing from Tanya, Torah Or, Likkutei Torah, and the teachings of the Rebbeim, Rabbi Bernath e
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 5: Becheyn: When Truth Becomes Real Life
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF worksheet here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ufwb7djkxo78pr3mvfyd6/Lesson-5-Becheyn-The-Practical-Result.pdf?rlkey=62pr1zyzfyx2ijazuda5d60hc&dl=0In Lesson 5 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Bernath explores the Chabad idea of becheyn, the practical result, the bottom line, the moment when an idea stops being “beautiful” and starts becoming life-changing. The le
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 4: When the Heart Finally Listens. How to Turn What We Know Into What We Feel
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF worksheet here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/iy4yhwcp9c0yj10sq3t3p/Lesson-4-Kabbalah-for-Everyone-Lesson-4-How-the-Mind-shapes-the-Heart.pdf?rlkey=3dr82wh93x6kyhkj1o7k2tl0x&dl=0In the last lesson, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath introduced the Chassidic teaching of Sechel and Middot, the mind and the heart and how the mind can teach the heart how to feel.In this Lesson
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 3: Sechel & Middot - When the Mind and Heart Learn to Work Together
Send us Fan MailPDF WORKSHEET HERE https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/euwxk4fy1yzrnskwp3vx2/Lesson-3-Kabbalah-for-Everyone-Sechel-Middot.pdf?rlkey=d8c74r14gkmqmtxidzdwtx9gu&dl=0In Lesson 3 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most practical ideas in Kabbalah: the relationship between Sechel and Middot — the mind and the emotions.We all know the struggle. Sometimes ou
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 2: Halbashah & Hafshotah in Real LifeHow to Bring Deep Truth Down and Uncover the Essence Beneath the Noise
Send us Fan MailDownload a PDF worksheet for this class here https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/jb129gcn2kkv7nnoyhjd4/kabbalah_for_everyone_halbashah_hafshotah_part2_handout.pdf?rlkey=godgbfmvxitvxdq5ch699h6wp&dl=0In Lesson 1, we introduced the Chassidic concepts of Halbashah and Hafshotah, how a deep idea becomes clothed in language, story, metaphor, and practical form, and how we can strip away
Kabbalah for Everyone Lesson 1: Exploring Halbashah & Hafshotah
Send us Fan MailDownload the PDF Worksheet HEREhttps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2il6xvdh6mb06qpis82oe/Kabbalah-Lesson-1-Halbashah-and-Hafshotah-..pdf?rlkey=a5evw8spp0s02ep32qfueuu6n&dl=0In this new Kabbalah for Everyone class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath opens the Chassidic concepts of Halbashah and Hafshotah, “clothing” and “unclothing” an idea.Sometimes a truth is too deep to grasp directly, so it m
The House of David & The Forgiveness Experiment
Send us Fan MailTonight at Congregation TBDJ in Montreal, Rabbi Zolly Claman invited Rabbi Yisroel Bernath to share a unique talk as part of his series on the Characters from the Torah. Rabbi Bernath explored the life of King David through the lens of The Forgiveness Experiment, asking what it really means to forgive without becoming naïve, passive, or unsafe. Moving from Cain and Abel, Isaac and
The Story of Ruth: Loss, Loyalty & Redemption
Send us Fan MailWhy do we read the story of Ruth on Shavuot? Beneath the surface of this beautiful Megillah lies one of the most dramatic stories in all of Tanach, famine, exile, conversion, controversy, loss, courage, and the hidden birth of redemption.In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the deeper story behind Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz through Midrash, Talmud, Zohar, and Kabbalah. Together
The Kingdom Within: Presence, Dignity & the Courage to Receive - Entering the Week of Malchut
Send us Fan MailAs we arrive at the final week of Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the profound and deeply practical world of Malchut, the sefirah of sovereignty, presence, dignity, and embodiment. In Chassidic thought, Malchut is not about domination or ego-driven power, but about becoming a grounded vessel for truth, connection, and Divine presence. Through powerful analogies, rela
Real Connection, Not Just Chemistry: Entering the Week of Yesod
Send us Fan MailAs we step into the week of Yesod, we move from the inner emotional world into the place where everything becomes real, where feelings turn into connection, and potential becomes relationship. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores Yesod not just as a mystical concept, but as the very foundation of how we bond with others, with ourselves, and with G-d.Drawing on teachings fr
The Courage to Soften: Entering the Week of Hod
Send us Fan MailIn a world that rewards being right, being strong, and holding it all together, the Sefirah of Hod invites us into a very different kind of strength. In this heart-open class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the power of humility, not as weakness, but as the courage to soften, to acknowledge truth, and to release the need to control. Drawing from Kabbalah, Chassidic teachings and re
The Strength to Keep Going, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It: Entering the Week of Netzach
Send us Fan MailWhat drives you to keep pushing forward and when does that drive begin to drain you? In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Sefirah of Netzach, the inner power of endurance, ambition, and resilience. Through a blend of Kabbalah and Chassidic insight and real-life application, we uncover the difference between healthy perseverance and destructive overdrive. This session i
The Heart of Balance: Entering the Week of Tiferet
Send us Fan MailHow to Love Without Smothering and Set Boundaries Without WoundingWhy do our best intentions so often hurt the people we love most? Because love without boundaries can suffocate… and truth without compassion can wound. As we enter the week of Tiferet in Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Kabbalistic art of emotional balance, the sacred harmony between Chesed (kindne
From Egypt to Opening Doors: How to Break Through What’s Holding You Back
Send us Fan MailWhat if the last days of Pesach aren’t about how the story ends… but about how your story begins?In this deeply practical and soulful class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the hidden power of the final days of Passover, where we stop remembering freedom and start living toward it. Through the lens of the splitting of the sea, the mysterious idea of Moshiach as a “Caesar,” and the t
The Kabbalah of the Passover Seder
Send us Fan MailWe’ve all been to a Seder. We know the songs, the matzah, the wine… and somehow, we still walk out the same person. But what if the Seder was never meant to be a ritual you attend, but a process you go through?In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath uncovers the Seder as a 15-step journey of real transformation. A map for getting unstuck, from old habits, inner resistance, fear, and e
Rabbi Bernath’s Passover Seder: A Guide to Preparing for a Night That Can Change You
Send us Fan MailDownload Rabbi Bernath's Haggadah HERE https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/98kilqi70z1cpqcn47jo0/Rabbi-Yisroel-s-Passover-Haggadah-Version-6B.pdf?rlkey=2gbd5i1u1fx0787fochlrpj6b&dl=0Most people prepare for the Seder like they’re hosting a dinner. The food is ready. The table is set. The Haggadah is in place. But the Seder was never meant to be something you run. It’s something
Pre-Passover Special - When the Chains are Invisible
Send us Fan MailThere’s something about this time of year… As we prepare for Pesach, cleaning, cooking, setting the table… we’re also being invited into something deeper. Not just a historical remembrance… but a personal awakening.Because the real question of the Seder isn’t “What happened then?” It’s “Am I free now?”In this special pre-Passover episode, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath shares an exclusive p
This Passover: How to Finally Break Out of Feeling Stuck
Send us Fan MailWhat if the line in the Haggadah isn’t history… but a diagnosis? “If G-d hadn’t taken us out of Egypt, we would still be there.” Not physically. Psychologically. Spiritually. Emotionally. In this heart-open Kabbalah class, Rabbi Bernath unpacks the deeper meaning of Egypt, not as a place, but as a mindset. An inner voice that says, “This is just who I am.” A life shaped by patterns
When, Not If: Why Your Mistakes Might Be Your Greatest Strength
Send us Fan MailIn this deeply real and liberating class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a striking idea from Parshat Vayikra: the Torah doesn’t say if a leader will fail, it says when. Why? Because growth, leadership, love, and even spirituality all require stepping into a messy, imperfect world.Through the lens of Kabbalah and Chassidus, you weren’t created to be perfect, you were created to tra
The Life You Dreamed vs. The Life You’re Living
Send us Fan MailDid life turn out the way you imagined it would? Most of us quietly carry two versions of our lives, the ideal one we dreamed about and the messy, imperfect one we actually live. In this Wednesday morning Kabbalah class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a powerful insight from Parshat Vayakhel–Pekudei and Chassidic teachings: why the Torah repeats the story of the Mishkan twice, and
Finding Holiness in the Fragments of Life: The Kabbalah Secret of the Broken Tablets
Send us Fan MailWhy did Moses smash the tablets and why were the broken pieces placed in the Holy of Holies alongside the whole ones? In this heart-open class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most powerful and surprising teachings in Torah: that brokenness is not the opposite of holiness, it can be its doorway. Drawing on the story of the Golden Calf, the teachings of the Talmud, Midrash
When the Street Starts Singing: Drowning Out Haman, Then and Now...
Send us Fan MailThis wasn’t just another Shabbat. This was the kind of Shabbat that reminds you history isn’t something we read, it’s something we walk into.At Chabad NDG in Montreal, a Persian-themed Shabbat table became something deeper: a meeting point between ancient Persia and modern Iran. Between the story of Haman and the voices of real Iranian activists fighting for freedom today. Between
Going “All In” for the Right Things
Send us Fan MailThe Megillah opens with one of the most extravagant, unnecessary parties in history and somehow, it’s there to teach us how to live. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath discusses a powerful insight from the Rebbe: even a foolish king understood something many of us forget, that life is not meant to be lived halfway. Through the lens of Achashverosh’s over-the-top feast, we explore
You’re Not Broken, You’re Layered: The Kabbalah of Showing Up Even When You Don’t Feel Golden
Send us Fan MailParshat Terumah introduces the Ark, Judaism’s holiest object and reveals a radical truth about the human soul. The Ark wasn’t one solid piece. It was gold on the inside, wood in the middle, gold on the outside.In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores how the Ark becomes a map of the inner life: A core that is pure and untouchable. A middle that feels messy, emotional, contradi
Who’s in Charge: Your Emotions or Your Values?
Send us Fan MailIn this morning’s class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explored one of the Torah’s most psychologically honest teachings: what to do when our emotions and our values don’t align. Through the mitzvah of helping an enemy’s fallen donkey, we uncovered Judaism’s middle path, neither repressing emotions nor surrendering to them. Drawing from halacha, Kabbalah, and Chassidus, the class reframed
You Don’t Have to Be Born Jewish to Choose Judaism
Send us Fan MailWhy would a powerful, respected spiritual leader abandon comfort, status, and certainty to join a nation of former slaves in the desert?In this morning’s class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the story of Jethro—not as ancient history, but as a living mirror. Through a surprising Talmudic question, we uncover what Jethro really heard that compelled him to move from observer to part
The Forgiveness Experiment Book Launch | Rabbi Yisroel Bernath in conversation with Ilana Zackon
Send us Fan MailYou don’t often see a book launch feel like a collective exhale.This recording is from the Montreal launch of The Forgiveness Experiment, featuring the author Rabbi Yisroel Bernath in conversation with Ilana Zackon.Ilana Zackon, an award-winning actor, writer, and filmmaker. Together, they dive into the heart of the book: why forgiveness matters, how it changes us, and what it mean
Who Sang First? Leadership, Voice, and Finding the Song Within
Send us Fan MailOne of the first things we did together as a people wasn’t march, organize, or strategize. We sang. Standing at the edge of the sea, fresh from fear, not yet healed, still unsure where we were going the Jewish people lifted their voices in song. But the Torah leaves us with a mystery: how did three million people sing one song together? Was it led by Moses? Echoed by the people? Or
Why the Hardest Moments in Life Are Invitations, Not Obstacles.
Send us Fan MailIn Parshat Bo, G-d tells Moses something unexpected: “Come to Pharaoh.” Not go… but come.In this episode Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores a profound teaching from the Zohar and Chassidic thought: when we face a “Pharaoh” in our lives… fear, resistance, heartbreak, failure, or a person who seems to block our freedom… we are never sent alone. G-d says: Come with Me.Even more startling,
Freedom Begins When We Stop Tolerating
Send us Fan MailOne of the most surprising details in the Exodus story is that Moses, the redeemer of Israel, did not grow up as a slave, but in Pharaoh’s palace. In this morning’s Kabbalah class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores why Divine Providence chose such an unlikely path for Israel’s future leader and what it reveals about the nature of freedom.Drawing on Chassidic insights into the word siv
Turn Your Head... How Moses Found His Calling and How You Can Find Yours
Send us Fan MailMoses had every reason to stay comfortable: palace roots, a peaceful life in Midyan, and an age where most people stop reinventing themselves. Then a bush burned and refused to go away.In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the moment that changes everything: not charging forward, not fixing the world, but simply turning your head. Through the burning bush, the Midrashic deb
The Greatest Light That Could Only Come from the Deepest Darkness
Send us Fan MailThe moment Joseph reveals himself to his brothers is not just a family reunion, it is a soul disclosure. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores why Joseph repeats himself, why he asks his brothers to come closer, and why he insists on reminding them that they sold him into Egypt. Drawing from Torah, Midrash, and Kabbalah, we discover that Joseph’s greatest holiness was not f
After Bondi Beach Attack: Chabad Answers Darkness with Light!
Send us Fan MailThis Shabbat, as Chanukah and Parshat Miketz converge, our hearts are heavy and our calling is clear. From the moment the Maccabees discovered a single cruse of oil in the desecrated Temple, Jewish history hinged not on what was found, but on what was done. They could have preserved the oil as a relic. Instead, they used it and ignited a light that has burned for 2,200 years.In the
Are the Jewish People Really the Chosen People?
Send us Fan MailIn this morning’s class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explored the baffling, almost mythical global obsession with Israel and the Jewish people, a tiny nation that somehow takes up an outsized share of the world’s attention. Drawing on the teachings of Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Rabbi YY Jacobson, and Rabbi Manis Friedman, Rabbi Bernath unpacked the spiritual roots behind antisemitism and the
A New Way to See Charity: When Giving Becomes Receiving
Send us Fan MailIn this heart-opening conversation, Rabbi Bernath shares a powerful true story of a needy bride who felt ashamed to accept financial help, until she discovers that she is a partner, not a burden. Drawing on the Torah’s teaching of Yissachar and Zevulun, and Chassidic wisdom from the Lubavitcher Rebbe, he reveals the revolutionary idea that tzedakah is not a one-way act of charity b
Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: The Four Worlds & The Journey of Prayer
Send us Fan MailPrayer isn’t supposed to feel far away, confusing, or “for holier people.” It’s a ladder right beneath your feet, starting exactly where you are, in your busy, messy, beautiful real life. Tonight, we explore the ancient Kabbalistic map of the four worlds of Action, Emotion, Understanding, and Oneness and discover how the structure of our daily prayers is designed to gently lift us,
Gratitude in Crazy Times: How Rachel Taught Us the Secret to Staying Whole
Send us Fan MailLife doesn’t wait until everything is perfect. It shows up messy, unpredictable, and sometimes painful. In this uplifting and down-to-earth session, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores how Rachel Imeinu, through the birth of Yosef revealed a simple yet profound mindset that can transform the way we handle challenges. We’ll discover how gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard stuff, but
Why Laughter Might Be the Holiest Thing in Your Relationship
Send us Fan MailIn this morning’s class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath dove into one of the strangest, most beautiful marriage scenes in the entire Torah, Yitzchak and Rivkah caught “jesting” behind a window. Why does the Torah use a word for laughter to describe intimacy? Why is the first Jew born into the covenant literally named “He Will Laugh”? And why does Rivkah’s name hint to a yoke of oxen, two fo
Waking Up to the Gift of Time
Send us Fan MailIn this morning’s class, Rabbi Bernath explored the timeless lesson hidden in a sleepy Midrash. When Rabbi Akiva saw his students dozing off, he woke them not with rebuke, but with revelation: the story of Queen Esther’s 127 provinces, mirroring the 127 years of Sarah’s life. From this, the Chedushei HaRim teaches that Sarah lived every moment so fully that each second became a kin
When the Flame Goes Out: Finding Your Spark in the Empty Vessel
Send us Fan MailIn this heart-stirring exploration of the prophet Elisha’s miracle for the destitute widow, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath invites us to uncover our own “cruse of oil” the indestructible spark of holiness within. Drawing from Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi’s profound interpretation, we discover that the widow’s empty vessels are our empty actions, our daily deeds done even without inspiratio
AMA: Am I less of a Jew because I was raised Reform?
Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt Ask Me Anything, Rabbi Bernath responds to someone from the Kabbalah for Everyone Community, a lifelong Reform Jew who asks a question many have quietly carried: “Am I less of a Jew because I was raised Reform?”Rabbi Bernath explores how Jewish identity transcends denominational labels. Drawing on teachings from Tanya and Rashi, he reminds us that every Jewish sou
Do I Hear the Call? Lech Lecha.
Send us Fan MailThis morning, Rabbi Bernath explored a fascinating question raised by the great medieval sage Nachmanides (the Ramban): Why does the Torah introduce every major biblical figure with their background—except Abraham?Why does G-d suddenly appear and tell him, “Lech Lecha — Go to yourself”, without any explanation of why him?The Ramban and later Chassidic masters reveal something extra
The Hero for the Simple People: Turning the Story of Noah on it’s Head
Send us Fan MailThis morning, Rabbi Bernath explored one of the most misunderstood heroes in Torah, Noach. While the Torah calls him a tzaddik, some sages question whether he was truly righteous or simply better than those around him. Why would our tradition, which praises kindness and humility, seem to downplay the one man who saved humanity?Drawing on a 1964 teaching from the Lubavitcher Rebbe,
The Divine Split: How Genesis Reveals the Secret to Love, Gender, and G-d
Send us Fan MailIn this morning’s class, Rabbi Bernath explored one of the most profound paradoxes in the Torah, the two seemingly contradictory accounts of Adam and Eve’s creation. Far from a textual flaw, this duality encodes the deepest truths about relationships, individuality, and spiritual evolution.The first creation describes Adam and Eve as one, a fused, bi-gendered being. The second desc
The Dance of Return: Joy That No Enemy Can Steal
Send us Fan MailIn The Dance of Return, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delivers a moving Simchat Torah sermon celebrating the miraculous return of the hostages, a moment when prophecy, pain, and prayer converge into pure joy. He draws a profound parallel between this homecoming and the essence of Simchat Torah, a holiday where Jews dance not because of ritual, but because of belonging. Rabbi Bernath remind
Building Joy in a Shaky World | Sukkot 2025
Send us Fan MailWhen Rabbi Yisroel Bernath spotted a superyacht with an infinity pool merging into the sky, it sparked a journey through one of the most powerful Talmudic stories, Rabbi Akiva’s “sukkah on a ship.” From that image of faith floating on waves, this class dives into the timeless tension between fragility and faith, exploring what it means to build Jewish life and joy even when the gro
Be the Breeze: The Power of One Soul on Rosh Hashanah
Send us Fan MailRabbi Yisroel Bernath recorded this sermon before Rosh Hashana as he was preparing and we are sharing it with you... of course it’s nothing close to the magic of Rosh Hashana at Chabad NDG in Montreal. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath’s Rosh Hashanah sermon reminds us that the world doesn’t change through headlines or massive movements alone, it turns on small hinges. From Newton’s apple to R
Laughing Into the Future: The Promise of Rosh Hashanah | Rabbi Bernath's Rosh Hashana Sermon 2025
Send us Fan MailRabbi Yisroel Bernath recorded this sermon before Rosh Hashana as he was preparing and we are sharing it with you... of course its nothing close to the magic of Rosh Hashana at Chabad NDG in Montreal. In this Rosh Hashanah sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath weaves humor, Torah, and Jewish resilience into a message of hope and renewal. Beginning with laughter, he acknowledges the fears w
Who Are You Meant to Be? | Rabbi Yisroel Bernath Rosh Hashanah Sermon
Send us Fan MailSometimes it takes a crisis to stop us in our tracks and ask: Who am I? What kind of spouse am I? What kind of person am I becoming?On Rosh Hashanah, Judaism invites us to ask these very questions. And at the heart of the holiday is a mysterious, beloved prayer: Hayom Harat Olam, “Today the world is born.”But did you know? The same phrase appears in the Book of Jeremiah with an opp
Make a Confession: Reclaiming Judaism’s Lost Art of Owning Our Goodness
Send us Fan MailIn this class, Rabbi Bernath reframed the very idea of confession in Judaism. While most people think of confession as listing sins and failures, the Torah introduces Vidui Ma’aser, a “confession” where the farmer proudly declares to G-d that he has fulfilled every detail of the mitzvah of tithing. Why would the Torah call this a confession? Because true spiritual growth begins not
Finding G-d in Our Struggles: The Firstborn of the Unloved
Send us Fan MailIn this week’s Torah portion, Ki Seitzei, we learn the law of the firstborn: even if the firstborn son comes from the “unloved” wife, he must be given the double portion. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explored the deeper Kabbalistic meaning behind this law, revealing that the “beloved” and “unloved” wives are metaphors for two sides of our soul — the inspired, G-d-loving self and the strug
One G-d, Many Voices: How Diversity Makes Us Whole
Send us Fan MailRabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks a fascinating teaching: why does G-d reject the idea of a single-stone altar? At first glance it’s just about ancient rituals, but the deeper message is timeless. Real faith and real life can’t be built on “one stone” one path, one perspective, one style. True oneness comes from many stones joined together. This class explores how individuality and div
Rebroadcast: Elul & High Holidays - Our Marriage with G-d
Send us Fan MailThe 5-Step Program of Spiritual Courtship, Engagement, Marriage, Honeymoon, and Real Life: Discovering the Divine Romance in Our LivesIn this sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the deep and mystical relationship between G-d and the Jewish people, likened to a sacred marriage. Drawing from Kabbalistic and Chassidic teachings, Rabbi Bernath delves into the spiritual phases of thi
Vain Tears: Reclaiming Our Power After Generations of Silence
Send us Fan MailOn the night of the 9th of Av, our ancestors cried tears of despair—tears the Talmud calls “בכיה של חנם”, baseless weeping. G-d’s response wasn’t punitive, it was prophetic: “You wept in vain, and this day will be one of tears for generations.” But what were they really crying about? And why do we still cry?This class explores the roots of generational trauma in the Jewish psyche,
Moses’ Rebuke & the Art of Receiving Criticism: A Parsha Perspective on Self-Esteem
Send us Fan MailThis class explores one of the Torah’s most striking rebukes, Moses’ fiery confrontation with the tribes of Reuben and Gad and uncovers why they chose silence over self-defense. Through this encounter and a powerful Chassidic story about the Sefas Emes, Rabbi Bernath examines why we often recoil at criticism and how to reframe it as a holy opportunity for growth.From Moses to moder
The G-d Question: Beyond the Bearded Man in the Sky | A Candid Discussion.
Send us Fan MailIn 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 unpack
Who Really Wrote the Torah? A Conversation on G-d, Truth, and the Power of Ideas
Send us Fan MailIn 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 d
A Personal Message from Rabbi Yisroel Bernath
Send us Fan MailPurchase 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 f
The Serpents: When the Poison Becomes the Cure: Finding Healing in the Very Place You Were Hurt
Send us Fan MailIn 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, vulnera
The Mutiny: Moses, Korach, and the Relentless Pursuit of Peace
Send us Fan MailIn 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
The Thing I Fear Most Is Fear: From Vain Tears to Healing Power | Why Fear Paralyzes, and How We Are Finally Ready to Rise Above It
Send us Fan MailOn 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.
Stillness in the Storm: How to Find Peace in a Fragmented World
Send us Fan MailIn 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
Nuclear Soul: How One Person Can Change the World!
Send us Fan MailIn this deeply moving and timely class, Rabbi Bernath opens with a heartfelt prayer for the victims of the Boulder attack and a reminder that silence in the face of evil is complicity. From the courtroom of Judgment at Nuremberg to the Torah portion of Naso, we journey through history, law, and soul.We explore the legacy of Joseph, alone, enslaved, and tempted and how a single visi
The Crown Returns: Torah, Memory, and the Story We Still Carry | Rabbi Bernath’s Sermon for Shavuot
Send us Fan MailIn this special post-Shabbat sermon recorded for Shavuot, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath takes us on a profound journey through the remarkable history of the Sassoon Codex and the legendary Crown of Aram Tzova. Woven into this tale of ink and parchment is a modern miracle: the voice of a mother reaching her daughter in captivity, reminding us that the Torah is not just a relic, but a living
Special Shavuot Discussion: The Guarantors: Why G-d Chose the Children
Send us Fan MailWhat if the future of Judaism depended not on scholars or sages, but on the sippy cups and crayon-covered siddurim of our children?This powerful class dives into one of the most striking Midrashim about the giving of the Torah: when G-d demanded a guarantor, our ancestors suggested the elders, the prophets, the leaders and were rejected. Only when they offered the children did G-d
