Daily Jewish Thought

• Waking Up to the Gift of Time

  In 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 kingdom of its own. Rabbi Akiva’s message? Every moment we “sleep through” is a world lost. Through humor, wisdom, and a dash of Churchill’s charm, Rabbi Bernath reminded us that time is not money, it’s life itself.Takeaways:Every Moment Matters: Like Sarah, each of us has the power to turn seconds into significance.Wakefulness Is Spiritual: Falling asleep… literally or metaphorically means missing the miracle of now.Time Is Life, Not Money: The Rebbe taught that time is not a commodity but a living gift. Use it with purpose.Presence Is Royalty: Esther’s reign flowed from Sarah’s lived time; our own “reign” depends on how awake we are to our days.Humor and Holiness Coexist: Even Churchill and Rabbi Akiva knew that a good laugh can wake up the soul.#Kabbalah #chassidus #Judaism #Jewish #jewishmysticism #time #presence #purpose #life #chabad #spiritualgrowth #Spiritual #chassidut #kabala #sarah Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=89Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? 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/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• When the Flame Goes Out: Finding Your Spark in the Empty Vessel

  In 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 inspiration. When we keep showing up, praying, loving, giving, building those vessels eventually overflow with divine oil. This class takes the ancient story and turns it into a living roadmap for reigniting the soul when we feel emotionally or spiritually numb.Takeaways:Every soul possesses a pure “cruse of oil” an unbreakable core of divine essence untouched by pain, doubt, or apathy.When inspiration runs dry, the key is action: fill your life with “empty vessels” of goodness, even if your heart isn’t fully in it yet.Emotional numbness doesn’t mean the soul has died it’s a signal that something deeper is ready to be rediscovered.Love, awe, and purpose can be reclaimed through consistent small acts of holiness they become the vessels for divine flow.The moment the spark reawakens, all your past “empty” deeds become filled with meaning, joy, and light.#Bible #Kabbalah #Judaism #Jewish #mysticism #jewishmysticism #chassidus #chassidut #spiritualgrowth #Rabbi #chabad #spiritualgrowth #inspiration #soul #essence #Spiritual #divinespark Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=89Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? 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/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• AMA: Am I less of a Jew because I was raised Reform?

  In 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 soul is a piece of G-d, unbreakable and equally precious.This conversation becomes more than an answer, it’s an invitation to rediscover who we are beneath the labels. It’s a love letter to every Jew who has ever wondered if they still belong.Takeaways:There are no “levels” of Jewishness. Every Jew, regardless of affiliation or observance carries the same Divine spark.Denominations are man-made; the soul is G-d-made. Labels were meant to organize ideas, not divide hearts.Jewish identity is a relationship, not a category. Wherever you learn, pray, or grow, your connection to G-d is real and alive.Belonging is not earned — it’s inherited. You’re part of the same eternal covenant, the same people, the same love story that began at Sinai.Your light matters. Every small act of faith, study, or kindness sustains the Jewish people.#Judaism #Jewish #JewishIdentity #reform #orthodox #belonging #Kabbalah Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=89Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? 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/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• Do I Hear the Call? Lech Lecha.

  This 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 extraordinary: G-d didn’t just speak to Abraham. He speaks to everyone. The difference is — Abraham heard it.“Lech Lecha” is not a one-time command; it’s a timeless call to every soul to move forward, step out of fear, and become the person G-d created us to be.Rabbi Bernath illustrated this with the story of Avraham Vetzler, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor who, after eight decades of silence, suddenly felt the call to return—to light, to Torah, to G-d. His story reminds us that it’s never too late to hear our own Lech Lecha.Key Takeaways:G-d is always speaking. The question is: am I listening?“Lech Lecha” is a call to every human being — to leave behind fear, comfort, and old patterns and journey toward our truest self.Growth begins when we notice that inner whisper and take one brave step forward.You’re never too old, too far, or too lost to hear the call again.#Kabbalah #Judaism #Jewish #LechLecha #Abraham #purpose #Faith #mysticism #spiritualgrowth #BibleStudy #Bible #Parsha #ParshatLechLecha #chassidus #chassidut Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=89Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? 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/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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• The Hero for the Simple People: Turning the Story of Noah on it’s Head

  This 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, Rabbi Bernath reframed the question: the Sages weren’t diminishing Noach, they were elevating him. Noach wasn’t perfect. He doubted. He hesitated. He stumbled. But he built an ark anyway. And that’s precisely why he’s the hero for the rest of us, for the ordinary, flawed people who still try to do good in a noisy, cynical world.Noach reminds us that you don’t need to be Abraham or Moses to make a difference. You just need to build your ark, an island of sanity, compassion, and moral courage, right where you are.Key Takeaways:Imperfect Righteousness Is Still Righteousness. The Torah’s praise of Noach is not about spiritual perfection, but about moral persistence. Doing good in a corrupt world is itself greatness.The Power of Ordinary People. Noach’s story teaches that world-changing moments often come from those who don’t feel extraordinary, just steady souls who keep showing up.Struggle Is Part of the Journey. Unlike “cookie-cutter” saints, real people wrestle with doubt, temptation, and fatigue. Noach’s humanity is his heroism.Build Your Ark. In a world flooded with noise and confusion, our job is to create spaces of kindness, faith, and integrity, shelters of light in turbulent waters.Every Small Act Matters. Like the girl tossing starfish back into the sea, we can’t save the whole world, but we can change someone’s world.Sign up for "The Forgiveness Lab" HERE: https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=89Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at [email protected] or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? 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/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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