From April 5, 2022

"HOW PURIM AND PASSOVER CAN SHINE LIGHT ON YOUR LIFE" 

 

Over the past couple of years, we have lived our lives under the shadow of the COVID Pandemic.  As we emerge from the darkness of those times, how do we find light in our present and our future?

In this Chai LightTalk, two speakers, Rabbi Dov Greenberg and Rabbi Shalom Dovber Lipskar, explored this question.

 

About our speakers:
 
Rabbi Shalom Dovber Lipskar is the founder of The Shul, recognized by Newsweek as one of

America's 25 most vibrant congregations. His topic is "Torah and Mitzvot Bring Light to

Judaism." Rabbi Lipskar reminds us that our allegiance to Torah and Mitzvot has been the

common factor that has given us staying power, fostered amazing contributions to civilization,

and has brought light to Judaism for more than three millennia.

 

Rabbi Dov Greenberg is the Founder and Executive Director of the cutting-edge Chabad

House at Stanford University. His topic is "Let There Be Light." His talk encourages us to

recognize our light and strengths as a tool for growth and upgrading our Jewish lives. This vital

lesson is brought to life with engaging anecdotes and teachings from all walks of life both here

and abroad.
 

About our moderator and program director:  
 
Our moderator for this event was Mrs. Chanie Krasnianski, Co-director of the Chabad of the Upper East Side. Rebbetzin Krasnianski leads a weekly Women's Torah Circle and lectures widely on women, relationships, and Torah.

Program director Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad of Oregon.  He is the author of 248 Points of Light and lives in Portland, Oregon

 

From June 9, 2021

"LIFE AFTER COVID" 

 

It's a New World. We're overcoming the COVID pandemic, and are grateful for our personal growth. As we emerge from these times, how do we prepare ourselves for the future? This critical question, as well as others--what have we learned, what will be the new normal, what does Jewish thought teach us, how do we grow from it--will be addressed in a heartening program of hope and inspiration.

Internationally renowned and inspiring speakers will talk on Zoom about Life After COVID. This initial offering of the series will come from three of today's great Judaic thought leaders: Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf, Dr. Naftali Loewenthal, Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson.

This program will be accessible by viewers throughout the English-speaking world. The target audience is anyone worldwide who seeks a new approach to viewing the world as it will become.

 

About our speakers:
 
Rabbi Dr. Laibl Wolf is the founder of the Spiritgrow Holistic Center in Australia which trains people in self mastery of mind and emotion through the synthesis of contemporary research and Jewish spiritual teachings.  He has lectured in over 500 cities around the globe over the past 35 years and been keynote speaker at the International Fortune 500 convention, the International Psychological Association, and other international forums.  He is a lawyer and psychologist, and author of the best selling Practical Kabbala published by Random House.  He is the older son of Polish holocaust survivors.

Rabbi Wolf's topic is "Mastering the Challenge of Stress and Anxiety – Navigating a COVID and post-COVID World."  "We can take control of our lives. How? Stress is not something we 'catch' like a cold or COVID. It is the result of a bad choice–the choice of victimhood. The cure: an attitudinal shift. The practice: meditation and profound commitment."
Dr. Naftali Loewenthal lectures on Jewish Spirituality at University College London, part of London University. He is the Director of the Chabad Research Unit, which runs study and discussion groups and produces the popular email series "For Friday Night" for Jewish family education.  He has authored many scholarly articles and his recent (2020) book is Hasidim Beyond Modernity, Essays in Habad Thought and History.  

 

Dr. Loewenthal's topic is "Jewish Teachings on Illness and Care, from the Past to the Future."  
"At a time of crisis an important Jewish response is to look at timeless Jewish sources and see how they might apply in the present.  What does the Talmud say about infectious disease?  What advice does it give us for the 21st century?  We find interesting comments on the nature of infection and, also, special commendation for those who care for the sick, who go beyond the conventional call of duty. Further, Judaic teachings help us to conceptualize the ultimate goal of existence, beyond disease:  eternal life."

  
Rabbi Mendel Kalmenson is the Rabbi of Beit Baruch and executive director of Chabad of Belgravia, London. He is the author of popular books, including Positivity Bias: Practical Lessons for Positive Living. 
 
Rabbi Kalmenson's topic is "Optimising Turbulance, Transition, and Transience." "Many of us become disoriented when our lives take an unexpected turn. We know where we are going, and anything that veers from that course is met with resistance and even rejection. We are supposed to be in control and we think we know best.

 

"But what if we saw life in a different light? What if we weren't necessarily in charge all the time? What if there is more going on in our lives and in the world than we are aware of? By cultivating an appreciation for the role of Divine Providence in our lives, we can discover the hidden meaning and opportunity within any situation we find ourselves in."

 

About our moderator and program director:  
 
Our moderator is Mr. Marc Blattner, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, home to 35,000 Jews and one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities.  He previously served in various leadership capacities at the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and at The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore.

 
Program director Rabbi Moshe Wilhelm is the Spiritual Leader and Executive Director of Chabad of Oregon.  He is the author of 248 Points of Light.