Shabbat Audio Classes

The holy day of Shabbat is more than just a day of rest. Discover the what, how and why of this special day we were gifted. This class is the second of a six-part lecture series titled ‘The Essentials,’ which introduces the foundations of Jewish life and living.

The meaning behind the laws and customs we observe at the Shabbat table.

There are a wide variety of beautiful minhagim, customs, associated with Shabbat; learn the intricacies of many of these customs and their underlying reasons.

This class expounds upon the deeper meaning behind the mitzvah of Shabbat candles.

A brief overview of the customs behind the mitzvah of lighting candles Friday evening before sundown to usher in Shabbat.

All week long we are mastering creation, but on Shabbat we stop and…

This class illuminates the true meaning of the holiness of Shabbat and what it represents in our spiritual experience.

This class outlines in great detail the mitzvah of kiddush and havdalah; to sanctify the Shabbat at the beginning and end of the day.

In the Friday night Kiddush we begin with the words “The sixth day”; why do we mention the 6th day when sanctifying the Shabbat, the seventh day? Join us to analyze the very essence of the ritual of Kiddush.

The laws, customs, and halachic underpinnings for lighting the Shabbat candles.

A detailed presentation of many of the halachot surrounding the mitzvah of Kiddush.

Torah law identifies 39 types of work that were involved in the making of the Mishkan (tabernacle) and from which we desist on Shabbat. In this series, Rabbi Shusterman explains and looks at the practical applications of each of the 39 Melachot

The custom to eat less at the third meal of Shabbat, seudah shelishit, and its mystical significance according to Kabbalah.

This class explains the specialty of the after-Shabbos meal called melaveh malkah.

This class traces and elucidates the origin, the reasons and the inner meaning of the after-Shabbat prayer of veyiten lechah.

A thorough description of the mitzvah, eiruv tavshilim, practiced when a yom tov falls on Friday.

This class goes through the Shabbat prayers and presents profound insights into their meaning.

This class goes through the Shabbat prayers and presents profound insights into their meaning.

How the three spiritual levels of Shabbat (the feminine, the masculine and their union) correspond to three stages of the day (evening, morning and afternoon). A deeper understanding of the layered nature of the day of rest.

How does one properly observe resting from work on Shabbat? This series provides a detailed overview of the thirty nine categories of forbidden activity on Shabbat, defining their parameters and practical applications.

What are the spiritual underpinnings of Shabbat that makes it a sacred day of rest? This class explains the deeper understanding of why we rest and celebrate Shabbat.

Although Jewish law exempts women from the observance of ‘time-constrained positive commandments’, they are nonetheless enjoined to observe all the Sabbath rituals, notwithstanding the fact that Shabbat rituals (such as reciting the ‘kiddush’) are ‘time-constrained’ mitzvahs. This class sheds new light on the reason for this exception and highlights the unique spiritual value of the Jewish women.