Torah Talks is a weekly journey into the soul of Torah; highlighting a relevant topic gleaned from the weeks Torah portion. Each class is an exciting source based Torah study class. Explore the timeless messages Torah offers for today's Jews.
Classes right now our taking place on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm.
They are being broadcasted on Zoom at https://tinyurl.com/Torahtalks & on our Facebook page https://fb.me/ChabadSalem.com
New Season Starting Hi & welcome to our weekly Torah Talks class! These days, it seems like nothing has a shelf life longer than a week. Every day brings another superhero franchise, fashion trend, or dieting fad. News cycles shift by the hour, social media feeds and timelines by the second. With everything flickering, flashing, and constantly updating, it’s little wonder life sometimes feel so impermanent. For me, there’s no better way to slow things down than to pull back, if only for short while, and try to see things from a more timeless perspective. Our own Jewish traditions are filled with so many breathtaking insights, and they won’t fade away into irrelevance in a few days. Connecting to our own heritage, and ultimately to a divine wisdom, makes the all very human things we do feel richer, more meaningful, and part of something longer lasting. The Torah Studies program at Chabad Center for Jewish Life tries to make this happen every single week. Each class take a topic or idea in Jewish thought to explore, tease out, and bring into play with our own lives. Each one is built around texts that we’ll learn together so that you can see these ideas for yourself, argue over them, and apply them to life your own way. Below, you can see an outline of a few of the upcoming sessions, and I’d love if you could join me for what promises to be a fun, engaging, and deeply rewarding learning experience. They are open to everyone, of all abilities, so bring along a friend too! Shalom, and have a great week, Rabbi Avrohom Y. Perlstein Torah Talks is offered weekly, online via Zoom. The link is listed above. ![]() Wednesday, April 23 2025 Steps of Truth What’s True Today Is True Today In what seems to be a curious exchange between the brothers Moses and Aaron, we learn how they debated what it means to serve G‑d authentically. This class uncovers how each mitzvah is a genuine step toward G‑d, even if tomorrow’s truth outgrows today’s. ![]() Wednesday, April 30 2025 The Treasure of Words Transforming Harmful Speech into Hidden Gems of the Soul This lesson reexamines tzaraat as a powerful message about the impact of our words. Through Rashi’s commentary, discover how avoiding gossip and embracing mindful speech can transform negativity, uncover hidden potential, and elevate the way we communicate and live. ![]() Wednesday, May 7 2025 “I Jew. You Jew. I Love You” Learning to Love Even the Difficult Relatives We’re commanded to love every Jew as ourselves—but how is that realistic? This class uncovers the Torah’s strategy for cultivating genuine love through action and through learning Rabbi Akiva’s insight: We’re not just a nation; we’re a family. ![]() Wednesday, May 14 2025 Rewriting Who You Are Real Change Can—and Should!—Be Uncomfortable True goodness isn’t only about following your instincts—it’s about reshaping them. The Torah’s mitzvot of giving don’t just teach generosity; they force us to break our natural tendencies, surrender control, and give even when it’s uncomfortable. This class explores why real growth means going beyond what feels right and learning to do what is right. ![]() Wednesday, May 21 2025 When Regret Falls Short The Value of Imperfect Repentance Is repentance still meaningful if we expect to falter again? This class explores the Torah’s nuanced view of partial repentance, showing how even imperfect regret holds value and can restore our discomfort with sin. ![]() Wednesday, May 28 2025 Timeless Truths in Torah Why the Torah’s Teachings Never Expire At first glance, some of the Torah’s teachings may seem outdated or irrelevant. But beneath their physical application lies an eternal spiritual truth. Explore how the Torah speaks across generations, revealing timeless lessons about the alignment of Heaven and earth and the enduring relevance of its wisdom in every age. ![]() Wednesday, June 4 2025 Similar, Yet So Different How a Fixed Text Reflects Our Changing Hearts Jewish prayer is communal and fixed, but how can the same words express our unique and shifting needs? This class explores the Torah’s secret to personalizing collective prayer: by investing it with our individual experiences and emotions. ![]() Wednesday, June 11 2025 Love Letters to G‑d When Doing a Mitzvah Feels Too Good to Miss Why do Jews celebrate doing mitzvot: duty, tradition, or something deeper? This class explores the joy of fulfilling G‑d’s will, inspired by those who refused to miss the Paschal offering. Discover how each mitzvah delights G‑d and transforms our Judaism ![]() Wednesday, June 18 2025 Stronger than Angels Why We Can Thrive Where Even Giants Failed The spies feared that materialism would overwhelm the Jewish people, just as it had corrupted the fallen angels. But Caleb saw things differently. This class explores why our souls are stronger than angels—and how we can embrace the physical world without losing our spiritual identity. ![]() Wednesday, June 25 2025 Love Every Jew, No Exceptions Why Even the Wicked Deserve Our Love Is there ever an exception to the mitzvah of loving your fellow Jew? This class explores Moses’s remarkable love for Dathan and Abiram—his lifelong adversaries—and what it teaches about seeing beyond faults to the hidden goodness in every Jew ![]() Wednesday, July 2 2025 The Power of Letting Go Forgiveness, Healing, and the Path to True Unity es forgiveness mean withholding punishment, or does it require something deeper? This class explores Moses’s response to the people’s rebellion, revealing that true forgiveness restores unity and helps others heal—just as G‑d does for us. ![]() Wednesday, July 9 2025 The Strength to Surrender Why Letting Go Is the Ultimate Power Strength is often seen as control, but Judaism defines it as surrendering to something greater. Balaam’s prophecy likens the Jewish people to unshakable mountains, rooted in ancestral strength. This class explores why true power lies in self-sacrifice and choosing holiness over convenience.
Chabad Center for Jewish Life YOUR WEEKLY DOSE OF JEWISH INSPIRATION
Torah Studies is a program of the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute |