Category Archives: Relationships

The Ten Commandments of Parenting

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A parent who brings a child to this world has accepted upon himself/herself the responsibilities of raising that child to be a happy, healthy and stable adult. This axiomatic idiom has been an unfortunate causality of today’s society. In America today only 63% of children grow up together with both biological parents. As Jews we heed the Torah’s requirement to educate our children but also benefit from the Torah’s guidelines of how to educate them. In this presentation we have selected ten of the Torah’s core pedagogical lessons. Namely:

  1. Thou shall parent.
  2. Thou shall individualize your parenting as per the unique nature of your child.
  3. Thou shall parent with the long term view.
  4. Thou shall love your child and express it.
  5. Thou shall boost your child’s self esteem.
  6. Thou shall teach by example.
  7. Thou shall discipline and demand infrequently but with consistency.
  8. Thou shall collaborate with your partners.
  9. Thou shall not make your parenting an arena for your own negative character traits.
  10. Thou shall not be obstinate.

Come and hearken to the presentation that caused one participant to exclaim: “I wish I heard this seven years ago”.

Adam and Eve: A Model Marriage?

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In several places in Jewish Literature and practice we present Adam and Eve as a prototype of a relationship worth emulating. There is only one slight problem with that – Adam and Eve did not seem to have a stable relationship, much less an idyllic and harmonious one. What could the Torah possibly mean when we are instructed to act like Adam and Eve in pursuit of positive long term relationships?

The Four Kinds

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In 8 (!) instances in the Torah we are commanded with a seemingly unachievable task of “Thou shall walk in the ways of God”. The Talmud explains that this commandment instructs us to emulate God in our own behavior and activities – “Just as God is Merciful, you too be merciful; just as God is benevolent, you too be benevolent.” The fact that the Torah found it necessary to repeat and reiterate this commandment multiple times demonstrates the premium that the Torah places on Kindness. Alas, not all kindness are created equal. Tune in for the Four Kinds.

Tackling Temptation: Can we possibly succeed against life’s most formidable foe?

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In this class Rabbi Wolbe sets out to demystify and unlock the secrets of one of mankind’s greatest challenges and struggles: temptation. Culling from an array of ancient Judaic texts we will begin with defining, demarcating and delineating the anatomy of temptation; focusing on the reason why forbidden fruit (or carbs) is so alluring and irresistible. Once we gain a keen understanding of the makeup of this great adversary, we will learn the Four distinct Talmudic approaches to curbing and managing temptation. If you have ever struggled with temptation of any sort; i.e. if you are a human, and especially if you have tried dieting unsuccessfully, you cannot miss this class. Lives will be changed. Forever.

Till Death do us part: Can we still have committed relationships

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“שמח תשמח רעים האהובים כשמחך יצירך בגן עדן מקדם”

This statement, part of the Sheva Brachos (Seven Blessings), is recited under the Chuppah ( wedding canopy) of traditional Jewish marriages. Translated into English, we pray: “Gladden the loving couple, like you gladdened your creations (Adam and Eve) in the Garden of Eden years ago.” This raises the question: what was so special about the relationship of Adam and Eve that justifies it being presented as the paragon that all young couples should strive to achieve? Moreover, Adam and Eve’s stint in the Garden of Eden was not a rosy subliminal harmonious fantasy, rather a highly contentious period. If so, what is the lesson to be garnered from their relationship that is of such tantamount importance that we highlight it at the onset of every Jewish marriage?

Grounds for Marriage: Combating Selfishness

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A small child rarely wakes up to tend to her crying mother. From the beginning of our lives we are self-centered and care about ourselves only; in our quest to build better relationships, we must learn the tools to rid ourselves of this vile characteristic.

The Five C’s of every Happy Harmonious and Stable Marriage

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If we are to believe the statistics, the majority of marriages today end up in divorce. The Torah outlines the five components to a Happy, Harmonious and Stable Marriage , each beginning with the letter “C”. In this episode, Rabbi Wolbe delineates and elucidates these key principles.