How familiar are you with Torah? It's an important question because a lot of people simply remember the grand journey Moses takes and how he leads the people to Israel, and boom! You have the Torah. But it's so much more. In fact, outside of the 5 books of Moses you have The Talmud and Kabbalah and you have Pirkei Avot and you have this thing called Oral Torah versus Written Torah. Somewhere within the wide scope of what's considered Torah, you'll come across this book and wonder what's so special about this guy named Zohar. 

The mysteries and wisdom of The Zohar is well known and studied by Rabbi Natan Halevy. His precise and detailed work has been a lifetime achievement passed down from generation to generation within his family. Rabbi Halevy teaches Chaz Volk, host of Bad Jew, the depths, teachings, and relevance of this essential piece in Jewish literature.  

00:00 Introduction

07:13 Oral Torah

10:04 Essential teachings

14:53 The power in reading

19:04 Zohar predicts cell phone addiction

22:30 Connection to Israel, Torah, and God deeply

24:39 Balancing study with life's responsibilities is challenging.

28:08 Alleviating depression, spreading holiness.

32:42 God's existence is fundamental

33:41 Practicing mystical teachings today

About Rabbi Natan Halevy:

I grew up in Los Angeles, and with my parents and siblings, attended Kahal Joseph where I had my Bar Mitzvah in 1994. As the child of Iraqi parents, I have a powerful sense of the strong culture and traditon I come from. In 2005 I received my Rabbinical ordination from Rabbi Yitchak Yaroslavsky at Yeshivat Tomchei Tmimim in Israel. I then served as an assistant Rabbi in Chabad of Great Neck, NY before I returned to Los Angeles in 2008. I love studying all facets of Torah—from the Bible to the Talmud to the inner parts of Torah. I also have knowledge of many other modalities and philosophies that I feel may support us as Jews and people in this modern day and age. My wife Bracha and our children – Yosef Hayim, Menucha, Menachem, Noam, and Shimon – are very happy to be working with the wonderful Kahal Joseph community.

Contact Rabbi Natan Halevy:

RabbiHaLevy@KahalJoseph.org

IG @kahaljoseph

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE SPONSOR OF THIS EPISODE:

JEWISH BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS OF LOS ANGELES!

Become a big today! JBBBSLA.org/mentorship

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