Through Part 12 of Jewish Workshop’s Derech Hashem: The Shema and its Blessings, Rabbi Tatz will explore:

• The Mitzva of Reciting the Shema Morning and Evening
• The Meaning of Gd’s Oneness
• Why One Gd Created a World that is Apparently not One
• Unifying the Creation
• How Counting the Omer Unifies – the Secret of Music
• The Existence of Evil and its Function
• Bearing Witness to Oneness
• Deep Secrets of the Shema
• Tikkun (Rectification) of the Creation
• Learning to Focus
• And more…

Class Titles and Summaries:

Class 1: The Foundation of Faith – Introduction to Shema In this class, gain clarity on the halachic parameters of reciting the Shema prayer and begin exploring the fundamental principle expressed in Shema as a basis for all of Judaism.

Class 2: Understanding Divine Oneness in a World of Evil Continue examining the Oneness of Hashem, looking at the presence and viability of evil in the world and how you are meant to relate to it, while gaining practical insight into “taking on” unnecessary ordeals.

Class 3: The Power of Intention – What Does “Shema” Really Mean? Explore the proper focus and intention when reciting Shema, looking at the word Shema and its deeper meaning, and gain insight into your goal for this period of counting the Omer.

Class 4: Counting Towards Connection – Shema and the Omer Look at the deeper meaning of finite numbers and the process of counting the days of the Omer, while clarifying the two components within the Shema prayer and the eternal relationship between Hashem and the Jewish nation.

Class 5: Cosmic Impact – How Shema Changes Reality Delve further into the cosmic effects of reciting Shema with proper intention, looking at the root of good and evil and your potential to increase goodness and peace, while exploring how to properly relate to illicit drives and evil forces.

Class 6: The Path to Perfection – Shema’s Role in Tikun Olam Explore the inevitability of the world reaching its ultimate perfection and look at the different routes you can take to get there, delving further into the intense positive effect you bring to the world when reciting Shema with proper intention.

Class 7: The First Verse – Unifying the Higher Worlds Explore the intention of the first verse of Shema and continue into a deeper understanding of the cosmic effects of your recitation of Shema and its influence in the higher worlds.

Class 8: Love and Acceptance – The First Paragraph of Shema Examine the first paragraph of Shema, looking at the meaning of ahava (love) and the love of Hashem which is intertwined with your acceptance of Hashem’s rule.

Class 9: Why Egypt Matters – The Exodus in Shema Explore the reference in the third paragraph of Shema to the Exodus from Egypt, looking at the significance of the Exodus and why it is so integral within your prayers and festivals, and understanding why the Torah needed to be given at Sinai as a nation rather than to the forefathers.

Class 10: The Mitzvah of Tzitzis – Remembering the Exodus Gain insight into the mitzvah of tzitzis discussed in the third paragraph of Shema, answering confounding questions surrounding the Exodus from Egypt and gaining a deeper understanding into the centrality of this event.

Class 11: Daily Renewal – Shema, Creation, and Shabbos Discuss the tikkun and reconstruction accomplished when reciting Shema, looking at the unique creation of “day” and why Shema is specifically recited on a daily basis, while exploring the creative activity involved in keeping the world in existence on Shabbos.

Class 12: Timing and Exclusivity – The Blessings of Shema Review the proper time frame when to recite Shema, look at the uniqueness of the Jewish people and how the recitation of Shema is within their exclusive role, and discuss the blessings recited before and after Shema and how they lead up to and follow from the Shema prayer.

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