What happens when a boy is Bar Mitzva between Pesach and Pesach Sheni, as regards bringing a make-up Pesach offering in the Temple? This question has intrigued scholars over the generations.

Presenting a discourse taught by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on Yud Shevat, 1980. Today in 2020 we celebrate 70 years since the Rebbe became leader in 1950.

Sedra Vayetze - a discussion of Kavanah in Prayer

An account of a talk given by R. Yoel Kahn at the Shluchim Conference in NY, November 1980

Shortly before Yom Kippur, exploring the concept of Teshuvah from a discourse by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a page of Hayom Yom, a chapter of Tanya, and Talmud Tractate Yoma

In 1938 Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn established groups for girls studying Chassidic teachings. One group was in Riga and another in Brooklyn. This was a new departure leading to the future.

The Sedra speaks of the terrible curses of suffering and exile. But when Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi chanted this Sedra in the Synagogue, his young son did not hear any curses. Why not? Can suffering be seen on a higher level?

Sedra Vaera presents the idea of the importance of the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable Divine Name. This is reflected in the thought of the Rambam and R' Shneur Zalman of Liadi whose yartzeits fall on 20 and 24 Tevet respectively.

The account of Creation in the Torah raises the question of the theory of evolution. What is the Jewish attitude to this? We discuss a letter about evolution by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. This leads to a discussion of the relationship between science and Torah in general, based on a fascinating comment by the Zohar on a verse in Sedra Noach.

Discussion of the Temple in Maimonides Laws of the Temple ch.1, and in Chassidic Teachings (Bati LeGani chs.1-2).

Leytonstone and Wanstead Synagogue

Explaining the struggle between Jacob and Esau in terms of the struggle between the Divine Soul and the Animal Soul within the individual, based on Tanya ch.9

18 Elul is the birthday of the Baal Shem Tov (1698) and Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745). This talk discusses their teachings.

At Kinloss Finchley Synagogue with Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence

The Yahrzeit of the Rebbe, 3 Tammuz, falls on 27 June 2017. This talk discusses the Rebbe's final teaching in relation to Sedra Chukat.

3rd and final talk on contemplative Prayer at Beit Shvidler School

A series on Contemplation in prayer in Beit Shvidler school

A series on Contemplation in prayer in Beit Shvidler school

Discussing the significance of Lag B'Omer and exploring relevant passages in the Talmud.

The Rebbe said this discourse in January 1965 for Sedra Vayehi. "Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years" - one lives life to the full when one faces the challenge of "Egypt" in every epoch and every form.

Discussing the significance of the Fast of the Tenth of Tevet.

For Sedra Lech Lecha, considering the life and work of Abraham as told by the Rambam in Laws of Idolatry ch.1. the Talmud Shab. 54b emphasises that we should try to influence others for good.

The dynamic principle in Judaism. Even if you are perfect, you always have to try to advance

An overview of the 3rd Part of Tanya, discussing the concept of Teshuvah.

A brief history of the concept of the Temple

The counting of the Omer - investigating its spiritual dimension.

Tanya Ch.47 starts with what seems like a quote from the Haggada. But it is slightly different. It teaches us about daily freedom from our inner 'Egypt'.

Exploring 'Love of the Divine' with the Saul Dzanogly group, examining texts from the Rambam and Tanya.

A talk by Naftali Loewenthal given at the Boston U Campus Chabad House in December 2015, based on a paper presented at the AJS Conference. This presents rational and supra-rational aspects of the healing techniques of both the Baal Shem Tov and Rabbi Menachem Schneerson.

This talk, given just before 18 Kislev 5776, compares Rambam's Laws of the foundation of the Torah with Rabbi Shneur Zalman's Tanya.

Rabbi Chaim Rapoport discusses Maimonides' quest to remove anthropomorphic conceptions of G-d. Presented at Oxford Chabad Yom Limmud.

Dr. Naftali Loewenthal discusses Maimonides' approach to creation and how this was understood by later scholars. Presented at Oxford Chabad Yom Limmud.

Rabbi Eli Brackman discusses the case of "Jacob the Jew", an early 17th century figure in Oxford, who fled to escape public baptism. The case is analysed in terms of relevant halachic literature on Apostasy. Presented at Oxford Chabad Yom Limmud.

Dr. Israel Sandman explores the significance of Maimonides depicting the history of idolatry, of Abraham discovering Monotheism and other historiographical passages in this work. Presented at Oxford Chabad Yom Limmud.

Lecture at Yom Limmud at the Oxford Chabad Centre Sept 2015 on the legal and mystical aspects of Kol Nidrei.

A talk at The Torah Way, on the significance of 12 Tammuz, the day the Previous Rebbe Yosef Yitzhak Schneersohn was freed by the Soviet Government in 1927, after his imprisonment for strengthening Judaism and teaching Torah under the Communist regime.

A talk given at 'The Torah Way', on the significance of the Counting of the Omer. Based on teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and Tanya by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

A Shiur to Bnei Akiva in the London Bayit, on finding the spiritual dimension of Pesach, March 2015.

A presentation of a famous teaching, the Bati LeGani discourse, about the goal of creation. This was presented at a study group in NW London in February 2015.