Category Archives: Weinberger

R Moshe Weinberger on how to save this generation

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Picture available for purchase here
Rav Moshe Weinberger’s Shabbos Shuva drasha (given after Shabbos) “The Mystery Of Shabbos And Yom Kippur – Whispers Of Existence” (available here for purchase/downloading) was great.  I purchased it last Sunday after Rosh HaShana and have listened to it about 8 times.  What follows is my own transcription of two minutes of drasha, starting at the last 12 minutes.  The two minutes that I’m typing up really show exactly what we need to do to keep Yiddishkeit alive.  I take all responsibility for any mistakes in my transcription and hope that you will purchase the actual mp3.  It’s good to listen to any time of the year and the message is of the upmost importance as we enter Zman Simchasanu and spend three days not tethered to email and cell phones.

The only thing that will save this generation, the secret to saving our generation is not how we can pull out more plugs from more machines. They’re always ahead of us. They always have other machines. And just when you though you could control what the kid is sending with text messages, someone told me last year that the kid can go to the store and get a disposable cell phone, that nobody even knows about. There’s no bill that is ever is ever sent to the house. There’s always some other way. When a person is in this world, there’s always a way.

So they can have a thousand conferences and meetings about “How can you take away the pleasures of the children of this generation?” And if we can take away all their pleasures and make new yeshivas where there’s no sports, no smiling, “Smiling is not allowed”. No laughing, no happiness, no recess. Anybody that is caught wearing or with a smile in the “Kingdom of Sadness” will be banished from the school forever. Which also means that all of the sisters and brothers will never get shiduchim. They think of new way of how to save this generation. There’s only on way. The only way to save this generation, and it’s our responsibility, is to show them that Yiddishkeit is so geschmack, to lift them up to a place that is called “Al Cheit”- higher than that stuff.

Free MP3 Shiur by R Moshe Weinberber on Raising Hashem’s Children

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Sent to me from the Aish Kodesh Audio email list:

Dear Chaveirim,

During the first days of Pesach, Rav Weinberger almost always talks about the four sons, and this year was no different.

However, after hearing this year’s drashah, many of us came to the conclusion that Rebbi’s words needed to be recorded to provide chizuk to parents (and their friends) of “wayward” children.

There are almost no communities that are not touched by problems of children involved in drugs or alcohol, of children who have left mitzvos, and children who are engaged in all kinds of self-destructive behavior, and all of us desperately need chizuk and enouragement.


Rav Weinberger consented to our request, and, because of its importance, we are making this shiur available free of charge. Click below for the link…

Chizuk For Parents Who Are Raising Hashem’s Children

Recording Date: 04/15/2010

The Haggadah’s extraordinary introduction to the four sons. The parents’ disappointment about an “unsuccessful” child. When unspoken complaints erode shalom bayis (marital harmony). Hating the child, complaining against Hashem and blaming the spouse. The need to unify Hashem’s name with this very child that was specifically sent into my life. When a child, after all the parents and teachers poured into him, turns his back on everything the parents hoped for. Yitzchak Avinu and Rivkah Imeinu had a Yaakov AND an Eisav. Despite all the pain and disappointment: Baruch Hamakom, Baruch Hu (blessed be Hashem). The two parts of the nissayon (trial). Empathizing with another Jew’s pain is the beginning of geulah (redemption). Loving our children despite their rebellion against everything we believe in. A final seder in the concentration camp.

Biking on LSD*

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*Lake Shore Drive
I arrived at the starting point, Buckingham Fountain on Lake Shore Drive at 5:45 am and hit the pavement.  At that time there were not too may bikers on the road as we headed south towards the Museum of Science and Industry .  I really felt that my training had paid off because as I looked at those biking north, I saw that most of them were going slowly and already looked exhausted.
After turning around and heading back north towards Buckingham Fountain, I realized that it was windy, very windy.  It was only got more difficult as I and hundreds of others biked north on Lake Shore Drive.  Now I realized why everyone looked exhausted.  The wind was fierce.  Finally as the road turned at Soldier Field the wind gave way.  Things got a bit easier, but it took a lot out of me biking against the wind.  After three repeat trips up and down LSD I finally successfully reached my goal of biking 45 miles, 15 miles more than I biked last year.


After the bicycling event, Chai Lifeline had arranged a very nice breakfast at the Spertus Museum catered by Wolfgang Puck Catering for those, like me, who helped raise money for the organization.  Coming back home, I was greeted like a champion with awesome signs that my kids made and my 2 1/2 yr old daughter shouting, “It’s the Bike the Drive Abba!”

I feel that I am fortunate enough to have not only, thanks to my many sponsors, raised an impressive amount for Chai LIfeline , but I also was able to listen to three shiurim while Biking the Drive.  While listening, I had in mind that it was L’Zecher Nishmas the following: 
Rivka ben Chaim Yosef, Dan HaLevi ben Ovadia, Efraim ben Shlomo, Chaim ben Raizl, and Reuven HaLevi ben Devorah.
Also as a Refuah Shelayma for Reuven ben Tova Chaya and Shelomo Bat Yehudit


My playlist was:
“Matan Torah Allows G-d To Penetrate Into Every Aspect Of Our Lives “- Rav Moshe Weinberger
“Shavuot: Seeing Sound “- Rabbi Akiva Tatz
“Shavuot – Moses, King David and The Baal Shem Tov ” – Rabbi Moshe New
“Gadlu”- Shalsheles
“Hafachta”- as covered by The Moshe Skier Band
“Dream Of Redemption”- Piamenta
“Anachnu Maaminim Medley”- Piamenta
“Hashem Malech”- Yosef Karduner
“Ashreinu”- Even Sh’Siyah
“V’lirusholayim”- The Yitzhak Halevi Band
“Pischu Li”- The Yitzhak Halevi Band
“Superman”- Goldfinger
“All Because of You”- U2
“Celebrated Summer”- Husker Du
I’m truly thankful to all who sponsored me.  Especially my wife, who is always my biggest sponsor.

As Sunday’s bike ride gets closer, I continue to train

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Last night, very late, I went out and biked for half an hour.  It was very quite and I stayed within my neighborhood, but I was able to listen to a shiur from Rav Weinberger titled “Making Ourselves Into A Receptacle To Accept Torah “.  The shiur was great and as I listened I had in mind that it was in the zechus of a Refuah Shelaima for Rabbi Maryles ‘ grandson.


Wednesday night’s eight mile ride was good, but I had to deal with the wind that made Chicago famous.  It was a much harder ride thanks to the wind.  I started listening to a new series of shiurim given by Rabbi Yossi Michalowicz from Thornhill, Ontario, eh.  These shiurim are based on Mussar Vaadim given by Rav Avigdor Miller zt’l that were complied into a two volume set called “Shaarei Orah”.  I have read “Rejoice, O Youth” and “Torah Nation”, but the first two shiurim that I listened while biking were really uplifting.  The first idea that is discussed is that thinking about something is not the same as acting upon it.  For example, I can think about biking, but that is totally not the same as actually going out and biking.  You can think about drinking something if you are thirsty, but that will not quench your thirst.  The series is available for free right here .


Rav Miller’s view is that we need to move past that initial thought and make it something concrete.  In an attempt to accomplish this I will start thinking about how I really do wish people have a “good morning” before I wish them “Good Morning” (starting with those in my family).


As I listened to these shiurim base on Rav Miller’s Vaadim I had in mind that my friend’s wife was in need of a Refuah and that I was also listening in memory of both grandfathers a”h of two friends, the father a”h of a close friend, a mother-in-law a”h of a friend, and in memory of my in-laws a'”h.


With only four days left there’s still time to help out Chai Lifeline by sponsoring me.  Just click here and find my name in the pull-down menu.  No amount is too small (or too big).  Thanks for taking time to read this.

Bike the Drive training update

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Armed with my helmet, some Powerade, and my mp3 player I ride at night along the bike path on McCormick.  With Bike the Drive happening this Sunday, it’s sort of crunch time.  It’s great to be biking again and getting some exercise that doesn’t involved shooting hoops with my son, chasing my daughter on equipment at the park, or letting her younger sister climb all over me and swing from my arms.
Knowing that people are helping me support Chai Lifeline and the great work they do is great motivation to keep pushing myself to literally go that extra mile each time I go out and train.
I have been listening to some great shiurim, as well.  This amazing shiur from Rav Weinberger given on Lag b’Omer is worth the cost of the FREE download.  I’ve actually listened to it twice while biking.  Another great download is Rabbi Shaya Cohen’s Keynote Address at the Priority-1 Parenting Expo that was recently held in Chicago (it’s the first item on the page).  Tonight I biked 12 miles and listened to Rabbi Akiva Tatz discuss the difference between the “Torah of Abraham, Torah of Shem v’Ever ” (you have to scroll down on the link to find the download).  I have been able to have the names of several people in mind while I have been listening to these and other shiurim, as an aliyah for their Neshamos.
Since it’s after the 33rd day of the Omer, I’ve also slipped in some Yosef Karduner, Piamenta, and Husker Du during the final stretch back home.  If you are interested in helping Chai Lifeline by sponsoring me, please click here and then chose my name from the pull-down menu.  Any amount would be great.  To those that have already sponsored me, thank you so much!!!

Deveikus-palooza or the Bilvavi Mishan Evneh author on tour in the US

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Dixie Yid, who has probably done more in promoting the works of R Itamar Schartz (online) than anyone else, has posted details about the author’s tour in the US.  Please feel free to read the details here.

The works of Rav Schwartz are profound, accessable, and truly are tools in helping a Jews connect to Hashem.  Several English translations of his writings are available here.  Personally, I’ve grown by both his seforim and Rav Weinberger’s shiurim based on Rav Schwartz’s seforim.

Reflections on Biking the Drive

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(The victory cake that my wife surprised
me with at a BBQ that afternoon)

Firstly, thanks to everyone who sponsored me and donated to Chai Lifeline. I’ve been told that they will actually still accept biker sponsorship until May 28 (donate here).

Training was great. I’ve been biking with my friend (who suggested the whole Bike the Drive thing to me in the first place from Devon up McCormick to Golf and back and forth several times (if you’re from Chicago this will mean something).

Sunday morning was awesome. If you’re interested in seeing the map for Bike the Drive, click here. I’ll took the southern route (it’s got less hills and the road is better paved) starting at Buckingham Fountain and going to the Museum of Science and Industry and then back to the Fountain, for a total of 15 miles. We started off at 5:40am and the weather was great.

I had the mp3 player going and really got into the biking. In fact, after completing the first 15 miles I decided to go another 15, for a total of 30 miles! I finished biking (with a few breaks) at 9:00am. The weather, as I said, was perfect and the view of Lake Michigan was excellent. I am not one to push myself physically, but I was so into the groove of biking that I wanted to go beyond my original plan (a good lesson for me in every aspect of life).
My playlist of MP3s also helped:
Getting To Know Me (2) What’s In It For Me? The Purpose Of The Sefer – Rav Moshe Weinberger
Hashem Melech – Yosef Karduner
Hashivenu- Yosef Karduner
Ki Ish HaIsraeli- Yosef Karduner
Ki Lo Chalu- Yosef Karduner
Kume Roni- Yosef Karduner
Mikimi- YosefKarduner
Mizmor L’David- Yosef Karduner
Shir La’maalot- Yosef Karduner
Tismach- Yosef Karduner
Tzadik- Yosef Karduner
V’Taher Libenu- Yosef Karduner
Ze Hoshienu- Yosef Karduner
Anachnu Maaminim Medley- Piamenta
Dream of Redemption- Piamenta
Getting To Know Me (3) Getting Real – Uncovering And Discovering Our Inner World – Rav Moshe Weinberger

Having not listened to music during my bike training, it was excellent to listen to Hashem Melach (a song that is constantly in my head). The shiurim by Rav Weinberger are well worth the small fee to download.

After the ride, representatives from Chai Lifeline were waiting for us with a boxed breakfast from BBs’ Bagels. As great as the biking was, the welcome I got from my family when I came home was even better. I won’t get into the details of what Mrs. Uberdox did, but in did include: Victory music, streamers, signs made by the kids, and a true breakfast of champions. I has happy to have helped raised money for Chai Lifeline and my family was proud of me.

In terms of “going beyond my original plan”, the extra 15 miles were an added plus. It felt like the right thing to do and there really wasn’t any reason not to do it. It is rather satisfying to know that being in the right environment, finding internal motivation, and acknowledgement of the benefits to doing something were factors that added to a personal success. Of course, these are also factors in the opportunities that are presented to me for growth as a Torah observant Jew. If only it was as “easy as riding a bike”…

Whatever you are doing at that moment

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I have heard the following story from several people. In fact, twice, from R Moshe Weinberger (once on a tape and once while attending a shiur from him):

A chossid of Rav Moshele Kabriner pnce went to see the Kotzker. Rav Menachen Mendel of Kotzk asked to hear what the greatest inun, character trait, of this chossid’s rebbe, Rav Moshele Kabriner. Was it chessed? Tefilah?
The chossid answered, my rebbe’s greatest inun is whatever he is doing at that moment. Whatever we do at this moment, who we are married to, who are children are, where we are living, we have to serve Hashem at this time, at this moment. Whatever is happening to us is from Hashem.

While some aspects of my life have been hectic lately and there have been several ups and downs within the past year, this gevaldik story always pops in my head. Hopefully it will remain at the forefront of my head and not as an afterthought.