Daily Jewish Thought

Rabbi@JewishNDG.com (Rabbi Yisroel Bernath)
  • 4.9 (52)
  • Judaism
  • Updated Biweekly

Thoughts on spirituality, Kabbalah, Jewish thought, Judaism and Relationships. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath is the Senior Rabbi at Rohr Chabad of NDG and the Director of Chabad on Campus at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Cherished for his incredible warmth and non-judgmental personality, this hipster is not your typical rabbi. In 2012, Rabbi Bernath founded the smashing success JMatchmaking International, a network of Jewish dating sites. He has made 104 matches (that he knows of) to date! In addition to being a matchmaker and dating coach, Rabbi Bernath is also the author of three books, and continuously produces engaging content on his many social media & podcast platforms. As a professional voice-over artist, screen-writer, and actor, he has been a part of dozens of productions, including the hit CBC Documentary "Kosher Love". 

  1. May 28

    The House of David & The Forgiveness Experiment

    Tonight at Congregation TBDJ in Montreal, Rabbi Zolly Claman invited Rabbi Yisroel Bernath to share a unique talk as part of his series on the Characters from the Torah. Rabbi Bernath explored the life of King David through the lens of The Forgiveness Experiment, asking what it really means to forgive without becoming naïve, passive, or unsafe. Moving from Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers, the class showed how Tanach slowly develops a deeper language of forgiveness, from failed repair, to fragile reconciliation, to Joseph’s powerful refusal to let his brothers define his life story. The heart of the class focused on David HaMelech: David sparing Shaul, absorbing Shimei’s public curses, grieving Avshalom, and ultimately becoming not only the one who forgives, but the one who must ask for forgiveness. Through David, we saw that forgiveness is not weakness. It is spiritual strength. It is the courage to release resentment without erasing truth, to hold boundaries without becoming bitter, and to stop giving someone else the pen to your story. Key Takeaways -Forgiveness is not pretending the wound never happened; it is deciding that the wound will not become the author of your life. -Joseph teaches us that people may intend harm, but they do not get to define the meaning of our story. -David teaches us that true greatness is measured not only by how we act on the throne, but how we respond when we are humiliated, attacked, and vulnerable. -Forgiveness and boundaries can coexist. David spares Shaul, but he does not move back into the palace. -Shimei represents the person who attacks when we are already bleeding — and David’s response teaches us the discipline of not letting resentment turn us into someone we do not want to become. -Divine forgiveness does not erase consequences. David’s teshuvah after Bat Sheva is real, but the story still carries responsibility and repair. -The House of David is not built by perfect people. It is built by people who fall, return, forgive, ask forgiveness, and keep choosing life. Rabbi Bernath’s New Book: The Forgiveness Experiment is Now #1 Best Seller on Amazon! Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0GMS5DCKH/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-495504&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_495504_rh_us #HouseOfDavid  #theforgivenessexperiment #Rabbiyisroelbernath #KingDavid #DavidHaMelech #Forgiveness #Teshuvah #JewishWisdom #Tanach #BiblicalPersonalities #JosephAndHisBrothers #Shimei #Avshalom #ShaulHaMelech #EmotionalHealing #spiritualgrowth #lettinggo #BoundariesAndForgiveness #JewishLearning #TBDJ #MontrealJewishCommunity #HeartOpenJudaism Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5mua4-gkhiv7NdbJv_C7w/join Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    39 min

  2. May 20

    The Story of Ruth: Loss, Loyalty & Redemption

    Why do we read the story of Ruth on Shavuot? Beneath the surface of this beautiful Megillah lies one of the most dramatic stories in all of Tanach, famine, exile, conversion, controversy, loss, courage, and the hidden birth of redemption. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the deeper story behind Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz through Midrash, Talmud, Zohar, and Kabbalah. Together we’ll uncover the shocking halachic debate surrounding Ruth’s conversion, the spiritual meaning behind her loyalty, and the extraordinary chain of Divine Providence that ultimately gave birth to King David and Moshiach. This is a story about what happens when life appears to fall apart… only to reveal a deeper plan unfolding underneath it all. Key Points: • Why Elimelech abandoned the Jewish people during the famine and the consequences that followed • Ruth’s radical choice to embrace Judaism despite uncertainty and rejection • The deeper meaning of “Where you go, I will go” according to the Talmud • Boaz, Ruth, and the hidden hand of Divine Providence • The controversial halachic debate: Could Ruth even marry into the Jewish people? • Why King David’s lineage was questioned generations later • The spiritual lesson of apparent failure, loss, and hidden redemption • How the story of Ruth became the blueprint for Moshiach Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    41 min

  3. May 13

    The Kingdom Within: Presence, Dignity & the Courage to Receive - Entering the Week of Malchut

    As we arrive at the final week of Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the profound and deeply practical world of Malchut, the sefirah of sovereignty, presence, dignity, and embodiment. In Chassidic thought, Malchut is not about domination or ego-driven power, but about becoming a grounded vessel for truth, connection, and Divine presence. Through powerful analogies, relatable stories, and authentic Kabbalistic teachings, this class explores what it means to lead without controlling, to receive without shame, and to stand in your worth without needing to prove yourself. Malchut is where spirituality stops being theoretical and finally becomes lived reality. Key Points: Malchut as “sovereignty through humility,” not control or domination Why true leadership creates space instead of demanding attention The paradox of Malchut: having nothing of its own, yet revealing everything The symbolism of the moon, the sea, and the womb in Chassidic teachings How listening, receptivity, and emotional presence create deeper relationships The difference between grounded confidence and ego-driven authority Why many people struggle more with receiving than giving Shabbat and Malchut: learning to stop striving and simply dwell How to embody dignity without needing external validation Turning everyday moments into vessels for the Shechinah, the Divine Presence #Judaism #Kabbalah #Malchut  #SefiratHaOmer #chassidus  #JewishWisdom #presence  #Leadership  #humility  #spiritualgrowth  #Authenticity  #DivinePresence  #Shechinah  #EmotionalGrowth  #SelfWorth  #Relationships #Mindfulness  #personalgrowth  #Shabbat  #InnerWork  Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    44 min

  4. May 6

    Real Connection, Not Just Chemistry: Entering the Week of Yesod

    As we step into the week of Yesod, we move from the inner emotional world into the place where everything becomes real, where feelings turn into connection, and potential becomes relationship. In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores Yesod not just as a mystical concept, but as the very foundation of how we bond with others, with ourselves, and with G-d. Drawing on teachings from Kabbalah and Chassidus we uncover the deeper meaning of authentic connection, what it means to show up fully, to be emotionally present, and to build relationships rooted in truth rather than fear. This is not just about connection, it’s about becoming someone who can be trusted with connection. Because Yesod asks one powerful question: Are you relating… or are you just reacting? Key Points & Takeaways: Yesod is the bridge between emotion and expression, it’s where everything you feel becomes how you connect. True connection is not intensity, it’s consistency. Healthy Yesod means being present, honest, and emotionally available without losing yourself. Distorted Yesod shows up as people-pleasing, emotional dependency, or confusing attention for connection. Real intimacy requires vulnerability, but also boundaries. Trust is built not in big moments, but in small, repeated acts of alignment. The goal is not just to feel deeply, but to connect truthfully. You don’t need to perform connection. You need to embody it. #Kabbalah #chassidus #chassidut #SefiratHaOmer #Sefirah #sefirot #yesod #JewishWisdom #EmotionalConnection  #Authenticity  #HealthyRelationships  #spiritualgrowth #InnerWork #Connection #Trust  #Vulnerability  #Consistency  Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    54 min

  5. Apr 29

    The Courage to Soften: Entering the Week of Hod

    In a world that rewards being right, being strong, and holding it all together, the Sefirah of Hod invites us into a very different kind of strength. In this heart-open class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the power of humility, not as weakness, but as the courage to soften, to acknowledge truth, and to release the need to control. Drawing from Kabbalah, Chassidic teachings and real-life experiences, this session unpacks how Hod shows up in our relationships, our inner dialogue, and our spiritual growth. When we stop defending and start listening, something shifts. Hod is where we become more honest, more connected, and ultimately, more whole. Key Takeaways: Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s being honest enough to let go of defensiveness Why “being right” can quietly damage relationships and what to choose instead The difference between healthy humility and losing yourself How to say “I’m sorry” in a way that actually heals Letting go of control as a path to deeper connection How Hod creates space for others, for truth, and for growth The role of acknowledgment in emotional and spiritual maturity #Kabbalah #SefiratHaOmer #Sefirah #Hod #Spirituality #TreeofLife #humility #EmotionalGrowth #lettinggo  #Authenticity  #Relationships  #InnerWork  #chassidus  #JewishWisdom  #spiritualgrowth  #Connection  #healing  #RabbiBernath  Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    54 min

  6. Apr 22

    The Strength to Keep Going, Even When You Don’t Feel Like It: Entering the Week of Netzach

    What drives you to keep pushing forward and when does that drive begin to drain you? In this class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Sefirah of Netzach, the inner power of endurance, ambition, and resilience. Through a blend of Kabbalah and Chassidic insight and real-life application, we uncover the difference between healthy perseverance and destructive overdrive. This session invites you to rethink what it means to “win” and how true victory comes not from force, but from alignment with your deeper purpose. Takeaways: How to recognize when your drive is coming from strength vs. insecurity. The hidden cost of pushing too hard and how to avoid burnout. A deeper definition of “winning” rooted in purpose, not ego. Tools to access sustainable resilience in your daily life. How Netzach, when balanced, becomes a force for transformation, not exhaustion #Kabbalah #chassidus #Judaism #kabala #Netzach #SefiratHaOmer #EmotionalGrowth #resilience #innerstrength #JewishWisdom  #personalgrowth #Spirituality  #Burnout  #PurposeDriven  #MindfulLiving  #RabbiBernath  Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    49 min

  7. Apr 15

    The Heart of Balance: Entering the Week of Tiferet

    How to Love Without Smothering and Set Boundaries Without Wounding Why do our best intentions so often hurt the people we love most? Because love without boundaries can suffocate… and truth without compassion can wound. As we enter the week of Tiferet in Sefirat HaOmer, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Kabbalistic art of emotional balance, the sacred harmony between Chesed (kindness) and Gevurah (strength). Tiferet is not compromise. It is not weakness. It is the mature, beautiful ability to give people not what we want to give, but what they actually need to receive. This class offers a practical roadmap for developing emotional attunement, relational wisdom, and the courage to live from the heart rather than from ego. Key Takeaways Tiferet is emotional maturity, the balance of kindness and discipline. Intent matters, but impact matters too. Love can hurt when it is driven by control, anxiety, or ego. Truth becomes dangerous when it is weaponized instead of harmonized with compassion. Compassion is not giving what flatters the giver, it is giving what fits the receiver. Real beauty emerges when opposing traits work in harmony. Healthy relationships require attunement, not just good intentions. A holy “no” can sometimes be more compassionate than a misplaced “yes.” The path to Tiferet begins with pausing before reacting. Spiritual growth means becoming integrated, centered, and safe for others to experience. — A Brand-New Four Part Kabbalah Series Turning Walls into Doorways How to Transform Life’s Obstacles into the Path to Your Greatest Growth Why do we keep hitting the same emotional walls? Why do certain fears, insecurities, patterns, and painful circumstances keep showing up in our lives, despite our best efforts to change? What if the obstacles in your life are not interruptions to your purpose… but the very path to it? In this transformational four-part course, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the deepest ideas in Jewish thought: That life’s struggles are not punishments. They are invitations. Through Kabbalah, Chassidus, Torah psychology, and deeply practical tools, this course will help us understand: Why we struggleWhy we feel stuckHow our perceptions create our realityHow self-limiting beliefs imprison usHow to transform the walls in our lives into doorways to growth, healing, and purposeAccess HERE https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=102 Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    48 min

  8. Apr 7

    From Egypt to Opening Doors: How to Break Through What’s Holding You Back

    What if the last days of Pesach aren’t about how the story ends… but about how your story begins? In this deeply practical and soulful class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the hidden power of the final days of Passover, where we stop remembering freedom and start living toward it. Through the lens of the splitting of the sea, the mysterious idea of Moshiach as a “Caesar,” and the transformative ritual of Moshiach’s Seudah, this class reveals a powerful truth: You’re not as stuck as you think, you’re just one doorway away. Blending Chassidus, storytelling, and real-life application, this session gives you the tools to move forward, soften what feels frozen, and begin opening the doors that lead to your own personal redemption. Key Takeaways Not every closed door is locked… sometimes what you need isn’t force, it’s warmth. Pesach doesn’t end, it evolves… the last days are about tasting the future, not closing the past. Moshiach isn’t just a belief, it’s a breakthrough…. the power to open what feels impossible. Redemption isn’t becoming someone new… it’s uncovering who you already are. You don’t need to split the sea… just take one real step forward. Small acts open big worlds… a message, a moment, a gesture can be someone else’s redemption. #Pesach  #Passover  #Moshiach  #Redemption  #Breakthrough  #JewishWisdom  #Kabbalah  #chassidus  #spiritualgrowth  #InnerFreedom  #MindsetShift  #FaithInAction  #FromStuckToFree #JewishInspiration  #RabbiBernath  Available now: Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638 Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6 Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV Support the show Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone. Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

    36 min
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About

Thoughts on spirituality, Kabbalah, Jewish thought, Judaism and Relationships. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath is the Senior Rabbi at Rohr Chabad of NDG and the Director of Chabad on Campus at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Cherished for his incredible warmth and non-judgmental personality, this hipster is not your typical rabbi. In 2012, Rabbi Bernath founded the smashing success JMatchmaking International, a network of Jewish dating sites. He has made 104 matches (that he knows of) to date! In addition to being a matchmaker and dating coach, Rabbi Bernath is also the author of three books, and continuously produces engaging content on his many social media & podcast platforms. As a professional voice-over artist, screen-writer, and actor, he has been a part of dozens of productions, including the hit CBC Documentary "Kosher Love". 

Information

  • Creator
    Rabbi@JewishNDG.com (Rabbi Yisroel Bernath)
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.2K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rabbi Yisroel Bernath & Daily Jewish Thought
  • Show Website
    Daily Jewish Thought

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