Rabbi Motti’s Minute

Rabbi Motti Wilhelm
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Classes and talks by Rabbi Motti Wilhelm, Chabad Rabbi in Southwest Portland. Timeless Torah ideas made practical and inspiring for real life today—through stories, insights, and down-to-earth guidance from Jewish tradition.

  1. 09/21/2025

    They Can’t Take Away Your Cry — Which Can Pierce the Sky

    Through pandemics, wars, personal loss, and uncertainty, one truth endures: our cry can pierce the sky. This episode — delivered at the Bas Mitzvah of Tzippy Wilhelm — reflects on a Rosh Hashanah birth, the Shofar’s timeless message, and the power of a unique voice. They can’t take away your unique cry, and that cry can break through to the heavens.

    13 min

  2. 09/08/2025

    Ki Teitzei – From the Source: A Jewish Approach to War

    In this class, we explore the Torah’s perspective on warfare: the call for peace before battle, the preparation of soldiers, the laws of siege, the treatment of captives, and the charge to preserve holiness within the camp itself.

    53 min

  3. 08/29/2025

    Shoftim – The Centrality of Justice in Jewish Life

    In this class, we explore the importance of the legal system in Jewish thought: the role of the Sanhedrin, the Torah’s call for judiciousness in every area of life, and how the parsha of Shoftim speaks to today’s major halachic debates.

    47 min

  4. 08/04/2025

    Pleasant, Not a People Pleaser: Humility, Truth, and Holiness in a Distracting World Pirkei Avot Chapter 3, Mishnayot 10–18

    In this episode, we explore the delicate balance between being affable and authentic. How do we remain humble and kind without compromising truth? How can we guard our time and energy from what drains us while staying connected to our deepest sense of purpose and holiness? From people-pleasing to people-respecting, from distraction to discipline, these Mishnayot guide us in building a life of integrity and spiritual clarity—rooted in Torah, humility, and inner strength. Join us as we unpack timeless wisdom for navigating the tensions of modern life with grounded joy and intention.

    55 min

  5. 07/25/2025

    Torah as Lifeline and the Prerequisites to Wisdom (Pirkei Avot 3:8–9)

    Why is forgetting Torah seen as so severe? What makes intelligence spiritually risky? In this episode, we explore Torah as our spiritual lifeline, the transformative power of repetition, the origin of the yarmulke, and the true foundation of wisdom: a fear of losing one’s connection with Hashem and the resolve to turn learning into action.

    43 min

  6. 07/18/2025

    Jewish Leadership and Commitment: Lessons from Parshat Pinchas

    In this class on Parshat Pinchas, we explore the values Moshe seeks in the next Jewish leader highlighting servant leadership, earned authority, and a deep sense of responsibility. We also reflect on the power of consistency in Jewish life and the enduring qualities that define true leadership.

    50 min

  7. 07/16/2025

    What’s Yours, What’s His: Ownership, Choice, and Divine Relationship (Pirkei Avot 3:7)

    In this class, we explore the profound teachings of Pirkei Avot 3:7 on ownership and free will—what Hashem has given us, and what we give back to Him. We also examine the two dimensions of our relationship with Hashem: one expressed through the natural world, and the other accessed through Torah—boundless, infinite, and beyond.

    55 min

  8. 07/11/2025

    Bilaam: A Gift Can Be a Blessing or a Curse

    In this class, we explore the story of the prophet Bilaam — a man with great spiritual power, who stood at a crossroads: would he use his gift to bless or to curse? Through his first blessing to the Jewish people, we reflect on: The two identities of the Jew — the struggler and the master Why our being can never be cursed, only our behavior The unique calling and solitude of the Jewish nation How Hashem protects us from external threats — while calling on us to guard ourselves from within

    38 min
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About

Classes and talks by Rabbi Motti Wilhelm, Chabad Rabbi in Southwest Portland. Timeless Torah ideas made practical and inspiring for real life today—through stories, insights, and down-to-earth guidance from Jewish tradition.

Information

  • Creator
    Rabbi Motti Wilhelm
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Rabbi Motti Wilhelm
  • Show Website
    Rabbi Motti’s Minute