Episodes

  • The Shmuz on Bitachon
    Apr 22 2026

    Bitachon is something you’ve probably heard about many times. But what does it actually look like in your life?

    In this shiur, Rabbi Shafier walks you through what it means to truly trust in Hashem in a real, grounded way. You’ll start to see that bitachon isn’t just an idea. It’s a way of viewing everything that happens to you, recognizing that Hashem is involved in every detail, not just the big moments.

    You’ll be challenged to think about how you react when things don’t go as planned, and what that says about where your trust really lies. Through practical examples, you’ll begin to understand how to rely less on your own assumptions and more on Hashem’s plan.

    Listen in, and you’ll come away with a clearer, more honest approach to bitachon, along with a sense of how to start building it in your everyday life.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    41 mins
  • The Shmuz on the Parsha: Kedoshim: Holy Pleasure
    Apr 19 2026

    Are you a slave to your appetite? Love pleasure a little too much? Or what about the opposite? Are you too afraid to enjoy any of the pleasures of this world, in case it turns you into a baal taiveh? In this week’s Shmuz on the Parsha, Rabbi Shafier shows you the golden middle way. Learn how to enjoy life without feeling guilty- on The Shmuz Podcast!

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    51 mins
  • Sefiras HaOmer (From the Archive)
    Apr 21 2026

    The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the joy of leaving Mitzrayim wasn’t even the main event- the real excitement was receiving the Torah.

    That’s a striking thought. Freedom is incredible… so why was Torah even greater?

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    37 mins
  • The Shmuz on Sefira
    Apr 14 2026

    Why would 24,000 talmidim of Rabbi Akiva — great men of Torah — be lost over something that seems so simple: a lack of respect?

    This powerful shiur uncovers what kavod really means — and why it is far more than just good manners. Through Chazal, real-life examples, and sharp insight, Rabbi Shafier reveals that respect is not optional; it is a foundational principle that shapes our relationships, our growth, and our avodas Hashem.

    From the way we view others as created b’tzelem Elokim, to the role respect plays in marriage and daily interactions, this session challenges you to rethink how you treat the people around you.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    43 mins
  • The Shmuz on the Parsha: Tazria Metzora
    Apr 13 2026

    Shiurim on shmiras haloshon aren’t popular. Like exercise or keeping healthy, most think, “yep. I know this. Shouldn’t do it. Not sure I need to listen to a whole shiur about it…” Unfortunately, the parameters of lashon hara are not what you think. Just like eating treif or being mechalel Shabbos, it is one hundred percent forbidden. And it’s easy to see why- we all have stuff in our history that we wouldn’t want “out there”. It makes sense that talking about even true events could cause serious damage to another Jew. But there’s more: did you know it’s relatively easy to stop talking lashon hara. You see, lashon hara isn’t driven by passion, by desire. It’s mostly due to a lack of awareness. By becoming more attentive to what the Torah demands, you can start amassing a serious amount of s’char for yourself. All it takes is for you to become more mindful and aware of what you’re saying.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    44 mins
  • At the Foot of Har Sinai: Part 2: Standing at the Foot of the Mountain
    Apr 19 2026

    As we journey towards Shavuos, Rabbi Shafier weaves together the events of Matan Torah with major concepts in Jewish thought. Tune in and discover why Torah is the spiritual nourishment for the world, what it means to be an am segula and how Moshe Rabbeinu could argue with the Ribbono Shel Olam. At the Foot of Har Sinai combines explanations taken from Chazal, Midrashim, Rishonim and Acheronim to skillfully describe the personality of Moshe Rabbeinu and the events leading up to kabbolas haTorah. This year, develop a deeper connection with the event that defines the very essence of who you are.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • At the Foot of Har Sinai: Part 1: A Monumental Moment for Mankind
    Apr 12 2026

    We have a mitzvah to remember Har Sinai, but to do that, we first need to understand what happened on that momentous day. At the Foot of Har Sinai brings the scene to life, capturing the majesty, awe, and unfolding of the events in a vivid and compelling way.

    While it’s difficult to fully grasp the magnitude of the miracles the Bnei Yisroel experienced, exploring them through the lens of our mesorah allows you to begin appreciating the depth of their joy and the power of Kabbolas HaTorah.

    In this introductory class, Rabbi Shafier guides you through the defining moment of your history — and shows how Matan Torah continues to shape your life and destiny until today.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Pre-Pesach Shmuz (from the archive)
    Mar 29 2026

    We like to think that if we witnessed one clear miracle, everything would fall into place; our emunah, our davening, our clarity. This shiur dismantles that assumption.

    Through a vivid, almost unsettling reconstruction of Mitzrayim from the Egyptian perspective, Rabbi Shafier exposes a deeper truth: belief is not driven by evidence, but by honesty. Even those who lived through open miracles found ways to explain it away. Why? Because they didn’t want to see.

    This is a shiur about intellectual integrity, self-deception, and the real barrier to emunah. Listen carefully, and you’ll gain a sharper lens on your own thinking and a far more demanding, but real, path to genuine belief.

    This podcast has been graciously sponsored by JewishPodcasts.fm. There is much overhead to maintain this service so please help us continue our goal of helping Jewish lecturers become podcasters and support us with a donation: https://thechesedfund.com/jewishpodcasts/donate
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    43 mins