R' Adam Sabzevari
Teacher
All Published Shiurim
117. Berachot 37B | Blessing on Cooked Bread, French Toast, Croutons | Laws of Chavitza
117. Berachot 37B | Blessing on Cooked Bread, French Toast, Croutons | Laws of Chavitza
115. Berachot 36B-37A | Blessings on Peppercorn/Ginger, Grains/Baked Goods, SCHNITZEL/POPPERS, Rice
115. Berachot 36B-37A | Blessings on Peppercorn/Ginger, Grains/Baked Goods, SCHNITZEL/POPPERS, Rice
106. Berachot 33B-34A | The Proper Way to Pray to HaShem | Less is More | Having Faith in HaShem
106. Berachot 33B-34A | The Proper Way to Pray to HaShem | Less is More | Having Faith in HaShem
102. Berachot 32A-32B | Lessons in Prayer | Don’t Stop Praying: What to Do When the Answer Is “No”
102. Berachot 32A-32B | Lessons in Prayer | Beginning with Praise | Proper Mindset for Tefilah In this shiur on Berachot 32a–32b, we unpack one of the most practical foundations of tefillah: Don’t rush into requests. Start with praise. Using Moshe Rabbeinu’s prayer as the model, we explore why Chazal structured the Amidah the way they did, and how that structure shapes the mindset we’re supposed to bring when we stand before Hashem. We also dive into a powerful Rashba that reframes “praise” as answering three core questions every request raises: • Does the One I’m asking owe me anything? • Is He capable of doing this? • Is there anyone else to turn to? From there, the Gemara takes us on a sequence of big ideas: prayer vs. good deeds, fasting vs. tzedakah, tears that pierce gates, and the delicate balance between never giving up and never feeling entitled. If you’ve ever struggled with: • “Why do I have to ask if Hashem already knows?” • “What do I do when the answer keeps being ‘no’?” • “How do I pray with sincerity without spiraling into expectation?” This one is for you. Key takeaways you’ll walk away with: ✅ How to enter tefillah with humility and clarity ✅ Why “longer” prayers don’t mean “guaranteed” answers ✅ Why tears are described as never being blocked ✅ A life-changing lesson on selective forgetting for shalom bayit Chapters 00:00 Opening + the flow of “tangents” 01:50 Begin with praise: the structure of the Amidah 06:35 The Rashba’s 3 questions that reshape prayer 15:20 Prayer is greater than good deeds (Moshe as the proof) 20:40 Fasting is greater than tzedakah (body vs. money) 23:45 Prayer is greater than korbanot + kohen discussion 28:50 Gates of prayer vs. gates of tears 46:50 Long tefillah: expectation vs. humility 57:20 Keep praying when unanswered 1:03:40 “Hashem forgot us?” + selective forgetting for shalom If this strengthened your tefillah, leave a comment: What’s one line in the Amidah you want to start saying more slowly and intentionally? 👍 Like • 💬 Comment • 🔔 Subscribe to keep learning together.
101. Berachot 32A | Moshe’s Prayer & Defending Am Yisrael - Is it ok to "Argue" with God in Prayer
101. Berachot 32A | Moshe’s Prayer & Defending Am Yisrael - Is it ok to "Argue" with God in Prayer? In this powerful shiur on Berachot 32a, we explore one of the most stunning models of tefillah in the entire Gemara: Moshe Rabbeinu’s prayer after the sin of the Golden Calf. Moshe doesn’t just “ask” Hashem for mercy — he pushes, pleads, argues, and defends Am Yisrael like the greatest leader of all time. And the Gemara reveals something deeply moving: sometimes Hashem is waiting for us to fight back in prayer — not because Hashem needs our logic, but because He wants a relationship. Along the way, we uncover life-changing lessons about: ✅ how blessing can become spiritual danger ✅ why gratitude is hardest specifically when life is comfortable ✅ how “spoiling” can accidentally set someone up to fail ✅ the meaning of “Leave Me alone” as an invitation to pray ✅ and 6 incredible explanations of the rare Torah word וַיְחַל This is not just a sugya — it’s a blueprint for real tefillah: emotional, meaningful, honest, and connected. 📌 Perfect for fast days, personal growth, and anyone who wants to transform how they daven. ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: From Chana’s prayer to Moshe’s prayer 02:10 – Moshe’s bold defense after the Golden Calf (mashal) 05:10 – “Too much comfort” → spiritual decline & forgetting Hashem 12:00 – Timeline of the Golden Calf and Moshe’s crisis of leadership 13:55 – “Go down” = Moshe’s demotion (Midrash / Aggadah) 24:30 – “Leave Me alone” as Hashem hinting Moshe to intervene 28:00 – Moshe “grabs Hashem” — what that metaphor means 32:30 – “Start the nation with you” — Moshe rejects the offer 35:40 – The 6 meanings of וַיְחַל 45:20 – Moshe’s strongest argument: Hashem’s oath to the Avot 53:30 – “The nations will say Hashem couldn’t do it” 58:00 – Hashem agrees: “I forgave according to your words” 1:01:00 – Big question: Are we “challenging” Hashem when we pray? 1:07:00 – Why Hashem wants daily dependence (manna mashal) 1:14:00 – Closing: prayer = relationship, not just words 📣 If this shiur inspired you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE with a friend who’s working on their tefillah. 💬 Comment below: Which argument of Moshe moved you the most?
100. Berachot 31B-32A | More Halachot from the Prayer of Hannah | Human Relationships with Hashe
100. Berachot 31B-32A | More Halachot from the Prayer of Hannah | Human Relationships with Hashem In this shiur on Berachot 31b–32a, we continue unpacking the Gemara’s many halachot and hashkafic insights drawn from the story of Channah’s tefillah in the Mishkan. We review how Channah returns with her child and how the Gemara reads the pesukim word-by-word to uncover practical laws and deeper ideas about our relationship with Hashem. Topics covered include: The halacha of not sitting within four amot of someone davening Shemoneh Esrei, including practical scenarios and exceptions How the korban narrative leads into the halacha that shechitah may be done by a non-kohen, while later steps require a kohen Channah’s tefillah “upon her heart” and what it teaches about emotion, honesty, and intensity in prayer The tension between “arguing” with Hashem as an expression of relationship vs. speaking in a disrespectful way A Gemara tangent on fasting on Shabbat, bad dreams, and what’s recommended in practice Powerful mashalim about wealth and temptation, and why sometimes Hashem’s “no” can be protection The shiur ends with a clear takeaway: build a real relationship with Hashem through tefillah—passionate and genuine, but grounded in humility and respect. Source: Talmud Berachot 31b–32a
99. Berachot 31A-31B | The Many Lessons from the Prayer of Hannah | Praying with Emotion to HaShem
99. Berachot 31A-31B | The Many Lessons from the Prayer of Hannah | Praying with Emotion to HaShem In this deep-dive shiur we study Hannah (Chana) and her prayer in the Mishkan — one of the Talmud’s richest sources for how to pray. We walk through the story line-by-line and pull out practical halachic and spiritual lessons about intention, speech, structure, emotion, and ethics in tefilla (prayer). Whether you want to pray with more kavana (heart), understand how the Amidah is structured, or learn how to respond when others misjudge you, this class gives clear, memorable guidance rooted in the Gemara and classical commentaries. What you’ll get from this video: A concise framing of the Amidah’s structure (praise → requests → thanks) and where personal petitions fit A step-by-step analysis of Hannah’s story and how Chazal derive halachot from each detail Practical dos and don’ts for prayer: how loud to speak, importance of meaning, when requests may be added, and when not to pray Ethical takeaways about confronting others, defending your reputation, apologizing when wrong, and giving a blessing after you’ve misjudged someone Spiritual guidance on persistence, passion, and the balance between pleading and trust in God Lessons learned from Hannah’s prayer (clear, actionable takeaways): 1. Prayer must involve the heart — kavana matters, not just recitation. 2. Move your lips and articulate the words; don’t mumble or skip syllables. 3. Speak softly enough that others don’t hear you, but loud enough that you can hear yourself (especially in the silent Amidah). 4. Know the meaning of what you say — learning the words helps create genuine kavana. 5. The Amidah’s proper structure is praise → requests → thanks; don’t begin with requests before praise. 6. Personal requests belong in the middle (Shema Koleinu/lishma) but may also be made at the end when necessary. 7. You should not pray while intoxicated (drunk); light drinking that does not destroy focus may still allow prayer. 8. If you see someone doing something improper and you can effectively correct them, you should speak up (with wisdom and sensitivity). 9. If someone wrongly suspects or accuses you, clear your name — don’t silently accept damaging misperceptions. 10. If you misjudge someone, apologize and bless them — restoring dignity is required. 11. Defend against appearances that lead people to suspect wrongdoing; avoid actions that create suspicion when possible. 12. Emotional intensity (even strong language or complaint) in prayer can be appropriate — authentic passion is preferable to indifference. 13. Negotiation and bold speech to God (Hannah’s candid, even “aggressive” plea) show that prayer can be relational and forceful while still revering God. 14. Vows and commitments made in tefilla are weighty and part of the moral/halachic landscape — understand implications before promising. 15. Reference to God’s greatness (e.g., “Master of the Legions”) can be used to frame a forceful petition: place your request in perspective. 16. The Isha Sotah motif in the story teaches about halachic remedies, consolation, and the complexities of interpreting ritual texts — rhetorical devices may appear in tefilla. 17. Practical household mitzvot (niddah, separating challah, lighting Shabbat candles) are invoked by Hannah to demonstrate her fidelity — prayer and practice go together. 18. When praying persistently, balance relentless petitioning with acceptance and trust in God’s wisdom (bitachon) — both are part of a healthy relationship with God. 19. Prayer is transformative — repeated heartfelt requests change the petitioner as well as the outcome. 20. Be mindful how you pray in public settings (respect for the sanctuary, for others, and for communal obligations like answering Kaddish). If you found this useful: like, subscribe, and share with a friend who wants to deepen their tefilla. Questions or requests for future topics — drop them in the comments. Resources mentioned in the class: Gemara Brachot (Hannah story), commentators on Hannah, and practical halachot of tefilla. Subscribe for more weekly shiurim and practical halacha lessons.
98. Berachot 31A | Lessons from Daniel, David, and Hannah on Prayer | Practical Halachot for Praying
98. Berachot 31A | Lessons from Daniel, David, and Hannah on Prayer | Practical Halachot for Praying In this class we continued Mishnah & Braita study from Massechet Berakhot (around 31a). Main points covered: Opening review: Mishnah’s core requirement — approach prayer with seriousness, reverence, and focused intent. Braita discussion: what to study before prayer — only closed-ended, non‑open halachic rulings (examples given: rabbinic stringency on niddah, rules about tithes/winnowing, laws of sanctified sacrificial animals). The reason: unresolved or analytic discussions will distract your concentration in tefillah. Emotional state before prayer: don’t enter tefillah in sorrow, laziness, idle chatter, or frivolity; ideally bring joy connected to a mitzvah. Tosafot/Rabbeinu Yonah: reverence and joy can coexist. Leaving someone: it’s appropriate (but not obligatory) to part with words of Torah so you’ll remember one another. Concentration during prayer: direct your thoughts to heaven/Hashem; understand broadly what each blessing requests so prayer has intent. Practical sensitivity in communal prayer: shorten personal devotions in a minyan out of consideration (Rabbi Akiva example). Be mindful of others. Proofs from Tanakh: Daniel’s prayer used as a model — prayed three times daily, from a room with windows facing Jerusalem (lessons: pray facing Jerusalem, windows may aid concentration, established three daily prayers). David’s Psalms cited for morning/afternoon/evening prayers. Introduction to Hannah’s (Chana’s) prayer in I Samuel 1 — set up for next session: we began reading the text to extract further rules about prayer (volume, inner devotion, vows, and Eli’s misunderstanding). Next session: close reading of Hannah’s prayer (I Samuel 1) and extracting the halachic/ethical lessons it yields.