Daily Jewish Thought
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".
Episodes
1206 episodes
What Will Live Because You Lived? | Rabbi Bernath's Sermon for Neilah 2026
As Yom Kippur moves toward Neilah and the gates begin to close, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath asks a question far more important than what we achieved, accumulated, or accomplished:What will live because you lived?We live in a civilizat...
Is Someone Doing Your Thinking For You? | Rabbi Bernath's Sermon for Kol Nidrei 2026
In this Kol Nidrei sermon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath asks a deeply uncomfortable question: Who is doing your thinking for you?We live in an age overflowing with information but increasingly short on reflection. Algorithms, social medi...
The Secret Israel Knows About Happiness | Rabbi Bernath's Sermon for Shabbat Shuva 2026
In this Shabbat Shuva sermon, delivered by Rabbi Yisroel Bernath at Chabad NDG in Montreal, we explore a surprising question: Why are people able to experience happiness even when life is difficult?Looking at Israel’s remarkable longevi...
The Forgiveness Experiment: Take Back the Pen, Put Down the Poison
What would your life look like if you stopped waiting for an apology, stopped replaying the hurt, and stopped allowing yesterday’s pain to occupy today’s heart?In this deeply personal and practical talk, delivered at JLI’s 20th Annual Na...
The Wall That Wasn’t There | Rabbi Bernath's Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 2 5787
On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the shofar finally sounds. Yesterday’s question was: Are you awake? Today’s question goes deeper: What are you awake for and what happens when you finally know where you want to go, but you hit a wall?
The Shofar We Are: Wake Up to Something - Rabbi Bernath's Sermon for Rosh Hashana Day 1 5787
This Rosh Hashanah begins with a strange silence: the first day falls on Shabbat, and there is no shofar. But perhaps this year, we do not need a horn to wake us up. The Jewish people are already awake, shaken by antisemitism, fear, and an inte...
Growing Older, Growing Deeper: How to Make Your Years Count - Parshat Ki Teitzei • Elul • The Gift of a Life Fully Lived
Our culture often treats aging as something to resist. Judaism sees it differently: years are not merely something that happen to us; they can become a source of wisdom, purpose, and depth. Drawing on the mitzvah of shiluach hakein
Love Is Not Found. It Is Built. | 10 Jewish Relationship Truths for Tu B’Av
Tu B’Av is often called the Jewish day of love. In this special Tu B’Av discussion, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath, known as the “Love Rabbi” shares ten essential Jewish relationship principles for singles, couples, and anyone seeking to build deeper, h...
Help Us Keep the Light Going: A Special Message from Rabbi Yisroel Bernath
Support the raffle at www.ndgraffle.com.In this special episode, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath opens his heart to the worldwide community that has grown around the podcast.The podcast is more...
The Gift of Feeling Too Much: Why Your Sensitivity Is Not Your Weakness.
In this special class in honour of his birthday, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most misunderstood human traits: sensitivity. While the world often tells us to toughen up and grow thicker skin, Chassidus teaches that the goal is not ...
The G-d Question: Beyond the Bearded Man in the Sky | A Candid Discussion.
In this eye-opening session, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most profound and misunderstood topics of all time: What is G-d? Moving beyond simplistic childhood images of a supernatural sky-being, we delve into Jewish, Chassi...
Who Really Wrote the Torah? A Conversation on G-d, Truth, and the Power of Ideas
In this heart-open, mind-stretching class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath dives headfirst into one of the most profound questions ever asked: Who wrote the Torah and what do we mean by G-d? Sparked by a challenge from Ilana, a thoughtful soul w...
The Blank Tanach and the Book We Need in the Wilderness | Parshat Beha’alotecha
This Shabbat Parshat Beha’alotecha, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath was a Scholar-In-Residence at Beth Tikvah in DDO, Quebec, here is a recording for him preparing his Shabbat morning sermon. Rabbi Yisroel Bernath connects...
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 Forg...
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.
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 ab...
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...
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 a...
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 Kabba...
The Heart of Balance: Entering the Week of Tiferet
How to Love Without Smothering and Set Boundaries Without WoundingWhy 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 ent...
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 rem...
The Kabbalah of the Passover Seder
We’ve all been to a Seder. We know the songs, the matzah, the wine… and somehow, we still walk out the same person. But what if the Seder was never meant to be a ritual you attend, but a process you go through?In this class, Rabbi...
Rabbi Bernath’s Passover Seder: A Guide to Preparing for a Night That Can Change You
Download Rabbi Bernath's Haggadah HERE https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/98kilqi70z1cpqcn47jo0...
Pre-Passover Special - When the Chains are Invisible
There’s something about this time of year… As we prepare for Pesach, cleaning, cooking, setting the table… we’re also being invited into something deeper. Not just a historical remembrance… but a personal awakening.Because the real quest...
This Passover: How to Finally Break Out of Feeling Stuck
What if the line in the Haggadah isn’t history… but a diagnosis? “If G-d hadn’t taken us out of Egypt, we would still be there.” Not physically. Psychologically. Spiritually. Emotionally. In this heart-open Kabbalah class, Rabbi Bernath unpacks...