Decoding the Universe - Part 21
"The Great Kabbalistic Debate"
With Rabbi Ari Sollish

The Kabbalists generally agree on all things spiritual. With one major exception: the tzimtzum.

The doctrine of the tzimtzum was revealed by the great Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria in the 16th century. It revolutionized the way people understood the origins of existence. And it sparked a fierce debate.

"Before Creation, G-d's supernal and undefined light was the only existence... When it arose in His undefined will to create... He condensed Himself... and an empty space emerged."

These are the words in the Arizal's Eitz Chaim that first introduced the notion of tzimtzum, and ultimately pitted Kabbalist against Kabbalist.

In this session of Kabbalah & Coffee we explore the tzimtzum and the great mystical debate.

Decoding The Universe - 21 - The Great Kabbalistic Debate

Secrets of the Bible - Lesson 1
The Tree of Knowledge
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Thursday, October 30, 2025

Unraveling the mystery of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad" from which Adam and Eve ate illuminates many of the questions we grapple with in our own lives. Why do we desire things that we know are bad for ourselves and for others? Why does everything we achieve require hardship and struggle? How much should we care: Is it better to be objective and true or subjective and engaged?

Secrets of the Bible 2025 - Lesson 1 - The Tree of Knowledge | Rabbi Ari Sollish

The Kabbalah of Meaning - Lesson 2
To Make or Not to Make Meaning
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025

When life lacks luster, should we invent a more meaningful way of seeing things? Or is there already a purpose hiding in plain sight?

The Kabbalah of Meaning - Lesson 2 - To Make or Not to Make Meaning | Rabbi Ari Sollish

Torah Studies 5786
Class 1: Parshat Noach
Don’t Walk Into the Ark Alone
Giving Up on Others Is Never an Option
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, October 21, 2025

When someone close to us is drifting from a spiritual or moral life, how far are we expected to go to help them? Through the Torah’s complex portrayal of Noach and a powerful debate in the Zohar, this class challenges us to think differently about responsibility, prayer, and the meaning of never giving up.

Torah Studies 5786 - 1 - Noach: Don’t Walk Into the Ark Alone | Rabbi Ari Sollish

Torah Studies 5786
Class 2: Parashat Lech Lecha 
Just Do It
Obedience, Not Inspiration, Is the Heart of Judaism
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Judaism isn’t a system of values or a path to personal growth—it’s a relationship, and G-d defines the terms. Learn how Avraham’s first step wasn’t about what he believed or felt but about simply doing what G-d said.

Torah Studies 5786 - 2 - Lech Lecha: Just Do It | Rabbi Ari Sollish

The Giving Tree: A Jewish Perspective
Lessons from a Children's Classic on Education, Parenting & Leadership
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Explore Shel Silverstein's classic "The Giving Tree" from a unique Jewish perspective. You know the story. Here's the rest of the story.

The Giving Tree: A Jewish Perspective | Rabbi Ari Sollish

Torah Studies 5786
Class 3: Parashat Vayeira
Not My Thing? Not the Point.
Stepping Out of Character When the Moment Demands It
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Avraham was the embodiment of kindness, so why did he confront G-d with harshness? Because when a soul is on a mission, comfort doesn’t matter. This class challenges us to rethink what real service looks like, and how far we’re willing to go for it.

Torah Studies 5786 - 3 - Vayeira: Not My Thing? Not the Point | Rabbi Ari Sollish

Secrets of the Bible - Lesson 2
Noah’s Ark
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded Live at The Torah Center ATL on Thursday, November 6, 2025

Can G-d's plan for His world fail so catastrophically that the Creator regrets its very creation? And if it can, why can't it happen again? How does the rainbow symbolize the new world generated from Noah's Ark? Exploring the answers to these questions reveals the inner dynamics of the relationships that define our lives: the relationships between parent and child, between teacher and student, between employer and employee, and between G-d and us.

Secrets of the Bible 2025 - Lesson 2 - Noah’s Ark | Rabbi Ari Sollish

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Decoding The Universe - 21 - The Great Kabbalistic Debate

The Torah Center ATL

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