Kabbalah Café
Garments of the Soul
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL

The title of our new series is "Garments of the Soul." The focus of this text is on examining the composition of the human soul to discover the keys to personal growth and transformation.

By better understanding the failure of the biblical spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Israel, we will gain priceless insight into the workings of our character and what determines personal success and failure.

Kabbalah Café: Garments of the Soul

Garments of the Soul - Part 1
“Three Kinds”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 4, 2023

The title of our new series is "Garments of the Soul." The focus of this text is on examining the composition of the human soul to discover the keys to personal growth and transformation. 

By better understanding the failure of the biblical spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Israel, we will gain priceless insight into the workings of our character and what determines personal success and failure.

In our opening session, we look at three kinds of people, as described in Talmudic and Kabbalistic literature.

Garments of the Soul - 1 - Three Kinds

Garments of the Soul - Part 2
“Delicacies”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 11, 2023

It's one of the most dramatic tales in the Torah. Isaac wishes to bless his older son Esau before his passing, so he sends him on a mission to prepare his favorite dish. In the meantime, Jacob, the younger son, sneaks in disguised as his brother and takes the blessings. The fallout would change the course of history, but it's a seemingly throwaway line at the beginning of the story that informs us of our personal duty and destiny:

"Make for me delicacies such as I love." 

These are the words Isaac tells Esau. But as the mystics teach us, these are also the words G-d tells each of us. 

See, G-d has a mature and sophisticated palette. G-d's taste is not static and monolithic, but rather diverse and dynamic. G-d loves not just one delicacy, but two. And that changes everything.

In this unforgettable session of Kabbalah Café we discover the secret of Divine gastronomy, and learn the real reason why sometimes it feels that our spiritual goals are out of reach.

Garments of the Soul - 2 - Delicacies

Garments of the Soul - Part 3
“Espionage”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 18, 2023

There's an art to being a spy. It's about gaining trust and access... and then exploiting that trust and access for your own purposes. It's about turning against those who you've become close with. It's about working the con. And the stakes are high.

When looking throughout biblical literature, we encounter multiple spy stories. Some work out well; others end in disaster. Which evokes some questions: What makes a spy mission work? What are the key ingredients to successful espionage? And how can we apply those ideas to achieve greater success in our own personal and spiritual lives?

In this spectacular session of Kabbalah Café we examine the art of espionage from a uniquely mystical perspective. Discover what the Kabbalists say about infiltrating the enemy, and making it out spiritually intact.

Garments of the Soul - 3 - Espionage

Garments of the Soul - Part 4
“Adulting”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, June 25, 2023

Once upon a time, all our decisions were made for us. What we wore, what we ate, who we socialized with, where we went, what we did when we went where we went -- all of those decisions were made by others.

Until we grew up.

The transition between dependence and self-determination is often a bumpy one, marked by missteps and failure. As a parent witnessing this progression, it can sometimes feel as though it would have been better to keep things as they were, to keep hand-holding. But at some point you must let go. For that is the way of life: progress is the product of agency, and the product of agency is a measure of regress. 

The Kabbalists explain that the same occurred historically in the adolescence of our people. As we matured, G-d let go. That gave us the space we needed. But it also gave rise to some of the greatest missteps of our history, including the disaster of the spies. Such is the price to pay for progress.

In this epic session of Kabbalah Café we jump into the episode of the spies and uncover what really happened. We'll learn why ten of the greatest Jewish leaders turned against G-d's promise, and why -- perhaps more shockingly -- Moses allowed it to happen.

Garments of the Soul - 4 - Adulting

Garments of the Soul - Part 5
“Be a Tzaddik”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, July 2, 2023

The ways of the heart are mysterious, and at times, deceitful. As much as we try to seize control of our inner selves, we often find ourselves tripping over the whims of our heart.

Which makes the soul's pre-birth commitment all the more strange. 
The Talmud relates that before it is sent into this world, the soul is administered an oath to "be a tzaddik." Now, a tzaddik is someone who is in full control of their inner self. But how can that be mandated of the soul?! There are far too many extenuating factors that go into the drama of life. How can one ever be certain that they can be a true blue tzaddik?

The answer to this question, as formulated by the mystics, is simply marvelous. It reshapes our vision of self, and reimagines the reach of human potential. Indeed, what seems beyond reach is, in fact, attainable. If we only know the secret of the tzaddik.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we explore the miraculous reach of human potential.

Garments of the Soul - 5 - Be a Tzaddik

Garments of the Soul - Part 6
“Perfectly Imperfect”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, July 23, 2023

In the mystical tradition the human being is torn between two inner drives, one lower and one higher. Life is lived in a state of perpetual tension, pulled toward both selfishness and selflessness. 

We know the score. Sometimes we rise and embrace our noblest selves. Sometimes, not so much.

It is in this space of frustrated internal discord that we find two profound and seemingly contradictory Kabbalistic meditations:

1. Our imperfection is by Divine design.
2. We can achieve perfection despite our inherent imperfection.

Which is it? Are we to embrace our flawed humanity, recognizing that this too is G-dly? Or are we to cut through the noise to find the pure, unblemished essence within, and activate its force in our lives? Which approach is ideal? Which is practical?

In this powerful session of Kabbalah Café we peer into the deepest teachings of Jewish mysticism to discover our true meaning and purpose. What we discover will change the way you look at yourself, and redefine perfection.

Garments of the Soul - 6 - Perfectly Imperfect

Garments of the Soul - Part 7
“Studying With the Angels”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, July 30, 2023

There's an old adage that says, "Torah speaks to the terrestrial realm, and alludes to the celestial realm." Which means that while Torah guides us in very real and practical terms, it also contains lofty spiritual messages.

But there's another version of this saying: "Torah speaks to the celestial realm, and alludes to the terrestrial realm." According to this version, the Torah originates -- and primarily speaks -- in heaven. It just so happens that it also hints to the goings on in the physical dimension.

Which tells us something astounding. There's an entire universe of Torah that's studied above, by angels and souls. This is the reality that Kabbalah exposes us to. And this is what we will be exploring together on Sunday.

In this uplifting session of Kabbalah Café we go beyond the surface and study Torah with the angels. We take a biblical passage, look at it on a basic surface level, and then reveal its higher truth. Prepare to be amazed!

Garments of the Soul - 7 - Studying With the Angels

Garments of the Soul - Part 8
“Mystic Therapy”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, August 6, 2023

Once, in the late 1700s, a young boy asked his sagely grandfather: "What is the purpose of mystical study?"

His grandfather, who was a leading Kabbalist, replied: "The entire purpose of Jewish mysticism is to transform the nature of a person's character."

Each person is woven of a complex spiritual matrix, which helps form the nature of our character. But we are not intended to be static creatures. Every living being must grow, and for us, that means to grow on the inside too.

Kabbalah charts a path of internal growth and change. And it is this path that is the focus of our conversation.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we explore two methods of personal change. We learn the fascinating account of where these approaches originate and where they diverge, and come to discover the sustainable beauty of the mystical path toward inner transformation.

Garments of the Soul - 8 - Mystic Therapy

Garments of the Soul - Part 9
“Kabbalah Couture”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, August 13, 2023 

Human beings have been wearing clothes ever since Adam got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. And though the purpose of clothing seems obvious, the mystics reveal a deeper side to human attire.

See, clothes serve a dual function. They simultaneously hide and reveal, obscure and divulge. This is the Paradox of Prada, the Conundrum of Coach, the Dilemma of Dior. And anytime you're dealing with paradox, you know something mystical is at hand...

In this fashion-first session of Kabbalah Café we break down clothing and expose its true mystical origin. You'll discover why clothes are not just necessary for our body, but for our soul too.

Garments of the Soul - 9 - Kabbalah Couture

Garments of the Soul - Part 10
“Mystic Therapy”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, August 20, 2023

 It is a foundational teaching of Kabbalah that we have control over our thoughts. Unlike the belief that human beings are victims of their subconsciousness, Jewish mysticism declares that we have the ability to be in control of our own cognition.

This means that despite whatever lurks beneath the surface of our mind, we can consciously choose what we will process at any given moment.

This belief is incredibly empowering and freeing. It lifts a fatalistic weight off our shoulders, and energizes us to be the masters of our inner domain. We are not slaves -- we are our own masters.

In this powerful session of Kabbalah Cafe we open our minds to Kabbalistic open mindedness, and discover just how potent our meta cognition is.

Garments of the Soul - 10 - Mind Control

Garments of the Soul - Part 11
“Love 2.0”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, August 27, 2023

Love is complicated. Sometimes, it might not be easy to know when love is actually love, because it's hard to separate your feelings about the other from your feelings about yourself. 

Do you love the other -- or do you love the way they make you feel? Those are two very different things indeed, and the way we answer that question has a lot of bearing on the nature of our relationship.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we delve deep into the spiritual nature of love. We explore the origins of love, and learn how to align our love with its divine source. In doing so, we discover a new way to love... Love 2.0.

Garments of the Soul - 11 - Love 2.0

Garments of the Soul - Part 12
“Reinvent Yourself”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, September 3, 2023

 Reinventing yourself and chasing personal growth? That's like hitting refresh on your life, helping you discover more about yourself and adapting to new things. It's about breaking free from those old ruts, becoming better versions of yourself, and improving your relationships, both human and Divine.

But it's no cakewalk. 

Changing up your game and reinventing yourself is a real uphill battle. You're up against those stubborn habits, the fear of stepping into the unknown, and societal pressures. It demands guts, patience, and a truckload of resilience. But the rewards of transformation make it a worthwhile endeavor.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we look at Kabbalistic wisdom on personal change. We explore the spiritual challenges of reinvention, and more importantly, learn soulful tools to achieve change.

Garments of the Soul - 12 - Reinvent Yourself

Garments of the Soul - Part 13
“Bathed in Light”
With Rabbi Ari Sollish
Recorded live at The Torah Center ATL on Sunday, September 10, 2023

Before the soul is sent on its mission to the lower realms, it bathes in the pure Light of the Divine, unencumbered by challenge or concern, and without the need for mediating forces.

But once the soul has descended below and engaged in the fierce battle that constitutes its predestined mission, upon its return Above it now needs intervening forces in order to behold the Light.

Those forces? The garments sewn of physical mitzvot.

In this session of Kabbalah Café we will dig deep inside Jewish mystical literature to discover the true power of a mitzvah, and learn why the more physical the good deed the higher the Light it can contain. We'll also discuss the difference between pre- and post-descent souls, and see how the World of Action radically changes everything.

Garments of the Soul - 13 - Bathed in Light

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