Item Description:

The month before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is set aside as a time for introspection and self-perfection. God is closer than ever, and we can make the most of our relationship with Him. This collection of Rabbi Wein’s stories – some funny and some poignant, some historical and some personal – will give you the inspiration you need to make yourself a better person and the world a better place.

Individual Lectures:

Elul and Detours - Life is like a highway, and often, we encounter bumps and detours along the road. When we do, there's only one solution: try and get back on track. Rabbi Wein applies this original metaphor not only to our own lives but to the history of the Jewish people overall for a message of eternal relevance for the exalted month of Elul.

They Just Don't Get It - The Jewish month of Elul is a time for self-evaluation, but because people are often unwilling to face themselves honestly, "they just don't get it." How can we break this bad habit? The answer lies in perfecting our treatment of our fellow human beings.

Historic Elul - Every generation faces unique challenges that require unique solutions, but in Elul and Tishrei, we have a one-size-fits-all solution: teshuva. Rabbi Wein examines our eternal tools of teshuva, tefilla, and tzedoka and presents them against the backdrop of current events and Jewish history, showing us their power to transform us forever.

A Good Person is Better than a Rainbow - It may seem like a strange comparison, but with the teachings of the Torah and Gemara, as well as a few lessons learned in life, Rabbi Wein shows just how aptly this colorful analogy fits. Being Jewish may be serious business, but Rabbi Wein makes us laugh as he drives home that all-important point. Most of all, he wakes us up to our enormous potential to accomplish good things amidst the chaos of our world. This lecture will set listeners on the right path for the Days of Awe, and its warm and human touch makes the teshuva process sweet.