A Glass Broke, Something Good Is Coming - Shiur @ The Wilk Home - Los Angeles, California
Rabbi Shai Kalish delivers a shiur emphasizing Jewish unity across different communities and backgrounds, arguing that external differences are superficial while the essential nature of Jewish identity remains constant. He teaches that difficulties (yisurim) represent God's love and desire to help us access deeper spiritual dimensions, illustrated through a personal story about discovering his great-grandfather's teachings.
Summary
Rabbi Kalish opens by thanking the hosts and expressing appreciation for the diverse community gathered. He emphasizes that all Jews share a fundamental unity transcending geographic, cultural, and sectarian differences. He critiques the tendency to categorize Jews by external markers (hats, styles, communities like Persian, Syrian, etc.), arguing these are merely clothing that mask the deeper truth: we are all one people.
He shares an anecdote about visiting Poland and seeing graffiti asking "Where are you, Jew?" This prompts reflection on how Jewish identity remains constant despite geographic dispersal. He discusses the concept of "levaya" (accompaniment/respect) as a distinctly Jewish practice that goes beyond mere provision of food and drink—it represents genuine respect and celebration of another person's existence.
The speaker explores the biblical story of Eiver HaYarden (the two and a half tribes living east of the Jordan) through Rashi's commentary, arguing this teaches that each location where Jews settle becomes part of their spiritual landscape. He emphasizes that the land of Israel has special significance because it was specifically designed for the Jewish people.
Rabid Kalish then transitions to his central teaching about suffering (yisurim). He argues that God loves the Jewish people unconditionally, like a perfect parent who loves their children regardless of behavior. He uses the analogy of breaking a glass at a wedding—the shvirah (breaking) enables deeper construction. Difficulties aren't punishments or rejections but opportunities to access deeper spiritual resources and growth.
The climax involves sharing a personal story: his wife suddenly expressed an unexplained urge to meet her great-grandfather from Bialystok (a figure she never knew). This led to discovering the Minchas David, a sefer written by her ancestor. In its introduction, the author—a simple baker—wrote that his own yisurim saved his life and helped him develop wisdom. He instructs his descendants that when facing difficulties, they should understand that God loves them and seeks to help them access greater heights.
Rabbi Kalish concludes by encouraging the community to recognize blessings in daily life, experience God's love personally, and understand that a father's love for his child is unconditional. He emphasizes that one should judge God only through personal experience, not through others' narratives.
About this episode
<p>Rabbi Kalish</p>
Key Insights
- The speaker argues that external differences among Jewish communities—geographic origin, clothing styles, sectarian affiliation—are superficial coverings that obscure the fundamental unity of all Jews as one people.
- Rabbi Kalish teaches that 'levaya' (accompanying a guest) is uniquely valued in Jewish practice because it goes beyond material provision to express genuine respect and celebration of another person's inherent worth and existence.
- The speaker claims that when two and a half tribes asked to settle east of the Jordan, they weren't criticized because this demonstrated that wherever Jews are, that place becomes sanctified and becomes part of the Jewish spiritual landscape.
- Rabbi Kalish argues that God's love for the Jewish people is entirely unconditional, functioning like a parent's love for a child, which does not fluctuate based on the child's behavior or obedience.
- The speaker contends that the glass-breaking at a wedding is not merely a commemorative practice but represents a shvirah (breaking) that enables the construction of something far greater—a family, home, and deeper spiritual reality.
- Rabbi Kalish teaches that yisurim (difficulties and suffering) should not be interpreted as God's rejection or anger, but rather as an expression of God's love and desire to help the Jewish people access deeper, more profound dimensions of their souls.
- The speaker claims that his great-grandfather (a simple baker) attributed his spiritual development and acquisition of wisdom specifically to the yisurim he endured, suggesting suffering was transformative rather than punitive.
- Rabbi Kalish argues that one should evaluate one's relationship with God exclusively through one's own personal experience, not through judging God based on others' experiences or suffering.
- The speaker teaches that challenges and breakages in life produce deeper construction—suggesting that adversity is not wasted or meaningless but creates conditions for greater spiritual achievement and closeness to God.
- Rabbi Kalish emphasizes that the discovery of his great-grandfather's sefer and teachings, triggered by his wife's inexplicable urge to connect with her family roots, exemplifies God's intimate involvement and love, orchestrating connections across generations.
- The speaker argues that modern Western cynicism about love—suggesting parents' love should be conditional on good behavior—represents a fundamental misunderstanding of what parenthood and parental love actually are.
- Rabbi Kalish teaches that gratitude and recognition of daily blessings—food, money, friendship, health—represents the primary spiritual work of Elul, and that absorbing God's kindness is more important than external practices.
Topics
Transcript
Okay, first of all, everybody, thank you so much for coming. Baruch Hashem, it seems I don't know how many years in a row that Rabbi Kalish has been willing to do this trip. This year was a little different because last minute he decided to go to Eretz Yisrael. He landed 5.30 this morning and has been teaching Torah the entire day. And Baruch Hashem is giving us an opportunity tonight as well. I think this might be the first year though that you're getting a chance to speak to us during the days of l so it's extra special it's uh personifies and we're excited to hear the words of chizik and the words of I first wanted…
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