Hachana L'Shabbos

Why Are We Still Stuttering? | Shabbos HaGadol

There are moments in history when the greatest miracle isn’t what we do… but how clearly we can say why we’re doing it. On the original Shabbos HaGadol, Bnei Yisrael didn’t just take the korban Pesach. They were asked by the Egyptians what they were doing… and they answered בלי גמגום. No hesitation. No confusion. Total clarity. This wasn’t just bravery. This was a miracle. In this deeply timely Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David explore why Shabbos HaGadol is not named for the date, but for the day, and what that reveals about the כוח of Shabbos to transform who we are. From the teachings of the Ohev Yisrael, we learn that Shabbos is not just a day of rest. It’s the מקור הברכה, the place where a person becomes someone capable of דברים שלא חלמתי עליהם. And maybe the biggest avodah right now? To stop stuttering. To speak clearly, to our אויבים, to our children, and even to ourselves, about who we are and why we’re here. May this Shabbos give us the כח to live, to believe, and to speak… clearly. ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening niggun & reflection  02:54 Looking back at past Shabbos HaGadol 06:33 Why it’s called Shabbos HaGadol 14:08 Why the miracle is tied to Shabbos (not the date) 17:17 The Ohev Yisrael on timing & כוח 20:07 Shabbos HaGadol as a spiritual launchpad 22:48 The role of drashos & speaking clearly

The "Good Old Days" Are Irrelevant | Shabbos Hachodesh

In this Hachana L’Shabbos for Parshas Hachodesh, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David open up one of the deepest avodos of this season: hischadshus—not changing into someone else, but renewing yourself exactly from where you are right now. Drawing from the Chiddushei Harim, the Beis Avraham of Slonim, Reb Nosson, and Rebbe Nachman, this shiur is a call to stop waiting for the “right time,” the “better version” of yourself, or the return of the so-called “good old days.” The mitzvah of Hachodesh hazeh lachem was given דווקא in Mitzrayim to teach us that renewal begins in the mud, in the constriction, in the place where a person feels most stuck. Rav Shlomo explores the danger of becoming a matzevah—a fixed monument to your old self—and the holiness of small acts of mesirus nefesh that open the gates to real growth. From the symbolism of fish scales swimming against the current, to the challenge of not letting yesterday enslave today, this is a powerful preparation for entering Shabbos Hachodesh with courage, honesty, and hope. ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening encouragement for Shabbat preparation 01:44 Yahrtzeit reminder and linking to Chiddushei Harim 04:45 Renewal is in our hands – Chiddushei Harim quote 15:00 Reb Nosson on grabbing moments for spiritual growth 19:16 Small actions as the catalyst for true hischadshus 23:58 Aliyah as a Matzevah: Growing Beyond Past Selves 24:59 Finding the Middle Path Between Matzevah and Asherah 27:59 Avoiding the Mask: Don't Create a God of Yourself 29:48 Fish Scales as Symbols of Purity Against the Current 32:34 Rethinking Prime Years: Beyond Shana Aleph 35:54 Seizing the Moment for Mesirus Nefesh

A Shabbos Zachor Above the Heavens

Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David enter Shabbos Zachor in a moment unlike any other. There has never been a Shabbos Zachor like this one. Not in our lifetimes. Drawing from the Maggid of Mezeritch, Rav Biderman, the Ishbitzer Rebbes, and the holy Tiferes Shmuel, we explore Amalek’s true war — not against belief in God, but against belief in hashgacha pratis. Not “Does God exist?” but “Is He involved?” Amalek cools us off. He whispers: It’s all a coincidence. It’s all mitachas haShamayim. But the Torah commands us: Timcheh es zecher Amalek mitachas haShamayim. Wipe out the voice that says this world runs on its own. Through Moshe Rabbeinu lifting his hands, through the avodah of looking me’al haShamayim, we learn that the weapon against Amalek today is not panic, not argument, but strengthened emunah peshutah. Pure faith in a precise script. There is a script. You are not here by accident. This Shabbos Zachor, we choose to look up. ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t CHAPTERS 00:00 Dedication, Sponsors, and Opening Niggun 04:44 Finishing the Current Sefer and Looking Ahead 11:57 Amalek’s Challenge: Hashgacha Pratis vs. Klalis 22:18 Shiva House Story and Final Reflections 27:45 Moshe on the Mountaintop Inspires Israel 29:16 Reb Shlomo’s Quick Glance in Jerusalem 30:24 Stuck in Mitachas Hashomayim – The Problem 31:54 Shabbat Blessing and Hope for Me'ala Hashomayim

Ultimate Trust in the One Above

This week in Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David take us deeper into the “benching series” with a powerful focus on bitachon—what it really means to trust Hashem, and how that trust changes a person from the inside out. Starting from the words we sing and say so often—“Baruch HaGever asher yivtach baHashem”—we explore why the pasuk repeats itself, and how Chazal read that repetition as a map of ultimate trust: not just believing in Hashem, but letting Hashem become the only “support beam” you’re leaning on. Along the way we move through a sweeping set of sources—Midrash, Rav Pinchas of Koretz, the Maggid, Arugas HaBosem, Sfas Emes, and the Modzhitzer Rebbe—until we land on the real test Rav Shlomo keeps returning to: If your trust is real… does it make you more calm, more alive, and even more joyful—right now? ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t Chapters 00:00 Opening Nigun and Chant 05:40 Yizkor and Yahrzeits Introduction 07:09 Benching Depth and the Table of Gold 11:38 Midrash on Trust and Godlikeness 16:52 Rav Biderman on Extreme Bitachon 25:24 Personal encounter with Reb Biderman and unique… 26:38 Observations on others’ perceived laziness and… 28:46 Three differing opinions on bitachon presented 40:53 Sfas Emes perspective on ultimate trust and… 43:52 Addressing Yossi’s question about “ani that doesn’t take” 45:44 Modzhitzer Rebbe’s insight on desperation vs genuine… 47:53 Rav Biderman on the purpose of bitachon 49:06 Trust Amid Despair and Lost Hope 50:20 Harder Than Arugas Habosem: True Trust 51:23 Why This Trust Is the Hardest

Acquiring Yirat Hashem

What does it really mean to acquire Yirat Hashem without becoming anxious, rigid, or spiritually “small”? In this Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David zoom in on the words we often rush past near the end of bentching: “Yiru es Hashem kedoshav, ki ein machsor l’yire’av.” Rav Biederman brings a powerful teaching בשם בית אהרן מקרלין: if a person is truly chasing Yirat Shamayim, nothing is missing — spiritually and emotionally. From there we open Rav Kook’s Middot HaRa’ayah and discover a surprising definition: real Yirah doesn’t weaken you. It gives oz v’gevurah, fills life with purpose and big aspirations, and elevates your talents with the light of a holy fire. And we clarify the essential distinction between fear-based Yirah (sometimes necessary as a guardrail) and Yirat Romemut — a higher awe that comes with ahavah and an inner Eden. A practical, uplifting reframing of Yirat Hashem so your avodah leaves you feeling more alive, more courageous, and more connected. ---------- For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com Join Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t CHAPTERS 00:00 Opening Nigun and Shabbat Greeting  01:43 Shabbat Welcome and Sponsorship  03:21 Benching Structure and the Rise Toward Mashiach  17:15 Exploring Kinyan Yirat Shamayim  19:26 Rav Kook on the Nature of Yirat Hashem  25:58 Distinguishing Fear from Awe in Yirat Hashem  27:12 Seeing Hashem Everywhere: a New View of Yirat Hashem  28:36 Fear (Eimah) Triggered by Seeing Hashem in Sin  30:58 Distinguishing Yirat Chet from Yirat Shamayim  36:49 Rambam vs. Ra’avad on Visualizing Kisse Hakavod  37:55 Rav Kook on Visualization for Higher Yirat Hashem  41:10 Yirat Romemut: Love and Inner Eden  42:18 Closing Blessing and Niggun for Yirat Romemut