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I hope you are well.

This Wednesday marks something deeply personal for me and Sara.

Exactly 20 years ago, we arrived in Montreal with a few suitcases, a tiny apartment… and one big, beating dream:

To build a Jewish home for anyone who needed one.

Not just a synagogue.

Not just programs.

But a place filled with warmth, love, and belonging for every soul.

In those early days, we ran school workshops and young professional events, saying yes to every opportunity to bring a little more light into the world.

And then 17 years ago, we opened our own little centre in NDG.

That dream — it grew.

Today, thanks to the incredible community we’ve built together, that small seed has become something beautiful:

-JMontreal our matchmaking service (212 engagements and counting!)

-A Jewish centre where everyone is welcome.

-Montreal’s only Jewish shelter for young adults in crisis

-Mental health and life coaching for those struggling

-A hospitable oasis for Jewish Students facing anti-semitism at Concordia.

Some of you know me from Instagram or the Kosher Love documentary.

But this… this is the heart of my life’s work.

And now, we’re dreaming even bigger.

We want to grow the shelter.

Support more young people.

Make more matches.

Create more space for joy, healing, and Jewish connection.

But we can’t do it alone.

That’s why I’m writing to you today.

This Wednesday, our 20-year anniversary is also the last day to buy a raffle ticket.

Your ticket is more than a donation. It’s a vote of confidence.

It says: "I believe in this. I want this to grow."

And yes, you can also win big!

Buy your raffle ticket here

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey.

Let’s build the next 20 years — together.

With love and gratitude,
Rabbi Yisroel Bernath

P.S. If you’ve already bought tickets — thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Your support means the world to us, and you’re helping us make this dream grow stronger every single day.
Please consider forwarding this email to a friend who might also want to be part of something meaningful.

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Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

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In this deep and soulful journey through Parshat Chukas, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath unpacks one of the most perplexing and powerful moments in the Torah: the copper snake on a pole.

Why did G-d command Moses to use the very symbol of suffering, the snake, as a healing instrument? What does it mean that people had to look up at the snake to be cured?

Through timeless Jewish wisdom, vulnerable personal insight, and psychological depth, Rabbi Bernath explores the mystery of pain, the challenge of resilience, and the spiritual art of transforming darkness into light. You’ll walk away with a new perspective on your own struggles and perhaps, a new path to healing.

Key Takeaways:

Transformation, Not Avoidance:
True healing doesn’t come from avoiding our pain, but from facing it with courage and elevating it with meaning.

The Snake Above vs. the Snake Below:
The same experience can be seen from a higher or lower perspective. One brings despair; the other, depth.

The Poison Is the Cure:
Just like antivenom is made from venom, your healing may emerge from the very thing that once hurt you.

Don’t Run, Look Up:
When we stop running from the “snakes” in our lives and look upward—to G-d, to our higher selves—we discover the blessing buried in the bite.

Every Crisis Holds a Blessing:
Like Jacob wrestling the angel, we can say to our struggle: “I will not let you go until you bless me.” That’s Jewish resilience.

You Are Sacred Even in Pain:
Sometimes the deepest truth is not an answer to your question, but the awareness that your soul is Divine, loved, and never alone.

#healing #Judaism #Jewish #coppersnake #healingthroughpain #TorahPortion #TorahLessons #Torah #torahpsychology #JewishResiliance #struggle #Redemption #divinepurpose #traumatotransformation #trauma #God #snake #parshatchukat #spritualgrowth

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Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

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In this gripping class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath delves into the tragic and turbulent rebellion led by Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and On ben Peles against Moses and Aaron. The narrative unveils not just a mutiny, but a masterclass in leadership, humility, and boundless love for even the most stubborn opponents.

Through an exploration of four key episodes involving Dathan and Abiram, Rabbi Bernath uncovers their long history of discord and defiance. Yet the class’s emotional apex comes with Moses’ unexpected final act: rising to personally appeal to his bitterest enemies, even after G-d commanded their separation. Why? Because Moses could never give up on the potential for peace—even with those who never sought it.

Drawing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s insights on Parshas Korach, this class challenges us to ask: When is the pursuit of unity too much? And what makes someone truly worthy of leadership?

Takeaways:

1. True Leadership Is Relentless Love:
   Moses teaches us that real leadership isn’t about titles or power, it’s about never giving up on people, even those who oppose you.
2. Some Quarrels Are Lifelong—Still, We Try:
   Dathan and Abiram weren’t new to conflict; they had a history of opposition. Yet Moses still pursued peace, one last time.
3. “Do Not Keep Up a Quarrel” Isn’t Just a Nice Idea—It’s a Lifesaving One:
   The Talmud’s teaching, rooted in Moses’ actions, reminds us that unity is sacred—even if it means swallowing our pride.
4. The Power of One Final Attempt:
   “Moses stood up and went to Dathan and Abiram.” That one verse becomes a model for all of us: Don’t assume it’s too late to make peace.
5. We Each Carry a Spark of Moses:
   As the Tanya teaches, every Jew carries a part of Moses’ soul. That means we each have the capacity to rise above ego and reach out in peace.
6. Peace Doesn’t Mean Passivity:
   Pursuing peace doesn’t mean tolerating abuse, it means knowing when to fight injustice and when to humble yourself for healing.

#Torah #Moses #Judaism #Bible #BibleStudy #Korach #ParshatKorach #humility #Rebbe #mosesleadership #Peace #TorahLessons #TorahPortion

Click HERE to purchase a raffle ticket www.ndgraffle.com

Support the show

Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi