In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David enter the niggun of “ה׳ רֹעִי לֹא אֶחְסָר” and ask a very simple, very brave question: am I still wrestling with life, or am I letting the Shepherd lead?

Together we learn that Shalosh Seudos is an עת רצון to be led: to discover what we truly want, to cry for it, and to begin living it now. From the Slonimer and the mefarshim on Tehillim 23, and from the image of ra’aya meheimna (Moshe the “faithful shepherd”), we hear that leaders don’t just inspire. They plant אמונה until following Hashem becomes natural, not forced.

We explore:

Why “Hashem is my Shepherd” is not poetry but a posture: when He’s leading, what am I really lacking?

The animal-market mashal: resisting the pull of the Shepherd bruises us; softening to His guidance brings calm and protection.

Yaakov’s secret—“הָאֱ-לֹקִים הָרֹעֶה אֹתִי… עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה”: a lifetime of hard chapters without losing the Shepherd-consciousness.

What true ביטול looks like (not becoming “gefilte-fish frum,” but awake, dignified surrender).

Practice for this Shabbos: choose one place you’ve been fighting reality. During Shalosh Seudos, whisper: “Ribono Shel Olam, You are my Shepherd here too.” Then let your next small step follow, not drag.

May we merit to feel guided, guarded, and gently gathered, so our bodies stop bracing, our hearts stop bruising, and Shabbos becomes the pasture of trust.

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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos — The Shabbos between Yom Kippur and Sukkot — we breathe in the freshness after Ne’ilah and learn how to land with gentleness.

Join Rav Shlomo Katz and the chevra of Shirat David in learning from the Slonimer Rebbe: this Shabbos holds two lights at once— יום השביעי that carries the love and cleansing of Yom Kippur, and תחילה למקראי קודש that calls out the joy of Sukkot.

From Rav Kook we receive the avodah of these days: to re-educate our return to olam hazeh with קדושה—less סבלנות (gritting teeth) and more הַמתנה (patient waiting as a gift).

Together we explore:
• Why this Shabbos can be the holiest of the year—where YK’s “בני, אל תמאס” meets Sukkot’s “זמן שמחתנו.”
• How to guard calm—כל מלאכתך עשויה—even while building the sukkah, chasing schach, and lists upon lists.
• A simple practice: welcome Shabbos with one conscious hamtanah—slow Kiddush, a softer niggun, or a whispered “thank You for letting me come back gently.”

May the Ribbono Shel Olam let our bodies be proud of our souls this week, as heaven and earth meet in patience, joy, and Shabbos-peace.

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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos—The Importance of a Real Third Meal—we sing our way into the year with ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה and remember that Torah itself is a song: learning must stay fresh—אסור להזדקן—ever new.

Then we turn to the hidden jewel of Shabbos: Seudah Shlishit, the ne’ilah of every Shabbos. With the Bnei Yissaschar (in the name of R. Menachem Mendel of Rimanov), we learn that at late-afternoon רצון דרצונות the original will to create the world resurfaces—יש מאין energy enters the air. That’s why tefillah there can open gates “beyond nature.” The Chafetz Chaim’s story of a father crying Tehillim at Seudah Shlishit—and the shidduch that birthed the Ketzot HaChoshen—reminds us what one cracked-open heart can draw down.

Practical avodah for this Shabbos Shuvah:
• Make Seudah Shlishit real (wash, sing, Tehillim, a few words of chizuk).
• Guard the עת רצון: start Mincha earlier or plan a later Maariv so you’re not rushing.
• Aim your tefillah from the heart—especially for others and for Klal Yisrael.
• Choose one small “new note” in learning or song so Shabbos ends with חיות.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam let this Seudah Shlishit lift us into a year of revealed mercy—where guf and neshamah, heaven and earth, meet in Shabbos-peace, and miracles above nature become our everyday path.

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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos—The Last Shabbos of 5785—Rav Shlomo Katz invites us to step out of autopilot and enter Shabbos as something utterly new. From the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching that on this Shabbos Hashem Himself blesses Tishrei—and through it the entire coming year—to the Shem MiShmuel and Avnei Nezer on “אם תשיב משבת רגלך”, we learn how to lay down our hergel (habit) and receive a heart that’s awake today—“היום אם בקולו תשמעו.”

Together we explore:
• Why each Shabbos is its own world—no “tashlumin next week,” only now.
• Shalom between guf and neshamah—how the candles, Kiddush, and even our eating can rise instead of weigh us down.
• The covered challahs: not a table custom, but a covenant of kavod habriyot—if we guard bread from shame, how much more a fellow Jew.
• Practical avodah for this Shabbos: pause before Kiddush and name one “new” you’re bringing; choose one act of pre-emptive chesed (don’t wait for a shinui tzurah); and let one song or smile lift a soul.

May the Ribbono Shel Olam bless our Tishrei, renew our strength, and grant a year where body and soul, heaven and earth, meet in Shabbos-peace—with חיות, dignity, and new song.

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For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com

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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos, we enter the quiet glow of Friday night and the tefillah of “מגן אבות בדברו—מחיה מתים במאמרו.” Together we sing Shomer Yisrael and ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה, then learn how Shabbos revives what feels lifeless—sometimes not by miracles, but by a word, a smile, or real listening.

Through the Beit Avraham of Slonim, the Shevet Musar, the Maharal, and Chazal’s line “טוב המלבין שיניים לחברו יותר ממשקהו חלב,” we discover that to revive the living often means to speak gently and to hear deeply. The Kotzker reminds us: techiyat hameitim for those already alive is the hardest, and holiest, work.

Don’t wait for a “שינוי צורה”; offer chizuk before someone breaks. This Shabbos, our avodah is simple and brave: one word, one hug, one moment of real shemi’ah that gives a friend back their will to live. May the Ribbono shel Olam make us agents of life—מחיה מתים במאמרנו ובשמיעתנו—and may every Shabbos restore us with חיות, warmth, and new song.

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For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.com

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Rav Shlomo Katz explores the depth and beauty of this popular Shabbos niggun, composed by Rav Aharon Hakoen of Karlin zy"a
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In this week’s Hachana L’Shabbos, Rav Shlomo Katz reminds us that Elul תשפ"ה is not a repeat of last year—it is brand new. Together we enter into the niggun of ונאמר לפניו שירה חדשה, the song of renewal, and the tefillot that prepare us for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Through the words of the Ibn Ezra and the teachings of Rav Biderman, the Shla Hakadosh, and the Ba'al Shem Tov, we learn that true life is found not only in feeling inspired, but in choosing to stay alive even through ניסיונות (challenges) that seem to make no sense. Torah and mitzvot done with חיות, with freshness and vitality, become our very source of life. May we merit not just to survive, but to feel renewed, uplifted, and alive every single Shabbos.

Friends, in this powerful shiur, we journey deeply into the beautiful zemer, "Kah Ribon," exploring the heartfelt call from Hashem to rebuild the Beit Hamikdash within each of us. Together, we uncover profound teachings from Rav Birmann, the Belzer Rebbe, the Mei HaShiloach (Izhbitzer Rebbe), and other holy sources that illuminate how every act of holiness we choose shapes the Divine sanctuary in heaven. Imagine Hashem Himself longing for your next moment of kedushah, waiting with infinite love and patience for us to make space for Him in our hearts. Take this deep Torah, carry its sweetness and truth into your homes, and invite Hashem to your Shabbat table this week.