Best Shabbos Observance Podcasts (2025)

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Ep. 57 – How to Act in Front of the King 26:23

Play Pause

8h ago26:23

26:23

If the King were in the room, would you move differently? Speak differently? Touch things more carefully? In this stirring episode, Rabbi Klapper takes us deeper into the reality of Shabbos as a royal encounter. Building on the image of standing lifnei haMelech, we explore why even seemingly minor halachic infractions on Shabbos—like tearing a hang…

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Ep. 56 - Extreme Sensitivity 33:58

7d ago33:58

33:58

Ep. 56 – Extreme Sensitivity What if the most dangerous thing about Shabbos isn’t what you do—but what you ignore? How do we train ourselves to treat Shabbos like we're truly standing before the King? In this urgent and emotionally charged episode, Rabbi Klapper explores the concept of poshe'a—spiritual negligence—and why even unintentional mistake…

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Ep. 55 – In the King’s Palace 26:06

15d ago26:06

26:06

If Hashem is always everywhere, what makes Shabbos different? Why is it that the same actions done on Friday feel mundane, yet on Shabbos they carry such weight, depth, and holiness? In this rich and powerful episode, Rabbi Klapper deepens our understanding of Shabbos by comparing it to the royal palace of a king. Just as entering the king’s inner …

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Ep. 54 – Shabbos; A Whole New World 29:52

22d ago29:52

29:52

Is Shabbos just a day off—or is it a different world? What if the change from weekday to Shabbos isn't just a shift in schedule, but a total shift in identity, in reality, in malchus? In this eye-opening episode, Rabbi Klapper lays the foundation for a deeper understanding of what it means to live under Hashem's kingship. Drawing parallels between …

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Ep. 53 – The Song of Shabbos 27:01

29d ago27:01

27:01

What if the holiest moments are the ones you can’t describe? What if the real entrance to Shabbos isn’t spoken—but sung? The moment Shabbos begins isn’t something you can schedule. It doesn’t arrive when the candles are lit or the seudah is served. It crashes into your world like a wave—silent, sudden, and impossible to prepare for. Rabbi Klapper u…

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Ep. 52 – The Depth of Song 27:14

1M ago27:14

27:14

What happens when you feel something so deeply, you can’t even say it out loud? Can a niggun express what words cannot? Some moments of connection to Hashem are so deep, so raw, they escape language. In this episode, Rabbi Klapper opens the gates to Zimra—the wordless tune—and Shira—the articulated song—and shows how both are essential for true avo…

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Ep. 51 – Shira and Zimra 30:08

1M ago30:08

30:08

Why do we sing on Shabbos? What does music express that words alone never could? In this stirring and soulful episode, Rabbi Klapper opens the door to the world of shira and zimra—two different kinds of song, each with its own power. Shira uses words to praise Hashem, while zimra bypasses speech altogether, expressing a heart so full that no words …

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18. Lighting Shabbos Candles When You Are A Guest 19:11

1M ago19:11

19:11

If you're staying at someone else’s home or a hotel, do you still light Shabbos candles? And if you do… should you make a bracha? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the halachic layers of being an ore’ach—a guest—and whether lighting in someone else’s space fulfills the mitzvah of hadlakat nerot. Drawing from Peninei Halakha, the Shulchan Aruch, the Rema, an…

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17. Neon Shabbos Lights 23:20

1M ago23:20

23:20

Can Shabbos candles be electric? What about fluorescent bulbs or LED lights? Rav Shlomo Katz dives into the halachic and spiritual criteria for fulfilling the mitzvah of Hadlakat Nerot. What qualifies as a kosher Shabbos light, and why?By Rav Shlomo Katz

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16. Do We Light Before Blessing on the Candle？ 15:37

1M ago15:37

15:37

There’s a beautiful dance at candle-lighting time, but who leads first: the flame or the blessing? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the two primary minhagim surrounding the order of lighting Shabbos candles and reciting the bracha. Why do some light first and others bless first? What’s the deeper reasoning behind each approach? And how does this moment whi…

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15. How Many Candles Do I Light？ 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

Is one candle enough, or should you light one for every member of your household? Rav Shlomo Katz explores the halachic foundations and evolving customs behind Shabbos candle lighting. From the Mishnah in Bameh Madlikin to the teachings of Peninei Halakha, we look at how oil, wicks, and even Shalom Bayis all play a part in the flame. We also unpack…

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14. Why Are Women The Ones Who Light The Shabbos Candles？ 18:04

1M ago18:04

18:04

Why is the mitzvah of lighting Shabbat candles traditionally given to women, and where should the candles be lit? Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha the deeper reason behind women’s role in lighting Shabbos candles, and the practical halachos that come with it.By Rav Shlomo Katz

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13. Lighting Shabbos Candles 10:00

1M ago10:00

10:00

Where did the mitzvah of lighting Shabbos candles come from? Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha about the origins and halachic purpose of this cherished obligation. More than just a tradition, lighting candles brings shalom bayit, oneg, and kavod Shabbat into the home, transforming the atmosphere and marking the sacred transition from week…

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12. Can You Daven Mincha After Accepting Shabbos? 28:10

1M ago28:10

28:10

What happens if you accept Shabbos early, but haven’t davened Mincha yet? Can you still pray a weekday Mincha after taking on Tosefet Shabbos? Rav Shlomo Katz walks us through the dance between Torah law and rabbinic law, intention and obligation, personal timing and communal practice. From the flickering candles of Friday afternoon to the timing o…

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11. My Word Means Something 23:02

1M ago23:02

23:02

What is the proper way to acknowledge Tosefet Shabbat and actually make it real? Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha how taking in Shabbos early isn’t just about lighting candles or watching the clock. It’s about intention, declaration, and honoring the power of your own word. Because when you say, “It’s Shabbos now,” it becomes Shabbos. An…

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10. Tosefes Shabbos 21:00

1M ago21:00

21:00

Is adding onto Shabbos a luxury or an obligation? Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha about the mitzvah of Tosefes Shabbos—extending the boundaries of holiness by welcoming Shabbos in early and saying goodbye a little later. We explore the halachic sources behind this practice and uncover its deeper meaning: how a few extra minutes can tran…

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9. When Does Shabbos Begin？ 27:24

1M ago27:24

27:24

The moment Shabbos begins isn’t as simple as sunset. Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha about the halachic weight of twilight—bein hashmashot—and how it shapes the way we welcome in the holy day. We explore how this in-between time carries deep significance, both legally and spiritually. Because knowing when Shabbos begins helps us know ho…

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8. Irrigation System, Shabbos Clocks & Cruises 35:55

1M ago35:55

35:55

When it comes to Shabbos clocks, going on cruises, & even watering your garden, the world of Halacha provides for us a beautiful way of honoring Shabbos.By Rav Shlomo Katz

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7. A Holy Friday Afternoon 21:29

1M ago21:29

21:29

Rav Shlomo Katz learns from Peninei Halakha about the do’s and don’ts of Erev Shabbat: what we should avoid in the final hours before candle lighting, and what we’re meant to embrace. Because how we transition into Shabbos sets the tone for everything that follows. When approached with intention, even the busiest Erev Shabbat becomes part of the ho…

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6. Last Minute Preparations 16:11

1M ago16:11

16:11

Rav Shlomo Katz continues learning Peninei Halakha and covers the halachot and practical guidelines around last-minute preparations for Shabbos—what’s permitted, what to be careful with, and how to enter Shabbos with presence, even when time is short.By Rav Shlomo Katz

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5. Borrowing Money for My Oneg Shabbos 19:17

1M ago19:17

19:17

How far should you go to honor Shabbos? I Rav Shlomo Katz explores the halachic and emotional tension between wanting to give Shabbos everything and being honest about our financial reality. Drawing from Peninei Halakha, the Rambam, and the words of Chazal, we learn when borrowing for Oneg Shabbos is a mitzvah, and when it crosses the line into fal…

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4. Keeping Shabbos by Preparing for Shabbos 33:19

1M ago33:19

33:19

If Shabbos is a taste of Gan Eden, why does Friday afternoon so often feel like Gehinom? Rav Shlomo Katz explores how proper preparation is not just helpful, it’s halacha. Drawing from Peninei Halakha, we learn how getting ready for Shabbos is part of keeping Shabbos itself, and how small shifts during the week can bring peace, presence, and joy in…

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3. A Day for Soul Expression 23:01

1M ago23:01

23:01

Why do our Sages consider Shabbos to be a taste of the World to Come? Because on Shabbos, the soul finally gets to speak. In this episode, Rav Shlomo Katz learns through Peninei Halakha to uncover how Shabbos gives voice to the neshama—a day when we pause the noise, the chase, and the pressure, and make space for what’s eternal. Shabbos is about re…

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2. Remembering Shabbos During the Week 29:42

1M ago29:42

29:42

Shabbos doesn’t start on Friday night. It starts on Sunday. Rav Shlomo Katz learns through Peninei Halakha to show how the mitzvah of “Zachor et Yom HaShabbat”—remembering Shabbos—actually applies to every day of the week. Whether it’s how we speak, plan, shop, or prepare, each day draws meaning from the Shabbos it leads to. With insights from the …

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1. Am I A Zachor Or Shamor Type Of Jew？ 40:03

1M ago40:03

40:03

Do I keep Shabbos or am I just making sure that I don't mechalel Shabbos?By Rav Shlomo Katz

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Ep. 50 – Why Is Shabbos So Machmir 27:23

2M ago27:23

27:23

Why does breaking Shabbos carry a more severe punishment than murder? How can a small mistake—a forgotten halacha or a tiny misstep—warrant such a serious response? It seems extreme, even unreasonable—until we ask the deeper question: what is Shabbos? In this piercing and layered episode, Rabbi Klapper leads us on a journey into the heart of kedush…

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Ep. 49 – A Good Smell on Shabbos 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

Why does the Torah highlight the prohibition of fire—but not of smell—on Shabbos? And why does a fragrance have the power to shift the atmosphere of a home? We’re used to thinking of smells as trivial—nice, maybe—but not spiritual. But Chazal, the Zohar, and even the Ketores say otherwise. Rabbi Klapper takes us deep into the quiet power of reach t…

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Ep. 48 – The Holiness of Food 29:33

2M ago29:33

29:33

Can eating be a spiritual act? Can a piece of challah or kugel bring you closer to Hashem? We know that korbanos in the Beis HaMikdash were holy—but what if your Shabbos table could be just as powerful? Rabbi Klapper guides us through the hidden kedusha of food on Shabbos. Drawing powerful parallels between the eating of korbanos by the Kohanim and…

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Ep. 47 – Menorah, Shulchan, and Atonement on Shabbos 25:50

2M ago25:50

25:50

Can a table bring you closer to Hashem? Can a candle bring you atonement? If the Beis HaMikdash was all about sacrifices, what do Shabbos candles and challah have to do with it? And why does simply saying “Vayechulu” on Friday night carry the power of a korban? This episode reveals how Shabbos mirrors the Beis HaMikdash in astonishing ways. The men…

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Ep. 46 - Shabbos and Tisha B'Av 25:26

3M ago25:26

25:26

Tisha B’Av is the darkest day of the year, filled with mourning and loss. Shabbos is the holiest day, filled with joy and connection. But what happens when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos? Why do we treat it like any other Shabbos—full of food, song, and celebration? Is this just a technicality, or is something much deeper happening? Rabbi Klapper reve…

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Ep. 45 - Like the Beis Hamikdash 23:59

3M ago23:59

23:59

If we long for the Beis HaMikdash, where Hashem’s presence was felt so powerfully, what do we have now? Is Shabbos just a taste of what was lost, or is it something even more powerful? Shabbos isn’t just a memorial of the Mikdash—it is a Mikdash in time. Just as the Beis HaMikdash was the place where the Shechina rested, Shabbos is the time where t…

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Ep. 44 - Shabbos, Tefillin, and the Beis Hamikdash 25:35

3M ago25:35

25:35

If the Beis HaMikdash was the channel for all bracha in the world, what do we have now that it’s gone? How can we still experience that connection to Hashem’s presence without a physical Mikdash? Shabbos is our living Beis HaMikdash. Just as the Beis HaMikdash was the place where Hashem’s Shechina rested, Shabbos is the time where that presence is …

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Ep. 43 - Shabbos and Tefillin 23:15

3M ago23:15

23:15

If Shabbos is an ois (a sign) and Tefillin is also an ois, why don’t we wear Tefillin on Shabbos? Isn’t more holiness better? But there’s a deeper truth: Shabbos itself is a living Tefillin. Just as Tefillin ties Hashem’s name to our head and heart, Shabbos binds us directly to Hashem’s presence without needing physical reminders. In this episode, …

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Ep. 42 - A Complete Rest 30:57

4M ago30:57

30:57

Rest isn’t just about taking a break. If it were, then any lazy afternoon could be called Menucha. But Shabbos Menucha is different—it’s a complete disconnection from the world’s chaos, a retreat into the shade of Hashem’s presence. Why does true Menucha mean letting go completely? And what does it look like to trust Hashem so fully that even your …