Rabbi Zevi Wineberg asserts that most Jews are familiar with the rituals and practices of Judaism and that the philosophy behind them doesn’t really change: There is a God, and God said to do certain things, “and obviously you listen to God.”
From this philosophy has grown a treasury of ancient Jewish wisdom that embraces the essence of Judaism, which is born of love, Rabbi Wineberg said.
“Why did God make the world in the first place?” he said.
“Kabbalah means ‘wisdom received.’ Ultimately, God made the world out of love. It’s not really a rational act. Love itself is the reason. The nature of love is the desire to give. When you love someone, you want to give them yourself, whatever you can.”
Rabbi Wineberg has been giving of himself for many years, both in the United States and abroad. He was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, and lives in Overland Park. He is rabbi of the Chabad House Center of Kansas City, and he runs the Yachad Kosher Food Pantry, which he founded nearly 30 years ago. He teaches classes through Chabad House and is in the process of moving the classes online.
He started a blog at kabbalahwisdom.org about seven years ago and a radio show on the site about three months ago, both in order to share this ancient wisdom of Judaism. The radio show is an extension of his blog and is archived on the site but not streamed live. He does the show from an office at Chabad House.
The website also includes lectures, live webinar courses, quotes from Jewish mysticism, a question-and-answer feature and other elements intended to elucidate Jewish wisdom.
“I want to help people upgrade their lives, live more meaningful and satisfying lives,” Rabbi Wineberg said. “The job of a rabbi is to take an ancient wisdom and make it relevant. God’s two gifts are freedom and wisdom. To some extent, the development of general Jewish knowledge reflects that.”
Early on in his efforts to share these ideas via electronic media, Rabbi Wineberg gathered tidbits of Jewish inspirational wisdom, sent them to recipients on an email list and posted them on Facebook, Twitter and his blog. Then he started using WordPress, which enables him to post his messages there and have them automatically sent to the other platforms — another kind of wisdom.
“What I enjoy about the blog is I’m not beholden to anyone,” he said. “I can share what I believe is inspirational. I think we’re reaching about 5,000 people a day.”
Rabbi Wineberg has a background in traditional radio. About 25 years ago, a Jewish radio station in England frequently interviewed him. Later, he started his own radio show in South Africa to which listeners would call in with questions.
He also wrote a book about five years ago titled “Kabbalah Love: From Fear to Love.” It’s available, free of charge, through Amazon.com in both print and electronic formats. He’s also compiling an encyclopedia of Chassidic quotes from at least 1,000 books on a wide range of subjects for his website and intends to eventually create slide shows of the material and put them on YouTube.
Rabbi Wineberg’s efforts grow from the notion, central to Judaic thought, that God wants a relationship with you, he said.
“You’re yourself and you’re unique, but God wants to help you,” he said. “About 300 years ago, a new Jewish master came on the scene, Baal Shem Tov (Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic Movement, who “permanently changed the Jewish landscape,” according to chabad.org). We believe he was imbued with the spirit of God and His wisdom.”
Jews believe that “the Messiah is around the corner” and will bring new teachings when he arrives, Rabbi Wineberg said. This new age is “statistically upon us.”
“More people are leaving religion but becoming more spiritual,” he said. “The system was, ‘This is what’s right.’ Now, people are developing their own personal relationship. … Ironically, the material abundance we have today has never before been had in human history.”
Rabbi Wineberg spoke of “the soul of the soul of Judaism” and said that, as you approach that essence — love — two things happen.
“It’s not definable and it’s also infinite,” he said. “It’s like love: It’s very simple. We all know the feeling of love and its opposite, the sting of negativity. If I love you, I’m willing to do anything for you. It’s an energy. An emotion is a living thing. It boils down to energy with a direction: kindness.
“This wisdom and inspiration make our existence a little bit nicer,” he said. “It’s important, therefore, to engage this kind of wisdom (to counteract) depression from all the negativity. Stay with the three pillars: Torah, prayer and good deeds. Be positive.”
