Yeshivat Nahar Shalom

A historic Kabbalistic yeshiva in the heart of Jerusalem, dedicated to Torah study, spiritual growth, and community support.

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Our Causes
  • Donate
  • Hebrew site
  • Shop

Contact

Yeshivat Nahar Shalom

6 Shilo Street (corner of Agrippas Street)

Jerusalem, Israel

For mail:

P.O. Box 1884

Jerusalem 9102701, Israel

02-622-2560 / 02-622-3001

Fax: 153-775001874

m6222560@gmail.com

Sun–Thu, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

© 2026 Yeshivat Nahar Shalom. All rights reserved.

Donations from the United States are received by Friends of Nahar Shalom Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 27-2007035), which supports Yeshivat Nahar Shalom in Jerusalem. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

All ClassesDaily Mishnah
All LeafletsThe Weekly Treasure
All ArticlesMoadey IsraelSegulotEssaysWhat's NewThe Weekly Parasha
General DonationTikkun NiftarimHachzakat AvrechPidyon Nefesh
Contact the YeshivaAsk the RavRequest a Bracha
Donate
Yeshivat Nahar ShalomJerusalem
  • Donate

Currently Viewing

More in Essays

  • Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: What is the "Elixir of Life" That Everyone Needs to Take?

    The Torah is the Sam Chayim (Elixir of Life). Just as its letters (Samech and Mem) existed supernaturally on the Tablets, this elixir operates above the laws of nature. When a person genuinely places the words of Torah upon their heart, the Evil Inclination loses all power to rule over them.

  • An Essay Based on the Holy Zohar: The Secret of the Mitzvah of Repentance

    The commandment of repentance, which is regret over the past and acceptance [resolute commitment] regarding the future, is in the world of Binah (Understanding), the world of Beriah (Creation). And one needs to practice it primarily in the month of Elul, because Elul is numerically equivalent to Binah

  • To Win at War by the Righteous Kabbalist, our Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Shmueli

    The Evil Inclination, says Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, you drive it away with Torah! With light! You bring light, and the light dispels the darkness. Have you ever seen someone drive away darkness with a stick? Turn on a light—the darkness goes away!

  • Spectacular stories about the power of the commandment of Tzitzit

    A short time after the father and his son returned from their journey to Belz, the date of the son's wedding arrived. On the night of the wedding, the groom sat at the head of the table and got drunk with his gentile friends; as his heart was merry with wine, the groom felt intense heat, and removed the jacket and tie from upon himself. But despite this, the alcohol continued to flush him with heat; therefore, he tried to free himself from garment after garment of clothing until there was revealed to the eyes of all those present a strange garment—a small tallit of white color. Immediately one of those present cried out in astonishment: "Look, this is a garment of a Jew! The groom is wearing a garment of Jews! The groom is a Jew!!!" When the rest of those present saw this, they fell upon the groom and landed their blows upon him, severe and painful beatings the groom absorbed, and in the end, he was forced to flee for his life while his spirit was still in him. Thus, the groom was forced to discover the true nature of his in-laws, and the marriage was canceled, and everything in the merit of the mitzvah of tzitzit.

  • Saying Kaddish

    The Sages stated: "Honor him during his lifetime and after his death." The meaning of honor after death is to exalt the honor of one's father—such as calling him "My Father, My Master"—and to bring him gratification after his passing by reciting Kaddish, lighting a memorial candle, holding a memorial service on the anniversary, receiving an aliyah to the Torah on the anniversary, and similar acts.

  • To Change the Year for the Good by Rabbi Shmueli

    Move a tad — nothing [bad] will happen. A tad! A person moves a tad —  he saves his own life. To move a tad, a tad.

  • The Best Advice for Wise Children by Rabbi Shmueli, Shlit"a

    After half a year he saw me. What can I tell you? "This advice opened up my children's intellect! Today they study, they understand, they are happy!"

  • The Well of Miriam – The Secret of Wisdom and Healing

    The Secrets of the Well of Miriam – How Maharchu [Rabbi Chaim Vital] merited to attain the secrets of Kabbalah from the Holy Ari, the special spiritual remedy (segulah) of the well's water for Torah memory and healing, and the virtue of the wilderness generation who drank from the Well of Miriam for forty years.

  • This Too Shall Pass! by Rabbi Benayahu Yissachar Shmueli, Shlita

    In a single moment, the evil inclination can entice a person, lead him backward, and lower him down to the dust. In a single moment! Even if the king greets him – he must not stop. Keep pleading and asking of the Holy One, Blessed be He. And conversely as well: even if a snake is wound around his heel – a snake swallowed him, reaching from head to heel.

  • The Hilula of Rabbi Shmuel Salant - 29th of Av

    Once, a woman came to Rabbi Shmuel Salant with a bird [poultry] to ask a kosher status question. The Rabbi inspected the bird and saw there was nothing wrong with it. He said to her: "Go home and bring the second bird." And in that second one, there was indeed the problem! They asked him: "Honored Rabbi, how did you know?" He said: "Look, there was no flaw on this bird... there was no real question here. So why did she come? Obviously, she must have had another bird."

  • The Call of the Hour!!! The Perfect Protection From All Troubles by Rabbi Benayahu Yissachar Shmueli, Shlit"a

    • A Protective Spiritual Umbrella: The Rabbi explains that establishing this daily habit spreads a unique spiritual umbrella and protective shield over the learner, their children, their family, and those around them.

  • The Eyes of Baba Meir by Rabbi Benayahu Yissachar Shmueli, Shlit"a

    Once, people came from abroad because someone's daughter had been taken—she was kidnapped. They didn't know where she was. No one needed to explain it to him; he already knew. He told them, "She is in such-and-such a building, on such-and-such a floor."

  • Gaining Treasures Without Limits

    For one hour, whatever you collect — take it for yourself!"

  • From Where Does the Money Come?

    The Zohar states: Whoever the Holy One, Blessed be He, loves—He sends him a gift (Doron)! Dorona! The Zohar asks, what is this Dorona (gift)? He sends him a person in need!

  • Translation from the Chizuk-Yomi 16th of Av - "But to Fear"

    The Sha'agat Aryeh said: "Ever since I performed this commandment, all the gates of Heaven were opened to me. I became a completely different person," he said. "And then I composed the important books of the Torah."

  • In the German Lab they say, "This is not applicable for Jews!"

    Finally, one day he says to me: "You know, they sent the test results to Germany". Over there, a laboratory said: "We are ashamed to tell you, but this doesn't belong to you—you are Jews. But this bacterium—she contracted a bacterium that causes necrosis in the body, and it's impossible to get rid of. It is only found in pigs. And you are Jews, you don't eat pork, so we are amazed at how you contracted it".

  • Thirteen Principles of the Holy Torah

    Behold, I believe with complete faith in the thirteen principles of the Holy Torah:

  • Emerged from the darkness into a great light!

    Now he was completely despondent with life, ·         Not knowing how he could recover from this. ·         I said to him: "I can't answer for everything, but here—I will give you advice. ·         Sit here. What do you have to lose? Stay with me,

  • Every Moment is Considered like an Entire Month!

    Our teacher, Rabbi Yosef Chaim, ·         during the month of Elul, would go into seclusion. ·         He would travel from Baghdad and go to the tomb of Yechezkel [Ezekiel] the Prophet...

  • The Elevated Status of the Month of Elul

    • So, the meaning of the month of Elul is to search, to investigate/search through.

Essays

Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Head of the Yeshiva: What is the "Elixir of Life" That Everyone Needs to Take?

By Yeshivat Nahar Shalom Staff•August 20, 2026
Elixir of LifeGood Inclination (Yetzer HaTov)The Miracle of the Tablets (Luchot)Together, these two miraculous letters spell the word SAM (סם)—elixir or medicine

The Torah is the Sam Chayim (Elixir of Life). Just as its letters (Samech and Mem) existed supernaturally on the Tablets, this elixir operates above the laws of nature. When a person genuinely places the words of Torah upon their heart, the Evil Inclination loses all power to rule over them.

"And you shall place these words of Mine upon your heart" — placing the Torah upon the heart.

Our Sages taught that the Torah is likened to an elixir (sam)—specifically, the Elixir of Life (sam chayim). We must place this elixir directly upon our hearts.

Why the Heart?

  • Both the Evil Inclination (Yetzer HaRa) and the Good Inclination (Yetzer HaTov) reside within the human heart.
  • A person must constantly empower the Good Inclination to overcome the Evil Inclination.
  • With Hashem's help, this balance is achieved through the Holy Torah.

Ruling Over Sin As the verse states: "Sin crouches at the entrance, and its desire is toward you—yet you can rule over it." One masters this inclination specifically through the power of the Torah.

The Miracle of the Tablets (Luchot) The Talmud (Tractate Megillah) highlights a unique miracle regarding the engraved Tablets of the Covenant:

  • The letters Samech (ס) and final Mem (ם) are both completely closed shapes.
  • Because the letters were carved straight through the stone from one side to the other, the center pieces of these letters had no physical support—they remained suspended in mid-air by a miracle.
  • Together, these two miraculous letters spell the word SAM (סם)—elixir or medicine.

The Miraculous Power of the Torah

The Torah is the Sam Chayim (Elixir of Life). Just as its letters (Samech and Mem) existed supernaturally on the Tablets, this elixir operates above the laws of nature. When a person genuinely places the words of Torah upon their heart, the Evil Inclination loses all power to rule over them.