Leaders of communities are always seeking ways to inspire their congregations and deepen their ties to the land of Israel and its people. Rabbi Shalom Hammer has a unique perspective to share with your community. He has an astute understanding of the many challenges facing Jewish communities in Israel and the Diaspora. Shalom Hammer has a clear perspective of the factors that unite and unfortunately sometimes divide the Jewish people in Israel and abroad.

"Rabbi Shalom Hammer is a gifted, inspiring and versatile educator who provided my congregation with the most uplifting and meaningful experience of the High Holy Days it has ever had. From insights into the themes of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to thought-provoking reflections on Religious Zionism, Rabbi Hammer enthralled my community in Leeds, England throughout the Yamim Noraim period with his wisdom, passion and humour. I thank him for giving of his many talents to my congregation and encourage communities around the world to take advantage of having him as a scholar-in-residence."

Rabbi Shalom Hammer - Lecture Titles

The Enemy Within: The Challenges of Preserving Ideology    
The pioneer spirit and the Jewish link to history is deteriorating in Israel and becoming challenging to instill and infuse both in the youth and particularly in the IDF. Based on an address given to hundreds of soldiers over Chanukah, Rabbi Hammer describes the importance of identifying the "enemy within" and how to preserve the link to the past for the sake of preserving a future.

Armed and Sacred    
Rabbi Hammer presents the words of encouragement and motivation which he offered to the Golani Brigade a few days before Rosh Hashana. He describes the unique Shabbat he spent with field intelligence soldiers during their basic training in the IDF. Connecting insights from the Torah related to the task at hand, Rabbi Hammer inspirationally reveals the role of the Hesder students in the IDF and the tremendous Kiddush Hashem the soldiers have while in service.

Trial and Tribulation: Keeping the Faith    
The Jewish community has historically faced many challenges and today is no different. From Kassam Rocket attacks in the Negev, Israel to a Global Economic Recession; Jewish faith will continue to nurture our resilience as it has done in the past.

The Relevance of Becoming Irrelevant    
The Dati Leumi (Mizrachi) world has been forced to reassess its ideology and to reconstruct its rationale. What challenges has it faced to force such reflection and why is confronting these challenges essential for the Mizrachi platform to remain "relevant"?

Maintaining Balance: Jewish Opposition to Extremism    
Judaism has always embraced the Golden Mean. In a world that consists of extremes it is crucial for us to adopt a well balanced perspective based on tolerance and understanding. This will ensure our own spiritual growth, the success of our leadership and the perpetuation of the Jewish nation.

Remembrance: The History of Jewish Survival    
"If the past has been an obstacle and a burden, knowledge of the past is the surest and safest emancipation". Why the Jewish people must relive the past to set a precedent for the future.

Jerusalem - Exclusive, Undivided and Not for Sale
Jerusalem cannot and never will be divided. Subscribing to G-d’s plan means beleiving that He maintains an inseparable relationship with the Holy City; Jerusalem City of Gold.

Israeli Youth Today - Preserving an Ideology
In the "ME" generation Israeli youth have become enthralled with materialism and self interest. How do we emphasize the importance of remaining an idealist to our children? How can we rekindle a passion for Religious Zionism amongst our youth?

Irresponsibility - The Greatest Threat to Jewish Existence
Irresponsibility creeps in to the Jewish Community and poses the greatest threat to its future. Rabbi Hammer demonstrates how this problem has penetrated every pocket of the Jewish world and what we can do to avoid its destructive consequences.

Israel's Future – The Challenge of Survival A Vision of Hope
Amongst all of the turmoil and uncertainty the vision and passion required to help ensure the future of Eretz Yisrael.

Redefining Religious Zionism
What is and should be the major agenda for Religious Zionism today? What was brought to the forefront of Religious Zionism twenty years ago is not the same today. Is this good or bad and why?

The Baal Teshuva Phenomenon
The Teshuva Movement is very prevalent in Jewish society today. Why does it enjoy such a widespread popularity? Where has the Teshuva movement succeeded and where has it failed? Answering these questions begins with a thorough analysis of what it means to be a Baal Teshuva.

The Grass Roots of Jewish Identity
Our forefathers embraced Jewish identity and Jewish pride. The obligation of Jewish institutions to incorporate these ideals into a Torah curriculum to perpetuate the future.

The Purpose Principal: Achieving a Meaningful Existence
Appreciating G-d's intentions for creating man-kind helps us introduce more meaning into our daily lives and greater comprehension for our existence. The purpose of creation is clarified as we analyze texts from the Torah.

Don't Worry Be Happy
How does one achieve happiness from a Jewish perspective? Does Simcha mean happiness? An analysis of Jewish Simcha and how it facilitates a profound relationship with Hashem.

Defining and Preserving Modern Orthodoxy
Many people misunderstand Modern Orthodoxy as an excuse for clemency or permissiveness. How and why Modern Orthodoxy demands more discipline and introspect to truly reap the benefits of what it has to offer.

The Perfect Equilibrium
Learn Torah or Perform a Mitzvah (Option or Dilemma) - a Halachic analysis of the Rambam's view on Torah and its Practical Applications.

Judaism and the Internet Generation
There is no leap of faith in Judaism nor is there immediate gratification in spirituality. This is most challenging for our generation to accept. A wholesome Jew appreciates that spiritual progress is a gradual process.

חורבן הבית - A Review of Jewish Leadership
Jewish leaders must learn to focus on cause and community and disregard self-promotion. The inability to do so resulted in the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and can cause dire consequences to the Jewish future as well.

The Current Role of a Jewish Educator - The למדן and the מחנך
The Jewish educator today assumes the role of teacher and is expected to become more of a parent as well. Why? What are the challenges that a teacher/parent experiences today in assuming and maintaining both these positions? What is the effect on the parental obligation?

Dealing with a Secular Culture in Israel
Kiruv is different in Israel than any other place in the world because of the political climate and social implications. How should a religious person approach and deal with the secular world, secular people and secular challenges that Israeli society presents?

Anger Management: Channeling Hatred
The Torah's perspective on anger and the Rabbinic methods of curbing our hatred and controlling our emotions.

Redemption: Personal or Communal Fulfillment?
Contrasting views of Rav Soloveichik and Rav Kook.

ורפא ירפא Is Hashem our Physician?
How much is man expected to incorporate bitachon into his own personal life and crises? An analysis of the differing perspectives of the Rambam and Ramban.

That was then this is Now
The challenges confronting Judaism in each generation change dramatically yet the Torah has remained the same. We are Jews in the modern era. How can we maintain Jewish spirituality amidst modernity?

Judgement and Retribution
The differences between the system of law and order and the Jewish Beit Din. Exacting judgement of the deed rather than the person.

The Ascent to Jewish Leadership
In our generation it is difficult to find quality leadership and this is becoming more and more challenging in the Jewish world as well. What are the attributes we should look for in Jewish leadership? What is the role our Jewish leaders should assume and how can they affect the Jewish future?

 
"I passionately and sincerely believe in the messages I am delivering. I am interested in helping people identify with what Religious Zionism means today, deepening people's awareness and commitment to Eretz Yisrael, and in encouraging people to appreciate the value of Jewish education as it relates to Israel and the Diaspora.