What Does It Mean to Be Yourself?

When do you feel most like yourself? And why do those moments often bring a sense of joy, freedom and meaning?In this shiur, we explore the Maharal’s fascinating connection between simchah (joy) and the ability to express what lies within us. Through a puzzling story in the Gemara about Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair and a river that refuses to let him pass, we uncover a deeper Jewish understanding of the human soul.Discover the three dimensions of our inner lives — nefesh, ruach and neshamah — corresponding to action, emotion and intellect. How do they shape our personalities, our spiritual lives and our experience of happiness?An exploration of Jewish wisdom, self-understanding and what it means to live with greater joy and purpose.Part of an ongoing series exploring the deeper ideas behind Torah, spirituality and the human experience.