Ep 78: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Rabbi Shalom Paltiel P1 on hmTv

Episode 78: Habits of a Whole Heart – Part 1 with Rabbi Shalom Paltiel
hmTv | Hosted by Arnie Herz

In this deeply enriching episode of Habits of a Whole Heart, Arnie Herz sits down with Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, head of Chabad of Port Washington and Arnie’s longtime spiritual guide and friend. Together, they explore what it means to live with a “whole heart” through the lens of Jewish wisdom, Kabbalah, and Chassidic philosophy.

From the dual nature of the human soul to the concept of divine oneness, Rabbi Paltiel offers profound insights into integrating both our higher and lower selves, cultivating spiritual awareness, and living with intention and compassion. They discuss the relevance of Torah teachings for all humanity, the deeper reality beneath our perceived separateness, and how small habits can align us with the sacred in everyday life.

Whether you're curious about spirituality, seeking more meaning, or looking to deepen your personal growth, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: wholeness begins when we realize we’re already part of something whole.

Topics Covered:

• What it means to love God with “both hearts”
• The divine and animal soul in Chassidus
• How individuality and unity coexist
• The true nature of God beyond anthropomorphism
• The universal relevance of Torah wisdom
• Kindness and morality as expressions of divine connection

Be sure to subscribe and tune in for Part 2 as Arnie and Rabbi Paltiel continue this inspiring journey into the heart of spiritual practice.

Transcript

pisode 78: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, Part 1 on hmTv:

Arnie Herz:
Hello, and thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Arnie Herz, and on today’s episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, my special guest is Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, who is the head rabbi of the Chabad of Port Washington. Today we’re going to speak about the topic of “habits of a whole heart.” Thank you, Rabbi Paltiel, for joining me.

Rabbi Paltiel isn’t just my rabbi, but a very dear friend and has been with me on my spiritual journey for the past 20 years plus. It’s been a very rich journey, and I’m really curious to talk with you about this topic. As you know, we purposely didn’t prepare. We’ve had many conversations in the past—what were supposed to be five-minute conversations that have lasted hours. So we’ll just have a conversation here today and explore some of these ideas.

In particular, I’d love to get your take from a Jewish, Torah-based perspective on some core issues.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Pleasure to be here. Let’s have one of our five-minute conversations that will last 25 minutes.

Arnie Herz:
Excellent. So, Rabbi, the topic of the podcast is “habits of a whole heart.” I’m curious—when you hear the term “whole heart,” what does that mean to you? And is that something relevant to Judaism?

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Absolutely. What jumps to mind right away is the verse in the Shema: “You shall love God with all your heart.” The Talmud points out that the Hebrew phrasing used—b’chol l’vavcha—is unusual. It literally means “with all your hearts.” Judaism teaches that all people have two inner voices or inclinations: the greater self and the lesser self. The Torah is saying that we should love God with both parts—our divine and our human inclinations.

Arnie Herz:
We discussed this in the first couple of episodes—these two inclinations. I’d love to hear from you more about your understanding of the nature of the lower self versus the higher self. How do they each look and show up in the world?

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
This is Tanya 101—the foundation of Chabad thought. We have two souls: the human soul, which is self-centered but not necessarily bad; and the divine soul, which recognizes that we’re all part of a greater reality. In Chassidus and Kabbalah, God is not seen as a being separate from the world but as the very reality itself. And the human being, with its awareness, can tap into that oneness.

Arnie Herz:
So why doesn't Judaism just focus entirely on the higher self? Why even bother with the lower self?

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Great question. The answer lies in the idea of free choice. Without the lower self, there is no “you” to choose. Angels, for instance, are purely spiritual and don’t have ego or ambitions. But they also don’t have the same kind of relationship with God that a human does. The struggle and the choice to bring the self into alignment with the divine is what gives it meaning. That's why we love God with both our hearts—not by abandoning our humanity but by integrating it.

Arnie Herz:
That’s really profound. What I’m hearing is that while we live in a world that appears separate, with distinctions between me and you, ultimately there’s a deeper reality where everything is connected.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Exactly. There’s the “me” and the “we,” and the deepest truth is that the two are one. God is the source of our individuality and our unity. Like parts of the same body—we don’t want the hand to be the foot, but we want all parts working in harmony.

Arnie Herz:
It changes the way we see reality. People imagine God as a man with a white beard up in the sky—this creates separation. But what you’re talking about is that God is the underlying reality we’re all part of.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Yes. The Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe once told an atheist, “The god you don’t believe in, I also don’t believe in.” Judaism’s concept of God is not a cosmic bully. The term we use, Rachmana, means “The Merciful One,” and comes from the word for womb. We are literally within God’s womb—intimately connected. That’s why Tanya says God knows you like you know yourself. You’re a part of Him.

Arnie Herz:
So, the more we act, think, and speak in alignment with that truth, the more we experience that reality.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Exactly. Want to touch God? Touch your pulse. That breath and heartbeat are God breathing life into you in this very moment. It’s very real, very physical. That’s what the first prayer of the day, Modeh Ani, is about—not theology, just simple gratitude: “Thank you for giving me breath.”

Arnie Herz:
You also mentioned that Torah and Chassidus provide tools to experience that reality—not just as a belief but something we feel, just as we feel our own existence.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Yes, and it’s not limited to Jews. Truth is universal. The Seven Laws of Noah are given to all of humanity. The goal is to bring people to decency, kindness, morality, and joy—not by conversion, but by recognizing the shared divine essence in all people.

Arnie Herz:
So why is it important to be moral, to care for others?

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Because creation itself is rooted in kindness. God didn’t need to create the world. It was an act of sharing. Hurting others is hurting yourself—because we’re all part of one body. Being moral is like eating healthy. No one’s forcing you—but it’s how you thrive.

Arnie Herz:
Beautiful. If I hurt someone, I’m really just hurting myself. That’s a powerful reminder, especially in today’s divisive world.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Yes. The Rebbe emphasized this in his later years: teach the world that all of us are one body, one reality. Teach kids that diversity isn’t a problem—it’s a symphony. Respecting the other doesn’t diminish you; it completes you.

Arnie Herz:
Rabbi, this has been fantastic. I have a number of follow-up questions for our next episode—like why it’s often harder to find unity among human beings than with nature. Thank you so much for joining me.

Rabbi Shalom Paltiel:
Thank you, Arnie. I’m looking forward to continuing the conversation.

Arnie Herz:
Thank you, everyone, for tuning in to this episode of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv. I appreciate my guest, Rabbi Shalom Paltiel, for sharing his wonderful insights. Be sure to subscribe, share, and stay connected for more engaging conversations. Until next time—take care and be well.