Ep 234: Habits of a Whole Heart with Arnie Herz and guest Rabbi Levi Paltiel P3 on hmTv

Habits of a Whole Heart (Ep. 234, Part 3)

In the third installment of Habits of a Whole Heart on hmTv, host Arnie Herz and Rabbi Levi Paltiel continue their heartfelt exploration of Jewish wisdom, daily discipline, and the deeper meaning of the High Holidays.

Together they discuss how to carry inspiration from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur into everyday life, turning fleeting spiritual sparks into lasting habits. From the imagery of the “King in the field,” to the rodeo parable about celebrating small victories, to the powerful message that God is our partner, this episode is both practical and uplifting.

Arnie also shares his own near-death experience that reshaped his priorities, while Rabbi Levi emphasizes that every mitzvah—every act of goodness—is like a Divine “like” that moves the mission of creation forward.

This powerful close to the three-part series is a reminder that Judaism is not about guilt or perfection, but about building habits of the heart that anchor us in joy, discipline, and purpose throughout the year.

Transcript

Habits of a Whole Heart — Ep. 234 (Part 3)

Host: Arnie Herz
Guest: Rabbi Levi Paltiel
Show: hmTv • Humanity Matters series

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ARNIE: Hello, my name is Arnie Herz and welcome to Habits of a Whole Heart. We’re here for episode number three with my friend, Rabbi Levi Paltiel. We thought two episodes would be enough, but—surprise—there’s more to cover. As we approach the High Holidays, we’ll try to tie together the big ideas from the first two episodes and add some new, practical takeaways. Rabbi Levi, thanks for staying for a third round.

RABBI LEVI: Pleasure’s mine. I’m excited.

ARNIE: You were sharing a way to approach the High Holidays—something beyond the “one-and-done” experience. Can you lay that out?

RABBI LEVI: Sure. A lot of us treat the High Holidays as a beautiful event—we dress up, go to shul, feel inspired—and then… it doesn’t connect to the rest of the year. In Chassidic language, there’s “the King in the field” (the month of Elul) and “the King in the palace” (the High Holidays). The palace is awe and grandeur, but Elul reminds us the same King meets us in our everyday field. The point is to bring that palace-moment home.

So ask: what’s my anchor? Pick one mitzvah or practice that carries the inspiration into Tuesday morning—saying Shema, putting on tefillin, a daily blessing, giving a coin to tzedakah. Inspiration that isn’t grounded “expires.” Inspiration that’s anchored “inspires”—it turns inward and becomes real.

ARNIE: You’re speaking my language—Habits of a Whole Heart. Find what genuinely moves you, then make it a habit that grounds the spark. If you’re excited about Torah, commit to shul on Shabbat, or study weekly—whatever turns it into rhythm.

RABBI LEVI: Exactly. When the King is in the field, you can “ask for anything.” The purpose of the palace is to motivate us to bring God home. Home is where you build the relationship in your real life, not only in your finest clothes on Yom Kippur. Even a small practice at home fulfills the purpose of creation—God dwelling in the everyday.

ARNIE: And without a behavior, inspiration slips. It’s January resolutions versus February reality. After vacation, my wife Suzanne and I literally put our new routines on the calendar—exercise, Shabbat guests, my daily morning shiur on Zoom. Discipline beats motivation. Francisco Lindor said it well: “I don’t believe in motivation. I believe in discipline.” Judaism gives us patterns—613 mitzvot as touchpoints—to remind us who we are and why we’re here.

RABBI LEVI: Following the godly soul rather than the animal soul can feel restrictive, but it’s the opposite. My uncle, Rabbi Yossi Paltiel, says: the person who conquers their animal soul is the one who actually does what they want—their true will. Most of us give in to urges we don’t even really want. Discipline is the freedom to choose the good we actually desire.

ARNIE: Which raises the question: where does the strength come from to hold the reins? During the High Holidays we contemplate life and death. Judaism puts reality in front of us—who shall live and who shall die—not to frighten, but to wake us up to the gift of being alive. Three years ago I had a brain bleed—ICU, 50/50 odds. Suddenly, what I thought mattered didn’t, and what I’d neglected mattered immensely: my family, wisdom, kindness. I promised that if I walked out, I’d spend every day bringing light. You don’t need a crisis to wake up—the High Holidays can do that if we let them.

RABBI LEVI: And when we stumble? We all do. My grandfather once taught me with a rodeo metaphor: holding onto a raging bull for even seconds is a feat. Every second you stay on earns a standing ovation. Spiritually, savor every victory. Maybe you “fell off” later—still celebrate the win. God didn’t create angels; He created people with an animal soul. Every small win is cosmic.

ARNIE: That flips the script on religion as guilt and judgment. It’s like appreciative inquiry in consulting: don’t ask “what’s wrong,” ask “what’s right” and do more of it. That’s the Rebbe’s approach—focus on the positive point of connection. In our “social media world,” it’s like counting Divine likes: every mitzvah is a “like.” Watch how joy rises when you count what’s right.

RABBI LEVI: Exactly. And because we’re not only our own CEO, we’re also part of God’s mission, the accounting changes. Progress isn’t erased by setbacks; every good act moves the mission forward.

ARNIE: Last week I bombed at golf and pickleball. The more I obsessed over bad shots, the worse I played. My son Gabe reminded me to take my own pep talk: focus on what’s working; get back in the game. Ask yourself, “What would I tell my younger brother to do right now?” Then do that.

We’ve got a minute left. Give us your High Holiday snapshot—and a blessing for the year.

RABBI LEVI: Quick story from my grandfather, Rabbi Zman Schmukler. He met a Jewish businessman in a Mexican airport. The man was successful making jeans but felt awkward about putting on tefillin in public. My grandfather said, “God chose to be your partner in business—He’s not embarrassed to partner with you. Are you embarrassed to partner with Him?” The man rolled up his sleeve and said, “Rabbi, let’s do it. I’ll stand so everyone can see who my partner is.”

That’s my blessing: May we enter the year knowing God isn’t just our Creator or Friend—He’s our Partner. May we have everything we need—physically, emotionally, spiritually—and the courage to stand tall with our Partner, bringing Him home into our habits, our families, our work, and our joy.

ARNIE: “God is my partner.” That’s beautiful. Rabbi Levi, thank you for sharing your wisdom over these three episodes—your teaching, your hospital visits, your light. Wishing you and your family a Shanah Tovah—a year of meaning and impact. And to all our listeners: Shanah Tovah! Wherever you are, whoever you are, you matter. Partner with God, remind others they matter, and let’s build a world of beauty, connection, and purpose—one mitzvah, one habit, one victory at a time.

This is Arnie Herz on hmTv with Habits of a Whole Heart, part of the Humanity Matters series. Thanks for listening—and may it be a good and sweet year for all.

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