Episode Details

In this introductory episode, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explains the three foundational works that will shape The Daily Derech.

For parashah study, we're learning from the Me’am Loez, the 18th-century Ladino commentary that weaves Talmud, Midrash, halakhah, and ethical teaching into a flowing, story-like presentation designed for the broader community.

For practical Jewish law, we're learning from Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah, the comprehensive 12th-century code written to present clear, organized halakhah without requiring navigation of complex Talmudic debates.

For character development, we're learning from the Menorat HaMaor, the medieval ethical work of Rabbeinu Yitzhak Abuhav, which gathers classical rabbinic sources into an accessible framework focused on middot, mitzvot, prayer, repentance, and communal life.

In this episode, Rabbi Rubenstein outlines why these texts were chosen and how they together create a stable, normative, and accessible framework for daily Torah learning.

Learn more at exploringjudaism.org/thedailyderech and reach out to Rabbi Rubenstein here.