Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchR. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Terumah: The Blueprint of Intimacy
Parashat Terumah opens with a divine request. God asks the Children of Israel for a contribution to achieve a specific goal: “And let them make Me a …
4 months ago
R. Shai Held: Loving the Stranger-Sojourner (Ger)
In addition to loving God and loving our neighbor, the Torah also commands us to love the stranger-sojourner (ger). This lecture delves into this sur…
4 months ago
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Mishpatim: Who Rests on Shabbat?
Parashat Mishpatim shines a spotlight on human beings and their responsibility for the rest of others on Shabbat.
4 months, 1 week ago
R. Ethan Tucker: Reading the Torah Like a Love Letter
Do you love midrash? Hate it? In this class, Rabbi Ethan Tucker delves into this unique rabbinic genre to try and understand its essence: Reading the…
4 months, 1 week ago
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Yitro: An Intimate Meeting
The Torah describes a moving encounter between Yitro and Moshe, in which Moshe shares his journey and experiences. A close reading of the details re…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
R. Elazar Symon on Tu Bishvat: Celebrating a Birthday for a Tree
Tu Bishvat is often called the “birthday of the trees.” There is also a reactionary trend to reject this framework of “birthday” and go back to its o…
4 months, 2 weeks ago
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Beshallah: Where Does Amalek Come From?
The Torah describes: “Amalek came and fought with Israel at Refidim” (Exodus 17:8). Where does Amalek come from? What is the context out of which thi…
4 months, 3 weeks ago
R. Shai Held: Why Don’t We Make Blessings for Interpersonal Mitzvot?
On its face, it is a real anomaly in Jewish practice: we recite blessings before putting on tefillin or lighting Shabbat candles, but we don't recite…
4 months, 3 weeks ago
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Bo: Slaves or Warriors: Who Were We When We Left Egypt?
Woven into the account of the Exodus are two distinct and seemingly contradictory images of the Children of Israel. On one hand, they are a nation o…
4 months, 4 weeks ago
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Va'Era: What is Slavery?
Pharaoh succeeded. He brought the Children of Israel into a state of slavery. The opening of Parashat Va’Era focuses on one particular consequence …
5 months ago