Published by Zalman Gordon
A discussion on a topic from the week's Parsha covering many important parts of Judaism that are not regularly addressed.
Listen on Apple Podcasts44 min
An important part of the Temple service was the chopping and donating wood to the Temple for the fire on the Altar. This Mitzvah came with great celebrations and many families had designated days for wood donations. This Mitzvah is still celebrated today on the 15th of Av each year. A fascinating discussion about the Wood Chopping Mitzvah, its celebrations, and the life changing impact it has on us today.
49 min
Josephus is our single most important source for the final decades of the Second Temple period. He was a former Jewish commander who surrendered to the Romans and later became a writer in the court of the Flavian emperors. Josephus wrote important books about the Jewish revolt, Jewish history, and Judaism that we still have today. But can his account be trusted? Was Josephus a careful historian preserving the past, a political propagandist serving Rome, or something far more complicated?
45 min
In our personal lives and our world in general, there is an epic battle between good and evil. Each side is constantly battling to gain the upper hand. Who wins this battle? Our own life experience and observations often suggest that evil is winning, but counterintuitively, the Rebbe explains why logically, in the long run good will always win A fascinating discussion based on the teachings of the Rebbe about the epic battle between good and evil and how we can definitively show that good always wins. Links to related episodes Why do bad things happen https://open.spotify.com/episode/7j8YTPU2TNaQRDacsrLspr?si=2kj04lNYRF6wcfqDkGYkDA Do Jews Believe in Satan? https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bPGhW5ZxVANNIc8gGhL1H?si=dztRQvx7S8i1Biktg4iWRw Can people be truly bad? https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wGuRasHfU3oXQJhdIZYtL?si=Rz31y0QRQAGqTT5YthozPg The Battle of Two Souls https://open.spotify.com/episode/4B2WFOLWlop7Yb4742AY9X?si=EEVfTYLaRhOWxucsxZ5pwA
1 hr 4 min
While historically, Jewish communities were organized and structured, the freedoms in the United States have made Jewish communities fractured and fragile. This created an open market for Judaism in the United States that never existed anywhere else. How did Judaism in America adapt to this unusual community structure? What can guarantee Judaism's survival in this free open society?
1 hr 0 min
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the sixth Chabad Rebbe, was one of the most fascinating and impactful Jewish leaders of the early 20th century. The Rebbe began his leadership role as a teenager, spanning the final decades of the Russian Empire, World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Stalinist Soviet Union, World War II and finally in the United States during and immediately after the war. A discussion about Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson and his fascinating life story.
44 min
One of the strangest stories in the Torah is when Balaam decided to go and curse Israel but G-d sent obstacles to disuade him from going. One such event was when Balaam hit his donkey and the donkey began to speak back to him. J A fascinating discussion about the strange story of the talking donkey and the lessons for us today.
1 hr 13 min
One of the most important Jewish events in modern Jewish history, was the split in Hungarian Jewry in 1870. It marked the first time Jewish communities officially split over theological differences, changing how Jews have since thought about their identity. A fascinating class about an unknown but important event in history whose impact continues to this day.
39 min
One of the central values in Judaism is not speaking bad about others, Lashon Hara in Hebrew. While gossip has become a staple in our society today, our Jewish traditions are strongly opposed to it. A discussion about the rules and precautions we must take not to speak evil of others, the dangers such speech can bring and the benefits of living a gossip free life.
1 hr 8 min
Music played a central role in the service at the Temple in Jerusalem. While sacrifices were offered, the Levites played a variety of music and sang songs of praise to G-d. Yet, while traditional synagogues sing songs of praise and prayer, they generally do not accompany the songs with music. What is the role of instrumental music in Judaism? Why was it used in the Temple in Jerusalem, but generally not used today? Can a community add music to its prayers if it wishes? A fascinating discussion about the role of music in Jewish prayer.
46 min
The word "Amen" is used by Jews throughout our prayers and in daily life to respond to blessings. What does the word Amen mean? Where does it come from? When is it appropriate to respond Amen and when is it not? Are there other appropriate responses to a blessing? A fascinating discussion about the origins and meaning of "Amen".
40 min
There is an old custom to stay awake and study Torah all night on the eve of Shavuot. Many recite the Tikkun, a collection of readings from the written and oral Torahs. Where did this custom originate, and what is the reason for it? A fascinating discussion about the custom of staying awake on Shavuot Night
50 min
Pirkei Avot is one of the earliest classic Jewish works of ethics. Pirkei Avot is a collection of inspirational teachings and life-lessons from the sages of the Mishnah (0-200 CE). It was written as part of the Mishna over 1,800 years ago. There is a widespread custom to study Pirkei Avot on Shabbat afternoon of the weeks between Passover and Shavuot. A fascinating discussion about Pirkei Avot. why it was written and some of its important lessons.
42 min
The Zohar has been a difficult and elusive book throughout our history. A large tome, written in Western Aramaic and cryptic in its meaning the Zohar has mystified scholars and layman alike. The history of the Zohar, who wrote it and who studied it remain debated among scholars. A discussion about the Zohar's author Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the book itself. (This class was originally taught in 2016)
41 min
Are the Torah's words meant to be taken at face value? If the Torah says something, should we accept it as written? It may come as a surprise to many that one of the central belief in Judaism is that the Torah was never meant to be taken at face value. Rather the Torah was written in code and we can only understand it if we know how to decipher the code. A fascinating discussion about the Torah, its meaning, and an exploration of examples where we believe the Torah meant something other than what is written.
49 min
The Torah forbids us from eating fruit of a tree that has been planted within the past 3 years. This prohibition is called Orla. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the fruit of the 4th year was brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. What is the reason for the law of Orla? How is it observed today? A fascinating discussion about Orla, fruit in the first 3 years.
58 min
Sometimes, fulfilling one Torah commandment requires violating another. For example, if a baby is born on Shabbat, then the eighth day will be the following Shabbat. Circumcising the child violates the prohibition against drawing blood on Shabbat. What should you do? A fascinating discussion about what the Halacha (Torah law) tells us to do when fulfilling one commandment violates another.
39 min
The Torah prohibits us from eating or even owning Chametz, leavened grain products on Passover. However Ashkenazic Jews are careful not to eat any beans or legumes on the holiday. How did this custom begin? What is the reason for it? Why do many Saphardic Jews not keep it? A discussion about the laws of Passover and the development of the Kitniyot prohibition. (Please note, this was recorded over Zoom so the sound quality is weaker than normal) Have a Happy Passover!
29 min
As people age, they tend to slow down. In today's culture, people work for decades towards retirement when they can stop working altogether and just relax. The Rebbe, took a very different approach. He believed that as long as we are alive and have the capacity to work, we must continue working, never retiring or even slowing down. A fascinating discussion about the Rebbe's views on retirement and continued growth.
46 min
Salt is a crucial mineral for human health and for nature. Salt also plays a prominent role in Judaism. We salt meat with salt. Salt was widely used in sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem. We dip our bread in salt. And the priestly covenant with G-d is described as a covenant of salt. A fascinating discussion about salt and the unique role it plays in Judaism.
51 min
Jewish traditions teach that 10 of the 12 tribes were exiled from the Land of Israel more than 2,500 years ago and many think that they have since disappeared. For much of Jewish history, Jews and non-Jews have searched for the 10 Lost Tribes in various places, making amazing discoveries that lead to a fascinating story about the search for the lost tribes. A fascinating discussion about the historic search for the 10 Lost Tribes and the discoveries they led to. We've previously discussed what actually happened to the 10 tribes. You can listen here on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts .