Hineni

Episode 19: Shemini - Kosher and holiness

April 20, 2017 22:13 - 2 minutes - 1.86 MB

Why Keep Kosher?

Episode 18: Passover

April 10, 2017 18:18 - 1 minute - 1.41 MB

Every year at Passover Jews retell the story of Israel's exodus from Egypt, and their escape from slavery and oppression. Our tradition reminds us that the Exodus narrative is not just any story, but one we must retell because we are asked to believe that we were present at that moment.

Episode 17: Tzav - King and the Eternal Flame Shine forever

April 04, 2017 23:38 - 1 minute - 1.19 MB

Episode 17: Tzav (Leviticus 6:1–8:36)- King and the Eternal Flame Shine forever

Episode 16: Vayikra - Are you Ready to Receive God's call

March 31, 2017 01:01 - 1 minute - 1.22 MB

The way God calls to us is very personal, and we have to listen to hear the call.

Episode 15: Vayakhel-Pekudei

March 24, 2017 21:17 - 1.2 MB

This week we read a double portion Vayakhel-Pekudei. Moses assembles the people and tells them about the sanctuary they are to build but before that happens Moses tells them that God commands them to work six days but on the seventh day they shall rest. The seventh day is a holy day. The commandment to rest precedes the command to work. This tells us just how important it is for us to rest. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. For many Jews today, many Jews Shabbat see...

Episode 14 Ki Tisa: Shabbat and the Golden Calf

March 13, 2017 15:47 - 4 minutes - 3.68 MB

Every week, we get to renew our covenant with God and we pause to notice the sacredness of creation.

Episode 13: Terumah: God's Sanctuary

March 02, 2017 20:52 - 1 minute - 1.28 MB

Today in our modern times we as Jews don’t have one Mishkan we have synagogues and we worship God not just in the Tabernacle but wherever we might be. And where we are located can have a significant effect on the spirituality we feel in that moment. Designing a prayer space is a sacred task to be done with great care. And so too must we take care to use that sacred space to nurture our personal and communal connections with God.

Episode 12: Mishpatim: Why Doesn't God Abolish slavery

February 21, 2017 22:00 - 2 minutes - 1.76 MB

Change is possible in human nature, but it takes time, maybe even a long time. We know now that slavery is morally wrong. Part of our relationship with God is that God does not force us to change faster than we are able to do of our own free will. This week’s Torah does not abolish slavery, but it does set in motion a series of fundamental laws that will lead people, to abolish it of their own accord.

Episode 11 Yitro: The Torah of One Man is Not the Torah of a Nation

February 16, 2017 21:15 - 1 minute - 1.66 MB

The Torah of one man, even a Moses, is not the Torah of a nation. Jethro’s plan is democratic, taking it out of the hands of any one individual and making it the property of the people. Exodus 18:1–20:23.

Episode 10 Yitro: The 10th Commandment is the Key to Happiness

February 13, 2017 01:08 - 1.44 MB

This week’s Torah portion is Yitro and this is the Torah portion where we finally get the 10 commandments. Let’s focus on number 10 Thou shall not covet..Anything that is your neighbor’s. In other words do not be envious of anything from your neighbor’s house. This is my favorite commandment because I believe this commandment is the key to happiness Exodus 18:1–20:23. Envy is the desire to have something belonging to someone else. This is an emotion, that brings out jealousy, resentment, bitt...

Episode 9: Beshallach Not by Prayer alone

February 07, 2017 11:30 - 2 minutes - 1.77 MB

Israelites are finally free and they are moving fast to leave Egypt. Now they find themselves at the edge of the sea. There is no way out and Pharaoh's army is not far behind. They are trapped and scared.

Episode 8: Bo: Freedom for All

February 01, 2017 23:12 - 1 minute - 1.02 MB

This week we are in Parsha Bo (Exodus 10:1−13:16)and we are at the climax of Israel’s struggle for freedom. Plague after Plague has hurt Egypt and Pharoah is willing to let some of the Israelites go free. Moses insist that none of them will go unless all of the Israelites can go. Moses wants freedom for all. He says We will go with our young and our old, we will go with our sons and our daughters. In other words, we ain’t leavin' anybody behind.

Episode 7: Vaera: Failure Leads to Success

January 27, 2017 21:10 - 1 minute - 1.57 MB

Sometimes leaders succeed with ease and sometimes they fail. In this week's Torah portion Moses fails several times before he eventually becomes the man who leads the Israelites from to freedom. When we fail it's important to learn from our failure and then to keep going.

Episode 6: Vaera: God has not Forsaken Us.

January 25, 2017 15:47 - 1 minute - 1.6 MB

This week we are in the Torah portion of Vaera (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35). God tell Moses I am here to free the Israelites from slavery

Episode 5: Shemot: Names are Important and I Am What I Am

January 21, 2017 15:31 - 1 minute - 1.61 MB

This week as we enter the book of Exodus. In hebrew we call this book Shemot the book of names. The Torah portion starts out with the names of the Israelites who came down to Egypt. Then later we learn the name of Moses and when Moses encounters God for the first time he says to God tell me your name. As I write this I can't help but remember the gay anthem of my youth the Gloria Gaynor song I Am What I Am https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj8C43r4zm0

Episode 4: Shemot: Civil Disobedience and the Path to Redemption

January 18, 2017 15:24 - 1 minute - 1000 KB

This week we begin the book of exodus in the Torah Portion Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1). The Israelites are slaves and we follow them from slavery to freedom and then redemption. As we begin this journey through Exodus, Let us consider the midwives Shifrah and Puah The process of redemption does not begin with divine intervention, but with the first recorded act of non-violent civil disobedience. The Torah says that a King arose that did not know Joseph. This Pharoh did not like the increasing num...

Episode 3: Shemot and the Ordinary Burning Bush

January 16, 2017 11:49 - 1 minute - 1.52 MB

Hello, and welcome to another Minute lessons from the Torah. This week we begin the book of Exodus with the Parsha Shemot (Exodus 1:1–6:1). The Israelites are now slaves in Egypt. Our hero Moses is now a criminal and living as a shepherd. One day he takes his sheep into the wilderness and he sees a bush all aflame, yet the bush was not consumed. Mose turned to investigate this amazing site and when God saw that Moses turned to look, God said. Dude!! Take your shoes off your feet, for the plac...

Episode 2: Vayechi: Be Strong and Let Us Be Strengthened

January 14, 2017 16:30 - 1 minute - 1.31 MB

Vayechi (Genesis 47:28–50:26): Be Strong and Let Us Be Strengthened When we finish a book of the Torah we close we close that book words with ‘chazak, chazak v’nitchazek’ (be strong, be strong and let us be strengthened!). We are excited to finish a book of Torah and excited for the book ahead.

Episode 1: Vayechi and Family Forgiveness

January 14, 2017 14:38 - 1 minute - 1.46 MB

Today's lesson comes from the Torah Portion Vayechi - Genesis 47:28 - 50:26. This is the last Torah portion in the book of Genesis and today's lesson focuses on the importance of forgiving family.

Episode 0: Introduction and Welcome

January 14, 2017 14:34 - 1 minute - 1.12 MB

Hello my name is Sandra Lawson and I am a rabbi to be. Welcome to my new Podcast. This Podcast grew out of my Torah Lessons on Snapchat and Instagram. It‘s a work in progress and has grown out of my love for Torah Like a lot of things I do, I just jump in with both feet. So welcome and I look forward to learning with you.

Vayigash: To Draw Near and the Shabbat of Approaching

January 14, 2017 14:29 - 59 seconds - 920 KB

This is the first Shabbat of 2017. We are in the Torah Portion of Vayigash which means to draw near or to come close. My friend and Rabbi Yael Levy called it the Shabbat of approaching. We are approaching this year with a lot of certainty and as we approach this year and draw it near if we open our hearts to love, forgiveness and God's plan.

Mikeitz And The Last Torah Message For 2016

January 14, 2017 14:26 - 56 seconds - 1.27 MB

My last Torah message for 2016. This week we have been reading from the Torah portion Mikeitz, continuing the Joseph story. Joseph is the boy who dared to dream who turned into a man who was able to interpret dreams. As we move into 2017 my message is to never be afraid to dream. In our society we sometimes discourage those. who call themselves dreamers but to have the courage to dream for a better future, there is nothing wrong with that. On this last night of Hanukkah Chag Sameach Happy New...

Hanukkah Message: Light Can Push Away Darkness

January 14, 2017 14:11 - 55 seconds - 2.32 MB Video

My Hanukkah message for 2016: Light can push away darkness

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