The Thinking Jew Podcast
107 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 21 ratingsDo you have questions about Judaism?
The Thinking Jew Podcast discusses thought provoking insights on topics of Judaism and Torah. Join Rabbi Moshe as he explores the parsha, holidays, Jewish law and philosophy and you're sure to gain a deeper Torah perspective for the modern world.
thethinkingjew.com
For question, comments or future topic requests, email me at [email protected]
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
A Deeper Look at Asarah B'Teves (rebroadcast)
January 01, 2023 18:06 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBWith the fast of the 10th of Teves approaching this week, I'm rebroadcasting episode 55 which contains such a powerful idea behind the spiritual power of this meaningful day. There are 6 public fast days on the Jewish calendar: Yom Kippur, Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), Tzom Gedalia (the 3rd of Tishrei), Asarah Biteves (the 10th of Teves), Taanis Esther (the 13th of Adar) and Shiva Asar Bi'Tammuz (the 17th of Tammuz). And while Yom Kippur and the fast of Esther each have their own independen...
Ep. 87 The "Real" Miracle Of Chanuka
December 16, 2022 05:48 - 11 minutes - 27 MBIf you ask most people what the miracle of Chanuka was, they'll most likely respond with the story of a small jug of pure oil burning in the Temple for 8 nights. After all, we light our menorahs for 8 nights to commemorate that miracle! But, was that really the greatest miracle? Did a tiny small untrained Jewish army led by rabbis not defeat the mighty Greek Empire? So what is the REAL miracle of Chanuka? What is our primary focus? Join me as we look through Jewish sources to discover...
Ep. 86 Understanding The Structure Of Torah: The Written And Oral Law
November 02, 2022 15:50 - 13 minutes - 30 MBThe Torah is broken up into many different sections and parts. The primary two being the written law (Torah She'bichsav) and the oral law (Torah She'ba'al Peh). In today's episode I lay out the general structure of the Torah and show how all the sections are interconnected. I also cover topics such as: 1) How could the oral law have been written down? 2) Was every prophecy received included in Prophets? 3) What's the difference between Torah, Prophets and Writings? 4) Why did God g...
Ep. 85 Creating Real Change - Positive Teshuva
September 21, 2022 05:09 - 11 minutes - 25.4 MBThis past week I asked close to 50 people to think of something that they want to improve at over this coming year. A whopping 100% (!!!) thought of something that they're really bad at and is extremely difficult for them. This is often how we think. We know what we're bad at and want to change it, but when we approach it head on, we often fail and remain in the exact same place. So, how do we create real change? How do we become the best version of ourselves possible? Join me as we l...
Ep. 84 The High Holidays - A Time To Pause and Think
September 09, 2022 04:05 - 11 minutes - 27 MBDo you find yourself approaching the High Holidays the same way every year? Thinking about the same things you want to improve on that you said last year? With so much busyness in life, how can we make a real change? Join me as we look to our forefather Abraham, and his journey of finding God in a pagan culture, to help guide ourselves in 2022 and beyond! Happy Listening! Rabbi Moshe thethinkingjew.com To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and...
Ep. 83 Physician Assisted Suicide In Jewish Law
August 18, 2022 04:57 - 55 minutes - 128 MBAfter being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Brittany Maynard moved to Oregon, then (2014) one of only four states with legalized physician assisted suicide. She was a big activist for legalizing suicide for terminal patients, allowing them to "die on their own terms". In this class, we take a deep dive into the traditional sources on suicide and physician assisted suicide across many texts in the written and oral law, discussing such questions as: Is there any allowance for suicide in the...
Ep. 82 Why Don't We Have An Immersive Spiritual Center Today?
August 05, 2022 04:59 - 9 minutes - 22.7 MBWouldn't life be simpler if we could just walk into a building and experience God? Would it not answer so many questions and doubts? Would it not provide such clarity of purpose and mission? A long time ago, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem it provided just that. Entering the temple was a transcendent experience - as if you were now experiencing life on a higher dimension. So the question I explore in this episode is why did God remove that from us? Why would God not want us to have a...
Ep. 81 The Deeper Meaning Of Modeh Ani
July 27, 2022 04:56 - 11 minutes - 25.6 MBThe first words a Jew says when he or she wakes up is 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘩 𝘈𝘯𝘪, a prayer expressing thanks to God for another day. Jewish law desires one to say this prayer so immediately upon waking that the prayer doesn't contain the name of God in it, so one can say it even before they wash their hands (𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘮). What is so special about this prayer that our sages instituted it as the first words, and really the first thoughts, of the day? What is the deeper meaning behind it? Join me as I g...
Ep. 80 Understanding The Three Weeks
July 15, 2022 02:55 - 14 minutes - 15 MBThis coming weekend begins the saddest part of the Jewish calendar. Occurring across a three week period, between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, this time period has held the most terrible tragedies for the Jewish nation. What were those tragedies? What's the history behind these ominous days? What's the message for us nowadays? What are the practical laws (halachahs) that apply during this time? In this episode, I provide a broad overview of this time period: beginning with the...
Ep. 80 A Deeper Look At The Three Weeks
July 15, 2022 02:55 - 14 minutes - 15 MBThis coming weekend begins the saddest part of the Jewish calendar. Occurring across a three week period, between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, this time period has held the most terrible tragedies for the Jewish nation. What were those tragedies? What's the history behind these ominous days? What's the message for us nowadays? What are the practical laws (halachahs) that apply during this time? In this episode, I provide a broad overview of this time period: beginning with the...
Ep. 79 Genetics In Torah Law
July 01, 2022 05:09 - 46 minutes - 35.8 MBIn this episode we look into the concept of genetics in Torah law. When are we developing the world and using the resources God gave us and when are we playing God? Is it ethical to pick the gender of a child? What about their height/eye color? What if it impacts their health? Does that make it better? In addition to these general questions, we discuss the Rabbis approach to genetic diseases in the Jewish community (specifically Tay Sachs), the concept of determining Jewish/Kohein sta...
Ep. 78 Personal Autonomy and Medical Coercion In Jewish Law - The Case of Cassandra C. vs. State of Connecticut
June 22, 2022 15:10 - 50 minutes - 86.2 MBIn this episode we take a look at the fascinating case of Cassandra C. In September 2014, Cassandra C., then 17 years old, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. After lying to the courts and running away from chemo, she was placed under the custody of the Connecticut Dept. of Children and Families. She was then forced to complete treatments against her and her family’s wishes, ultimately resulting in her complete recovery. In this episode we discuss the Torah's perspective on the followin...
Ep. 77 Disconnect To Reconnect
June 15, 2022 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBHave you ever felt trapped in a certain behavior pattern and struggled to break out? Often when we approach our behaviors head on, we lose badly. How can the Torah guide us in this aspect? In Numbers chapter 6 the Torah discusses the Nazirite, one who accepts upon himself to separate from certain physical pleasures and focus on their spiritual growth. And, the commentaries all struggle with understanding this section. In one place, the Torah describes him as holy and even compares him t...
Ep. 77 Disconnect To Reconnect (Understanding the Nazir)
June 15, 2022 06:00 - 11 minutes - 10.8 MBHave you ever felt trapped in a certain behavior pattern and struggled to break out? Often when we approach our behaviors head on, we lose badly. How can the Torah guide us in this aspect? In Numbers chapter 6 the Torah discusses the Nazirite, one who accepts upon himself to separate from certain physical pleasures and focus on their spiritual growth. And, the commentaries all struggle with understanding this section. In one place, the Torah describes him as holy and even compares him t...
Ep. 76 Flags & Unity: Individuality Within The Community
June 02, 2022 16:08 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBWhile traveling in the desert, God commands Moses to set up the Jews in very specific formation; three tribes in each direction and the tabernacle in the center. The Torah also teaches that each encampment had its own flag, as well as each tribe had its own flag. What was the role of these flags and encampments? Why not keep the people united as one whole group? To strengthen the question, one of the great merits the Jews had when they received the Torah was their unity, so why would God...
Ep. 75 The Two Parts Of The Omer: Honor & Goodness
May 25, 2022 05:19 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBI heard earlier today that one of my greatest Rabbis passed away. His name was Rabbi Eliyahu Margulies zt'l, and he was the first teacher I had that really opened my eyes to the deeper side of Torah. Many of the ideas that I share on this podcast and throughout all of my teaching are sourced in what I learned from this great man. In his honor and in his memory, I decided to share a beautiful and deep idea that I heard from him 10 years ago (to the week), when I was studying in the great M...
Ep. 74 Can You Really Love Your Neighbor As Yourself?
May 18, 2022 20:42 - 13 minutes - 13.6 MBOne of the most famous Jewish dictums is (Leviticus 19:18), "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But this verse seems quite difficult! Is it really possible? What does that mean? Do I really have to do everything that I would do for myself for all my Jewish brethren as well? Buy them their groceries? Lease them a car? Take out a mortgage for them? It seems impossible! Join me as we analyze a fascinating debate between the Rambam (Maimonides) and the Ramban (Nachmanides) regar...
Ep. 73 Understanding The Counting Of The Omer
May 04, 2022 14:59 - 10 minutes - 10.3 MBThere is a biblical obligation to count 50 days from the Omer offering (Leviticus chapter 23), and then on the 50th day to bring an offering of two breads and celebrate a holiday (Shavuos). Even in modern times, in which we no longer have a temple and can no longer perform these offerings, we still count the 50 day period from when the Omer should've been brought until Shavuos. What exactly is the purpose of the counting? Why is the Omer offering brought in the middle of Passover? What i...
Ep. 72 A Deeper Look At The Yahrtzeit
April 27, 2022 06:55 - 11 minutes - 11.4 MBThe Yahrtzeit is the Hebrew date of passing of a close family member. There are many customs observed on the yahrtzeit as a merit for the departed soul, such as, lighting a 24 hour candle, learning Torah and saying the mourner's kaddish. In this episode, I take a deeper look at the significance of the yahrtzeit and its customs. What exactly happens to the soul on the yahrtzeit? Why is the Hebrew date of passing still significant in future years? What can we practically do to carry on th...
Ep. 71 Freedom and Pesach (class recording)
April 21, 2022 04:23 - 40 minutes - 9.59 MBWhat is the real definition of "freedom"? Is it doing whatever we want, however we want, whenever we want or is it something more internal? How does the Torah define freedom? Join me as we analyze a few unique stories of "freedom" to uncover this essential principle. Additionally, we'll discuss many other fundamental ideas, such as free choice, the receiving of the Torah, and our general decision making process. This is an edited recording of a class I gave in 2018 on the topic of free...
Ep. 70 The Laws Of The Passover Seder
April 10, 2022 15:52 - 8 minutes - 8.25 MBThis episode is the last one discussing the laws of Passover. In episode 68, I discussed the laws (and philosophy) of removing chametz from your house in general. In episode 69, I discussed how to kasher your year-round kitchen to allow you to use it for cooking Passover food. In this episode, I discuss the laws of the Passover Seder. We'll go through each step of the seder and mention the relevant laws to that section. Also, a final reminder to sell your chametz (as discussed in episo...
Ep. 69 Kashering Your Kitchen For Passover
April 10, 2022 15:44 - 9 minutes - 9.15 MBIn this episode, I discuss the laws of using your year-round kitchen for Passover foods. Obviously, we want to avoid any chametz from getting into our Passover food, but in addition to actual physical chametz, the Torah prohibits chametz "flavor" from being cooked into our Passover food as well. The episode begins with the general rules of taste transfers in Jewish law and then goes through the classic sections and appliances in your kitchen, teaching you how to prepare each one for use on...
Ep. 68 Removing Chametz And Setting Up Your Pesach Zone
April 06, 2022 06:15 - 12 minutes - 12.7 MBThis episode begins with the laws of chametz, leavened bread, on the holiday of Passover. Interestingly, in addition to the famous prohibition against eating chametz on Passover, there is actually a less-known law prohibiting even owning chametz on Pesach! After defining what exactly chametz is, we'll learn how to avoid all the prohibitions regarding chametz, which will enable us to transform our homes into our "Pesach zone". At the end of the episode, we'll dive into the deeper sources o...
Ep. 67 A Deeper Look At Kosher
March 30, 2022 14:58 - 12 minutes - 12.9 MBThe concept of Kosher is probably one of the most well-known Torah laws in the world. Why is that? Is there a deeper theme behind it that reflects the broader lessons of Torah? In this episode, we'll discuss that which the great Kabbalists before us, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Lozzatto, Rabbi Shneur Zalmen of Liadi and the holy Ariz'al, revealed to us about the importance of eating kosher. We begin with looking at the role of Torah and Mitzvahs in general, we then continue to understand why th...
Ep. 66 The Mourner's Kaddish
March 23, 2022 17:52 - 10 minutes - 11 MBThe Kaddish is one of the most powerful prayers that we have. The Talmud goes so far as to say that the Kaddish is one of two merits that allow the world to continue to exist. Additionally, the Kaddish is one of the most observed rituals in Judaism. Even Jews who don't frequently attend services, will make sure to come to synagogue when they need to say Kaddish. In today's episode I want to explore this powerful prayer. We'll discuss why it's such a unique prayer, why mourners are the ...
Ep. 65 The Essence Of Amalek
March 16, 2022 05:57 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MBThe verse states that G-d loves peace and makes peace, and yet when it comes to the nation of Amalek, G-d very strongly condemns them and demands the Jewish nation to completely destroy any trace memory of them. Why is that? Why would a peaceful G-d desire that? There must be more to the Amalekite concept than initially meets the eye. Join me as we discover the Kabbalistic depth behind the essence of Amalek, what they really stand for and how they oppose G-d and the Jewish nation. We'l...
Ep. 64 ʅɐsɹǝʌǝꓤ ɯᴉɹnԀ ʇɐǝɹ⅁ ǝɥꓕ
March 09, 2022 05:27 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBOne of the great themes of the holiday of Purim is the concept of "Vinahafoch Hu," and it is completely reversed. This concept appears throughout the Purim story and alludes to the fact that all of the parts of the story that appeared initially as gloomy, difficult and mournful in the end were reversed and not only were we saved from them, but those very same things were the source of our joy and happiness. Join me as we explore a few examples of this from the Purim story and end with a me...
Ep. 63 The Friday Night Kiddush
March 04, 2022 06:11 - 9 minutes - 9.45 MBEvery Friday night, we begin the Shabbos meal with sanctifying the Shabbos over a cup of wine (making Kiddush). It seems like such a simple action, but the Talmud teaches that through saying this Kiddush, we are actually becoming partners with God in the creation of the world! What does that mean? How does saying a few verses and blessings turn us into God's partners? Join me as we begin with the source of Kiddush in the Torah, then understand the basic text and finally uncover the deep...
Ep. 62 A Deeper Look At Clothing
February 18, 2022 16:13 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBIn many places throughout the Torah and Rabbinic writing we find an emphasis on clothing. There are mitzvahs surrounding the clothing we wear, and there's even an entire Torah portion on the materials and style of the priests' clothing while serving in the tabernacle and temple. The question is, why does God care about our clothing? Doesn't God care more about who we internally than our external appearance? Another example of the significance of clothing can be found in the Midrash, which s...
Ep. 61 The Secret Of The Jewish Leap Year
February 04, 2022 05:41 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MBThe Jewish calendar is a lunisolar calendar, meaning it aligns with the cycles of both the sun and the moon. Since the solar year is 11 days longer than the lunar year, every few years (occurring 7 times in every 19 years) we add an extra month to the year, to align these two calendars. This year is a leap year, and we recently began the Jewish month of Adar Aleph, the first Adar. Join me in this fascinating episode as we explore a deeper perspective on the Jewish leap year. What does th...
Ep. 60 Gefilte Fish History And Shabbos
January 26, 2022 05:33 - 9 minutes - 9.83 MBOne of the most recognizable Jewish dishes is the gefilte fish. Often served with a cooked carrot and a side of beets and horseradish sauce, known as chrein, it's probably the most classic appetizer at any Ashkenazi shabbos table. In this episode, we begin with the history of the gefilte and actually discover it wasn't originally a Jewish creation! We then continue to learn why it nonetheless became an essential part of the Shabbos meals. In the process, we uncover the deep Kabbalistic r...
Ep. 59 Man Is Like A Tree In The Field - Tu Bi'Shevat 2022
January 17, 2022 06:02 - 10 minutes - 10.4 MBThe Mishna (Rosh HaShanah 2a) teaches us that the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat is the "New Years for the Trees." In the practical sense this impacts multiple laws of agriculture as explained in the Torah. But is that all it is? Is it merely a birthday for the trees or is there a stronger more personal connection to us? We find multiple examples in the Torah comparing trees and people and in this episode we'll explore that connection and discover one special connection that peopl...
Ep. 58 The Ten Commandments, The Ten Plagues and The Ten Utterances: Discovering The Soul Of The World
January 05, 2022 06:10 - 10 minutes - 10.1 MBAnyone who has read the Bible knows that G-d famously decimated the Egyptian nation with 10 plagues, enabling the Jews to leave and gain their freedom. But why did G-d need 10 plagues? G-d is all-powerful! He could've just marched the Jews right out! What was the purpose of these ten plagues? Join me as we discover a fascinating connection between three groups of ten; the ten utterances through which G-d created the physical world, the 10 plagues in which G-d destroyed Egypt and freed t...
Ep. 57 Blessing Our Children On Friday Night
December 28, 2021 17:49 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MBMany have the custom to give their children a blessing before they sit down to the Friday night Shabbos meal. We place our hands on our children's head and wish our daughters to be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah and our sons to be like Ephraim and Menashe and conclude with the Priestly blessings. Why do we give this blessing on Friday night? Why do we compare compare our daughters to the Mothers of the Jewish nation but our sons to Ephraim and Menashe (Joseph's sons) and not to the ...
Ep. 56 You Are Worthy Of A Relationship With God
December 17, 2021 05:02 - 10 minutes - 10.5 MBWhen people think of their relationship with God, they sometimes feel unworthy. God is so great, is it possible that he really cares about me individually? Does he really want to hear my prayer? Does he really care if I get stuck in traffic? Or perhaps, God did a personal miracle for them and they wonder why did God spare me from a potential tragedy? What did I do to deserve this? I'm not really so great! What's the Jewish perspective on this? Don't we believe that God IS the great...
Ep. 55 The Heavenly Tribunal and Asarah Bi'Teves
December 08, 2021 07:08 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBThere are 6 public fast days on the Jewish calendar: Yom Kippur, Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), Tzom Gedalia (the 3rd of Tishrei), Asarah Biteves (the 10th of Teves), Taanis Esther (the 13th of Adar) and Shiva Asar Bi'Tammuz (the 17th of Tammuz). And while Yom Kippur and the fast of Esther each have their own independent reason for fasting, the remaining four are much more interconnected. In this episode, you'll discover the historical connection between the fateful days of 10 Teves, 17 Ta...
Ep. 54 Uncovering Chanukah's Deeper Meaning
December 01, 2021 06:06 - 12 minutes - 12.7 MBChanukah is often viewed as the holiday of lights in which we light the Menorah, eat oily foods and get presents, but is that all there is to Chanukah? In this episode, we uncover the ideological underpinning of the Maccabean revolt against the great Greek army. What did Ancient Greece stand for? What was the Jewish response? How did the Maccabees win the spiritual war? Join me as we take a Kabbalistic perspective to discover the deeper meaning behind Chanukah! Thank you to David and E...
Ep. 53 Laws and Customs of Chanukah
November 24, 2021 06:19 - 15 minutes - 15.8 MBIn this episode, we go through the basic laws and customs of Chanukah. We discuss the menorah, the fuel, time of lighting, placement of the menorah, the game of dreidel, Chanukah gifts and much more. If you want a quick 15 minute primer to either learn for the first time or remind yourself from last year of all the various laws and customs, you won't want to miss this episode. Happy Listening! Rabbi Moshe To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and...
Ep. 52 Why Are We Called Jews?
November 17, 2021 09:03 - 11 minutes - 11.6 MBThe name we generally identify with as a religion and a nation is the "Jew". We consider ourselves Jewish and practice Judaism, but have you ever wondered where this name comes from? In the Torah, God refers to the nation as the "sons of Israel" or the "Israelites" but no mention of Jews or Judaism, so where did that come from? Join me as we take both a historical and philosophical deep dive into the history of our national name uncovering a deeper meaning of what it really means to be "J...
Ep. 51 Why Are The Stories Of Genesis Included In The Torah?
November 03, 2021 06:38 - 10 minutes - 11.3 MBThe Torah is a legal guide to help us maximize our time in this world. The word Torah itself means instruction or teachings. Why would a book of laws begin with stories? Imagine if the constitution began with stories of George Washington, Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, it'd be ridiculous! The place for stories is in the history books, not the law books. So why did God include the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the 12 tribes in a legal script? Join me as we discover th...
Ep. 50 Why Are Mitzvahs Physical - Understanding Physical and Spiritual Space
October 28, 2021 05:16 - 11 minutes - 12.1 MBOften when one thinks of a deep spiritual experience, they think of a transcendent meditation, or maybe about accessing deeper levels of consciousness or the like. They don't generally think of hanging a parchment outside their front door (mezuzah) or sitting in a wooden hut (Sukka), separating a piece of bread for the priest (Challah), yet when we look at the Torah, we find that almost all the mitzvahs (biblical commandments) are physical actions. How can that be? How can a physical acti...
Ep. 49 Uncovering the Mystery of Mikvah
October 20, 2021 22:36 - 12 minutes - 11.9 MBThe Mikvah is one of the most powerful tools in Judaism. The Mikvah has the ability to transform a ritually impure (tamei) person into a pure one (tahor), as well as to transform a gentile into Jew. How does entering a pool of water accomplish such a magnificent transformation? Where does the Mikvah draw this amazing power from? This episode begins with the basics of what a mikvah is and how its used, and then continues to develop that to uncover the deeper Kabbalistic meaning behind the...
Ep. 48 Understanding A Traditional Jewish Wedding
October 13, 2021 08:59 - 12 minutes - 10.2 MBMarriage is one of the most important values in Judaism, and as such the marriage process is filled with meaningful rituals and processes, reflecting the magnitude of the moment. Often many people aren't aware of the meaning behind much of what's being done, so in this episode, we go through the entire wedding process from the time one enters the wedding hall until they leave. In addition to explaining the legal process, we add in the psychological and spiritual meanings behind many of the...
Ep. 47 - Why Do We Look At Our Fingernails During Havdala?
October 06, 2021 04:11 - 10 minutes - 8.27 MBThe Havdala ritual is comprised of making a blessing on a cup of wine, a candle and nice smelling spices. When we make the blessing over the havdala candle, the code of Jewish Law teaches us that we should fold our fingers down over our palms and look at our fingernails and palms. What is the meaning of this custom? Why do we look at them? Join me as we begin with an explanation from the Mishna and continue going deeper uncovering the source of fire in the Torah, the kabbalistic meaning ...
Ep. 46 The Holiday Season and The Search For Adam
September 26, 2021 04:30 - 13 minutes - 11.6 MBThe incredible holiday season, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, continuing to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, and then Sukkos, finally comes to a climax with the holiday of Shemini Atzeres. And while all the other holidays have unique commandments associated with them (shofar, fasting, lulav and esrog, sitting in a sukkah etc.) there are no special commandments for this final day. Why is that? Why doesn't Shemini Atzeres have any unique mitzvahs? In this episode, we ta...
Ep. 45 A Deeper Look at the Laws of Yom Kippur
September 14, 2021 20:53 - 12 minutes - 9.93 MBYom Kippur is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and carries along with that many unique laws and customs. What are all the laws of Yom Kippur? When do they apply? What's the deeper meaning of them? Is there a common theme that goes across all these laws? Join me as we uncover the unique element of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and we'll discover the elevated status we are able to attain on this holiest day. Happy Listening! Rabbi Moshe To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-dedu...
Ep 44 It's Not Too Late To Repent
September 06, 2021 05:33 - 10 minutes - 7.85 MBWhat if we feel like we haven't accomplished as much repentance as we would've liked over the past month? What if we are embarrassed to show our faces in synagogue on the High Holidays after another year of failed accomplishments? What's the advice? Join me as I relay a few parables revealing the key to gaining God's assistance in the repentance process. Activate God's help in making us repentant! May we all be written in the book of life for a year of health, success and amazing growth...
Ep. 43 The Power of the Shofar
September 01, 2021 06:24 - 13 minutes - 10.2 MBThe only mitzvah unique to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, is the obligation to hear the Shofar blasts. These Shofar blasts are so powerful that they actually get God to move from his throne of judgement to his throne of mercy. What is so special about the Shofar? How does it produce this heavenly transformation of Godly perspective? And, why is it the only mitzvah of Rosh Hashana? Join me as we go very deep into different Kabbalistic understandings of what judgement really is, what m...
Ep. 42 Uncovering the True Essence of Rosh Hashana
August 25, 2021 05:49 - 10 minutes - 8.41 MBMany view the day of Rosh Hashana as the Day of Judgement; when God looks at our past year's actions and determines what the next year will look like. But if that's all Rosh Hashana is, why don't the Rabbis primarily refer to it as Yom Hadin, the Day of Judgement. Why call it Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the year? And why does the service on Rosh Hashana completely ignore the judgement? It doesn't seem to focus on repentance or repairing ourselves on a personal level at all! Join me as...
Ep. 41 Elul - When God Is Near
August 18, 2021 05:14 - 10 minutes - 7.73 MBOur Rabbis teach us that during the month of Elul, God makes Himself more accessible than at any other time of the year. During this period of introspection and self improvement, God is standing there with us in the fields, helping us along. Join me as we discover why this is? What is special about this time period that God makes Himself more available? In the course of the discussion, we'll also discover a Talmudic debate as to when the world was created, why the day of judgement is on ...