Torah Cafe

Poetry has always played a central role in Judaism. Jewish poetry began in the Tanach (the Hebrew scriptures), which contain the earliest known poetry. Later in the early Middle Ages, Jewish poets developed extensive liturgical poems that became central to our prayers and served as a model copied by Christian and Muslim poets. 

A fascinating discussion about Piyyut, early Jewish poetry and how it influenced all subsequent poetry. 

It is a great Mitzvah to do everything we can to free our fellow Jews who have been captured. Many Jewish communities maintained special funds for freeing captives and hostages. But should we always free captives at any price? Can we overpay? What if we are asked to exchange the captives for terrorists? What if the captives' lives are in danger? J

A fascinating class about the Jewish responses to the agonizing questions about freeing hostages. 

Judaism allows for couple to go separate ways once their marriage reached an end. The process of Jewish divorce - Get in Hebrew - is among the most detailed and complex religious ceremonies in Judaism. 

A fascinating overview of the detailed Jewish divorce ceremony. 

Links to related classes

Beth Din - The Jewish court system https://open.spotify.com/episode/09KcwTo04tQSmpQlHNaVsX?si=zQkf-1STRWijimsTFQf0oA

The Aguna problem https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oVSHf15s3tWvomhmDgKnt?si=3ayHGUYWR3K2ElquMNkglg

From the beginning of time, people have been predicting the end-of-times, when the world as we know it will come to an end. Today, there are countless people who claim to know the signs that we are almost there.
Jews have always believed in the coming of Mashiach and the "end-of-times". But is that going to happen soon? Do we know when Mashiach will come and when history will end?

A fascinating discussion about the Jewish traditions regarding predicting the end-of-times.

Link to past episode about the End of Times https://open.spotify.com/episode/0R4X8w7NDAFscNpIYZLAAO?si=WpGJAtdkTQ6sxWbZfv9DQQ

The Torah forbids us from eating milk and meat together. What about fish and meat, fish and fowl, or even fish and milk? 

A fascinating discussion about the rules of eating fish with meat or milk in Judaism. 

Links to related episodes

Mixing Milk and Meat https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FtZuAhFtMbOLfpHhPf6IO?si=sMrC4igkTFie6GOQ8sWpxQ

What makes fish Kosher? https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NVIqPADTsRGf4S1E5XyQl?si=vfmlreIrT2uR3wPke4rqeg

The Shulchan Aruch https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gwgTVDqHl6bNOEnoLcJcB?si=lJ1QLKlURIWuR3cwqTev_w

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.

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?

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

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?

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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".

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

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. 

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)

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. 

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. 

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. 

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!

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.

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.

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.

Over our 3,300 year long history, we have lost more Jews to assimilation than to violence and persecution. Assimilation, rather than persecution, is then the biggest threat to the continuation of Judaism and the Jewish people. 

How can we counter assimilation and ensure the continuation of our people? 

Six days a week we work, eat, sleep, exercise and go about our daily lives. When Shabbat arrives, we pause to reconnect with the Creator. On Friday afternoon as the sun sets and Shabbat begins, we have a special mystical prayer called Kabbalat Shabbat, which includes Psalms, poems and study to greet the Shabbat Queen.

What is the meaning of the Kabbalat Shabbat prayers? When did they start? And why do we refer to Shabbat as a queen?

A fascinating discussion about Kabbalat Shabbat, the mystical service greeting the Shabbat!

Before the Holy Temple was built in Jerusalem, there was a Jewish Temple stood at Shilo for 369 years. The Temple at Shilo served Israel at the very beginning of our history in a period know as The Judges (Shoftim), a period we know little about.

A fascinating discussion of what we know about the ancient Temple in Shilo.

Dogs are mentioned twice in the torah, both times positively. However, they are not Kosher animals and there are also negative references to dogs in Jewish sources. Historically, Jews rarely owned dogs; however, some Jews throughout history did have dogs (mostly for protection) and today, many Jews have dogs as pets. 

What does the Torah and Jewish teachings say about dogs? Should Jews have dogs as pets? Do we view them positively or negatively?

A fascinating discussion about Judaism's perspective on dogs!

Kabbalah teaches that G-d uses various expressions to impact creation. These expressions sometimes come as Names of G-d. One of G-d's lesser known names, is a 72 word name that was invoked at the Splitting of the Sea and can be found alluded to in the Torah's description of the event.

A fascinating discussion about the secrets of the  72-word name of G-d.

Here is a link to the handout https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IS1UVj6F2tlVHgl2eEvmpDrH3WAuC8na/view?usp=sharing

When adults convert to Judaism, they must convert on their own volition with a commitment to fulfill all of the Torah's commandments that are applicable to them. However, children do not have the agency to choose to convert on their own nor can they be held to a commitment that they make. How then can we convert children to Judaism?

A fascinating discussion about how children convert to Judaism. 

We hear a lot about antisemitism, the irrational, obsessive hatred of Jews. Yet is an important flipside to antisemitism - philosemitism, the irrational, obsessive love for Jews.
We all know philosemitism - they are all around us and are a huge part of our country. There have been philosemites as long as there have been antisemites. Still, for some reason, philosemitism doesn't get the same acknowledgement or attention as antisemitism.
A fascinating discussion about philosemitism, which will also give us a much better understanding of antisemitism, its causes and steps we can take to reduce antisemitism and increase philosemitism.

One of the most cryptic stories in the Torah is when he is attacked by an angel on the way to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. Moses' wife Tziporah circumcised her son and the angel let go.

A fascinating dive into the story of the angel attacking Moses. 

The most important Jewish find in recent history was the Cairo Geniza, a massive trove of hundreds of thousands of ancient documents and books that entirely rewrote medieval Jewish and Middle Eastern history. 

A fascinating discussion about the exciting find and some of the amazing things we learned from it. 

On Jewish festivals, we have a Mitzvah to recite 6 chapters of Psalms expressing our thanks to G-d for the miracles He has performed for us. Reciting these Chapters is called Hallel - praise. 

A Chanukah related discussion about the Mitzvah of reciting Hallel.  

Bet Shamai and Bet Hillel were two major Jewish schools in Jerusalem that lasted about 100 years from about 10 BCE to 70 CE. The schools were founded by two great Jewish leaders Hillel and Shamai. There were hundreds of debates of Jewish law between the two prominent schools. 

A fascinating discussion about Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel and their important contributions to Judaism and Jewish History. 

Jews have a tendency that whenever they speak, they regularly mention G-d or the common Hebrew word Hashem. Where does this come from? Why do we mention G-d so regularly and casually in our conversations?

A fascinating conversation about the Jewish custom of regularly mentioning G-d.

In a cryptic story, the Torah tells us how Jacob found himself alone at night and found himself wrestling with a man who dislocated his thigh. Jacob refused to let the man go without a blessing and the man told him that his name will be changed from Jacob to Israel.

Clearly this man was no ordinary man and the story has deeper meaning. Most commentaries assume this man was an angel. Who was this angel? Can a person really wrestle with an angel? What is the meaning of this fight and the dislocated thigh?

A fascinating discussion about Jacob's wrestling with the angel and the lessons for us today.

The Roman Empire in its different forms lasted for 1,000 years and had a big impact on Jews in our long history. At times the Romans were tolerant and even supportive of Jews at other times they were ruthless including in destroying the second Temple and ending Jewish independence in the land of Israel.

Jewish tradition traces Romans back to Jacob's brother Esau who attempted to kill him.

A fascinating relationship between Rome and the Jews.

In one of the most perplexing stories in the Torah, Isaac wanted to bless his older son Esau before his death. However, his younger son Jacob tricked his father into believing that he was Esau and blessing him instead. 

How was Jacob allowed to trick his father? Was it ethical for him to take the blessings meant for his brother?

A fascinating class about how Jacob was able to trick his father.

It is a jewish custom not to cut a boy's hair until their third birthday and then on their 3 year old birthday. cut their hair short leaving their peyot (sidelocks) visible. What is the reason for this custom and where does it come from?

A fascinating discussion about the Upsherin, the 3-year-old haircutting. 

Other classes mentioned:

Why Do Many Jewish Men Have Beards? https://open.spotify.com/episode/7xY7BYAGlLDyajzT2AveRv?si=pAMy3syjT5i6s9QI6gG0PA

The 13 Attributes of Mercy https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yTWzQqJattoOKsB9VfPV0?si=9XNkDhgwTy2O3PGfC52eSw

Parallel Universes https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wwVTpeGUOGtEmuuxraaCf?si=2R3YW30TQhq8oOHW6xeOtA

The Importance of Jewish Pride https://open.spotify.com/episode/0GCMjj8MruxNWKDWayMFv6?si=95GNTl9LS3CEwpeh-Cjmcw

Not only are we commanded to care for the sick and help them heal, it is an important Mitzvah for us to visit the sick and spend time with them. 

A fascinating discussion about the unique Mitzvah of visiting the sick. 

Lot, Abraham's nephew has a notable role in the story of Abraham, traveling with him to Canaan until they eventually separate. Abraham later risks his life to save Lot from captivity and G-d saves him from Sodom before it was destroyed.

Who was Lot, why does he play such an important role in Abraham's story and what is his historical impact?

Wine has a prominent role in the Torah and Jewish sources. Wine is found in many stories in Tanach )Scripture) and was part of the service in the Holy Temple. Later, our sages instructed us to recite Kiddush, Havdalah and many other important Jewish prayers and events with a cup of wine. Yet, as an alcoholic drink, there is a clear downside to wine.

What is the Torah's view on wine? Why is wine used extensively in Jewish practice?

A fascinating discussion about the role of wine in Judaism.

Any Jewish celebration usually involves Jews forming a circle and dancing. While circle dancing isn't unique to Jews, it is the most common form of jewish dancing particularly among Chassidim who dance almost exclusively in circles. 

What is the deeper significance behind the circle and how is it connected to dancing?

On Sukkot, there was a special water pouring ceremony in the Temple in Jerusalem. In preparation for the ceremony, there were great celebrations in the Temple called Simchat Beit Hasho'eva, the Water Drawing Celebration. Though the Temple no longer stands and we no longer have the water pouring ceremony or the celebration, we still celebrate on Sukkot in commemoration. 

A fascinating discussion about the Water Pouring Ceremony and the Water Drawing Celebration. 

Teshuvah - Return is one of the most powerful gifts that G-d has given to us. It allows us to clean up our missteps and mistakes and allows us to return to our true deeper selves. How can we do Teshuva - Return? What are the steps of Teshuvah? How can we connect to our deeper selves?

A fascinating discussion about the unique gift of Teshuvah.

On the first eve of Rosh Hashanah, there is a custom to eat a number of special foods, some of which are universally eaten by all Jewish communities and some that are unique to specific communities. 

A fascinating discussion about the special foods that we eat on Rosh Hashanah Eve. 

People often argue that we should live and let live. We should not bother others about things that they do that do not directly harm anyone else. What is the Jewish approach? Should we let everyone decide their values on their own and respect those decisions or do we have a moral responsibility to ensure everyone else acts as they should?

A fascinating discussion about the Jewish approach to the question; should I care what other people do? 

In 1897, Rabbi Shalom Ber, the Rebbe of Lubavitch opened a new Yeshiva - school for advanced Jewish learning called Tomchei Temimim. The school was unique as the first Chassidic Yeshiva that studied Chassidus in additional to the Talmud and Halacha (Jewish Law) studied in all Yeshivas.

In the years since, the Yeshiva has graduated tens of thousands of students, many of whom became leaders and builders of Jewish life across the world.

A fascinating discussion about the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva and why it had such an enormous impact. 

Chacham Yosef Chayim of Baghdad was the greatest rabbi and sage of the Iraqi Jewish community and perhaps the entire Sephardic world in the 19th century. Chacham Yosef Chayim's became known by the name of one of the countless books he authored Ben Ish Chai. He became famous as a master scholar, Halachic (legal) expert, Kabbalist, preacher, author and Jewish leader. 

As humanity has developed and industrialized, we became increasingly concerned about the impact of our development and industrialization on the environment. Many believe that we are not concerned enough and much more needs to be done to care for and avoid harm to the environment.

What is the Jewish view on caring for the environment? Do we have a responsibility towards the environment? Should we be concerned about the environment even at the cost of human development?

While the Torah gives us signs to recognize Kosher animals and fish, the Torah doesn't list any signs of Kosher birds. What signs then make a bird Kosher? Which common birds are kosher to eat?

A fascinating class about which birds are Kosher. 

Link for Jewish Belief in Sacrifice Class

Spodify https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Y8ytem9XHTMs3CkVqRyyw

Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/do-jews-believe-in-sacrifice/id1459281504?i=1000483642088

The Soviet Union moved quickly to almost entirely stamp out Judaism across the massive country within a decade of coming to power. By the 1930's virtually all major Jewish leaders in the world's largest Jewish community had either been killed, fled or went into hiding. 

One Jewish leader, Rabbi Levik Schneerson, the Rabbi of Dnipro in Ukraine survived and almost single handedly kept the Jewish spark alive. In 1939 he was arrested and sent to Kazakhstan where he died in 1944

A fascinating discussion about Rabbi Levik Schneerson and his role in standing up to the soviets.

In 1240, the Talmud was put on trial in Paris for blasphemy where it was convicted of being burned. On June 17, 1242, 24 wagon loads with more than 10,000 Jewish manuscripts were burned in Paris in the Place de Grève. 

Why was the Talmud burned? How did it survive? And what was the impact of Jews and Christians in Europe?

A fascinating Tisha B'av themed discussion about the burning of the Talmud 

When praying in different synagogues, one would notice that there are considerable variations between the prayers and prayer books (siddurim) in different Jewish communities. The different variations for prayer are called Nuscha'ot

Why are there so many variations of the prayers? Where did these differences come from? How does someone choose which prayer variation they should follow?J

A fascinating class about the Nuschaot, variations in Jewish prayer.  

Just a few decades after the destruction of Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, Emperor Cyrus of Persia gave the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. The euphoria didn't last long, soon after they started building the Temple, permission was rescinded

A fascinating discussion about the starts and stops of the building of the Second Temple and the fulfillment of Jeramiah's cryptic prophecy.

One of the most horrific episodes of jewish history began in 1827, when Czar Nicholas of Russia decreed that Jewish communities supply boys for his army. These boys would be taken at young ages and pressured to convert to Orthodox Christianity. They would have to remain in the army under horrific conditions for decades until they reached their early 40's. 

The Cantonist Decree (as it was called), not only tore apart families, it tore apart communities as each family looked for ways to save their children at the expense of others. 

Hear the tragic story of the Cantonists and how it continues to impact Jewish in the United States today. 

For more than 70 years, the Soviet Union outlawed most Jewish practice in the Soviet Union. Yet throughout that time, a vibrant Jewish Underground existed with synagogues, schools, yeshivas, kosher slaughter, Jewish circumcision, Torah classes and more.

The punishment for being caught committing any of the above 'transgressions' was hard labor in the Gulags of Siberia or death. Thousands of members of the Jewish underground were killed, thousands more spent years in the Gulags but the clandestine Jewish activities continued and grew.J

The fascinating untold story of the Jewish Underground in the Soviet Union.

The Ohel, the burial place of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Queens NY is the most widely visited Jewish shrine in the United States. Since the Rebbe's passing in 1994, more than one million people visit the Ohel each year to pray and be inspired.

A fascinating discussion about the Ohel and why so many people visit the Ohel. 

One of the most consequential early leaders of Israel was the prophet Samuel. He succeeded in uniting Israel under his leadership and ending the federal system of Judges. He appointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David. 

A fascinating discussion about the prophet Samuel.

Jewish law has a number of rules limiting the involvement of non-Jews in the kosher kitchen, including limits on cooking, baking, milking and making wine. Each of these limits have exceptions and work-arounds allowing non-Jews to people involved in most Kosher food preparation. 

A fascinating discussion about the rules concerning non-Jews in a Kosher kitchen. 

Jewish observance has evolved significantly over our long history and varies from community to community. While the commandments and laws have not changed over our history and are practically identical in every community, the variations are in Jewish customs which have evolved significantly over the generations.  

Where do Jewish customs come from? How do customs become part of Jewish practice? Can customs be wrong?A fascinating discussion about the role of Jewish customs.

In Judaism, we believe that the Torah was written cryptically in code form. To derive commandments and laws from the Torah we need to decipher that code. What is the code that is used to decipher the Torah? How is it employed? Has the Torah's code been fully deciphered in the past 3,000 years our people have studied it?

One of the most esoteric parts of Tanach (the Hebrew Scriptures) is the description of the Merkava or G-d's chariot described twice in detail in the book of Ezekiel. Kabbalists have written extensively, explaining the meaning and significance of each detail described in the Merkava.

A fascinating discussion about the Merkava and its meaning. 

Rav Saadia Gaon, was one of the most famous Geonim who led the great schools in Babylon during the geonic period (500-1000 CE). Rav Saadia, was known for his many works that he wrote on Jewish law and on Jewish beliefs. He also fought the Kaarites, a group that broke away from traditional Judaism.

A fascinating discussion about Rav Saadia Gaon, his life story, teachings and his impact on Judaism today. 

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were two groups that fought for religious and political dominance of the Jewish people during the Second Temple period (350 BCE - 70 CE).  Who were they? What did they believe? How did they impact Judaism as we know it today?

Mules are perhaps the best known animal crossbreeds. They have been used extensively throughout history as work animals and are still used today. However, the Torah prohibits us from cross breeding animals or even making different animal species work together. 

A fascinating discussion about crossbreeding and mixing animals according to Jewish law. 

The Jewish community in Holland began after the country became a republic in 1581. It was the first country to offer freedom to Jews and many Jews flocked there especially Spanish and Portuguese conversos. For much of the 17th and 18th centuries, Amsterdam's Jewish community was the largest and most prominent in Europe. That came to a sudden end with the Holocaust that decimated Dutch Jewry. Yet, Jews and Judaism continue to thrive in Holland today. 

Perhaps the greatest Jewish scholar of all time was Rabbi Akiva. The Talmud tells us the Moses was in awe of the brilliance of Rabbi Akiva.

Rabbi Akiva, who lived in the 2nd Century CE is also perhaps the most fascinating Jewish leader. A simple illiterate shepherd, he married, Rachel the daughter of the wealthiest man in Israel. At forty he went to school for the first time but quickly became Israel's greatest scholar. His life is full of twists and turns until it end under Roman torture. 

The sefirot are 10 tools that G-d used to create our world according to Jewish mystical teachings of Kabbalah, We each have 10 sefirot in our soul as well.

We count the 49 days between the first day of Passover and the festival of Shavuot, known as the counting of the Omer. During these days, we can develop our own character by focusing each week on one of the seven emotional Sefirot.

A discussion about the Sefirot and our self-development during the Omer period.  

The Seder has many unique parts to it. Many of the Seder's various parts have deep mystical significance. The Seder plate sits on the seder table in front of the person leasing the Seder. Each item on the Seder plate has a unique role at the Seder in addition to having deep mystical significance.

A fascinating discussion about the Seder plate and its powerful mystical significance.

For many, killing animals for human consumption is wrong. For others, vegetarianism or veganism are misplaced virtue that overlooks the gulf between the value of human life and animal life.

Judaism historically allowed for meat consumption and even required slaughter for sacrificial purposes. Is there room for vegetarianism in Jewish thought. Would Jewish traditions consider vegetarianism a value?

Over the past century, Jewish schools and communities began opening Kollels, schools for advanced jewish studies. Today there are hundreds of Kollels around the world where tens of thousands of students study daily. 

Why did the Kollels begin? What is unique about a Kollel? Why have Kollels been opened in so many communities around the world?

One of the unique features of a traditional synagogue is that men and women are separated for all prayers. In many older synagogues, women sat in a balcony above the main synagogue. In many synagogues today, there is a partition (mechitzah) separating the men and women. 

When did we start separating men and women in the synagogue? What is the reason for it? 

A fascinating discussion about separating  men and women in the synagogue

In a rare occurrence, Purim this year will be on Friday taking us straight from the festival of Purim into Shabbat. This creates some unusual customs in balancing Purim with the onset of Shabbat.

In Jerusalem where Purim is observed a day later (Shushan Purim), Purim will be Shabbat. However, the Megillah cannot be read on Shabbat and therefore must be read on Friday while other laws of Purim are pushed to Sunday, creating a triple Purim.

A fascinating discussion about the unique rules and customs this year when Purim is on a Friday.

Kabbalah the mystical teachings of Judaism have become very popular in recent years. With its popularity have come the many charlatans, frauds and quacks looking to cash in on unsuspecting students of Kabbalah. 

How do you know who is teaching real Kabbalah and who is a fraud? Often the fakes look very real and convincing. How can the uninitiated easily differentiate those teaching the real thing from the garbage?

A presentation of some simple rules to know which Kabbalah teachers are real.

In 830 BCE, King Solomon completed building the First Temple in Jerusalem. At the time, during the Iron Age, it was the grandest and largest building to be built. The Temple would serve as the center of Jewish service for 410 years until it was destroyed by the Babylonians. 

A fascinating discussion about how the first Temple was built, what it looked like and its role in Jewish life.  

There are many medical treatments that are not part of conventional medicine. Many of these unconventional treatments are very popular. What does Judaism say about alternative medical treatments? Are we allowed or perhaps even encouraged to seek alternative medical treatments? May we use them instead of conventional medicine? May we use them to complement conventional medicine? 

Generally, we can violate most laws of the Torah to save a life. Could alternative medical treatment also be used in violation of Torah laws to save a life?

A fascinating discussion about the Jewish approach to alternative medicine.  

G-d gave the Jewish people 613 Commandments that we committed to follow as part of our covenant with Him. What are the 613 Commandments? Where can we find a list? What do the Commandments include? 

For more than 1,000 years Jewish scholars have debated over how to define Commandments, what exactly the 613 Commandments are and how to count them. 

A fascinating discussion about the 613 Commandments and the debate over exactly what are the commandments.

Starting in the 1960's, the Rebbe started public Mitzvah campaigns as a call to encourage Jews to readopt many of the important Commandments in Judaism that they were not observing. Over the Years the Rebbe launched 10 Mitzvah campaigns raising awareness and increasing observance of some of the most central Commandments. 

A fascinating discussion about the 10 Mitzvah Campaigns and how we can be part of them.

While the Torah bans us from eating all insects, the Torah makes an exception for locust. The Torah lists certain types of locust that we are allowed to eat. Why did the Torah allow us to eat locust? Which types of locust are kosher? Can we eat them today? 

A fascinating discussion about the kosher status of locust.

Jews have lived in Tunisia since Roman times and built strong communities in Tunis, Djerba and other cities. While most Jews left after independence, there is still a Jewish community in Tunis and a close knit community on the Island of Djerba. 

The Torah and Tanach refer to G-d thousands of times but switches between many different names for G-d. Why does G-d have so many names, what do they each mean? How do we know which name of G-d to use? When do we pronounce and correctly spell G-d's name and when are they mispronounced and misspelled? 

A fascinating discussion about G-d's various names, what they all mean and how they are used.   

One of the saddest and horrific moments in our history took place over 3,000 years ago when all the tribes joined forces to fight against the tribe of Benjamin. The horrific civil war and massacre that followed it almost led to the annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin.

Learn the story of this civil war and its aftermath and its implications for us today. 

One of the traditions of Chanukah in Ashkenazic communities is playing with a dreidel, a spinning top that has 4 sides with the Hebrew letters Nun, Gimmel, Hei and Shin. What is the origin of the dreidel? Does it contain mystical significance? What is the connection to Chanukah?

A fascinating discussion about the Dreidel and its significance.

For most people, their right arm is their dominant arm that they use for most activities. For some it is their left arm. In Judaism, there is a distinct role for the right arm (such as washing first, holding a kiddush cup) and for the left arm (wearing Tefillin). What happens when someone is left handed? Which arm do they use?

A fascinating Chanukah themed discussion about right-handed and left-handed people in Judaism and the mystical significance behind each one.  

When a couple marries, Jewish law gives certain obligations and rights to each spouse. Those rights and obligations are written up in a document called a Ketubah which every married Jewish couple must have. 

A fascinating discussion about the Ketubah, what it contains, how it is written and the various traditions and customs of the Ketubah that have developed over our long history.

Bonus Episode:

Our biblical ancestors Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon all had multiple wives. Is Polygamy moral? How can our great heroes have practiced it? Does Jewish law forbid polygamy? Should it be forbidden?

A candid discussion about one of the most controversial questions in Jewish thought; how can our biblical figures have practiced polygamy?

Our ancestor Jacob was tricked by his uncle Laban into marrying Laban's 2 daughters Rachel and Leah. While the Torah allows for polygamy, it does not allow for marrying two sisters. How then was Jacob able to marry two sisters in violation of Jewish law?

This classic question has been asked and addressed by countless commentaries over our long history. 

A fascinating discussion addressing this classic question of how Jacob could have married two sisters. 

In a fascinating episode, the Torah tells us how Jacob dreamed about a ladder standing on the ground with its top reaching the heavens and he saw angels going up and down the ladder. The meaning of the dream remains cryptic with countless explanations offered by different Torah commentaries and Jewish thinkers.

Tehillim (Psalms) is one of the most read books of Tanach (the Scriptures) with 150 poems and songs covering historic events, prayers and inspiration. Jews throughout history have read Tehillim as the go-to book whenever they were in trouble or needed help.

Who wrote the book of Tehillim? What do the poems speak about? Why has it become so central to Jewish prayer?

Happiness is important for us to function well and to succeed. Happiness makes us pleasant people and helps us build relationships. Happiness is a goal for most people. In Judaism, it's a mitzvah to be happy! 

But how do we become happy? What can we do to make ourselves happier?

A fascinating discussion about happiness, why it's so central to Judaism and the unique Jewish approach to finding true happiness!

Hospitality has always been a strong Jewish trait and a Mitzvah. Jewish communities have always had hospitality housing and food for travelers while Jewish families opened their homes to strangers. 

Why is hospitality so important in Judaism? What should good hospitality include? Are there limits to hospitality? 

A fascinating discussion about the Jewish value and Mitzvah of hospitality. 

After the Exodus from Egypt, Jews continued to go back to Egypt for most of our history. Jews lived in Egypt continuously from the time of the destruction of the First Temple around 421 BCE until the mid 20th century, making it possibly the longest continuous Jewish community in history. 

A fascinating discussion about the history of the Jews of Egypt. 

Since modern science developed, there has been a long-standing tension between religion and science as many scientific discoveries contradicted long-standing religious beliefs and many scientists believed that new scientific wisdom made religion unnecessary.

What does Judaism say about modern science? Can Jewish beliefs be reconciled with modern science? Do we embrace science, reject it or tread carefully around it? Does science weaken or strengthen our faith? 

The final 5 days of Sukkot and the middle 4 days of Passover are called Chol Hamo'ed - "Mundane Festival". They are part of the holiday but not holidays. They are regular days and holy days. We are allowed to work but not supposed to work if possible. What are these paradoxical days about?

A fascinating discussion about Chol Hamo'ed, the middle days of the festivals.

We are commanded to live in the Sukkah over the festival of Sukkot. Our sages say that living in the Sukkah includes both eating and sleeping in the Sukkah. In the middle ages, Ashkenazic Jews stopped sleeping in the Sukkah. Today, many Jews sleep in the Sukkah while many others do not. 

A fascinating discussion about the debate over sleeping in the Sukkah. 

One of the saddest chapters in Jewish history was the assassination of Gedaliah, the first Governor of Judea as a Babylonian province. The story told in the book of Kings is the first recorded Jewish assassination. The assassination which led to the end of the Jewish community in Judea for a few decades, is marked each year with the Fast of Gedaliah.

Learn about the tragic story of Gedaliah and why we still mark the day of his assassination today.