What is Faith (Emunah) According to the Bible? Aleph Beta 2026-09-18 | What is Faith (Emunah) According to the Bible?
Eikev: A Revolutionary Way of Serving God? Aleph Beta 2023-08-03 | In Parshat Eikev, Moses tells the Israelites he’s got breaking news to share about what God wants from us: to fear, love, and serve Him, and to do all the mitzvot. But what’s so new about that? We’ve been hearing that since humanity was first created. What could Moses really be telling the people?Join Ari Levisohn and Evan Weiner as they explore Moses’ speech and discover a message which has never been as relevant as it is in the 21st century.
Devarim: Seeing Life From Gods Perspective Aleph Beta 2023-07-21 | In Parshat Devarim, Moses rehashes the sin of the Spies. The Spies did exactly what Moses told them to do. They reported back on every question Moses asked them, so why does God decide to wipe out that whole generation and only their children would enter the land?Join Beth Lesch and Ami Silver as they explore Moses' retelling of the Spies' story and discover the Spies’ real failure and their children's opportunity to redeem that sin.Join Rabbi Fohrman and the Aleph Beta team Tisha B’Av morning for Kinot Unlocked. To register or for more information, please visit alephbeta.org/tisha-bav/kinot-eventsExplore Aleph Beta's rich collection of Tisha B'Av videos at alephbeta.org/tisha-bav0:00 Intro2:38 Moses Gives the Spies a Mission5:05 Did the Spies Fulfill Moses’ Commands?7:25 Good or Bad: The Missing Answer11:27 Moses, the 12 Spies... and the Burning Bush?14:01 Understanding Moses’ Reaction15:41 The Good Spies vs. the Bad Spies17:15 Echoes of Eden22:02 The Test of Eden: Take Two?24:07 The Children Will Enter the Promised Land26:54 What Does it Mean to Know Good and Evil?
Tisha BAv 2023: What We Lost When The Temple Was Destroyed Aleph Beta 2023-07-19 | Tisha B’Av is our national day of mourning – but why does this day focus so intensely on the destruction of a building, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem? Yes, it was a devastating loss, but still, we usually think of a building as just an object. But the Temple was modeled on the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Could the Mishkan have been designed to do something that seems impossible – to reverse Creation itself and make a little path to God’s own world beyond space and time?Find out at alephbeta.org/playlist/what-we-lost-when-the-temple-was-destroyed
Matot-Masei: How Manasseh Prevented a Family Feud Aleph Beta 2023-07-13 | When the tribes of Reuben and Gad say they prefer not settle in the Land of Israel, Moses is concerned, but accepts their request and decides that half of the tribe of Menasseh should join them. Why would Moses do that? How would the tribe of Menasseh make things any better?Join Ami Silver and Daniel Loewenstein as they explore the emotionally charged dynamics in this week’s parsha.Check out Rabbi Fohrman’s video on Parshat Matot to learn more about how to effectively negotiate: alephbeta.org/playlist/how-reubenites-gadites-negotiated-a-settlementJoin Rabbi Fohrman and the Aleph Beta team Tisha B’Av morning for Kinot Unlocked. To register or for more information, please visit alephbeta.org/tisha-bav/kinot-events0:00 Intro2:24 How To Approach Negotiations9:05 Who Mentioned Menasseh?15:16 A Familiar Location18:53 Connecting the Dots21:34 What To Make of All This?25:56 Implications for Our Lives
Pinchas: Grappling With Mortality Aleph Beta 2023-07-06 | In Parshat Pinchas, the daughters of Tzelafchad mysteriously gloss over the reason for their father’s death, but the Sages of the Talmud clue us into Tzelafchad’s true identity and surprising backstory.Join Rabbi Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they uncover the hidden story of Tzelafchad and reveal the powerful lessons he and his family teach us.00:00 Intro03:16 A Few Small Oddities06:19 A Mysterious Cause of Death09:56 How Rabbi Akiva Solves the Mystery19:55 Comparing the Two Stories22:58 Another Connected Story31:31 Manna And The Gift of Shabbat37:49 Starting to Put It All Together41:10 Interviewing the Mekoshesh Eitzim46:58 The Nearsightedness of the Mekoshesh Eitzim48:50 The Answer to the Complainers Judgment54:11 Shadow Names
What Else Is Meaningful About Tzitzit and Kashrut? (Season Finale) Aleph Beta 2023-07-05 | Some extra Torah before Season 1 ends! There's a beautiful idea about angels and tzitzit. Plus our take on fish and birds, which didn't make it into the episode on kosher animals. Join Imu Shalev and Beth Lesch as they share these new theories, reflect on our first season, and look ahead to Season 2.0:00 Intro1:26 Tzitzit and Wings5:41 A Heavenly Vision7:57 Grasshoppers and Angels10:40 Can Humans be Angelic?14:52 Gaps in the Kosher Animals Theory19:48 Why Split Hooves?23:56 Kosher Birds25:39 Split Hooves: Another Theory28:16 Kosher Fish32:55 Season 1 Reflections37:40 Credits
What’s Meaningful About Not Eating Bacon? Aleph Beta 2023-07-02 | It’s one of the most famous kosher laws: no bacon! But why are pigs a forbidden food? In fact, the Torah doesn’t say “pigs aren’t kosher.” Instead, it uses an entirely different word for the animals we’re permitted to eat, a mysterious word that most people wouldn't associate with the topic of kashrut at all. Could it be a clue to the deeper meaning behind why the Torah allows us to eat certain animals and not others?
Chukat-Balak: Talking Donkeys, Invisible Angels, and the Tree of Knowledge Aleph Beta 2023-06-29 | From a prophet-for-hire, to a talking donkey, to an invisible angel, Parshat Balak sports quite the interesting cast, but all these characters seem to be one hit wonders. It seems like Parshat Balak is almost entirely unrelated to the rest of the Torah and the Torah would be perfectly complete without it. But what if Parshat Balak is really the sequel to a much earlier story in the Torah?Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Tikva Hecht as they follow a road from Balak all the way back to the Garden of Eden.00:00 Summary of Bilam Story03:37 Bilam’s Talking Donkey04:56 A Road Back to Eden 14:38 The Donkey’s Lesson18:46 What Does Trust Have to do with Knowledge of Good and Evil24:48 Bilam Begins to Learn26:14 Bilam's Redemption31:33 One Last Connection34:20 Denouncing the Fruit35:10 Conclusion
Korachs Fatal Mistake Aleph Beta 2023-06-23 | Why did Korach rebel? What if there was something in Korach’s family history that was motivating his revolt? This week Rabbi Fohrman joins Ami Silver to uncover the hidden backstory of Korach and his family, searching for exactly where he went wrong.Follow us on your favorite social media: http://linktree.com/alephbetaWhat did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaInto the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org . 00:00 Intro01:05 What Happened to Korach and His Followers?02:16 Korach's Family Tree... Back to the Kohathites 03:48 A Closer Study of the Duties of the Kohathites 12:13 Korach Gets Swallowed by the Earth 15:45 Understanding Who Are the Kohathites in the Bible
Questioning Whether This Podcast Should Exist Aleph Beta 2023-06-20 | Yep, you read the episode title right. Should this podcast even exist?? We here at Meaningful Judaism put our hearts into creating quality podcasts that probe the meanings behind the mitzvot… but what if this whole premise is misguided? What if there’s a fundamental flaw? Does God really want us to be demanding reasons for the mitzvot? If we were really pious, maybe we would be satisfied keeping the mitzvot simply “because the Torah says so”?? And if we’re trying to figure out the “real” reasons for the mitzvot… well, what if we get it wrong? How can we be so conceited as to think we can know God’s mind? And those aren’t even the most haunting questions. Could Orthodox Judaism afford to spend more time focusing on meaning? And why do the “Meaningful Judaism” reasons behind the mitzvot not seem to be reflected in mainstream Jewish life? Why aren’t our schools and synagogues teaching that keeping kosher is about source awareness and tzitzit are about self-esteem? Is Orthodox Judaism getting it wrong… or are we? And let’s say you can access the “reasons” behind the mitzvot… Will you find yourself magically rescued from the “roteness” of Jewish life? Such that you will suddenly perform every ritual with all-encompassing devotion, make every blessing with all-encompassing intention, and go about your days with an ever-present awareness of God? Or is that a pipe dream, and this project is unable to deliver on its promises, is doomed from the start?If these questions itch or interest you, then this painfully honest conversation between Imu Shalev and his teacher, Aleph Beta Lead Scholar Rabbi David Fohrman, is not to be missed.00:00:00 Intro00:02:03 Do Mitzvot Need "Meanings" To Be Meaningful?00:06:14 There Is A Precedent For Seeking Meaning Behind Mitzvot00:07:37 Isn't The Torah Begging Us To Search For Meaning?00:11:51 Two Paths To Torah00:19:43 The Yin/Yang Of Values and Practice00:30:42 The Shema And Touching Meaning00:33:53 The Mind-Exploding Nature of Tanakh Study
Behaalotecha: The Moment When Everything Changed Aleph Beta 2023-06-08 | Parshat Beha’alotecha marks the tragic turning point in the Israelites’ journey, but is there any silver lining in the beginning of this generation’s downfall? Join Ami Silver and Rivky Stern as they explore the shifting dynamics of the Israelites’ desert story. Check out our new YouTube channel: Meaningful Judaism: youtube.com/@MeaningfulJudaismWhat did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaInto the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit https://www.alephbeta.org.
What’s Meaningful About Tzitzit? (Part 2) Aleph Beta 2023-06-06 | The Torah says that tzitzit remind us of God’s commandments so we’ll be holy. But how do these ritual fringes on our clothing work, exactly? God could have asked us to wear shirts with the words “Remember God! Be holy!” printed on them. But instead we get this mitzvah about having tassels hanging from the corners of our clothes. If God wants us to wear something that will remind us not to sin, tzitzit seems like a very random choice.In this episode, Imu Shalev and Daniel Loewenstein tackle these questions and search for the spiritual meaning of tzitzit, diving deep into the Torah’s verses that describe the mitzvah. Their journey leads them to a host of surprising and thrilling destinations and, ultimately, to a whole new understanding of the message behind this commandment.0:00 Intro0:51 Part 1 Recap2:06 The Color Blue9:30 The "Wings" of Your Clothes12:26 Seedlings and Trees14:52 Potential to Grow
What’s Meaningful About Tzitzit? (Part 1) Aleph Beta 2023-06-06 | The Torah says that tzitzit remind us of God’s commandments so we’ll be holy. But how do these ritual fringes on our clothing work, exactly? God could have asked us to wear shirts with the words “Remember God! Be holy!” printed on them. But instead we get this mitzvah about having tassels hanging from the corners of our clothes. If God wants us to wear something that will remind us not to sin, tzitzit seems like a very random choice.In this episode, Imu Shalev and Daniel Loewenstein tackle these questions and search for the spiritual meaning of tzitzit, diving deep into the Torah’s verses that describe the mitzvah. Their journey leads them to a host of surprising and thrilling destinations and, ultimately, to a whole new understanding of the message behind this commandment.0:00 Intro1:35 How Exactly Do Tzitzit Work?4:07 Sprouts and Wings8:31 Why a Blue Thread?11:16 Hearts and Eyes16:22 Clues in the Spies Story25:37 Why Do People Stray from God?28:50 Fear of Unworthiness
Naso: Birkat Kohanim and a Story of Brothers Aleph Beta 2023-05-31 | The Priestly Blessing, which parents use to bless their children Friday nights and Kohanim recite in synagogues, is familiar to so many people, but few are aware of the story of two brothers hidden in the blessing. What story could that be and how does that help us see the Priestly Blessing in a new light? Join Ari Levisohn, and his brother Tani, for a deeper look at the blessing you thought you knew. For another fascinating, deep dive into the Priestly Blessing, check out Rabbi Fohrman’s video course on Parshat Naso: alephbeta.org/playlist/a-guide-to-parenting.Check out our new YouTube channel: Meaningful Judaism. What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaFollow us on your favorite social media.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit https://www.alephbeta.org. 0:00 - Intro3:28 - The Story Behind the Blessing6:42 - A Stolen Blessing11:46 - How Would You Respond to a Promise From God?16:58 - Praying for the Fulfillment of a Blessing21:23 - Face to Face24:49 - A Struggle With God26:53 - Stages of Reconciliation29:02 - Finding Favor35:06 - Lifting Faces39:31 - Achieving Peace41:51 - Brothers, Parents, and the Priestly Blessing
What’s Meaningful About Keeping Shabbat? Aleph Beta 2023-05-30 | What’s meaningful about keeping Shabbat? Lots of things, right? It’s a day of rest, a chance to put down our phones, learn and pray, focus on our family and friends. But Shabbat has its challenging aspects too. Sometimes the restrictions of Shabbat weigh on us and make it hard for us to appreciate how meaningful it is. So how do we hold on to a sense of the beauty of this day? Well, what if we knew that keeping Shabbat actually makes something important, something kind of magical, happen in the world… even when it seems as if we’re just sitting at home doing nothing? And wouldn’t it be amazing if we had something to do or say, every single week, to remind us that we’re about to make this transcendent thing happen? In this episode of Meaningful Judaism, Rabbi David Fohrman dives deep into the words of the Torah’s commandment to keep Shabbat and uncovers a surprising message about the profound meaning of resting on the seventh day. In conversation with host Imu Shalev, Rabbi Fohrman takes a new look at a Shabbat practice we may never have thought much about. And what they discover is that this familiar ritual actually ushers us through a portal to the transcendent meaning we long for.Boy soloist featured in this episode: Reuven Richman0:00 Intro2:40 Why Do We Sing About Shabbat Angels?4:51 Why Ask the Angels to Leave? 6:19 Shouldn’t We Ask God, Not Angels, for Blessings? 7:00 Why Do the Angels Get a Name Change? 8:15 Shabbat Angels in the Talmud11:21 Angels in the Torah 13:17 Angels Outside Eden 15:15 Angels and God’s Mission for Humankind 18:32 Our Mission: To Work and To Guard 20:40 We Were Replaced As Guardians 22:50 The Curse: Work Becomes Toil 25:35 Work Without Transcendent Meaning 29:06 How Can We Get Back to Eden?32:57 Our Mission Echoed in Shabbat 37:17 How Is Shabbat Connected to Eden? 39:53 Bringing Meaning Back41:31 Shabbat Angels and the Return to Eden 42:40 From Service Angels to Angels of Peace 43:32 Asking the Angels to Call Us Blessed 45:36 A Portal to Transcendence
Shalosh Regalim: Why Does the Torah Call the Holidays “Legs”? Aleph Beta 2023-05-23 | Why does the Torah refer to the three harvest holidays as the “shalosh regalim,” the three legs? Join Ari Levisohn and Adina Blaustein as they explore fascinating intertextual parallels and discover a meaningful message about the holidays hidden in this strange name.For another look at the interesting textual connections from this week’s episode, check out this parsha video on Parshat Balak: alephbeta.org/playlist/israelites-and-other-nationsDownload your FREE SHAVUOT GUIDE today! Just give us your email, and we’ll send it right to your inbox.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaInto the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit https://www.alephbeta.org. 0:00 - Intro2:45 - The Only Other Time3:08 - The Million Dollar Question7:01 - Looking for the Connection9:33 - The Connections Jump Off the Page14:27- Finding the Connection to the Holidays16:55 - Things Are Getting Heavy19:42 - Breaking Down Dehumanization30:14 - A Theory Develops34:49 - Connecting It All to the Holidays
Bamidbar How a Book Gets Its Title Aleph Beta 2023-05-18 | How does "Numbers" make sense as a title for the Bible's fourth book? How is that name connected to what the book is about? Join Rabbi Fohrman and his daughter, Ariella, as they explore the titles of the Bible's books and stitch together the powerful story they tell.Download your FREE SHAVUOT GUIDE today! Just give us your email and we’ll send it right to your inbox.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBeta Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, at alephbeta.org/podcasts/meaningful-judaism-podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!0:00 - Intro1:53 - Approval Committee for Bible Book Names5:23 - Evaluating the title "Numbers" 7:39 - Trying to Stitch Together the Book Names8:15 - A Chameleon Word11:49 - Another Meaning of Pakad14:23 - Finding a Story in the Book Titles
Why dont Jews count people? #parsha #god #bamidbar #relationships #torah #torahstudy Aleph Beta 2023-05-18 | ...
Whats Meaningful About Niddah? (Part 2) Aleph Beta 2023-05-16 | What is the meaning of the ‘niddah’ law? Why does the Torah require husbands and wives to separate when the wife has her period? The laws in Vayikra describe the “whats” of niddah but not the “why.” Why would God want to keep husbands and wives apart from one another? And what does menstruation have to do with it?And those are just the easy questions! In this episode, guest host and scholar Beth Lesch respectfully yet candidly raises questions about the challenges of observing these laws. In conversation with Yoetzet Halacha Adina Blaustein and fellow scholar Tikva Hecht, Beth shares her own personal and intellectual struggles with niddah, using them as a springboard for a deep dive into the Torah text in search of the meaning of niddah. What she discovers has the power to transform not only how we experience this mitzvah, but how we understand what marriage is all about. This is Part 2 of 2."I want to hear the epilogue!"Great! Give us your email (https://l.alephbeta.org/mj-niddah-2) and we’ll send the link to your inbox.00:00 Intro02:17 Falling into Place10:10 Niddah As Epicenter15:02 Tying It Together18:30 Context Matters28:40 The Namesake
Whats Meaningful About Niddah Part 1 Aleph Beta 2023-05-16 | What is the meaning of the ‘niddah’ law? Why does the Torah require husbands and wives to separate when the wife has her period? The laws in Vayikra describe the “whats” of niddah but not the “why.” Why would God want to keep husbands and wives apart from one another? And what does menstruation have to do with it?And those are just the easy questions! In this episode, guest host and scholar Beth Lesch respectfully yet candidly raises questions about the challenges of observing these laws. In conversation with Yoetzet Halacha Adina Blaustein and fellow scholar Tikva Hecht, Beth shares her own personal and intellectual struggles with niddah, using them as a springboard for a deep dive into the Torah text in search of the meaning of niddah. What she discovers has the power to transform not only how we experience this mitzvah, but how we understand what marriage is all about. This is Part 1 of 2.“Hey, you said you had a printable Shavuot guide that you could send me?”Yep! Give us your email (https://l.alephbeta.org/mj-niddah-1) and we’ll send it right to your inbox.00:00 Intro01:33 A Personal Story 09:18 Where to Look? 12:30 Rachel’s Tent 19:00 From the Top 34:00 Bone and Flesh
Behar-Bechukotai: Are God’s Curses Just a Scare Tactic? Aleph Beta 2023-05-11 | Why does the Book of Leviticus end with scary curses, and why does the Torah link these curses to the mitzvah of Shemittah? Join Adina Blaustein and Ari Levisohn as the journey through this week’s double parsha and its haftorah to find an inspiring understanding of Behar-Bechukotai and the entire Book of Leviticus. What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaCheck out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, at alephbeta.org/podcasts/meaningful-judaism-podcast or wherever you get your podcasts!Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. 0:00 Intro1:27 - Why This Ending to the Book of Leviticus?5:10 - The Background of the Haftorah7:14 - Exploring the Haftorah13:11 - Finding A Chiasm16:09 - The Center of the Chiasm22:15 - The 90's Pop Music Clue29:02 - Our Unique Relationship with God
What’s Meaningful About Not Mixing Milk and Meat (Kashrut Part 2) Aleph Beta 2023-05-08 | What’s meaningful about not mixing milk and meat? Observant Jews who follow the Torah know that cheeseburgers are forbidden… but do you ever stop to ask why? What’s the problem with adding a slice of cheese to your hamburger? Why is it so important to God that we abstain? Is it some kind of test, that God wants us to not eating certain yummy things to prove that we’re committed to the Torah? Is it that God wants to make it extra complicated to keep kosher, so Jews will be more likely to socialize only with others who also keep the Torah? Is it a law that has no reason at all? Is it none of the above?Imu Shalev and Beth Lesch explore this aspect of the laws of keeping kosher, delving deep into the Torah verse that instructs us “not to cook a baby goat in its mother’s milk.” Weaving together textual analysis, personal reflection, and joyful conversation, they arrive at a surprising and beautiful theory about the meaning of this law. Come along on the journey with them, and come away with an energizing new perspective on what it means to keep kosher.This episode is the second in a three-part series exploring the topic of kashrut. (Part 1 is “What’s Meaningful About Keeping Kosher?”) Stay tuned for a future episode on the distinction between kosher and non-kosher animals.00:00 Intro01:15 How the Law Affects Our Lives05:35 The Context for the Prohibition11:28 How Are These Four Laws Related?14:40 A Holiday Connection17:52 Law 1: The Meaning of Prohibiting Chametz21:51 Why We Need a “Shabbat” from Chametz24:42 Chametz: A Revolution in Human Technology32:20 Taking a Break to Recognize Our Source35:34 Law 2: Don’t Leave the Holiday Offering Until the Morning37:35 Law 3: First Fruits Recognize God As Our Source
Emor: Is the Omer Still Important? Aleph Beta 2023-05-03 | During the time between Passover and Shavuot, we “count the Omer,” marking the number of days since the Omer offering would have been brought. Why is this Omer offering so important that we have to mention it 49 consecutive nights, and how is it still relevant if we haven’t even had the Temple for 2000 years? Join Rabbi Fohrman and Rivky Stern as they explore a tantalizing intertextual triangle which reveals just how significant the Omer is to our contemporary lives.Check out Rabbi Fohrman’s course “Why do we celebrate Shavuot” (alephbeta.org/playlist/why-do-we-celebrate-shavuot-laws) to trace the thread of these ideas even further back, to even before the original Passover. What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBetaInto the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.0:00 Intro3:28 - What Is an Intertextual Triangle?4:34 - The Magical Laws of the Omer6:35 - Where Have We Heard All This Before?8:59 - Where Else Do We See the Omer?12:37 - Understanding the Omer’s Place in Parshat HaMo’adim13:30 - The Other Side of the Triangle16:20 - The Very First Chadash18:32 - Making Meaning Out of Our Triangle
What’s Meaningful About Keeping Kosher? Aleph Beta 2023-05-03 | What is the meaning behind the laws of kashrut (keeping kosher)? The Torah’s laws tell us what we can and can’t eat, but what’s the ethical message behind the laws? In this episode, Part 1 in a 3-part series that tackles the laws of kashrut, Imu Shalev and Beth Lesch begin with a fundamental question about kosher eating that most of us don’t even think to ask: Does the Torah want us to kill animals and eat them? Or does the Torah express an ethic that is more closely aligned with vegetarianism? Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.To support this project, subscribe to Aleph Beta: alephbeta.org/subscribe00:00 Intro00:39 Is There a Reason Behind the Laws of Kashrut?02:02 Kashrut in Our Lives05:28 Kashrut and Eating Animals07:17 The Law to Cover the Animal’s Blood13:00 Were We Intended to Eat Meat?15:29 The Command to Adam and Eve18:39 The Permission Given to Noah22:30 Why Did God Change the Law?33:00 Honoring the Animal: The “Chef’s Table” Approach43:10 Animal Offerings: Recognizing God As Source45:58 Two Approaches to Eating Meat
What is Meaningful Judaism? Aleph Beta 2023-05-01 | Meaningful Judaism is a podcast dedicated to exploring why we do what we do in Jewish life, by diving deep into the Torah text. Each episode will take you on a journey, trying to find the reasons behind the Torah’s laws, tackling questions such as “Why can’t we mix milk and meat?” and “What’s the meaning behind the laws of niddah?” In this short introductory episode, host Imu Shalev explores what’s at stake.Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.To support this project, subscribe to Aleph Beta: alephbeta.org/subscribe0:00 Intro0:45 Imu’s Story: My Struggles Growing Up as an Orthodox Jew2:59 How Can Judaism Survive If the Emphasis Is on ‘Obligation’ and Not ‘Motivation’?3:50 Introducing ‘Meaningful Judaism’4:58 What Makes ‘Meaningful Judaism’ Unique: Focus on Biblical Text5:26 A Few Caveats
What does it mean to live a holy life? #torah #parsha #holiness #holy #leviticus #jewish #judaism Aleph Beta 2023-04-27 | ...
Yom Haatzmaut: Divine Kindness Isnt So Simple Aleph Beta 2023-04-24 | The developments surrounding the return to the Land of Israel and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 seem to be prophetically predicted in the verses of Psalm 107. That’s why Israel’s Chief Rabbinate selected this salvation-themed chapter to be recited on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s independence day. But there is one verse that seems completely out of place.In this week’s episode, Ari Levisohn and Daniel Loewenstein explore this strange verse and uncover its deep message of hope, strength, and perseverance in the face of adversity. What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBeta0:00 - Intro4:04 - A Puzzling Verse8:08 - Parallel Language but Inverse Meanings?9:47 - Job’s Missing Perspective11:41- Psalms’ Answer to Job12:57 - The Intertextual Conversation Continues16:18 - A Message To Guard18:16 - Job’s Missing Perspective Revisited19:51 - A Lesson for Yom Ha’atzmaut23:55 - The Message in Job’s Daughters’ Names
Tazria-Metzora: Tzara’at, Sinai, and the Transformative Power of Speech Aleph Beta 2023-04-19 | What does Tzara'at have to do with the revalation at Sinai? Why did Miriam get tzara'at? In this week's episode Tikva Hecht untangles a web of intertextual parallels, that all revolve around the transformative power of speech.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Just press record and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! speakpipe.com/AlephBeta00:00 Intro00:53 How Can We Understand Tzara'at?03:41 Two Stages of Separation: Camp and Tent09:38 Could Tzara'at and Matan Torah Be Related?11:30 The Missing Link: Numbers 1216:08 Connections between Numbers and Deuteronomy22:10 Isolation, Language and Death24:45 Moshe's Distinction30:20 Matan Torah and Fear of Death
Passover: How Do Family Dinners Echo Ancient Sacrifices? Aleph Beta 2023-04-03 | In last week’s episode, Imu and Rivky pointed out that the only two places where chametz (leavened bread) is forbidden are our homes on Passover and all year round in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). In this week’s episode, Ari Levisohn, notices that this isn’t the only connection between the Mishkan and the Israelites’ homes on that original Passover. These connections lead to a fascinating exploration of the monumental impact of that original Passover and what we and our families can gain from this Passover.0:00 - Intro6:32 - More Links Between the Original Passover and the Mishkan9:39 - Another Connection at the Doorway14:10 - A Nation Building Night17:28 - A Different Way To Build a Nation22:03 - Family Valued27:12 - Spring Cleaning for the Family Unit34:25 - Finding FamilyWhat did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org
Tzav: What Does God Have Against Chametz? Aleph Beta 2023-03-29 | Passover is a week away, and as we stock up on matzah and kiss goodbye to bagels, you’ve got to wonder: What’s the big deal about leavened bread, anyway? Why don't we eat it on Passover? Easy question, right? Because of the matzah we ate when God took us out of Egypt. But if you think about it, this prohibition is pretty strange. The commandment could just have been to eat matzah commemorating the Exodus. Why are we also commanded to remove any trace of leavening, of chametz? This week, Imu Shalev and Rivky Stern look at what Parshat Tzav says about chametz in its description of the daily offerings in the Tabernacle. All year round, the flour in the meal-offering has to be baked as matzah; it can never be chametz. The question is, why? Imu and Rivky dive into the Torah’s other clues to the deeper symbolic meaning of chametz, and those clues bring them to a new understanding of why Parshat Tzav forbids chametz with the offerings… and why we abstain from it on Passover.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org
Trailer: The Three Great Lies Of The Exodus Aleph Beta 2023-03-26 | At the burning bush, God gave Moses three signs to show the People of Israel that He is with them. Was there any significance to these 3 signs, or did God randomly select three signs?Watch this video course here alephbeta.org/playlist/moses-exodus-miracles
Trailer: Passover, The Holocaust, & Beyond: What Can We Expect Of Divine Justice? Aleph Beta 2023-03-23 | God took us out of Egypt. But the question is: Is that really enough? Is it enough just to be set free? Somehow, human instinct wants something a little bit more than that...In this course, we explore if leaving Egypt was enough of a restitution for the horrible suffering and evil that occurred? Perhaps there is more to the story than what first meets the eye. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he takes a look at God's full response, which spans generations, to the great evil that occurred in Egypt and sheds light on what divine justice really looks like.Watch the entire course here: alephbeta.org/playlist/divine-justice-meaning
Vayikra: The How-To Guide for a Relationship with God Aleph Beta 2023-03-23 | We’re starting Sefer Vayikra this week! But if we’re honest, Leviticus isn’t the easiest book to be excited about. Genesis and Exodus have so much drama: the family stories of our patriarchs and matriarchs, the liberation from Egypt, the great encounter with God at Mount Sinai. Whereas Vayikra... so much of it is about animal offerings, or how the priests need to do their jobs in the mishkan, the tabernacle. It’s got a lot of laws that don't even apply to us any more. So how do we find meaning in this central book of the Five Books of Moses?In this episode, Imu Shalev brings that exact question to Rabbi Fohrman, along with a suggestion about how Vayikra is actually a connected, embedded part of the Torah’s overall story. And their conversation shows that this isn’t actually an isolated book of laws. Instead, it’s a key part of our national mission statement. Vayikra is about learning to live a life of closeness with God.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.0:00 Intro4:53 Where Are the Journeys?7:17 A Leviticus Sandwich on Cloud Bread11:00 Living Together with God14:35 An Overriding Imperative17:20 The Meeting of the CloudsWhat did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org
What the Tree of Life Teaches Us About Healing from Trauma | A Book Like No Other S1: Epilogue Aleph Beta 2023-03-21 | The exile from Eden might have been the first time humanity experienced being estranged from God’s word and presence, but it certainly wasn’t the last. How do we cope with feeling distant from God? What is a roadmap for a return to the closeness of Eden? Join Rabbi Fohrman and Imu in this bonus epilogue episode as they explore Parshat HaTeshuva, the Torah’s emotional roadmap for how any of us can come back.To learn more about how God bears witness to the Israelites’ trauma in Egyptian servitude, check out the course, The Three Great Lies of the Exodus, which Imu mentions in this episode. http://bit.ly/403BktnClick here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#teshuvah #healingfromtrauma #deuteronomy
Vayakhel-Pekudei: God’s Shabbat and Our Shabbat Aleph Beta 2023-03-15 | Observing the Sabbath involves rules about a long list of actions, from cleaning to writing to making things with our hands, and more! Right before the start of construction on the mishkan, the Tabernacle, Parshat Vayakhel reminds us to observe Shabbat. Building the mishkan was a huge project, one that required all kinds of creative activities. So keeping Shabbat must require us to refrain from those activities. That’s a logical explanation, but it also sounds pretty technical. Are the blueprints for the mishkan really a spiritually satisfying reason for having so many laws? We’re talking about Shabbat, one of the most central, most precious parts of Judaism! Shouldn’t these rules lead us straight to some deep knowledge of God?This week’s episode is something special, a two-part format that we haven’t tried before. First, Rabbi Fohrman shows why Shabbat laws are linked to the mishkan, what that connection teaches us about God’s creating the world, and how we fulfill our human destiny as “little creators.” In the second half, Ari Levisohn and Beth Lesch dig deeper into Rabbi Fohrman’s ideas. They consider what Shabbat teaches us about God’s plan for humanity, and what we can learn from that about being parents… one way in which we emulate God’s role as Creator.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org
The Garden of Eden and Reconnecting to God Through Nature | A Book Like No Other S1:E6 Aleph Beta 2023-03-12 | In the sixth and final episode of this series, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu grapple with some of the big picture questions that emerge from their theory of the Tree and its connection to Torah – and consider what the Tree may ultimately be teaching us about how to connect to God’s words.Join Rabbi Fohrman for a live Q&A on March 16 and ask all your burning questions on the season. For more info https://mailchi.mp/alephbeta.org/blno-after-partyIn this episode, Rabbi Fohrman reveals where we find the second half of the return of the Tree and, in the process, offers a powerful message about the impact of our actions in this world.A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#godsvoice #naturelovers #redsea
Does the Tree of Knowledge Return in the Book of Joshua?? | A Book Like No Other S1:E5 Aleph Beta 2023-03-05 | Join Rabbi Fohrman for a live Q&A on March 16 and ask all your burning questions on the season. For more info https://mailchi.mp/alephbeta.org/blno-after-partyIn this episode, Rabbi Fohrman reveals where we find the second half of the return of the Tree and, in the process, offers a powerful message about the impact of our actions in this world.A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#jericho #israel #angels
Could the Burning Bush Be the Return of the Tree of Life? | A Book Like No Other S1:E4 Aleph Beta 2023-03-01 | Last episode, Rabbi Fohrman promised that the Tree of Life isn’t left behind in Eden, never to be seen again once we’re exiled from the Garden. The tree actually returns! In this episode, we find out where and when – and begin to see how the tree’s return impacts the larger narrative of the entire Torah.A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#exodus #burningbush #treeoflife
Terumah: The Mishkans Hidden Secrets Aleph Beta 2023-02-23 | What’s with all the kruvim around the mishkan? On the tent covering, on the curtains, and of course, on the ark. Where else have we seen kruvim before? Do they have a deeper meaning?#torah #bible #parsha #terumah #tabernacle #mishkan #exodus
Terumah: Gods Home and the Secret of Creation Aleph Beta 2023-02-22 | Parshat Terumah kicks off the "not so exciting" section of the Torah all about the detailed construction of the mishkan (tabernacle). But what if those details contain the secret key to understanding one of the greatest questions facing any 21st-century believer? How do we reconcile the creation story in Genesis with everything we know about modern physics and the Big Bang?For Rabbi Fohrman's long-form version of this material alephbeta.org/playlist/how-to-read-the-biblical-creation-storyInto the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you’re enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit alephbeta.org
What is Aleph Beta? Aleph Beta 2023-02-21 | Aleph Beta is a Torah Media company. We make videos and audio on Biblical Themes: Parsha, Holidays, Prayer and Topics that range from the meaning of life to the understanding behind mitzvot. But that’s really just scratching the surface. Deep down, Aleph Beta is an organization deeply committed to helping people glimpse the beauty and profundity of the Torah, and fall in love with this life-changing book. The truth is, how we do that exactly is hard to describe, but it's easy to grasp by simply watching one of our videos.
The Tree of Life’s Real Power | A Book Like No Other S1:Bonus Epilogue to E3 Aleph Beta 2023-02-21 | Who wouldn’t want to eat from the Tree of Life and live eternally? Join Rabbi Fohrman and host, Imu Shalev, in this bonus episode as they explore the deep and meaningful implications of Rabbi Fohrman’s theory and consider what the tree — and Torah — might offer that's even better than eternal life. To learn more about the ideas Rabbi Fohrman and Imu discuss here, check out these Aleph Beta courses mentioned in this episode: Grappling with Loss http://bit.ly/3Ig089HHow to Merit Long Life: A Hidden Message about Honoring our Mothers. https://bit.ly/3ErFdiO#meaningoflife #immortality #genesis
Why Would God Forbid Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden? | A Book Like No Other S1:E3 Aleph Beta 2023-02-20 | Last episode, Rabbi Fohrman introduced a provocative new theory that re-envisioned the Garden of Eden, and began resolving all the puzzles raised in Episode One. But this theory has a fatal flaw – it seems to flatly contradict one verse, Genesis 3:22. Can Rabbi Fohrman reconcile the evidence or are we back to square one? A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#goodandevil #forbiddenfruit #eternallife
Are the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life Really the Same Tree?? | A Book Like No Other S1:E2 Aleph Beta 2023-02-16 | Last episode left us scratching our heads over those two strange trees in the Garden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. In this episode, Rabbi Fohrman begins answering our questions on the beginning of the Torah through the help of a clue found all the way at the Torah’s very end – and in the process, develops a single, paradigm shifting theory that re-envisions the very layout of the Garden itself. A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to http://bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#genesis #duality #treeofknowledge
The Garden of Eden Upended: 3 Big Questions on the Hebrew Text | A Book Like No Other S1:E1 Aleph Beta 2023-02-15 | We all know the story of the Garden of Eden. Adam, Eve, forbidden fruit, snake. But what if there’s another layer to this story lying beneath all the obvious drama? In the first episode of this six part series, Rabbi Fohrman takes a close look at the Garden of Eden story, pointing out some glaring – but easily glossed over – anomalies in the text, and inspiring us to reconsider what we thought we knew about Eden’s most basic features. This first episode lays the groundwork for what’s to come on A Book Like No Other this season: A journey that not only reveals layers of meaning in the Garden itself but resounding connections between Eden and the rest of the entire Torah.A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.Click here to sign up and receive more Aleph Beta content bit.ly/3k0Yhh2To read more about An Exodus You Almost Passed Over, Rabbi’s Fohrman’s book mentioned in this episode, click here http://bit.ly/3lI0kao.What did you think of this episode? We’d genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just go to bit.ly/3S4e5vX and click record, and let your thoughts flow.#gardenofeden #treeoflife #genesis #biblequestions
What Makes the Bible Unique? | A Book Like No Other Podcast Trailer Aleph Beta 2023-02-06 | A Book Like No Other (BLNO) is an in-depth learning journey that approaches the Torah on its own terms and reveals the symmetry, beauty, and insight that can emerge from open learning without expectations. This podcast is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder and Lead Scholar, Rabbi David Fohrman, a master close reader of Torah. Together, we'll unwrap the remarkable patterns and surprising connections that lie beneath the Torah's surface and truly make this a book like no other.A Book Like No Other is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.#biblestudy #torahstudy #rabbidavidfohrman
How Do I Get Closer to God? Aleph Beta 2022-09-22 | It's hard to connect to God deeply. Why would the Creator of the Universe care about me, or my simple prayers? On Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur, more than ever, we want to experience that closeness to God that we so truly seek. If you've ever felt this way, watch this course at:www.alephbeta.org
