Content report for 2024-04-24T04:18:52.004Z
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How Does Midrash Work? | In this video, we explore the strange midrash in which the arm of Pharaoh's daughter stretched through the river to fetch Moses. Why do the Sages tell us such an odd story? Rabbi Fohrman argues that we need to put ourselves into the eyes of Pharaoh's daughter, and help us see that when we want to achieve something, God will help us find a way to do it. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | pharaoh, daughter, moses, magic, arm, midrash, how, does, work, parsha, shemot, shmot, weekly, portion, maidservant, extend, strech, hand, batya |
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What Do Sacrificial Laws Teach Us About Social Justice? | The Torah teaches us social justice laws – leave some crops for the poor, etc. – right next to some laws relating to animal sacrifices. What's the connection between the two? Rabbi Fohrman argues that in this section of text, the Torah is doubling down on important principles – which can be found just as clearly in sacrifice as in social justice. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | the law of sacrifice in the bible, leviticus laws in the bible, social justice in the bible |
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Kedusha: What Is Holiness According To The Bible | Many of the laws in Parshat Kedoshim are not what we might expect to hear when we think of holiness. What happened to prayer and meditation? Why are we talking about crossbreeding animals? Is there any rhyme or reason to this list? And if we do find a way to understand all of these laws as fitting together, what do they teach us about holiness and how to achieve it? | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | kedusha, what is holiness, holiness in the bible, bible study on holiness, how to be holy before god, how to be holy as god is holy, walking in holiness bible study, meaning of holiness in bible, define holiness according to the bible, what does bible say about holiness |
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Rabbi Fohrman and CEO Imu Shalev sit together on Zoom to discuss fresh ideas for your Seder. | Premium | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | passover-model-seder |
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How To Read The Haggadah: Explanation, Dvar Torah & The Pesach Story | Every Pesach the Haggadah is read at the festive meal. Some parts are fun, like the singing and exciting stories. But so much of it is boring, and seemingly random! Why are these hodgepodge of stories included? In these videos, Rabbi Fohrman gives new insight into these texts, and teaches us how to really read the Haggadah. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | passover haggadah, what is the haggadah, haggadah meaning, maggid passover, jewish haggadah, pesach haggadah insights, pesach seder haggadah, dvar torah pesach haggadah, thoughts on the haggadah, interesting haggadah |
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The Meaning Behind the Mikvah Rituals | Why do we go to the mikvah? Why does dunking in the mikvah’s waters leave us feeling “pure”? Join us as we take a deeper look at the meaning of this ritual bath and breathe new life into this mysterious custom. | Free | No | No | No | Beth Lesch | mikvah ritual, mikvah bath, jewish mikvah, mikvah meaning, mikvah ceremony, mikvah immersion, kosher mikvah, what is a mikvah used for, mikvah in torah, mikvah water, mikvah video, what is a mikvah all about |
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What Is The Main Theme Of Pesach? | If Pesach was really about freedom, then why didn’t God take the Israelites out of Egypt sooner? Why did he have to go through all of the trouble of making plagues? Join Imu as he explores this pivotal question by re-examining the Exodus text, and never read the Pesach story the same way again. | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | what is the main theme of passover, passover themes, main theme of passover, passover ideas, what does passover commemorate |
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What Does The Mincha Offering Teach Us About Pesach? | We learn in Tzav that one is not allowed to mix Chametz with the sacrificial Mincha offering. But what does the Mincha offering have to do with Chametz? Or by extension, Pesach? Join Imu and Rivky as they re-examine the offering text and learn the deeper meaning behind Chametz, a symbol of over-processing and separation from the creator. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | chametz passover, why no chametz on passover, mincha offering |
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What The Bible Says About Eating Meat | What is the Torah's take on eating animals? Is it a spiritual ideal? Or a concession to mankind's desire? | Free | No | No | No | Beth Lesch | what does the bible say about eating meat, what does the bible say about eating animals, bible verses about eating meat, bible verse about eating animals, does the bible say not to eat meat, what does the bible say about eating meat with blood, is it wrong to eat meat according to the bible | eating-meat-what-the-bible-says |
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Pesach, The Holocaust, & Beyond: What Can We Expect Of Divine Justice? | The enslavement of the Jewish people in Egypt was brutal. Many were murdered, including innocent children. And although God rescued the Jews in the end, one can't help wonder - was that enough? Is there more to the story than what first meets the eye? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he takes a look at God's full response to the great evil that occurred in Egypt, and sheds light on what divine justice really looks like. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | divine-justice-meaning |
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Dayenu In The Pesach Haggadah | Singing Dayeinu: Would It Really Have Been Enough? What do the lyrics of Dayeinu song really mean? | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | dayenu, dayenu lyrics, dayenu song, dayenu meaning, dayenu hebrew, passover song dayenu, what does dayenu mean, jewish song dayenu, pesach dvar torah on dayenu, dayenu words |
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Taanit Bechorot commemorates the tenth and final plague in the Passover story -- when God killed all of the firstborn Egyptians, but spared those of the Israelites. To remember, firstborns fast. But what’s interesting about Taanit Bechorot is that most firstborns don’t actually fast. Instead, there’s another tradition of joining a se’udat mitzvah -- a special kind of religious meal, whose joy overrides the fast. So, if no one's fasting, why are we even celebrating this day? Join us as we explore this unique question by reexamining the language used to describe God’s firstborn child, the Israelites -- and never think of Taanit Bechorot the same way again. | Free | No | No | No | Beth Lesch | passover fasting, fast of the firstborn, passover fast of the first born, jewish passover fasting, fasting before passover, do we fast on passover | passover-firstborn-fast |
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A Book Like No Other - Season 2 | 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. | Unrestricted | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | book like no other, season 2, blno, book like no other season 2, blno season 2, book like no other season two, blno season two, Book like no other, Blno | a-book-like-no-other-season-two |
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Book Like No Other - Season 3 | The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn’t even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we’re listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives? | Unrestricted | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | book like no other, season 3, blno, book like no other season 3, blno season 3, Book like no other, Blno |
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The Deep Connection Between the Biblical Holidays | There are several holidays mentioned in the Bible, including the Three Pilgrimage Festivals: Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot. What makes these days more significant than any other holiday? The Bible seems almost elusive when describing these holy days. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he uncovers the secret theme that permeates these days, allowing a deeper understanding of the holiday cycle to emerge. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | understanding-holiday-cycle |
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Understanding The Human Side Of Aaron The High Priest | In this week's video, Rabbi Fohrman tackles a very strange scene: after the sudden death of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's two sons, Moses gets in a disagreement with Aaron's other two sons about a sacrifice they bring. What is this argument fundamentally about, and what are we meant to learn from it about overcoming loss? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | aaron high priest, aaron bible story, aaron bible study, eleazar bible, ithamar bible, eleazar the priest |
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Understanding Yetziat Mitzrayim | On Passover, we celebrate the miracles God performed for the Israelites by freeing them from slavery. But isn’t it strange that right after the Israelites left Egypt God enforced the laws of the Ten Commandments without warning? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he explores this pivotal question by comparing the Ten Commandments with the story of the Burning Bush. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | exodus from egypt, story of the exodus from egypt, exodus ten commandments, the ten commandments passover, i brought you out of egypt, remember the passover, understanding passover |
| understanding-the-exodus-from-egypt |
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What Do Tumah And Tahara Mean Today? | In Parshat Tazria, we are introduced to the concepts of Tumah and Tahara. Some translate them as cleanliness and uncleanliness, some say ritual purity and impurity, but we never seem to get a clear and relevant understanding of what they actually are. Join us in Part I of this quest as we begin to tackle both what Tumah and Tahara are, and how these new definitions can truly impact our lives today. | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | tahara, tumah, tahara meaning, taharah judaism, what is taharah, importance of taharah, types of water taharah, steps of tahara, tumah and tahara |
| tumah-and-tahara-meaning |
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Understanding The Real Sin Of Aaron's Two Sons | In this week's parsha, we see the sudden and disturbing death of two of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu. In exploring the text more closely, what earlier Biblical story shows parallel themes and language to this story, and what is the meaning behind this connection? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | nadab and abihu, the sin of nadab and abihu, aarons sons, sons of aaron the high priest, nadav and avihu |
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Understanding The Spiritual Meaning Of Kosher Meat | In Shemini, the Torah talks about one of the most impactful laws on the general Jewish lifestyle – kosher animals. Have you ever considered why Jews are restricted from eating certain animals? And the specific laws – split hooves, chewing cud – seem totally arbitrary. But what if there was a way to think about kosher that makes sense, and can even strengthen our relationship with God? | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | what does kosher mean, what is kosher meat, what makes meat kosher, what is kosher law, laws of kashrut, kosher dietary laws, jewish kosher laws |
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The Exodus Story That Could Have Been | The Exodus story ends in carnage for the Egyptians, and in glorious salvation for the Israelites – but could this story have ended differently? Could the Egyptians also have lived happily ever after? Rabbi Fohrman thinks we can find the answer by noticing some uncanny resemblances to another biblical story. Join us as we explore a new way of reading the Exodus story. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | exodus story, exodus bible story, passover story exodus, jewish exodus story, what is the story of exodus about, what is the meaning of the exodus story, the passover story in the bible, story behind passover |
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What Does The Passover Sacrifice Teach Us About The Metzora? | In this video, Rabbi Fohrman picks up from last year's Tazria and Metzora videos, which connected the metzora purification process with the korban pesach. Here, he argues that only through the two processes can we become fully alive and part of the community. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | passover sacrifice, passover offering, korban pesach today, korban pesach meaning |
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The Tzaraat Purification Ritual: What Does It Mean? | In Part I of this series, we connected the laws relating to the purification of a metzora to the laws of the korban Pesach. Why would that be? In Part II, Rabbi Fohrman puts the pieces together and reminds us that both teach us about 'radical separateness' – and while each of us is an individual, we are also part of a larger unit. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | tzaraat, tzaraat disease, purification rituals, biblical purification, jewish rites of purification, what is spiritual purity, biblical purification process |
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Behind the Scenes Bonus Content - A Book Like No Other | Go behind the scenes and listen to the original chevruta sessions that inspired our flagship podcast, A Book Like No Other. In these lightly edited conversations, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu will unwrap the remarkable patterns and surprising connections that lie beneath the Torah’s surface and truly make this a book like no other. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | behind-the-scenes-a-book-like-no-other |
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A Book Like No Other - Season 1 | 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. | Unrestricted | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | book like no other, season 1, blno, book like no other season 1, blno season 1, book like no other season one, blno season one, Blno, Book like no other | book-like-no-other-season-one |
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What Does It Mean To Be a Rebel For God? | The following podcast is a discussion between Rabbi Fohrman & his son Avichai. They sat down to learn some Talmud together and stumbled upon a mysterious discussion about Bat Paro, the daughter of Pharaoh. You know, the one who was bathing by the Nile when she saw baby Moses floating by in a box? Well, the Torah text doesn’t seem to tell us very much about Bat Paro, but the Talmud seem to know a lot more: they explain that, Bat Paro got married to Caleb (one of the spies from the story in Numbers 13-14). What did the Rabbis see in the Torah text that led them to this conclusion? The answer opens up a fascinating study about who Bat Paro really was, who Caleb really was, and why they were perfectly suited for one another. The following podcast ends off hinting toward a future area of study surrounding the spies, which ultimately became a future hit Tisha B'Av course: Tisha B'Av & The Spies: An Origin Story. Click here to take a look! | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | bat-pharaoh |
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Shemot: What Was Moses’ Real Mission? | In Parshat Shemot, we read the story of the burning bush, where Moses was charged with a mission. We are often taught that Moses’ job was to take the Israelites out of Egypt, but a close read of the text suggests that there is actually something else Moses also had to do. Join Ari Levisohn and Evan Weiner as they dive into Moses' encounter with the burning bush and discover allusions to an earlier mission in the Bible, one which sheds light on Moses’ true mission and what it means for a nation under attack. Check out Rabbi Fohrman’s video about the Korban Pesach (Passover offering) and the Sale of Joseph mentioned in this week’s episode. To learn more about Joseph’s mission to check on his brothers, watch this amazing video from Rabbi Fohrman and this earlier episode of Into the Verse. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | shemot-what-was-moses-real-mission |
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Vayigash: Was Joseph the Golden Calf? | In Parshat Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, and they realize that the Egyptian official they had bowed down to was none other than their long lost brother. What did Jacob's sons think about their powerful brother now? Why does Joseph have to emphasize God's role in orchestrating the events of their lives? Join Ari Levisohn and Adina Blaustein as they explore the striking similarities between Joseph and the Golden Calf. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | vayigash-was-joseph-the-golden |
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The Significance Of The Tabernacle's Colors | Red, purple, white and blue – do they mean anything to you? Watch now to learn about the meaning of the colors in the Mishkan. | Free | No | No | No | Daniel Loewenstein | tabernacle veil colors, significance of the colors in the tabernacle, colors of the tabernacle curtains, spiritual significance of the tabernacle |
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The 7 Habits of Highly Intuitive Readers of the Bible | Watch this 8-part interactive course lead by Rabbi David Fohrman on how to read the Torah in its original Hebrew Aleph Beta style. | Producer Circle | Yes | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | the-seven-habits-of-highly-intuitive-readers-of-the-bible |
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What is the central theme that underlies all of the stories about Abraham's life? The Torah tells us how Abraham hears God’s call, ventures to Canaan, flees from famine, takes a second wife, gets involved in a war of kings, and more. This series explains the story of Abraham like never before. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman |
| abram # abraham # nachor # shem # yefet # genesis # fohrman # video # lecture # course # judaism # genesis # |
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Vayechi: God's Hidden Hand | In Parshat Vayechi, Jacob remembers when the God of his ancestors, “El Shaddai,” appeared to him and promised a bright future for his descendants. But what about the times when his life didn’t seem to be going according to God’s plan? Is God still present in times of suffering? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Beth Lesch as they explore the question of God’s presence in our lives. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | vayechi-gods-hidden-hand |
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How to Read Midrash | In this video, Rabbi Fohrman introduces us to a very strange midrash, which tells us that as the nation of Israel walked through to freedom, there were fruit trees surrounding them, and explains that a parallel story, early in Genesis, is a clue to understanding this midrash. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | crossing, cross, split, red, sea, reeds, spiritual, meaning, midrash, sage, egypt, exodus, fruit, trees, parsha, beshalach, weekly, portion |
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Bo: What Did the Egyptians Get Out of the Exodus? | Parshat Bo tells the story of the last three plagues. The 10th plague, the death of the firstborn, ultimately compels Pharaoh and the Egyptians to free the Israelites from slavery, but was that really the purpose of the plagues? Were they just meant to punish the Egyptians? Or were the Egyptians meant to get something else out of these destructive plagues? Join Tikva Hecht and Beth Lesch as they challenge a classic answer to these questions on the 10 plagues and develop a new understanding of what it means to “know God.” Check out Rabbi Fohrman’s course “Why Did God Choose Israel As His Chosen People?” to explore these questions further. To access the brand new season of Rabbi Fohrman’s podcast, A Book Like No Other, click here to subscribe to Aleph Beta. As a special gift for Into the Verse listeners, we’ll give you the first month FREE, when you sign up for an annual subscription. Just use the coupon code ITVFREE. Already a member? Enjoy A Book Like No Other here. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | bo-what-did-the-egyptians-get-out-of-the-exodus |
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Why Aren’t Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Torah? | Or wooly mammoths? Or other prehistoric creatures? If we’re trusting the Torah to tell us the story of creation, how could it leave out such a large (pun intended) part of history? Does this mean Torah and science are at odds? Rabbi Fohrman argues that if we’re asking this question, it means we’re misunderstanding something fundamental about the nature of the Torah. Watch this video to learn what the Torah is – and what it isn’t. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | dinosaurs, bible, torah, are, not, aren't, mentioned, parshat, noach, weekly, portion |
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The Meaning of Sabbath Prayers | The language the rabbis use to introduce the Sabbath Amidah prayers serves as a commentary on these biblical verses. These introductions show us how to read the verses and give us some insight into the meaning of the sabbath... join Rabbi Fohrman as he selves into the sage's words and uncovers The Meaning of the Sabbath Prayers. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | The, Meaning, of, Sabbath, Prayers | sabbath-prayers-meaning |
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Divine Lottery: Fate, Chance And Themes | What are the main themes of Purim that emerge from the Book of Esther? We dive into the glaring questions in Megillat answer and uncover the surprising answers. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | purim, themes, esther, book, megillat, megillah, divine, lottery, fate, chance, three, underlying, choice, whose, haman, mordechai |
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The story of Joseph and his brothers is one of the most well-known in the entire Bible. And yet, the story – for all its familiarity and simplicity – is darker than the one we might remember learning as a child. Indeed, a sober reading of the text reveals that this is no child's story at all. What are we to make of this story of near-fratricide? What enduring meaning does it hold out to us? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | torah # bible joseph # bible joseph dreams # bible story # joseph and his brothers bible story # | coats-dreams-and-jealousy |
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Why Couldn't Moses Enter The Land? | Moses was barred from entering the land because he struck the rock, right? Turns out it's not so simple. Understand why our greatest leader was deprived of the opportunity to step foot in the Promised Land. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | why couldn t moses enter the promised land, why didn t moses enter the promised land, why did moses never entered the promised land |
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Was The Burning Bush A Template For The Commandments? | In Parshat Yitro, we read about Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. But there’s something very unique about the text in this section – it’s strikingly similar to an earlier text, namely, the story of Moses and the Burning Bush. Is there a parallel that’s meant to be drawn from the story of Moses, the Ten Commandments and the Burning Bush? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he re-examines both texts and learns how the Burning Bush may actually serve as a template for the Ten Commandments – and never think of these two events the same way again. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | burning, bush, 10, ten, commandments, moses, sinai, template, seeing, sign, miracle, parsha, yitro, weeky, portion |
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Why Did God Use Miracles to Free the Israelites From Slavery? | Hidden in the Exodus story is a lesson on abusive relationships and how to break the traumatic cycle of abuse. In this intense podcast, join Rabbi David Fohrman & Beth Lesch as they tackle the difficult subject of abuse from all angles. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | how-to-break-the-cycle-of-abuse |
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Week 4 - Israel at War: Do Our Small Gestures Matter in the Big Scheme of Things? | In our fourth takeover episode dedicated to the war in Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev share stories of volunteerism and heroism in Israel and abroad, while grappling with a shared sense of helplessness. Together, they explore the limits of utilitarianism, emphasizing the significance of being present for people, lending a listening ear, or simply giving someone a hug. Visit our website, alephbeta.org, to find inspiring and meaningful content that will give you strength and inspiration during this difficult time. | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | israel-at-war-do-our-small-gestures-matter |
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Week 2 - Hamas in Parshat Noach: Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Discuss | Parshat Noach describes the extreme violence that led to God's decision to destroy the world with a flood. This violence is referred to as "chamas" in Hebrew, a term that bears an eerie resemblance to "Hamas." In light of recent devastating attacks by Hamas on Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev engaged in a discussion, exploring how to react to a world that is suddenly filled with violence. | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | hamas-in-parshat-noach-rabbi-fohrman-and-imu-discuss-israel |
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What Does It Mean To Have Faith | How can we have faith when it seems like darkness is everywhere and we feel utterly alone? This video visits a moment when Miriam the prophetess did not know how the story would end - before her brother was saved, before the Exodus. And teaches us something profound about faith in dark times. | Free | Yes | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | what-does-it-mean-to-have-faith |
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Hamas in Parshat Noach: Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Discuss | Parshat Noach describes the extreme violence that led to God's decision to destroy the world with a flood. This violence is referred to as "chamas" in Hebrew, a term that bears an eerie resemblance to "Hamas." In light of recent devastating attacks by Hamas on Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev engaged in a discussion, exploring how to react to a world that is suddenly filled with violence. | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | hamas-in-parshat-noach-rabbi-fohrman-and-imu-discuss |
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The Deeper Significance Of Abraham's Covenant | Why did God ask Abraham to circumcise himself? And how is this sign of the covenant between God and Abraham still relevant to us today? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | abrahamic, abraham, covenant, God, brit, milah, sign, circumcise, circumcision, promise, what, does, mean, make, parsha, lech, weekly, portion |
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Week 3 - Israel at War: Heartwarming Stories and Moral Dilemmas | Join Rabbi Fohrman and Imu as they share heartwarming stories and grapple with the moral ambiguity provoked by the war between Israel and Hamas. | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | israel-at-war-heartwarming-stories-and-moral-dilemmas |
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Week 5 - Israel at War #5: The Lesson of I don't know | Rabbi Fohrman and Imu are back sharing more stories from Rabbi Fohrman's last week in Israel, plus a fascinating discussion about last week's haftorah, its shocking conclusion, and the spiritual value of embracing "I don't know." | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | week-5-israel-at-war-5-the-lesson-of-i-dont-know |
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Week 1 - Israel Under Attack: Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Process the Events | In place of our usual parsha podcast, Rabbi David Fohrman sat down with Aleph Beta CEO, Imu Shalev, to reflect on the ongoing situation in Israel and discussed creative ways to help in these times of need, as well as how to cope with our intense emotions. To find meaningful content on and insightful thoughts on Parshat Bereishit, check out the videos and audios on our website. Please consider donating to Midreshet Ziv, an organization that Rabbi Fohrman has personally vetted. To learn more about how Midreshet Ziv is assisting Israeli families and soldiers in need and to donate, please click here. | Free | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | israel-under-attack-rabbi-fohrman-and-imu-process-the-events |
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Nitzavim-Vayelech: Do One Person's Actions Really Matter? | Parshat Nitzavim warns that in the future, there might be someone who goes astray after other gods. God will “separate” that person for punishment, and future generations will see that the land was destroyed for this sin, “like Sodom and Gomorrah.” But wait, that doesn’t make sense! If God punishes guilty individuals, how do we get to the entire land being destroyed? Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they explore this cryptic warning and uncover a message about the power of individual responsibility. Check out Daniel Loewenstein's video on the links between Parshat Nitzavim and the Sodom story: The Surprising Relationship Between Blessing and Curses in the Bible | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | nitzavim-vayelech-do-one-persons-actions-really-matter |
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Why Did Abraham Follow God's Call? | Was Abraham a heroic follower of God, or was he in it for the reward God promised him? Watch this video to understand the deeper meaning of when God called Abraham, "Lech Lecha." | Free | No | No | No | Daniel Loewenstein | abraham, follow, God, call, parsha, lech, lecha, weekly, portion, reward, promise, father, faith, belief |
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Meaningful Judaism is a podcast dedicated to exploring why we do what we do in Jewish life, by diving deep into the Torah text. So many of our practices can feel like they’re just there; we go through the motions but they don’t feel especially meaningful. In this podcast, we search for that meaning. | Unrestricted | Yes | No | Yes | Immanuel Shalev | meaningful-judaism |
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Where Does Tithing Come From In The Bible? | Ki Tavo describes for us the law of ma’aser, tithing, and the law of vidui ma’aser, the declaration of ma’aser. But why isn’t it enough to give ma’aser? Why the spectacle of the dramatic statement? | Free | No | No | No | Rivky Stern | Ki, Tavo, Where, Does, Tithing, Come, From, In, The, Bible? | tithing-in-the-bible |
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Chayei Sarah: A Marriage of Truth and Kindness | The Midrash says that chesed and emet, Kindness and Truth, disagreed about whether God should create humankind. And the puzzling outcome of that argument was: “God took Truth and threw it to the earth.” But what does that actually mean? The answer may be in Parshat Chayei Sarah, where chesed and emet “meet up” for the very first time in a rather surprising place: the story of how Rebecca was chosen to be Isaac’s wife. Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they dig into the details of this story and uncover a message about our human struggle to understand what God means by “truth.” Looking for Rabbi Fohrman’s video discussing Abraham, Nachor, and their marriages? Check it out here: The Meaning of the Book of Ruth | Premium | No | No | Yes | Ari Levisohn | chayei-sarah-a-marriage-of-truth-and-kindness |
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Lech Lecha: Responding to Life’s Challenges | When life throws us challenges and doesn’t go the way we hoped, how do we avoid falling into despair? In Parshat Lech Lecha, Abraham and Sarah struggle with infertility, and Abraham cries out to God, “I am childless!” What is the Torah’s message to Abraham on how to persevere through life’s trials and tribulations? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they explore Abraham and Sarah’s journey through difficult times and the Torah’s encouraging guidance. Listen to Rabbi Fohrman’s foundational course, Abraham’s Journey, to dive deeper into the ideas discussed in this episode. To find a collection of videos to help deal with our challenging times, visit our website. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | lech-lecha-responding-to-lifes-challenges |
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The Missing Chapter In Esau And Jacob's Story In The Bible | Jacob takes Esau’s blessing. Esau threatens to kill him. Jacob goes into hiding for twenty years. That’s the story we all know. But is it the full story? Far from it. Watch this video for a deeper look. | Free | No | No | No | Beth Lesch | Esau, Jacob, kill, murder, blessing, birthright, isaac, steal, take, brother, forgive, Means, Motive, missing, chapter, story, parsha, toldot, weekly, portion |
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Season One of Into the Verse, Exclusive Content for our Premium Subscribers | Listen to archives of previous seasons of our weekly parsha podcast, Into the Verse. | Premium | No | Yes | Yes | AB Staff | into-the-verse-podcast-season-one |
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The Burning Bush and Human Suffering | What would the burning bush have to do with what we’re going through in Israel now? Well, God’s original revelation to Moshe comes at another moment of great national tragedy and suffering: the exile in Egypt. And His message to Moshe is that there is something about God that makes Him God: His infinite capacity for empathy and to be with us in times of great pain. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | Israel, War, Suffering | the-burning-bush-and-human-suffering-israel |
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What Is The Meaning Of Life? | The most fundamental question we all want to answer is this one: What is the meaning or purpose of our lives? Rabbi Fohrman argues that the answer lies at the very beginning of the Bible, in Genesis. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | meaning, purpose, life, bible, what, is, true, find, genesis |
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Isaac's Family Tree And The Legacy Of Abraham | Parshat Toldot opens oddly: “These are the offspring of Isaac: Abraham begot Isaac.” What?? That’s not the generations of Isaac! Join Rabbi Fohrman as he uncovers what this phrase “These are the offspring of” really means – and what it teaches us about Isaac’s legacy. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | isaac, son, child, abraham, family, tree, generation, eleh, toldot, parsha, weekly, portion |
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Week 6 - Israel at War #6: A War of Revenge? | The feelings of rage and desire for revenge against Hamas still boil strong in the hearts of many. How should those feelings motivate Israel and her supporters in the war against Hamas? What did Hamas want us to feel and how can we protect ourselves from the dangers of uncontrolled rage? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Imu Shalev as they explore several reasons Israel is engaged in this war and offer hope for a nation in pain. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | week-6-israel-at-war-6-a-war-of-revenge |
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Confronting Trauma: The Three Great Lies of the Exodus | Children torn from their homes, their kidnappers denying they took them in the first place. Our enemies deny their crimes while hoping to wipe us from the map. Unfortunately this is the reality we’re living in right now. But it was also the reality of the Israelite people over three thousand years ago in Egypt. How do we come to grips with the trauma we’ve endured? Will our pain ever be recognized? This video series is an attempt to draw strength from the tragedies and ultimate victories of our past. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | confronting-trauma-the-three-great-lies-of-the-exodus |
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Ki Tavo: Why Would God Curse Us for Not Being Happy? | Parshat Ki Tavo lists the blessings that will come if we keep God’s commandments and the curses that will follow if we don’t. But it also says that to be blessed, we need to serve God “with joy.” Isn’t it enough to keep the commandments? And what is this “joy” supposed to look like, anyway? The key to answering these questions may be in two seemingly unrelated commandments from Parshat Ki Tavo itself. Join Beth Lesch and Ari Levisohn as they uncover a startling pattern that links first fruits and a stone altar to this mysterious verse about rejoicing while we serve God. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | ki-tavo-why-would-god-curse-us-for-not-being-happy |
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Yitro: What Was Really Written on the Tablets? | In Parshat Yitro, we read about the revelation at Sinai and the giving of the 10 Commandments. The image of the 10 Commandments is one of the most familiar images from the Torah, but when you read the Sages’ description of the tablets, not only will you be shocked to hear that we may have been depicting the image wrong all along, but we may also be missing an important part of what the 10 Commandments are all about. Join Ari Levisohn and Daniel Loewenstein as they explore the Sages’ words and discuss the powerful implications of a new way to see the 10 Commandments. To hear Rabbi Fohrman's complete interview on the podcast excerpted in this week's episode, listen here. To learn more about the suzerain-vassal treaties Ari discusses, check out this article. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | yitro-what-was-really-written-on-the-tablets |
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Seeing Laws As Moral Principles Of Jewish Life | This week's parsha puts us in the midst of two of the most well known and epic stories in the entire Tanach: Revelation at Sinai and the Sin of the Golden Calf. The Israelites experience their highest high and their lowest low, all within the same few verses. However, smack in the middle of these two legendary episodes, we are forced to read law after law after law. How do these numerous Jewish laws add real meaning to our lives today? | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | jewish principles of life, the jewish law in the bible, jewish moral law, judaism rules to live by, judaism rules and laws |
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Season Two of Into the Verse, Exclusive Content for our Premium Subscribers | Listen to archives of previous seasons of our weekly parsha podcast, Into the Verse. | Premium | No | Yes | Yes | AB Staff | into-the-verse-podcast-season-two |
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How God Proves His Love For His People | In Parshat Yitro, we just witnessed some majorly epic events: the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea and we're about to witness the ultimate epic event – God's revelation at Sinai. But smack in the middle of all of this awesomeness, we're introduced to Yitro, Moses' father-in-law. What is this doing here?! Join us as we explore the real meaning of revelation: maybe truly knowing God is not just a matter of a national relationship, but most importantly, a personal one. | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | God, proves, love, care, His, people, israel, does, me, us, yitro, jethro, revelation, sinai, exodus, parsha, weekly, portion |
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Did Israel Marry God At Mount Sinai? | Parshat Yitro contains the most important piece in the narrative of the Jewish people, the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, when the nation of Israel and God are 'married.' Curiously, before that story, we have two short stories about Yitro, Moses's father-in-law, first when he throws a feast to celebrate the salvation, and then when he advises Moses to set up a court system. How do these stories help us understand the marriage between Israel and God today? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | israel, married, marriage, God, israelites, sinai, yitro, moses, jethro, parsha, weekly, portion, relationship |
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The Significance Of Keeping The Sabbath | This week, Rabbi Fohrman examines a description the Bible gives of Sabbath and asks, what does it mean to bring God into this world through space and through time? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman examines melacha and explains that time and space are the two realms in which we explore our connection with God. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | significance of sabbath day, significance of keeping sabbath, god exists outside of time and space |
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The Meaning Of The Tabernacle's Incense Altar | In Vayakhel, we hear about the Mishkan’s construction, yet again! God just told Israel how to build the Mishkan, and yet we are given those details again as Israel builds it. But if you take a closer look at the text, there are subtle and significant differences. Why would the Israelites build the Mishkan differently than God commanded? What can these differences teach us? | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | altar of incense meaning, what does the altar of incense represent, steps to knowing god, take one step towards god, steps to build a relationship with god, building the tabernacle |
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The Deeper Meaning Of Shabbat Morning Kiddush | Parshat Ki Tisa is the text we all recognize from Shabbat Kiddush. But when we read it aloud, it almost sounds as if we are repeating ourselves. Over and over, from verses 13 to 17, Exodus 31 explains why we keep Shabbat, its holiness and a covenant – but why? What is the meaning of the repetitive nature? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman comments on the chiastic structure of Exodus 31, from where he starts to connects the common themes. It will help you unlock a new meaning to the words you though you knew.. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | shabbat morning kiddush, kiddush saturday morning, exodus 31 commentary, exodus 31 15 explained |
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Being Brave Enough To Change God's Will | Moshe’s negotiation with God in the aftermath of the Golden Calf is an extreme example of prayer changing God’s will. Moshe passionately argued with God over His decision to wipe out the Israelites, and shockingly, God listened. Where did Moshe get the chutzpah to tell God what to do – and why did God agree? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | can prayer change god's will, does prayer influence god, can god's actions be influenced by our prayers |
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Birkat Hamazon: The Context for The Command to Thank God | The daily text that is used for the Grace After Meals originates from a verse in Deuteronomy, - “v’achalta v’savata uverachta et Hashem Elokecha al ha’aretz hatovah asher natan lach.” You should eat, be full or satisfied, and bless God for the good land that He gave you. Read on its own, it seems pretty straightforward. We eat and then we give thanks. However, the command to thank God is just one line out of a larger speech Moses is giving in this chapter. And if you take a look at that speech, it’s seemingly pretty troubling. By taking a closer look at these words in context you can learn more deeply what it means to build a relationship with God, and how to truly give thanks. | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | birkat-hamazon-meaning |
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Into the Verse is dedicated to bringing you Torah that is timely and relevant to your life. Using the weekly parsha and the Jewish calendar as inspiration, this podcast is filled with rich and uplifting insights based on analysis of the Hebrew text itself. Take a listen and enjoy! | Unrestricted | Yes | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman |
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Mishpatim: The Legal Debate That Changed Jewish History | Parshat Mishpatim outlines the laws of indentured servants and maidservants, including servants going free in the seventh year, servants getting married while working, and a father making a deal for his daughter’s hand in marriage. This set of laws seems strikingly similar to an earlier story involving a worker and a father trying marrying off his daughters. Could these laws in Mishpatim actually be the Torah’s own commentary on the negotiations between Jacob and Laban back in Genesis? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they discuss these surprising parallels and explore the relationship between the Torah's laws and its stories. Into The Verse is taking a break for a little while. In the interim you can stay up-to-date on the parsha with last year’s episodes, which are available on https://www.alephbeta.org. And if you haven’t started the latest season of A Book Like No Other, you have to check it out. If you’re not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access the new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts. Use coupon code BLNO2 for a 30 day free trial with a monthly membership OR $18 off an annual membership. Click here to subscribe. | Premium | No | No | Yes | AB Staff | mishpatim-the-legal-debate-that-changed-jewish-history |
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The Surprising Purpose Of The Bible’s Female Slavery Laws | In this week's parsha, we are given the laws of female servitude – worse, a female child, being sold by her parents! How are we, as 21st century students of the Torah, meant to understand such a difficult piece of text? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman shows us that the Torah argues that to create a better society, we must be proactive about addressing social and economic inequality. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | female, slavery, servitude, sell, daughter, law, suprising, purpose, social, equality, justice, injustice, poverty, women, woman, girl, parsha, mishpatim, weekly, portion |
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The Surprising Source Of The Torah's Laws Of Murder | Rabbi Fohrman has a revolutionary idea, that many of the laws given to the Jewish nation were actually based off of the stories of our forefathers and foremothers. In this video, Rabbi Fohrman explores this through the laws of murder given in this week's Torah portion. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | torah laws, what is jewish law based on, source of jewish law, history of jewish law |
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Understanding Balaam's Greatest Error | Rabbi Fohrman explores a mysterious Mishnah, in which Abraham and his students are compared to Balaam, the prophet in Parashat Balak, and his students. Why do the Sages make this odd comparison, and what is the message they want us to uncover? | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | story of balaam, balaam in the bible, prophet balaam, balaam's error, spirit of balaam, balaam character, why was god mad at balaam, why did god get angry with balaam |
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What The Bible's First Census Says About Community | In this video, Rabbi Fohrman points out a textual oddity - why does the Torah use two different words for "to count," and what do they each indicate? Through a deep analysis of the terms, we will come out with a stronger understanding of what it means to be an individual, but still part of a larger community. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | census in the bible, what does the bible say about community, first census in the bible, nasah meaning, pakad, counting in the bible, hebrew word for counting |
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What Was The Purpose Of The Tabernacle? | We're about to embark on a 7-chapter detailed journey through the instructions for building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Most people skip over these sections or read them very fast because they are tedious and completely unrelatable. How can we, as 21st century learners of the Torah, find meaning and relevance in the construction of the Mishkan? And how do the laws shed light on the epic devastation of the story that follows, the Golden Calf? Join us in Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) as we uncover the beauty and depth of the Mishkan. | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | what was the main purpose of the desert tabernacle, purpose of the tabernacle, moses instructed to build the tabernacle, god's instructions for building the tabernacle |
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Parshat Toldot: What is True Strength? | Parshat Toldot contains the only story in the Torah that is really only about Isaac: the often overlooked story of the wells. What does this brief story really teach us about Isaac’s character? The Sages associate Isaac with the attribute of strength, but how does the story of the wells show us Isaac's might? Join Adina Blaustein and Beth Lesch as they discover the true greatness of Isaac by exploring the striking parallels between Isaac and another Biblical character known for his strength, Samson the Mighty. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Adina Blaustein | parshat-toldot-what-is-true-strength |
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Purim And Genesis: How The Beginning Of The Bible Connects To The End | Rabbi Fohrman taught this Premium webinar before Purim of 2018. Come watch, and explore the connections between the story of Purim and the story of Rebecca and her sons. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | Purim, Genesis, How, Beginning, Bible, Connects, End, megillah, deception, isaac, rebecca |
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The Rise of Antisemitism: A Glimpse Into Amalek’s Tortured Soul | Antisemitism. Where did it all originate and can we trace it through the Tanahk? Rabbi Fohrman argues that it may have begun with the story of Amelek, which is widely known as one of the most mystifying and difficult episodes in the Torah. | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | amalek, antisemitism, rise, glimpse, tortured, soul, battle, israel, israelites, war |
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Is There a Spiritual Meaning to the Structure of the Mishkan? | In Parshat Terumah, we are given explicit instruction about how to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle that traveled with the nation of Israel through the desert. But maybe there’s more than meets the eye. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he explores what the mishkan represents. It may teach us something about God’s image, and even our own relationship to our physical bodies. Enjoyed this video? There's more to discover. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he continues to explore these ideas in this video for Parshat Tetzaveh. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | the face of god, see the face of god, can i see god face, face of god meaning, seeing gods face |
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The Spiritual Meaning Behind The Tabernacle's Design | In Parshat Tetzaveh, God goes to great lengths to explain each specific detail for the Mishkan's structure and design. Obviously the details are more than just a means for beautification – there must be deep and meaningful significance for us all. What are the hidden secrets that God coded within the walls of the Mishkan and how can we rebuild that meaning in our every day lives? | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | tabernacle meaning, spiritual meaning of the tabernacle, tabernacle symbolic meanings, tabernacle design |
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God's Place In Our Lives Today | How can God exist in our physical world yet also exist outside of space and time? Explore the paradoxical language surrounding God’s relationship with the Tabernacle. Join Rabbi Fohrman as he examines the description of the Tabernacle, and highlights the similarities between the human body and God. Want to get the most out of this video? Check out this video for Parshat Terumah, where Rabbi Fohrman first introduces the ideas he builds upon here. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | god place, place where god lives, god in physical form, is god a physical being |
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Jacob and Joseph: A Father-Son Relationship | After Joseph was sold into slavery, why didn't he ever get in touch with his father? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman will help us attempt to look at the story through Joseph's eyes, and explore the possibility that Joseph assumed his father was in on the plot. This new perspective helps us understand Joseph, and also his unique relationship with Pharaoh, who becomes the father figure in Joseph's life. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | joseph, jacob, son, father, relationship, didn't, write, contact, home, pharaoh, egypt, parshat, miketz, weekly, portion |
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How Abraham Became The Father Of Faith | Why did God choose Abraham? What was so special about him? Through the stories in this parsha we can discover the central mission – and struggle – that his life revolved around. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | abraham, father, faith, why, God, chose, became, parsha, lech, weekly, portion, test, belief, trust |
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Brachot are everywhere in our everyday lives. We need to understand what bracha really means – not to see them as annoying burdens or religious dues we need to pay to God, but to recognize God in our world and our lives. Having them makes our lives more blessed. | Free | No | No | No | Ami Silver | Brachot |
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Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Discuss Israel at War, Processing the Events Together | Free | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | israel-at-war |
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The Miracle of Hanukkah | A tiny flask of oil kept a few flames burning for a couple of nights… why does this relatively minor miracle deserve so much attention? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he explores the miracle of Hanukkah, its connection to a well-known Biblical narrative, and its major impact on our lives today. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | hanukkah, miracle, why, celebrate, torah, bible, light, fire, small, oil, burning, bush |
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Shir Hamaalot: Planting with Tears | This video was originally created for Tisha b’Av, but it discusses the spiritual power of our tears. Do the tears that we cry actually matter? Can they make a difference? Or are they merely an expression of our suffering. Turns out, they matter a great deal… | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | shir-hamaalot-planting-with-tears-israel |
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Frantically flipping pages and mumbling words — for many this experience is familiar in our daily prayers. Our days are busy, difficult, and tiring. As a result, our prayers lose priority and, slowly, meaning. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There’s another way to think about prayer in our modern lives that is rich with meaning and inspiration. Join us as we explore the themes and rituals of prayer in our holy texts and rabbinic teachings and discover how they relate to our lives today — and never think about your daily prayer the same way again. For more on prayer, see: https://www.alephbeta.org/jewish-prayer https://www.alephbeta.org/course/lecture/korach-can-we-influence-god https://www.alephbeta.org/course/lecture/ki-tisa-moshes-benevolent-chutzpah | Free | No | No | No | Immanuel Shalev | Why, It, Is, Important, To, Pray |
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The Untold Story Of Joseph's Redemption | Once Joseph is released from prison, he quickly becomes Pharaoh's second-in-command – and one of the most powerful men in the world. The story makes you wonder if this was some great coincidence? Or did Joseph do something to earn this great station? Rabbi Fohrman finds echoes of Joseph’s first misfortune in all his later trials, and uncovers an evolution in Joseph’s character that may explain his unfathomable rise to power. | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | joseph, pit, palace, meaning, groundhog, day, redemption, pharaoh, potiphar, untold, story, parsha, miketz, weekly, portion |
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Parshat Vayetze: Was Jacob Punished? | Parshat Vayeitzei begins with Jacob on the run from Esau and follows Jacob's trials and tribulations throughout his time in Laban's house. At the end of the parsha, Jacob is back on the run and gets into a heated argument with Laban. What is Jacob's role in this cycle of conflicts? Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they uncover a transformative way to read this week's parsha by picking up on some unexpected parallels to a random legal section later in the Torah. To hear more about the parallels Ari uncovered, listen to the Parshat Vayigash episode Ari mentions. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | parshat-vayetze-was-jacob-punished |
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Parshat Vayera: Lot's Fake Kindness | Parshat Vayera tells the story of visiting angels being graciously hosted, not once but twice! Abraham's hospitality is legendary, and Lot's welcoming the angels feels like a de ja vu...until things turn ugly. What went wrong? How could Lot's act of kindness to the angels end so disastrously? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they explore two very similar stories of hospitality and uncover the most important ingredient in true kindness. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | parshat-vayera-lots-fake-kindness |
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Parshat Miketz: A Phantom Blessing | In Parshat Miketz, Jacob sends his sons on a mission to get food from Egypt so they can survive a famine plaguing the entire Middle East. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward request, but a closer read reveals a deeper purpose in their mission. Join Ari Levisohn and Rabbi David Fohrman as they uncover a hidden layer of meaning in this week’s parsha and discuss what we are meant to do with our material success in this world. | Premium | No | No | Yes | Rabbi David Fohrman | parshat-miketz-a-phantom-blessing |
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What The Bible Says About Good Leadership | In this video, we explore Rashi's puzzling comment, that a nation is lucky if it has a leader who brings a sacrifice for an accidental sin. Rabbi Fohrman contrasts the Torah's perspective of power and justice to the philosophy of Richard Nixon's famous line: "When the president does it, it is not illegal." | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | what does the bible say about leadership qualities, qualities of a good leader in the bible, examples of good leaders in the bible, leaders in the bible who made mistakes, humility in leadership bible, characteristics of a good leader in the bible |
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Bar And Bat Mitzvah Preparation Course | Bar Mitzvah Playlist | Free | No | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | bar mitzvah video, bar mitzvah video, bar bat mitzvah preparation | bar-bat-mitzvah-preparation |
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What We Lost When The Temple Was Destroyed | 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? | Free | Yes | No | No | Rabbi David Fohrman | temple destroyed, tisha b av, temple | what-we-lost-when-the-temple-was-destroyed |
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