Jewish holidays give us a chance to remember the significant history that has contributed to the survival and shaping of our Jewish identities today, and allow us to tap into the spiritual potential these times hold. These videos take a deep dive into the Jewish holidays, allowing you to uncover how these age-old celebrations and festivals are still relevant to our lives today.
Shavuot
For additional resources, check out the Shavuot home page here.
The Real Shavuot: Receiving Torah or Harvest Festival?
The Torah seems to speak of Shavuot as a harvest holiday, but the Rabbis conceive of it as the time to celebrate the Giving of the Torah. Which one is it? In this series, Rabbi Fohrman shows that the two actually complement each other to bring deeper, relevant meaning to Shavuot.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 6 min
Why Did God Give the Torah to Only One Nation?
The Mount Sinai experience changed human morality forever. So why was only one nation invited to witness it? Some say this moment turned the Jews into God’s “Chosen People.” But what if the Ten Commandments contained a message about a dark moment in the Jewish People’s past, one that is meant to remind them what their true role among the nations should be.
Animated Video Series
Why Ruth’s Story Captures Shavuot Perfectly
The connections between the themes of Shavuot and the Book of Ruth seem… tenuous at best. Thankfully, Rabbi Fohrman unearths how this lowly convert taught us the perfect moral message to complement the awesome moment of revelation.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 11 min
Why Does Shavuot Mean "Weeks"?
Nobody celebrates when the IRS updates the tax code. So why do Jews make such a festive celebration around the giving of our law? To understand this question, we have to return to the name of the holiday – “Weeks” – and how the time period from Passover to Shavuot prepared us for true freedom.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 13 min
Did Ruth Seduce Boaz?
The infamous nighttime rendez-vous between Ruth and Boaz might rub people the wrong way. What are two righteous individuals doing alone at a threshing floor? But Rabbi Fohrman’s closer investigation just might redeem this taboo tale.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 11 min
Solomon’s Secret Commentary on Ruth
What if we had the oldest, most authentic commentary on Ruth ever written? Even more impressive, what if it was written by one of her most direct descendants? In this audio lecture, Rabbi Fohrman provides a preponderance of evidence that the famous poem “Eishet Chayil” found in the book of Proverbs is actually speaking about his great grandmother Ruth.
Recorded Lecture • 2 hours, 4 min
Is the Omer Its Own Holiday?
The Omer is kind of a mystery. On the one hand, it seems like a minor placeholder between Passover and Shavuot. On the other hand, it’s got important rituals of its own, involving the new harvest of barley and counting seven weeks. Somehow it doesn’t quite “add up.” What exactly does the Omer signify?
Recorded Lecture • 27 min
The Meaning of Hallel
We add the prayer service of Hallel on holidays, but what exactly are we saying? Is it just a collection of Psalms? In this course, Rabbi Fohrman argues that not only are we learning what it is to be a servant of God, but we are also discovering the origins of the nation of Israel.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 7 • 56 min
How Ruth Resolved a Centuries-Long Scandal
What is the theme that ties together the seemingly disconnected stories of Lot and his daughters, Judah and Tamar, and Ruth? The obscure Biblical law of yibum, or Levirite marriage, has a lot to do with it. Rabbi Fohrman argues there is an important connection that hints at a generational saga of redemption.
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 7 • 1 hour, 9 min
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.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 5 • 54 min
How the Omer Ties the Holidays Together
If you love seeing big-picture connections in the Torah, then you’ll love the Omer. It’s one of the only times in the Jewish calendar that explicitly links two holidays together. But it does so in a very peculiar way. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the cycle of holidays of Passover, the Omer, Shavuot, and beyond.
Animated Video • 12 min
The Most Important Speech Ever Given?
In this recorded webinar Rabbi Fohrman makes a case for why Ruth’s heartfelt pledge never to leave her mother-in-law Naomi, may have changed all of Jewish history.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 40 min
Pre-Shavuot Learning With Rabbi Fohrman 2022
Join Rabbi Fohrman in his pre-Shavuot learning event and get ready for the holiday.
Recorded Lecture • 2 hours, 8 min
Fast of 17 Tammuz
For additional resources, check out the Fast Of Tammuz home page here.
Tisha B'Av
For additional resources, check out the Tisha B'Av home page here.
Reversing Tisha B’Av: How To Actually Rid Ourselves Of Sinat Chinam
We sit on the floor, we cry – but sometimes it feels like we’re just going through the motions. Rachel Imenu shows us a deeper way to mourn — that actually changes us, that banishes sinat chinam, baseless hatred, from our hearts.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 8 min
How Am I Supposed To Appreciate The Loss Of The Beit HaMikdash?
It’s one thing to mourn the suffering of actual people, but how are we supposed to feel genuinely sad over the loss of a building?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 7 • 9 min
Tisha B'Av After October 7th
How can we transform our mourning into hope? One year since October 7 discover how our past can help us navigate the pain of the present.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 14 min
How The Sin Of The Spies Led To Tisha B’Av
The Talmudic Sages tell us that the first great tragedy to occur on Tisha B'Av was the sin of the spies in the desert. How can this seemingly unrelated event help us understand the deeper reasons for the Temples’ destruction?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 10 min
How Israel Split And The Road To Tisha B’Av
God gave King Solomon unprecedented wisdom, which Solomon used to build a glorious kingdom. But just a mere generation later, that kingdom splits and the road to Tisha B’Av begins. Why didn’t God give Solomon the wisdom he really needed… the wisdom to keep Israel united?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 8 • 7 min
Kamtza And Bar Kamtza: What Is Baseless Hatred, Anyway?
When was the last time that you hated someone for absolutely no reason? Could it be we’ve been misunderstanding the true meaning of “baseless hatred” this whole time?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 3 min
How The Sin Of The Spies Led To Tisha B’Av
The Talmudic Sages tell us that the first great tragedy to occur on Tisha B'Av was the sin of the spies in the desert. How can this seemingly unrelated event help us understand the deeper reasons for the Temples’ destruction?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 10 min
Megillat Eicha And Its Secrets
What does Eicha have to do with the garden of Eden? At first glance, not much. But if we look closer, it turns out that the Megillah is actually echoing language first used in the beginning of Genesis. Uncovering the deeper meaning of this connection can shift the way you think about Tisha B’Av.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 2 • 57 min
The Mysterious Connection Between Mashiach And Tisha B’Av
A few generations before the destruction of the Temple, there was a king who, the Talmud tells us, could have been the Messiah. How did the Jewish people get so close to redemption, only to end in exile? If we can answer this question, perhaps we can come to understand the power of our own potential and to reshape our destiny.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 7 • 12 min
Yochanan Ben Zakkai And Yavneh: The Secret Of Jewish Survival
How can we feel connected to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple when these tragedies happened thousands of years ago? The answer may lie in understanding what still links us to these past events and how, against all odds, exile didn’t put an end to the Jewish people. This story starts in a place called Yavneh.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 10 min
What Jacob And Joseph Teach Us About Returning Home
Can mourning bring us closer to redemption? This series dives deep into a connection between Shir Hamaalot (Psalm 126) and the story of Jacob and Joseph to uncover the connection between the depths of grief and unassailable hope.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 8 min
Acher: He Who Must Not Be Named
Can we ever do something so bad there’s no coming back from it? In this series, Rabbi Fohrman grapples with the nature of atonement through a close reading of the story of Elisha ben Avuya, the famous apostate “Acher,” and his fiercely loyal student, Rabbi Meir.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 5 • 25 min
Of Soldiers And Slaves: Divine Justice In The Face Of Great Human Evil
What can we expect of God, by way of justice, in the face of great human evil? That question was always pertinent, perhaps, throughout history -- but in the shadow of the Holocaust, it seems especially pertinent and troubling. Is justice on any level something we should be looking for, from the Almighty? Or: Are these divine secrets that humans really have no business asking about?
Recorded Lecture • 2 hours, 58 min
Kinot Live With Rabbi Fohrman
Join Rabbi Fohrman and the Aleph Beta team for in-depth readings and discussions of select Kinot. These videos are live recordings from our annual Tisha B'Av morning "Kinot Unlocked" events. You can catch up on all past years here. We hope these beautiful texts will take on new meanings and allow you to experience a more connected Tisha B'Av.
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 4 • 3 hours, 42 min
Megillat Eicha Study Guide
After the devastation of the first Temple, Jeremiah starts his Lamentations with the cry of “Eicha” – “How?”. How was the great Jerusalem destroyed? Rabbi David Fohrman studies the text of Megillat Eicha in search of what this tragedy means to us today.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Tisha B'Av for Kids
. Tisha B’Av is hard enough – but when you’re fasting yourself AND trying to make this day meaningful for your kids, it’s even harder. That’s why we put together this page with plenty of resources to make Tisha B’Av meaningful for kids of all ages. Including a BRAND NEW Teacher/Parent Guide for you to use along with our “Sinat Chinam: Baseless Hatred” series, so you can discuss the concepts of Tisha B’Av together with your kids at their level.
Educator Guide • Article
Rosh Hashanah
For additional resources, check out the Rosh Hashanah home page here.
Teshuva: Is There a Wrong Way to Repent?
Repentance is an emotional and deeply personal process — yet Judaism has specific laws that govern exactly how we’re supposed to do it. Can there really be a “wrong” way to repent?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 8 min
Rosh Hashanah: Day of Judgement or Day of Joy?
We’re used to thinking of Rosh Hashanah as a time of trembling in fear before God. But what if we’ve been misunderstanding the essence of the holiday?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 13 min
How Do I Get Closer To God?
How can I attain closeness with a God who is so beyond my comprehension? And why would the Creator of the Universe care about my prayers? Is God even listening?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 8 min
Finding Forgiveness Through The 13 Attributes of Mercy
Guilt can can inspire us to grow — but it can also be overwhelming, crippling. How can we account for our actions over the past year in a way that is productive and spiritually healthy?
Animated Video • 33 min
Yamim Noraim And The Difference Between Awe And Fear
Many of us associate the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) with guilt and fear. But is “awe” the same thing as “fear”? Answering this question may be key to breaking free of the painful emotions that often accompany these days and experiencing them in a brand new, uplifting way.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 18 min
Spiritual Preparation For Rosh Hashanah
A Guide For Rosh Hashanah With just 5 minutes a day, you'll be ready to show up on Rosh Hashanah feeling prepared. We’ll talk about prayer, how to understand davening, why we blow the shofar, how to leave behind all the guilt of Rosh Hashanah, and why this holiday is absolutely worth celebrating.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 10 • 3 min
Why Did God Ask Abraham To Sacrifice His Son?
On Rosh Hashanah, we read about the Akeidah, when Abraham was asked to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice. But how are we supposed to make sense of this story that seems to pit obedience to God against our most basic sense of morality?
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 7 • 48 min
Commentary On Unetaneh Tokef - The High Holiday’s Scariest Prayer
At the center of the High Holidays' prayer service is the passage "Unetaneh Tokef." The powerful and dramatic prayer borrows imagery from the story of Elijah. A closer look at this biblical story sheds light on God's relationship of justice and mercy with His people, and helps us understand this prayer in a deeper way.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 11 min
Repentance: The Guiding Voice Of Our Moral Conscience
How can we welcome a time of year that causes us so much angst, guilt, and shame?
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 34 min
Is It Kosher To Argue With God?
In Emor, we read about the Mekalel (the "Blasphemer"), the man who is punished for cursing God. Cursing God doesn't sound like a very religious thing to do, but it raises the question: Is it ever OK to speak against God? What about arguing with God? Find out in this audio series.
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 10 • 36 min
The Tree Of Life Vs The Tree Of Knowledge
Knowing Good and Evil What does it mean for us to recognize God as our King, Master of the universe? In this series, Rabbi Fohrman examines the early chapters of Genesis to discover just what God's mastery is all about – and what it really means to recognize it. Discover other great Rosh Hashanah videos at Aleph Beta, including ‘How To Prepare For Rosh Hashana”, “How To Do Teshuva”. and “Akeidah: The Story Of Abraham & Isaac”
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 8 • 53 min
Rosh Hashanah Study Guide
A printable guide to aid our video series "How To Prepare For Rosh Hashanah."
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
High Holiday Reader
A printable guide to help you gain a new understanding of prayer, awe, and fear on the yamim noraim.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Rosh Hashanah: Day of Judgment or Day of Celebration?
. Rosh Hashanah comes around every year. But despite this fact, many of us find ourselves approaching the day unprepared. Part of that has to do with confusion about the essence of the day. Is Rosh Hashanah a day of guilt and remorse, or a day of celebration?
Educator Guide • Article • 5 min read
The Secret Message of Unetaneh Tokef
. Unetanah Tokef is one of the most important of the Rosh Hashanah prayers. It bestows a sense of awe and dread on anyone who hears it chanted in synagogue. But there’s a hidden message in Unetaneh Tokef, one that can change the way we understand the holiday.
Educator Guide • Article • 10 min read
Tzom Gedaliah
For additional resources, check out the Tzom Gedaliah home page here.
Yom Kippur
For additional resources, check out the Yom Kippur home page here.
The Book Of Jonah: What's The Deep Lesson?
The Book of Jonah reads almost like a child’s story, and the message seems just as simple: “It’s good to do teshuva.” But a close read of the text reveals a much more sophisticated tale, with a profound lesson that has deep relevance for our modern lives.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 7 • 6 min
The High Holidays: Should I Feel Guilty?
Guilt can can inspire us to grow — but it can also be overwhelming, crippling. How can we account for our actions over the past year in a way that is productive and spiritually healthy?
Animated Video • 33 min
How Do I Get Closer To God?
How can I attain closeness with a God who is so beyond my comprehension? And why would the Creator of the Universe care about my prayers? Is God even listening?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 8 min
Teshuva: Is There a Wrong Way to Repent?
Repentance is an emotional and deeply personal process — yet Judaism has specific laws that govern exactly how we’re supposed to do it. Can there really be a “wrong” way to repent?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 8 min
The Surprising Purpose of Yom Kippur
We’re used to thinking of Yom Kippur as a time of forgiveness, when God wipes our slates clean. But what if we’ve been misunderstanding the essence of the holiday?
Animated Video • 9 min
Commentary On Unetaneh Tokef - The High Holiday’s Scariest Prayer
At the center of the High Holidays' prayer service is the passage "Unetaneh Tokef." The powerful and dramatic prayer borrows imagery from the story of Elijah. A closer look at this biblical story sheds light on God's relationship of justice and mercy with His people, and helps us understand this prayer in a deeper way.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 11 min
Understanding The Day Of Atonement Rituals
We associate Yom Kippur with prayer and sitting in synagogue all day. But back then, it involved goats and lotteries and sacrifices and sprinkling blood and incense and clouds. How do those weird rituals grant forgiveness for our sins? It sounds magical… and irrational. Let's study this to explore the essence of Yom Kippur.
Animated Video • 15 min
Yamim Noraim And The Difference Between Awe And Fear
Many of us associate the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) with guilt and fear. But is “awe” the same thing as “fear”? Answering this question may be key to breaking free of the painful emotions that often accompany these days and experiencing them in a brand new, uplifting way.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 18 min
Repentance: The Guiding Voice Of Our Moral Conscience
How can we welcome a time of year that causes us so much angst, guilt, and shame?
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 34 min
Is It Kosher To Argue With God?
In Emor, we read about the Mekalel (the "Blasphemer"), the man who is punished for cursing God. Cursing God doesn't sound like a very religious thing to do, but it raises the question: Is it ever OK to speak against God? What about arguing with God? Find out in this audio series.
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 10 • 36 min
Acher: He Who Must Not Be Named
Can we ever do something so bad there’s no coming back from it? In this series, Rabbi Fohrman grapples with the nature of atonement through a close reading of the story of Elisha ben Avuya, the famous apostate “Acher,” and his fiercely loyal student, Rabbi Meir.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 5 • 25 min
Jonah
A printable PDF study guide to accompany our course on the Book of Jonah.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
High Holiday Reader
A printable guide to help you gain a new understanding of prayer, awe, and fear on the yamim noraim.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Sukkot
For additional resources, check out the Sukkot home page here.
The Hidden Meaning Of Sukkot
Why do we celebrate Sukkot? Because the Israelites slept in huts in the desert after fleeing Egypt… right? Well, what if that answer is incomplete? What if the Torah offers us a deeper story about the meaning of this holiday…and it’s hiding in plain sight?
Animated Video • 30 min
How the Omer Ties the Holidays Together
If you love seeing big-picture connections in the Torah, then you’ll love the Omer. It’s one of the only times in the Jewish calendar that explicitly links two holidays together. But it does so in a very peculiar way. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the cycle of holidays of Passover, the Omer, Shavuot, and beyond.
Animated Video • 12 min
Is Hoshana Rabba The Key To Understanding Sukkot?
In this webinar, Rabbi Fohrman dives even deeper into the question: Wait.. why do we celebrate Sukkot, to offer a fascinating explanation that not only sheds new light on the holiday of Sukkot but on the often overlooked significance of its seventh day: Hoshana Rabba.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 18 min
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.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 5 • 54 min
The Meaning of Hallel
We add the prayer service of Hallel on holidays, but what exactly are we saying? Is it just a collection of Psalms? In this course, Rabbi Fohrman argues that not only are we learning what it is to be a servant of God, but we are also discovering the origins of the nation of Israel.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 7 • 56 min
Sukkot Holiday Study Guide
Learn how how sleeping in a hut became a major Jewish holiday.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Hanukkah
For additional resources, check out the Hanukkah home page here.
The War On Hanukkah
When the Maccabees first lit the menorah, we hadn’t yet experienced a true victory over the Greeks. Strikingly, we find ourselves in a similar situation in 2024. How can we truly celebrate and find meaning in Hanukkah this year when we are still waiting for our miracle? Watch this video to gain a deeper meaning of Hanukkah today.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 6 min
The Hanukkah That Might Have Been
Hanukkah commemorates the clash between Judaism and Hellenism. Beauty, art, culture… are these the enemy? The answer to this question may lie in a story the Talmud tells. It's not quite the story of Hanukkah, but could it be the story of a Hanukkah that might have been?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 3 • 9 min
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.
Animated Video • 33 min
The Spiritual Meaning of Hanukkah
Latkes, gifts, dreidels – Hanukkah is full of fun! But kids’ stuff aside, is there a deeper meaning to this holiday? What spiritual insight can Hanukkah really offer 21st century grown-ups?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 2 • 56 min
Is Hanukkah Like Christmas?
Is Hanukkah just the Jewish Christmas? Or, for that matter, the Jewish “winter holiday”? After all, almost every religion has a winter festival that’s suspiciously similar to Hanukkah -- going all the way back to pagan times. So, what makes Hanukkah special? Turns out, the Talmud asks the same thing.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 10 min
Who Are the Maccabees & What Is the Book of Maccabees About?
How does the Hanukkah story fit into the larger context of Jewish history? Join Rabbi Fohrman as he ventures deep into the oft-overlooked Book of the Maccabees, a first-hand account of the story of Hanukkah, to discover unexpected biblical echoes in the miracles of Hanukkah.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 13 min
The Meaning of Hallel
We add the prayer service of Hallel on holidays, but what exactly are we saying? Is it just a collection of Psalms? In this course, Rabbi Fohrman argues that not only are we learning what it is to be a servant of God, but we are also discovering the origins of the nation of Israel.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 7 • 56 min
King David's Haunted Past
We recite Psalm 30 on Hannukah. David inaugurates the Temple in Jerusalem with this special psalm – but nothing about the text seems to relate to the Temple at all! In this lecture, Rabbi Fohrman explains a deeper meaning for Psalm 30.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 20 min
Hanukkah Family Activity Booklet
In the Hanukkah video Why Celebrate The Oil But Ignore The War?, Rabbi Fohrman explores the miracle of Chanukah, to illuminate (pun intended!) how God is always with us, even during the darkest of times. Get the most out of this video by watching it as a family and enjoying the activities in this booklet together.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
The Festival Of Jewish Values: How To Celebrate Hanukkah In A Changing World
. If Hanukkah celebrates the Maccabees' rejection of Greek values, how are we meant to observe Hanukkah today if our Jewish values have blended with outside values, like art and literature?
Educator Guide • Article • 7 min read
A 101 Guide To Hanukkah
. Hanukkah – also spelled Chanukah – is celebrated for eight days every winter starting on the 25th of Kislev. We light the Hanukkah Menorah (the Chanukiyah) each night to commemorate the miracles of this holiday. What is Hanukkah?
Educator Guide • Article • 7 min read
Fast of 10 Tevet
For additional resources, check out the Fast of 10 Tevet home page here.
Tu BiShvat
For additional resources, check out the Tu BiShvat home page here.
Purim
For additional resources, check out the Purim home page here.
The Queen You Thought You Knew
Step beyond the children's version of Purim you learned in third grade. Uncover the sophisticated psychological strategies, political maneuvers, and hidden motivations that make the real Megillah a masterpiece of suspense.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 11 min
Could You Become Haman? Understanding the Path to Darkness
The Talmud makes a shocking claim: Haman's name appears in the Garden of Eden story. Coincidence? Not at all. Beneath Purim's costume parties lies an ancient pattern - Haman obsessing over "the one thing he can't have," just like Adam reaching for forbidden fruit. Uncover the eerie parallels that transform this villain from cartoon character to a mirror of our own darkest impulses.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 7 • 5 min
Why do we send Mishloach Manot?
What does sending food have to do with the Purim story, and why did Mordechai insist we continue this practice forever?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 2 • 46 min
Why Is ‘Purim’ Named After Haman's Lots?
We call it "Purim" after Haman's lots—the very device he used to determine when to destroy us. But why would we ever want to immortalize a tool of our destruction? Discover how the Hebrew word "pur" carries a double meaning that turns Haman's weapon into Esther's triumph—and why this linguistic twist reveals the true spiritual message of the holiday.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 6 min
Fasting with Purpose: A Guide to a Meaningful Taanit Esther
Are you counting down the hours until your fast ends? What if these uncomfortable hours could make your entire Purim experience more meaningful? Discover why Esther's pivotal fast transformed her from passive bystander to national heroine—and how your hunger today can connect you to something much larger than yourself.
Animated Video • 9 min
Purim In The 21st Century
Why is celebrating Purim important today – or even at all? Sure, Purim is the “holiday that will never be forgotten,” and celebrates the salvation of the Jewish nation, but it is also the rare holiday where God doesn’t take center stage in the story. Is this a clue that Purim celebrates our own contribution, alongside God’s? Of course, we recognize that Purim celebrates the work of God’s helping hand “in the background.” That certainly seems like an important reason to celebrate Purim for all eternity. But aren’t we partly responsible for our achievements? This Purim video sets out to uncover a meaningful reason as to why we still celebrate Purim today.
Animated Video • 8 min
The Bond Between Sarah And Esther
The Torah tells us that Sarah died when she was 127. The Torah also tells us that there were 127 provinces in the Persian empire in the days of Achashverosh and Queen Esther. Coincidence? Rabbi Akiva doesn’t think so, and neither does Rabbi Fohrman. Watch this video to find out why.
Animated Video • 11 min
Unmasking The Mysteries Of Purim
Rabbi Fohrman explores the connection between the stories of Megillat Esther and Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Could the very first story in the Torah have any connection to the very last story of the Torah? And if so...what does that mean for the way we understand the holiday of Purim today?
Recorded Lecture • 2 hours, 7 min
The Mysterious Connection Between The Books Of Leviticus & Esther
The Book of Esther is filled with many biblical echoes that deepen and enrich our understanding of what really happened in Shushan. Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Rabbanit Shani Taragin as they trace the Book of Esther back to the dedication of the Tabernacle in the Book of Leviticus, and enter Purim with a new perspective.
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 54 min
Fate, Chance, And The Book Of Esther
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.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 3 • 55 min
How The Bible Comes Full Circle
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.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 2 • 1 hour, 5 min
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.
Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 11 • 1 hour, 23 min
What Does The Induction Ceremony For The Priests Have To Do With... Purim?
We learn in Shemini about the induction of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. Interestingly, there are bunch of similarities - in language, and in theme - between this story, and the story of Megillat Esther. But what does the induction of priests have to do with Esther?? Join Rabbi Fohrman and Rivky as they examine this puzzle - and never think about the priesthood, or Megillat Esther - the same way again.
Recorded Lecture • 43 min
What Does Yom Kippur Have To Do With Megillat Esther?
Acharei Mot describes the priest’s Yom Kippur service in the Tabernacle, with strangely similar language to Megillat Esther. But what does Yom Kippur—with themes of repentance and closeness to God—have to do with Esther? Rabbi Fohrman and Rivky re-examine these two texts.
Animated Video Series • 22 min
What Is the Meaning of Purim? The Purim Story, Purim Characters & Customs Explained
. Purim is a festive Jewish holiday where we celebrate with costumes, noisemakers, and parties. But what is Purim really about once we strip away the revelry? Here we explain what Purim commemorates, and why it is still relevant in the 21st century.
Educator Guide • Article • 6 min read
Esther’s Fast (Taanit Esther): Guidelines and Meaning
. Why do we fast on the day before Purim? What is Taanit Esther all about? Here’s everything you need to know.
Educator Guide • Article
Mishloach Manot
. Purim day is filled with the excitement of giving and receiving Mishloach Manot, small gifts of delicious food. Mishloach Manot come in all shapes and sizes, but, bagged, boxed or in baskets, these special Purim gifts add immensely to the joy and warmth of the holiday. Why do we give Mishloach Manot on Purim? And what goes into a perfect Purim basket? Scroll down to find out.
Educator Guide • Article
Purim Book, Chapter 1: "The Queen You Thought You Knew."
In this excerpt from Rabbi Fohrman's book on Purim, "The Queen You Thought You Knew," he invites you to look at the Book of Esther with fresh eyes. In so doing, he reveals another richer, deeper narrative. Unravel the layers and watch Esther's hidden story come alive in an unexpected way, offering you a stirring encounter with the queen you thought you knew.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Passover
For additional resources, check out the Passover home page here.
Confronting Trauma: from Egypt to October 7th
In this timely course, Rabbi Fohrman considers how God's response to ancient trauma speaks directly to our present moment after October 7th.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 7 • 14 min
Your Roadmap Through the Haggadah: Making Sense of Maggid
Our main job at the Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus—but the Haggadah, the very guide meant to help us, can often feel surprisingly confusing. Discover why we read this text and transform maggid from that part you rush through to get to the food into the most insightful highlight of the evening.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 14 min
If God Mandated Our Slavery, Why Praise Him for Our Freedom?
The seder is full of songs praising God for taking us out of Egypt – but He decreed to Abraham that we’d be slaves in Egypt centuries beforehand in the Brit Ben Habetarim. So did He save us or put us into slavery in the first place?
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 8 min
That Bizarre Moment When God Tried to Kill Moses
Remember when God inexplicably tried to kill Moses and Tzipporah had to save him? This isn't a midrash —it's right there in the text. Why would God threaten the very messenger He just selected? Discover the hidden connection between this bizarre episode and the deeper meaning of the entire Exodus story.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 6 • 14 min
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.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 13 min
When Evil Seems Unanswerable: Pesach’s Wisdom After the Holocaust
Rabbi Fohrman reveals how the often-overlooked 'shotrim' of Egypt provide a framework for understanding divine justice after the Holocaust. A powerful Passover exploration of how God responds when no punishment seems adequate.
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 20 min
From Pesach to Shavuot: Did God Free Us Just to Make Us Serve Him?
Why did God begin the Ten Commandments by declaring, “I freed you from Egypt.” Is He buying our obedience? Or is there a deeper message to this first command… and what can it tell us about the exodus story?
Animated Video • 31 min
How the Omer Ties the Holidays Together
If you love seeing big-picture connections in the Torah, then you’ll love the Omer. It’s one of the only times in the Jewish calendar that explicitly links two holidays together. But it does so in a very peculiar way. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the cycle of holidays of Passover, the Omer, Shavuot, and beyond.
Animated Video • 12 min
Model Passover Seder
Insights into the Passover Haggadah Sit alongside Rabbi Fohrman and our CEO Imu Shalev for a model seder as they explore wonderfully new and invigorating ideas on an age-old seder tradition.
Recorded Lecture • 2 hour
Dayenu In The Pesach Haggadah
Singing Dayeinu: Would It Really Have Been Enough? What do the lyrics of Dayeinu song really mean?
Recorded Lecture • 1 hour, 21 min
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.
Animated Video • 7 min
What Does It Mean To Be Chosen?
If God wanted to free us from slavery, why not just take us out? Why the plagues, the blood on the doorposts, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart—why all the extra steps? Rabbi Fohrman uncovers how these puzzling details reveal something much deeper: what it truly means to be God’s ‘firstborn.’
Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 8 • 8 min
What Is Taanit Bechorot?
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.
Animated Video • 7 min
The Meaning of Hallel
We add the prayer service of Hallel on holidays, but what exactly are we saying? Is it just a collection of Psalms? In this course, Rabbi Fohrman argues that not only are we learning what it is to be a servant of God, but we are also discovering the origins of the nation of Israel.
Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 7 • 56 min
Why (Really) Can’t We Eat Chametz on Pesach?
We all know that we eat matzah because we left Egypt quickly. But that doesn't explain why we must eliminate all chametz. Investigate the surprising connection between Egyptian bread technology and Passover's restrictions.
Recorded Lecture • 28 min
How Is Land Ownership Connected To The Pesach Sheni Offering?
In Parshat Pinchas, we read about the daughters of Tzelaphchad, who sought to inherit their father’s land. God granted their request, and even codified it into law. But there’s something unique about this story — it’s strikingly similar to the story of the Pesach Sheini offering. When a group of ritually impure people approached Moses and requested a way to make an offering, God codified a practice called Pesach Sheni, which acted as a “make-up” offering for the impure. But what does inheriting land and ritually impurity have to do with each other? Join Rabbi Fohrman and Daniel Loewenstein as they explore the meaning of nationhood and purity.
Recorded Lecture • 32 min
How To Read The Pesach Haggadah
Reading the Haggadah is one of many rituals of the Pesach Seder – but it can be difficult to read. Sometimes we mumble our way through it, without real comprehension. This Haggadah outlines guides you through the important messages in Maggid.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
The Exodus You Almost Passed Over: Chapter 1
Is there more to the Exodus story than we think we know? Rabbi Fohrman's book reveals a side of the ancient Exodus saga that illuminates not just our past, but our future, and tells not only of our freedom, but of our destiny. Take a peek at Chapter 1 for free.
Printable Guide • Printable Guide
Lag BaOmer
For additional resources, check out the Lag BaOmer home page here.
