Laws and mitzvot can seem so dull and restricting. Take a closer look with Aleph Beta and discover the beauty and meaning in the Torah laws, one commandment at a time.

Kashrut

Kashrut: What Does God Have Against Cheeseburgers?

What is so spiritually problematic about mixing milk and meat? Why is it so important to God that we abstain? 

Animated Video • 13 min

More on Basar B'chalav

One of the places where the prohibition not to eat meat and milk together is found is in Parshat Mishpatim. It’s location is at the end of a lengthy list of laws like property damages and personal injuries. It's hard to relate to these dry, legal lists when they're put side by side with the Torah's most epic and memorable stories. But what if the laws aren't merely what they appear to be? What if these laws have something to tell us, a secret about one of the Torah's most familiar stories? And how can they teach us about not eating meat and milk together? Join Ami as he explores the stories hiding within these laws. Discover other videos about Kashrut at Aleph Beta, including ‘Why Can't You Cook Milk & Meat Together”, “The Meaning of Kashrut”. And “Kosher Slaughter”

Recorded Lecture • 13 min

Why Do Jewish People Only Eat Kosher Food?

On the surface, Kashrut seems like such an arbitrary bunch of laws. What makes animals that chew their cud and have split hooves fit for eating more than other animals? The Torah isn't thoughtlessly random. What if there were a way to think of kosher in a way that makes sense, and is even spiritually meaningful? Enjoy this discussion between David and Imu as they try to discern some of the deeper meanings behind keeping kosher. They even explain their methodology along the way. A real (kosher) treat! If you would like to see how these insightful ideas play out in other areas of Jewish Law, watch What Do The Arba Minim (Four Species) Represent?

Animated Video • 23 min

Is There A Rhyme Or Reason For Ritual Slaughter?

Did you know that there is more to kosher animals than chewing their cud and having split hooves? If a kosher animal is not slaughtered correctly, it is not considered kosher for consumption. This video will take a closer look at kosher slaughter, in particular the requirement of ‘kisui dam’ covering the blood of the killed animal. Along the way it will explore meaningful questions such as does vegetarianism have a source in the Torah, and what would the Torah say about our current method of consuming meat?

Animated Video • 18 min

Torah Dietary Laws & The Relationship Between Kosher Slaughter And Idol Worship

The laws around kashrut, including kosher slaughter appear more than once in the Torah. When they are first mentioned in Leviticus, they are primarily discussed in the context of purity and impurity. But in Deuteronomy, they strangely show up in the context of...avodah zarah, or idol worship. What do the laws about kosher animals have to do with idol worship? What do they teach us about idol worship, and conversely, what does idol worship teach us about the meaning behind eating kosher animals? We’ll explore all that in this video. Discover other videos about Kashrut at Aleph Beta, including ``Understanding‘ Basar B'chalav”, “The Meaning of Kashrut”. And “Kosher Slaughter”

Animated Video • 25 min

What’s Meaningful About Keeping Kosher?

What’s meaningful about keeping kosher? In this premiere episode of Meaningful Judaism, a brand-new podcast from Aleph Beta Labs, Imu Shalev and Beth Lesch tackle the topic of kashrut, or keeping kosher, beginning by raising a fundamental question that you might not have thought to ask: Does the Torah want us to eat meat?

Podcast • 54 min

What’s Meaningful About Not Mixing Milk and Meat? (Kashrut Part 2)

What’s meaningful about not mixing milk and meat? Observant Jews who follow the Torah know that cheeseburgers are forbidden… but do you ever stop to ask why? What’s the problem with adding a slice of cheese to your hamburger? Why is it so important to God that we abstain? Is it some kind of test, that God wants us to not eating certain yummy things to prove that we’re committed to the Torah? Is it that God wants to make it extra complicated to keep kosher, so Jews will be more likely to socialize only with others who also keep the Torah? Is it a law that has no reason at all? Is it none of the above?

Podcast • 54 min

What’s Meaningful About Not Eating Bacon?

It’s one of the most famous of the Torah's laws: no eating bacon! But is there any particular reason for this restriction? Why does God permit us to eat cow but forbid pig?

Podcast • 1 hour

Shabbat

Shabbat: Did God Really Need to Rest?

Why would an omnipotent God need to rest? Join us as we seek an answer to this question and, in doing so, a whole new understanding of Shabbat.

Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 4 • 8 min

Shalom Aleichem and the Meaning of Keeping Shabbat

In this animated video version of the Meaningful Judaism podcast episode, Rabbi Fohrman takes a fresh look at Shalom Aleichem to uncover its hidden depth. This familiar yet curious prayer leads him to a surprising insight about the profound meaning behind keeping Shabbat—and what resting on the seventh day is really all about.

Animated Video Series

The Meaning And Purpose Of Refraining From Work On Shabbat

Let's be honest – what really makes shabbat meaningful? Is it spending time in prayer and meditation, or is it spending time with friends and family, even, often, more so than God?

Animated Video • 13 min

The Meaning of Melacha and Creation on Shabbat

In Vayakhel, the Tabernacle and Shabbat are juxtaposed, which leads our Sages to explore the idea of refraining from work. But what is the actual connection between the Tabernacle and Shabbat? Rabbi Fohrman reexamines the creation story and the first day of rest in search of an answer.

Animated Video • 11 min

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..

Animated Video • 14 min

Friday Night Kiddush

In this two part playlist Rabbi Fohrman discusses the mitzvah of sanctifying Shabbat over the Friday night Kiddush and reveals to us a Kiddush Chiasm in all its glory.

Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 2 • 15 min

The Importance Of Shabbat In All Jewish Holidays

In our Torah reading for holidays, we not only recite the laws of holidays, we include shabbat, and oddest of all, some laws about sacrificing animals. What do all these laws have to do with one another? In this video, Rabbi Fohrman makes a fascinating argument about how Shabbat works and shows that there are shabbatot in different realms.

Animated Video • 9 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 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.

Animated Video • 12 min

The Spiritual Meaning Of The Sabbath And Jubilee Years

We talked last week about seeing shabbat in different worlds. But how do we understand, conceptually, what this means? In this week's video, we look at Pesach, Shmita and Yovel and ask, where do we see Shabbat, and why does it matter?

Animated Video • 11 min

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.

Recorded Lecture • Part 1 of 3 • 1 hour, 6 min

The Origins and Meaning of ViShamru

The very last words God tells to Moses as he's ready to leave Sinai are about the Shabbat. Why? The rabbis give their explanation to this question in the introduction to the Sabbath morning prayers. But looking at the rabbis' explanation, we are left with more questions! Join Rabbi Fohrman as he dives deep into this prayer, and understands the rabbis' answer to God's surprising last words to Moses on Sinai.

Animated Video • 24 min

Introduction To Kabbalat Shabbat

Join Rabbi Fohrman for an in-depth discussion of Kabbalat Shabbat.

Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 9 • 54 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

Tzitzit

What’s Meaningful About Tzitzit? (Part 1)

(Part 1 of 2) Are tzitzit supposed to “mean” something? Most people who wear tzitzit probably don't find it especially objectionable or burdensome, but how many people can honestly say that wearing tzitzit is a deeply meaningful spiritual practice? That it helps them to be a better Jew, a better person, to feel closer to God? Probably not so many. For everyone else, tzitzit is, at best, a testament to one's commitment to following the Torah but without any unique meaning or character, and at worst, a ritual, performed by rote, simply because everyone else seems to be doing it, devoid of any meaning at all.

Podcast • 37 min

What’s Meaningful About Tzitzit? (Part 2)

(Part 2 of 2) Are tzitzit supposed to “mean” something? Most people who wear tzitzit probably don't find it especially objectionable or burdensome, but how many people can honestly say that wearing tzitzit is a deeply meaningful spiritual practice? That it helps them to be a better Jew, a better person, to feel closer to God? Probably not so many. For everyone else, tzitzit is, at best, a testament to one's commitment to following the Torah but without any unique meaning or character, and at worst, a ritual, performed by rote, simply because everyone else seems to be doing it, devoid of any meaning at all.

Podcast • 28 min

What Else Is Meaningful About Tzitzit and Kashrut? (Season Finale)

Season 1 of Meaningful Judaism is ending, but before we go, we just have to share some extra Torah that didn’t make it into earlier episodes. There’s the beautiful idea about angels that got cut from our episode on tzitzit – but we’ve found some amazing new evidence, so we’re bringing it back!

Podcast • 38 min

Brachot

The Meaning Of Brachot?

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.

Animated Video • 9 min

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.

Animated Video • 17 min

Shir Hamaalot: Planting With Tears

The following presentation was originally framed by Rabbi Fohrman as a course on Tisha b’Av. He argued that Shir Hamaalot, the psalm that we commonly use in benching on Sabbath and holidays will help us get in touch with the power of tears. With the ability to connect and transform. The vast majority of this video directly deals with Shir Hamaalot, but at the end, Rabbi Fohrman will discuss some Tisha b’Av themes, which you’ll see are quite relevant.

Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 5 • 2 min

Al Naharot Bavel: By The Waters Of Babylon

Al Naharot Bavel is part of the weekday benching, or grace after meals. It is a psalm, specifically, psalm 137, that we say before we begin the formal blessings. Our presentation is largely taken from a webinar Rabbi Fohrman held one year on Tisha B’Av as a sort of Epilogue to a course on Shir Hamaalot. If you haven’t seen that course yet, we strongly recommend you watch it before watching this epilogue that discusses Al Naharot Bavel. You can click here to access it now. Rabbi Fohrman explores the connection between laughter, crying and singing. He takes a closer look at Psalm 137 and how it connects to Psalm 126, the song of ascent that will be sung when the Jews return to Zion. He demonstrates how muscle memory holds onto trauma, and how Naomi Shemer, was able to unearth the passion and pain of the psalms and reignite the desire for a unified Jerusalem, perhaps changing the course of Jewish history.

Recorded Lecture • 3 hours

Agricultural Laws

What Are Shemittah And Yovel Really About?

Behar is all about the seemingly strange laws of 2 different events: shemittah and yovel, the sabbatical year, and the year of the jubilee. What are they about? Are we supposed to learn anything from these laws? What do they mean to us today?

Animated Video • 17 min

The Spiritual Meaning Of The Sabbath And Jubilee Years

We talked last week about seeing shabbat in different worlds. But how do we understand, conceptually, what this means? In this week's video, we look at Pesach, Shmita and Yovel and ask, where do we see Shabbat, and why does it matter?

Animated Video • 11 min

Shemittah, Yovel And… Mount Sinai?

This week’s double parsha, Behar-Bechokotai, focuses on the agricultural cycles of Shemittah and Yovel. Strangely enough, the language here carries echoes of some of the themes of last week’s parsha, and even seems to take us all the way back to Mount Sinai. Are these ideas somehow connected? What could the revelation at Sinai have to do with agricultural laws in the land of Israel? Join Rivky Stern and first time co-host Ami Silver as they explore these fascinating connections and the implications for what it means to live together with God in this world.

Recorded Lecture • 33 min

The Surprising Origins of Ma'aser (Tithing)

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?

Animated Video Series • Part 1 of 2 • 14 min

Jacob's Ladder and the Laws of Ma'aser (Tithing)

In this six-part webinar, Rabbi Fohrman explores the true meaning of Jacob's Dream. What did it really mean?

Deep Dive Course • Part 1 of 6 • 43 min