Explorations: Recent Episodes
Raphael Davidovich
My name is Raphael Davidovich. I want these podcasts to explore the deep and practical ideas to be found in Torah and Jewish Tradition.
This is the message I sent to my community in response to the tragedy in the Holy Land this past week.
Exploring the speech a Jew gives when he brings the first fruits in the Temple. Connected to Pesach Seder
More on Asher Yatzar: Exploring the dangers of opening a closed door, or closing an open door.
Exploring why we say that our body's functions are "revealed and known before Your Throne of Glory".
We explored several topics - from issues of tension and controversy in our community, to unzoned shuls, to Jewish Schools that don't teach secular studies, to Moshe hitting the rock etc. We hope you'll enjoy it.
Exploring the nature of the inconvenience that Edom would not let the Jews cut through their territory to enter the Promised Land. Where was Edom 39 years earlier?
Exploring Korach's beef with Aharon - and how it influences the way we approach the Torah
Exploring Tanya Chapter 47, and its connecting the Mitzvah of Krias Shema to the Mitzvah to recall the Exodus.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 46, which teaches us to use the tool of reflecting love back to Hashem. A great tool to appreciating saying Shema.
Exploring the shenanigans of being on the road in the Torah - comparing Parshas Behaalosecha and Parshas Beshalach
Exploring how a possuk in Parshas Terumah, when repunctuated, redefines the purpose of Mitzvos.
An exploration into human nature as learned from the Halacha that the Chanukah Menorah should be placed on the left side of the doorway.
Exploring the mitzvah to release a Jewish maidservant as soon as you have no intention of having her marry into the family.
Exploring the mitzvah that someone who has taken a Jewish maidservant should marry her or have his son marry her.
Exploring the mitzvah not to use a ladder or staircase to get up onto the altar, and the inferred mitzvah to build a ramp.
Exploring the phrase in the first bracha of Shmoneh Esrei that Hashem in the present tense beings Moshiach.
Exploring the Mitzvah of not allowing a blade to touch the altar, either during construction or even after it's built.
Exploring the phrase "El Elyon" in the Shmoneh Esrei, and how it expresses a fundamental understanding of God.
Exploring the mitzvah not to make any statues, even when you have no intention for the statue to be worshipped
Exploring the short phrase in the Shmoneh Esrei that describers God as the Konei Hakol - Acquirer of All - A phrase taken from Parshas Lech Lecha.
Exploring the line in Birchos Krias Shema that asks Hashem to remove the obstacles that are behind us.
Exploring the mitzvah to not lie when giving testimony - and its importance in everyday life
Exploring Tanya Ch.34, and how a Jew who is so imperfect and lives n such imperfect times can hope to find the joy of being a dwelling place for God.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 33, another contemplation that leads to greater Simcha in life.
Exploring why we daven for Yerushallayim to be rebuilt, as distinct from the other prayers for redemption
Exploring Tanya Chapter 32, and its explanation of how we can fulfill the Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisrael.
Exploring the Gemara's difficulty that Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Eliezer are disagreeing with themselves!
Exploring "Shevach" one of the many Hebrew words that means "praise". But it means so much more.
Exploring how we can take advantage of the idea that Shavuos can be seen as lasting a full week!
Exploring the Beraisa on Berachos 2b that cites five opinions on the earliest time to say the evening Shema
Exploring Tanya Chapter 31; how a little bit of sadness at the right time and directed in the right direction can lead to a lot of Simcha
Exploring Tanya Chapter 30, and why even someone who is Torah observant should avoid arrogance.
An exploration of the tefilla that highlights how lucky we are to be part of the family of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov.
Exploring Chapter 29, a most difficult part of this book, teaching a Jew how to be self-critical in order to put oneself in a state of Simcha.
Exploring the meaning of "taking the name of God", and what it means to do so improperly.
Exploring the rabbis' numerous views on when the day ends, and the time for the Nighttime Shema begins
Exploring the gemara that is working on defining the halachic limits of the phrase when you lie down".
Exploring the mitzvah not to worship another god even in a manner that is not based on the Torah's standards of serving Hashem.
Exploring the complexity and many facets of Birkas Hamazon, AKA "Bentching" after eating bread.
Exploring the widely differing perspectives on Israeli Independence Day that exist in the Jewish Community
Exploring Sefer Shoftim Chapter 2, which serves as a sort of key to the rest of this book.
An exploration of how spiritual struggles and personal obstacles should be a cause for joy, Simcha.
Exploring the meaning of bowing down- in the context of the aveira of bowing down to any deity besides Hashem.
Exploring a perspective of how the seven weeks of counting the Omen can be viewed as a time of joy, even though they are marked as days of mourning.
Exploring a feature of the Yom Kippur service in the Beis Hamikdash, and what it says about how people should help others.
Exploring the first chapter of Sefer Shoftim, the Book of Judges. The death of Yehoshua, incomplete conquest of Eretz Yisrael, and the first post-Yehoshua judge.
An exploration of Tanya Chapter 26, which starts to explain the value of Simcha, Joy, in a Jewish life.
Exploring the Mitzvah not to make a graven or carved image of a deity, even if the maker has no intention of worshiping it himself.
An exploration of how daily davening should be viewed as an extension of the excitement of the Pesach Seder.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 25: how all Mitzvos are easily accessible because they are branches of our inate nature.
An exploration of the connection between the blessing of childbirth and the curse of leprosy
The first of two classes exploring the section of Maariv known as "Boruch Hashem LeOlam" according to Tosfos.
Exploring the theme and purpose of Sefer Shoftim (the Book of Judges), the wildest of all the books of Tanach.
Exploring "Aleinu", a prayer said three times a day, but in the rush of concluding davening runs the risk of being overlooked by some of us.
Exploring the crisis of confidence that Aharon and the Jews suffered before the fire descended from Heaven.
An exploration of the totality of Sefer Yehoshua, summarizing the whole Book, and offering insight on how it follows the Torah and is the prelude to the next book, Sefer Shoftim.
Exploring Tanya Ch.23, how all Mitzvos express and channel God's will, while Torah study internalizes God's will.
Exploring how to fulfill the Talmud's statement that Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B'Simcha, When Adar enters, we increase in joy.
Exploring Yehoshua Chapter 22; breaking up the band, and coming to the brink of a civil war.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 20: How all mitzvos express God's oneness and exclusivity, which requires us to understand what the Torah means when it says that God is One.
Exploring the portions of Eretz Yisrael allotted to the remaining 6 tribes, and how the brochos of Yaakov and Moshe were fulfilled.
Exploring how a Jew without intellectual or emotional skills can access closeness to God and Torah observance.
Exploring the sin of eating Chometz on Pesach. Check out Mitzvah #12 as well for more insights on this topic.
Exploring this important and deep chapter, Yehoshua 18. Shilo, unfinished conquest, tribal lottery, Binyamin!
Exploring the Mitzvah to give holy significance to our firstborn children and firstborn animals.
Exploring a way Zemiros can be a source of Oneg for everyone, even the musically challenged
Exploring the halacha that an ox thief pays 5 times the value while a sheep thief only pays 4.
Exploring the mitzvah that an uncircumcised Jew may not eat from the Korban Pesach, even if he can't have a Mila for medical reasons.
Exploring the mitzvah not to break a bone of the Korban Pesach - as a window to understanding Mitzvos in general.
Exploring Yehoshua Chapter Fifteen, and its description of the lands of the Tribe of Yehuda, with some fascinating foreshadowing of big events to follow.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 14, the freedom to be a Beinoni and the aspiration to think like a Tzaddik.
Exploring the mitzvah not to remove the Pesach meat from the room where it's being eaten - with 3 insights
Exploring the connection between the Shema and the Blessings that are said before and after it.
Exploring the requirement to make 100 blessings every day, and how this can be done to enhance the Shabbos experience.
Exploring the change in Pharaoh's attitude in the two Parshios with the plagues: Va'eira and Bo.
Exploring Chapter 14, and the meaning of Kalev's historic request to his old colleague Yehoshua.
Exploring Tanya Chapter 13, how being a Beinoni is a good thing, even though one is not a Tzaddik.
Exploring why a legal non-Jewish resident of Eretz Yisrael may not eat the Korban Pesach.
An exploration of the words B'Chol M'odecha, found in the first paragraph of the Shema, but not the second paragraph.
Exploring why the Torah picks on an estranged Jew specifically with regard to the Mitzvah of the Pesach.
An exploration of the special status of Motzoei Shabbos in Jewish thought and practice.
An exploration of a oft-missed detail in Torah's account of Moshe's encounter at the Burning Bush.
An exploration of an unusual Mitzvah, not to eat foods containing Chometz on Pesach, which is NOT the same thing as the Mitzvah not to eat Chometz on Pesach.
I explore the second phrase in the Shema, the mysteriously whispered "Boruch Sheim Kevod etc", and the Talmud's story of its origin in the Yaakov's exchange with his sons immediately before his passing.
Exploring the brothers Shimon and Levi, and how Yaakov dealt with them. (I gave a longer version of this thought last year. This is another take, a third of the length of last year's version.)
An exploration of the TWO opposing ideas that appear side by side in the first line of the Shema.
Let's explore Yaakov's brief meeting with Pharaoh; why Yosef wanted it to happen, and what everyone should learn from the meeting.
An amazing chapter, completing Yehoshua's conquest of Eretz Yisrael and foreshadowing some amazing future developments.
No chometz may remain in a Jew's possession starting at midday of Erev Pesach. I explore this mitzvah's meaning.
An exploration of how we should view the miracles of Chanukah through the lens of the brachos and songs we sing.
Is feasting on Chanukah a thing? I explore a spectrum of three answers to that question.
Yosef's encounter with Mrs Potiphar can tell us a lot about the Jewish experience in America, especially (but not only) on Thanksgiving.
Americans next week will be eating a lot of turkey leftovers. Yet the Torah did not allow any Korban Pesach leftovers. I explore why this is a Mitzvah.
How should we understand the story of Shechem and Dina without squirming and apologizing?
A longer-than-usual podcast that explores the story.
The successful clever conquest of Ai, and the further fulfillment of Moshe's instructions re: Har Gerizim and Har Eival.
A summary of Tanya Chapter Six, which discusses the meaning of the term "Sitra Achra". the side that opposes Holiness.
A summary and fascinating insight into Mitzvah #7, not to eat the Korban Pesach undercooked or cooked in water.
Exploring the meaning behind the words in the Bracha said when performing many Mitzvos.
A short exploration of the sanctity of some well-known Shabbos foods: Gefilte Fish, Kugel, and Cholent.
How does Yaakov receive Hashem's command to return home?
How do Rachel and Leah take in Yaakov's message?
Ai Ai Ai. Following their first victory at Yericho, the Jews experience their first defeat. Why? And how do they deal with it?
We say the words "Melech HaOlam" in almost all brochos. They are so important that a Bracha is considered halachically deficient if these words are skipped. What do they tell us?
Winter is coming. And with it a most inconvenient meal, Shalosh Seudos. How can we reframe our perception of this meal and make it a holier experience?
Coming into contact with God. by way of "Levushin", the garments of Thought, Speech, and Action
An exploration of what is fully meant when we say the word "Elokeinu" in a bracha or in davening.
Summary and Insight into the fifth chapter of Yehoshua (Joshua); includes the national Bris Mila, the first Pesach in the Holy Land, and the mysterious encounter with the Angelic Captain of the Armies of God! (Who's that?!)
The story till now: Strive to be a Beinoni. It's doable. It's like being a Tzaddik, but also a Rasha. A Tzaddik in that the good inclination is winning. How's that? Well, there's the basic animal drive of every human. Then there's the Godly Soul, literally part of God Above Chapter Three goes into detail, describing some of the traits of this Godly soul, its intellect and drives.
Before Hashem took the Jews out of Mitzrayim, He told us to start the project called the Jewish Calendar.
This class explores some of the basics of this Mitzvah.
This is part one of an undetermined number of classes exploring "HaShem", God's name, in Hebrew; what it means, why we say it one way and not another way, and what we should think of when we say it. I explore the whole idea of names in general as well.
Why is there such a widespread minhag to eat fish on Shabbos?
I explore this and offer a few insights.
Why did Rav Gifter say that the word Ata is the most important word in all our davening?
Exploring why we sing Zemiros on Shabbos.
Should I do a podcast in which I sing Zemiros?
Here's the summary with some insight into the second chapter of Yehoshua, all about the spies he sent to Yericho, and our introduction to Rachav.
Here is a summary of and insight into the Mitzvah of Bris Mila, the second of the 613 Mitzvos.
Why do we sing Shalom Aleichem on Friday night?
What can it teach us about Shabbos and Erev Shabbos?
We're all grateful, of course. But what prompted the decision not to have another flood?
Starting Yehoshua, Chapter One.
Yehoshua is not merely Moshe's successor. He is Moshe's understudy, the moon to Moshe's sun. We will see in the course of this series why Yehoshua was necessary for Jewish History.
Most people ignore the cover page of a sefer. But what if the cover page gives away the whole theme, and can be referred to every step of the way, to keep the reader/learner anchored to the purpose of every line?
We make a rather big deal about this four word addition to the Amida. What does it say about prayer. It is the first prayer, according to Rashi on Parshas Bereishis 2:5.
Where did Simchas Torah come from? Why is it celebrated on the second day of Shemini Atzeres?
Why does Yosef come after Moshe and Aharon?
Let's celebrate what Yosef brings to Succos.
Aharon , the real hero of Succos, as the creator of the cloud of smoke that expanded into the clouds of Glory, represents a different form of leadership from his brother.
Our first holy guest in our Succah is Avraham Avinu - What does Avraham tell us about how to manifest Yom Kippur and celebrate Succos properly?
How is Yom Kippur fulfilled when we invite Moshe Rabbeinu to our Succa? Let's welcome Moshe Rabbeinu and hear how he helps us do Teshuva on the fourth day of Succos.
When we welcome Yaakov into our Succah on the third day of Succos, what are we meant to accomplish?
I think that Succos can only be properly celebrated when we can see how it is the culmination of all the Yomim Tovim. I explore that in this podcast. Feedback as usual is needed.
What do the four days between Yom Kippur and Succos mean? Practically, they are used to prepare for Succos; build the succa, pick up a lulav and Esrog. But why so little time to get ready? I explore the connection between these two holidays.
What is the point of this complex poem that describes Jewish History in a new and confusing way? What takeaways are there that were not found in any of the previous promises of national redemption?
Why does the whole Yonah drama resolve itself over the life of the Kikayon plant? How does this help us do Teshuva?
Why is the Shofar symbolic of the Akeida? It's not the Ram; it's the ram's horn!
The Ram's horn figures as a major player in the Akeida.
On the first day of Rosh Hashana, the chosen Haftora is the story of Chana and Eli, and the misunderstanding that leads to the birth of Shmuel Hanavi. This class explores the connections between this dramatic story and Rosh Hashana and the blasts of the Shofar on Rosh Hashana. It is based on the pre-Shofar drasha I gave in shul on the first day of Rosh Hashana 5782. Any and all feedback keeps these podcasts going.
Every year, we read Parshas Nitzavim on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana, without exception.
The depth of the connection between this Parsha and this YomTov is explored with the help of an insight of the Lubavitcher Rebbe into the meaning of the word "Nitzavim" - often translated as "standing", but actually much deeper.
How does the necessity to have Simcha fit with the reality and occasional value of sadness?
Exploring the real-life implications of the idea that Korach and Dasan-and-Aviram were neighbors.
Parshas Naso, the longest single parsha of the whole Torah, has two mitzvos that seem to have nothing to do with one another: The Mitzva of Sotah, a woman accused of adulterous behavior, and the rules of a Nazir, a unique individual who has taken a vow to abstain from wine and other things. What do these two people have to do with one another? The Talmud offers a clue. This podcast tries to understand that clue, and come away with some real takeaways for communities struggling to succeed.
Why celebrate the day we stood at Har Sinai? Most of the things we heard were already part of the Seven Noahide Laws! We didn't hear most of the 613 till later! And why celebrate standing at the mountain and God's giving us the Torah as two events, as the song Dayeinu expresses it. I explore these questions in this podcast.
Parshas Bamidbar has been one of the more difficult Parshios to grasp. It's not that its mitzvos are not practiced nowadays - it's that there don't seem to be mitzvos at all. There are a lot of numbers, repeated, and names, repeated, that don't seem to be related to any mitzvos or morals at all. In this podcast, I explore the parsha, and find some meaning.