Shikul Da'at: Insights into the Torah portion and Inspiration from the Jewish Tradition: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Joshua Rose
Reflections on the weekly parshah (Torah portion) with traditional and not so traditional insights from the Jewish tradition. We'll delve into deep study of the verses, midrash, commentary, chasidut and kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and try to present something deep, true, and useful for our lives.
Welcome to The Dot: The Podcast of Co/Lab: Reimagine Jewish. In this first episode, we (try to) add some insight into Ye's anti-Semitism and how culture can be an antidote to hate.
We're talking a lot about leaders these days, but not a lot about leadership. Parshat Tetzaveh highlights some important ideas that we might consider in our leaders and in ourselves.
Taking, giving, the Chatam Sofer, Talmud Berachot 35a-b - what else could a person want? Listen to find out.
This is a rebroadcast of Mishpatim 5778. A powerful teaching from the Shem Mishmuel a favorite teacher of this podcast.
Unraveling the knot of time in the first two verses of the Song of the Sea. David Hartman, Rashi and Mekhilta will help us untie.
What the Torah, Rashi and the Kotzker have to teach us about sleeping soundly - and a reflection on collective responsibility.
Why is Moses so resistant to God's will? What are we to learn from the fact that our greatest prophet rejected God's plan so many times? Is it humility? Or something else?
Midrash Rabba, Rashi, Ramban and the Netziv all focus on this strength of Moses, which opens the door to revelation.
The first verse of our parshah takes us through the Sifrei, Rabbeinu Bahya, and the Netivot Shalom. We wrap up with his practical and beautiful advice on the work of Teshuvah.
A beautiful piece of Talmud (Shabbat 77b) from Rav and Rav Yehudah, as presented by the Kotzker gives us a way to understand past 'mistakes.'
Two teachings of the Kotzker Rebbe about the Month of Av and why you should care about it.
Why does Balaak bless Israel - and then later in the Torah Moses rebukes Israel? A midrash and the Shem Mishmuel have a pretty powerful insight.
A strange episode with snakes in the Torah this week leads us on a journey toward a practical and spiritual takeaway that is key to our happiness. Along the way we get to learn why a word is not just a word, and to learn from the Akedat Yitchak's (15th c) beautiful grammatical-spiritual insight into one word in particular....
I bit of a departure from the usual format. On the eve of Independence Day, we explore the relationship of Jews and Jewish values to America. This podcast briefly discusses the weekly portion but we'll return next week to the usual deep dive on the parshah.
In this week's Parshah Study on parshat Shelach L'cha, we explore the true error of the scouts. We'll look at Rashi, Ramban, and the Shelah to see what we can learn from this episode.
Aaron, the Israelites, Rashi, Midrash Tanchuma, the Shem Mishmuel and the Kotzker teach a lesson about drawing on who you are not in order to be who you are.
The census in the Torah portion, the Talmud's reflection on the problem of counting people, and a magnificent teaching from Kedushat Levi.
A stunning teaching about self restraint and ego from the Mei HaShiloach. Along the way, a little Sifra, a little Rashi, a little Seforno, and a plug for our June 8th Program with Congregation Pnai Or.
Fast forwarding through the Movie of Your Life (to find the plot twist), understanding the counting of the omer through the lens of manna, and Rav Ashlag on the Zohar.
Understanding the prohibition against idolatry in verse 4 through the lens of Rashi, the Talmud (Shabbat 149) and the Degel Machaneh Yehudah leads us to a reflection on the difference between mindfulness vs. da'at.
Why is confession important in Jewish life and why does it matter so much today? A little Torah, a little Rambam, a little Soloveitchik to get some insight into the meaning of the confession that is still part of our liturgy and our lives.
Spirituality, Ethics, Maimonides, Soloveitchik, Alshich and Rebbe Nachman rolled into One.
A reflection on the essence of slander and what it says about human life.
I want to give a shout out to the essay "Self Actualization and Society" by Rabbi Shagar (Shimon Gershon Rosenberg) z"l which appears in his book Faith Shattered and Restored: Judaism in the Postmodern Age.That essay pointed me to some sources that I wouldn't have otherwise thought to connect with the ideas here.
How do we encounter God in the world? And is a life of mitzvah in tension with a life of experiencing God?
A succession of three instances of compassion followed by acts of courage lay the groundwork for the entire Jewish story, and all three appear in this week's Torah portion.
The great father and Rabbi, Emanuel Rose, joins me for a discussion about despair, hope and this week's Torah portion.
What is the quality we need to overcome division and strife, and to elevate one another? The chasisdic master shem mishmuel offers his take on the weekly parshah.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 4:2 and why we wash our hands in the morning.
The Shem Mishmuel contrasts the behavior of the priests and the metzora in order to shed light on the spiritual focus of each.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 4:1, concerning the ritual washing of the hands in the morning.
A seemingly obscure detail in this week's Torah portion in the description of which animal is to be used for a sacrificial offering opens up a window to Aaron's past. The Torah hints at an essential element in spiritual growth and service to God.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 2:5 & 6, which deals with covering the head and emptying one's bowels.
What is the essential message of Pesach? How is Passover supposed to change us? Having journeyed out of Egypt, what kind of person are we supposed to become?
This week we begin the book of Leviticus, with all its challenging sacrifices and rituals. How can the sacrificial system still have meaning for us today? We'll explore Maimonides, Nachmanides, Rabbi David Hartman and the Seforno to find an answer.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with Chapter 2 #4, which concerns the proper way to put on shoes.
The Shem Mishmuel shares a very deep teaching (in the name of the Kotzker Rebbe) that reveals the inner meaning of the opening of Parshat Pekudei.
There is a beautiful message in the Torah this week. We look at the structure of the Torah itself and the 39 labors prohibited on Shabbat to uncover something hidden in plain sight in our Torah portions: a powerful teaching about the meaning of our lives, our search for God and God's search for us.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 2:2&3, concerning the correct way to get dressed in the morning.
A magnificent, humbling and revealing teaching from the Kedushat Levi on Purim about 6:1 of the Megillah, "The King's sleep was disturbed."
The Shem Mishmuel compares two terms connected with prophecy and discovers in one of them the essence of spiritual life and commitment - a teaching for the ages.
Each week we learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 2:1 concerning getting dressed in the morning.
What does the absence of Moses and the presence of Aaron in the Torah portion teach us about the Jewish spiritual path?
CST is starting a new program to connect members to Shabbat and to one another. There's a beautiful R. Nachman teaching about Shabbat as the purpose of creation - and you'll hear about the program and how to sign up.
Rabbi Shimon makes a comment in the Mishnah that the SHem Mishmuel connects to our Torah portion. He uses it to explain the inner meaning of the three 'crowns' of the central objects in the sanctuary.
In Parshat Terumah God begings to describe to Moshe the sanctuary where God will dwell. Why must the Israelites relate to God in this new way and what are they (and we) to learn by creating a "space" for God's presence.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with the final two halachot of the first chapter of Mishnah Berurah
How can it be that Mishpatim opens by permitting (though limiting) servitude to a people that is just leaving slavery? The Shem Mishmuel finds in this problematic a very deep teaching that can change how we see one another.
The Israelites are still at Sinai. The looming question throughout Exodus is whether the Israelites can adjust to being a free people. One essential part of that challenge is breaking through the patterns of abuse that they've endured to free themselves from their past. Parshat Mishpatim presents them - and us - with an awesome challenge that they must overcome if they are to be a Holy People.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. Unlike the other Shikul Da'at episodes, which focus on interpretations of the weekly Torah reading, "Weekly Halachah" examines Jewish law as summarized in the great legal code Shulchan Aruch, with occasional insights from Mishnah Berurah commentary. This episode deals with 1:6&7, concerning the morning readings about the sacrificial offerings.
The Shem Mishmuel takes a redundant clause in the Torah portion and opens it up to find a beautiful insight into living life with purpose.
The command "do not covet" is often overlooked. While we can readily see why "do not steal" and "do no murder" are on the list of foundational rules for a holy society, we might wonder why "do not covet" made the list. Sure, it seems like a good idea? But why is it so important?
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. In this episode the Shulchan Aruch identifies passages that we are to read each morning and the Mishnah Berurah explains how those can shape our thinking as we head into the new day.
The Midrash tells us that Pharaoh escorted the Israelites as they left Egypt. How could it be that Pharaoh showed them this respect after all the years of enslavement? The Shem Mishmuel encourages us not to be deceived by Pharaoh's actions, and not to be deceived in our own lives as we pursue spiritual consciousness.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, the most influential and most widely studied law code in Jewish life. This work addresses Jewish conduct and values governing all dimensions of religious life. We will often draw on the insights of the Mishnah Berurah to elucidate the teaching of the Shulchan Aruch. We are currently learning Laws of Personal Conduct in the Morning.
The Shem Mishmuel has beautiful and life-affirming advice for us. We have to make sure that our hearts are not so covered up with negativity and impurity that we stop feeling. How do we respond to life's challenges and a world that doesn't seem to care? What should be our first step?
Each week we will learn one or more halachot from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day.
Parshat Bo contains the mitzvah of tefillin. But what is the point of this mitzvah? What does it mean? A discussion between Rashi and his grandson Rashbam points us to an answer that can help us relate kore deeply to mitzvah.
It seems strange that God is so concerned with proving God's power. Doesn't it seem to diminish God somehow to get in to a power struggle with Pharaoh over the plagues? And why are the plagues so harsh? Is God cruel? The Netziv (19th c) points a way to a clearer understanding of what's really going on.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. This episode is the first after the introduction, and we start with the Laws of Personal Conduct in the Morning, 1:1 - The Law of Waking Up.
Each week we will learn one halachah from the Shulchan Aruch, a central text to the understanding of how Jewish life is lived day to day. This episode is the introduction. If you already know what The Shulchan Aruch is, and what the Mishnah Berurah is, go to episode 2.
The Shem Mishmuel explores the idea that the Israelites could not listen/hear Moses' message of redemption. What is the spiritual challenge that the Israelites - and we - have to overcome?
Soloveitchik distinguished between pain and suffering. What is it about the death of Pharaoh that enables the Israelites to move from pain to suffering, which eventually leads to redemption?
A beautiful little teaching from Menachem Mendel of Kotzk on what to remember as we face life's daily challenges.