Shows
The OverthinkersDo Demons Exist? (With Dr. Joy Vaughan)Do demons exist? If so, what are they like? Joseph Holmes and Nathan Clarkson welcome New Testament Scholar, author, and demon-expert Dr. Joy Vaughan to help them navigate the world of supernatural evil on this latest episode of spooky month.
Further links:
Demon definition:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demon
Demon history:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/angel-religion#ref410057
70% of Americans believe in The Devil:
https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4400922-americans-ghosts-aliens-devil-survey/
Modern day exorci...
2024-10-141h 10
72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 8: The HolidaysWhen you’re Jewish, it seems like the holidays are always around the corner, and there always seems to be some sort of competition. Whether it’s the High Holidays just as school gets into full swing, or how Chanukah and Passover often, but confusingly not always, overlap with Christmas and Easter. There’s a lot of explaining to do, and partnerships to be built. That’s what led my mother into my elementary school classrooms, where she fried latkes and read Herschel and Chanukah Goblins for me and my Christian classmates. It’s also what led her into in...
2024-04-2230 min
COVID StoriesIntroducing 72 Miles til KentuckyHi there, it's been a while. I wanted to share my latest release with you. It's actually the story of how COVID Stories got started, when I was building skills to produce a family project. It's called 72 Miles til Kentucky, and it's a storytelling podcast all about Jewish life in my home state. Here's the quick blurb. You can check out the full podcast here.72 Miles features the stories of three separate interfaith Jewish families–two real, one not, and one mine. Together, they trace 150 years of Kentucky history, with experiences that resonate today—about being Jewish in A...
2024-02-1206 min
COVID Stories72 Miles Chapter 1: Tell a Really Good StoryHere's Chapter 1 of 72 Miles til Kentucky. For the rest, you'll have to check out the main feed. Here's the quick blurb. You can check out the full podcast here.72 Miles features the stories of three separate interfaith Jewish families–two real, one not, and one mine. Together, they trace 150 years of Kentucky history, with experiences that resonate today—about being Jewish in America, about being Jewish and southern at the same time. About being Jewish, being interfaith, and the blending of the two.So strap in, and take a ride with me, up and down I65...
2024-02-1221 min
Modern TorahIntroducing 72 Miles til KentuckyThis is a bit of a break from the regular Modern Torah feed, but I want to share a new, limited-series podcast with you that I've just released. It's called 72 Miles til Kentucky, and it's a storytelling podcast all about Jewish life in my home state. Here's the quick blurb. You can check out the full podcast here.72 Miles features the stories of three separate interfaith Jewish families–two real, one not, and one mine. Together, they trace 150 years of Kentucky history, with experiences that resonate today—about being Jewish in America, about being Jewish and southern at t...
2024-02-1206 min
72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 7: Back & ForthFrom Sunday School in Nashville to Sunday dinner at Granny's, my family bushogged our way towards a cohesive religious identity. Even as my mother was returning to the faith of her childhood, my father was moving further away from his, and towards an unlikely home — The American Society of Friends. Introducing a third faith in our household seemed to solidify our identity, rather than shatter it, and my brother and I were quick to absorb the tenets of our father's new faith, a chance we got every summer, for a few years, when we attended SAYMA – the Sout...
2024-02-0831 min
72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 6: Choosing JudaismMy mother passed away on September 14, 2021 after a years-long battle with cancer that cost her control of the left side of her face. We had been recording for just over a year, but there was still so much more she wanted to say. After she died, I went through her journals, to learn the perspectives that she was hesitant to share with me even at the end of her life. My father contributed by archiving the family VHS tapes my mother had saved all these years, including a copy of my Bar Mitzvah and my mother's adult Bat Mitzvah...
2024-01-1840 min72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 5: Are We Jewish or Are We Christian?My family moved to Bowling Green in 1989. My brother was turning six, and I was turning three. We rented a house in the country for a few months, then bought the red-brick home on Garrett Drive where we lived for 16 years. We joined the local Presbyterian Church, but didn’t quite fit in. It was too conservative, or maybe we were too liberal. My parents struggled to make friends, and my brother and I hated Sunday School. All of which fueled an identity crisis, and another poignant question posed by my brother from the back seat of the family Old...
2024-01-0425 min72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 4: I'm Jewish, You're Not!My parents met at Walnut Street Baptist Church in 1979. My father was there for services, at his mother's request. My mother was there working, as a sign language interpreter. They were married not long after in a different Baptist church, by a group of friends, using an interfaith wedding ceremony they wrote themselves. As a young couple, my parents found their a home at Central Presbyterian Church, in downtown Louisville, where they met my godparents, and made lifelong friends. They even baptized their two children, much to the congregation's delight. We tried to have it both ways, a...
2023-12-2033 min72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 3 – The Untold Jewish History of Bowling Green, KYMy family moved to Bowling Green in 1987, but we weren’t the first Jews to live there, far from it. Jews had been settling in Bowling Green for over 150 years, drawn by economic prosperity. Jewish merchants helped open up the American frontier, wherever they could a stream or railroad to follow. They learned to adapt their faith and traditions to a new place, one where there wasn’t a Jewish community to rely on. And when their children grew older, and fell in love, it was sometimes with a local Christian kid. In this episode, I speak with D...
2023-12-1434 min72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 1: Tell a Really Good StoryMy family has a motto, “We are making memories.” It’s a motto that’s led us through life’s more chaotic moments. The secret to making memories, of course, is how you tell the story. And in my family we strive to tell, and retell, really good stories. And we’re not the only ones. Storytelling is a southern folk tradition, and I come from a long line of master storytellers, a tradition I’m proud to carry on, because some stories just need to be told. Of course, every story deserves some slight embellishment, that’s a southern traditio...
2023-12-0621 min72 Miles til KentuckyChapter 2: Meet the FamEvery interfaith family has at least two sides to its story. Mine features a poor white boy who was the odd duck in his devout Baptist family, and a Detroit Yankee who was raised in a tight-knit Jewish community until she rebelled and ran away to Kentucky. This episode also introduces the second of three families featured in 72 Miles, one that’s make-believe. Conjured from the imagination of I.J. Schwartz in an epic Yiddish poem titled New Earth, that follows the life of Josh, a Jewish blacksmith, newly immigrated from Lithuania, who settles in rural Ke...
2023-12-0631 min
72 Miles til KentuckyStart HereEvery story needs a starting point. For years, my mother and I had been talking about how to tell our family’s story, and whether our experiences as a Jewish interfaith family would have value for anyone but us. First we imagined a blog, then a life-coaching business, a book, and even a cookbook. Then she was diagnosed with cancer, and suddenly the whole project seemed more important than ever. In January, 2020 we started recording content. In March we launched a crowd-funding campaign. The pandemic hit and derailed all of our plans, but we kept recording content—remot...
2023-11-1406 min
Modern TorahIsaac and Ishmael: A West Wing SpecialIt took me a while, these past few weeks, overseas, In Israel, and here at home. It took a while to figure out what was going on and why I felt so strongly, feelings that seem to move, strangely, in too many directions at once.It wasn’t until President Biden’s speech in Israel, and his warnings about the mistakes our country made earlier this century, that it clicked for me. Because we’ve been here before, certainly. But more specifically I’ve been here before. Go deeper with my sources on Sefaria---
2023-10-2610 min
Modern TorahGreat in GoodnessI thought long and hard about whether or not I wanted to weigh in on the current crisis in Israel. In the end, I couldn't not, and I found myself turning as I often do to the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel.Shabbat Shalom.--Music Provided by Lofi Girl: Promise Due - Kinissue & Artemis Flow Wicked Thoughts - Kinissue & Tibeauthetraveler Farewell - Kinissue Watch on YouTubeListen on Spotify--I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and...
2023-10-2009 min
Get Off The Bench PodcastNathan Cassar - From bullied introvert to extroverted entertainerFrom schoolyard-bullied introvert to extraverted entertainer extraordinaire, Nathan has a lot of unique insights on overcoming adversity, all the world being a stage, and the entertainment industry.Nathan has become an award-winning Master of Ceremonies with over a decade of experience, including as a former Entertainment Host with Princess Cruises. Based in Sydney, Australia, Nathan specialises in bringing energy and excitement to every event he emcees, from weddings to festivals, gala evenings to award nights, and charity events to trivia – he really does it all! Nathan’s dynamic stage presence, charming smile, and professional attitude have...
2023-07-061h 01
Modern TorahEmerging Backwards – Achrei Mot 5782It's a critical question that the rabbis debate, partially in response to last week's Torah portion, and partially in response this week's parsha. "Is emerging backwards still emerging?" "Well no," says Rabbi Shmuel, "and here's why.""I agree that the answer is no, but not with how you got there," replies Abaye. "Emerging backwards isn't emerging, and here's why.""You're both wrong," says Rava, "emerging backwards is absolutely emerging, and here's why."Hear the answer to this fascinating debate and follow along in the source sheet on Sefaria. Thanks f...
2022-04-1508 min
Modern TorahI Don't Know? – Metzora 5782We're still on leprosy this week in the Torah portion. There's beauty in things that peel, as we see in nature. I ordered some trees this week that shed their bark in beautiful curls of golden and orange, because I want to bring that beauty into my yard, even if it looks to some like the trees have been struck by disease.—————I'm not a rabbi, so every week I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the modern world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us dese...
2022-04-0706 min
Modern TorahExcelsior! – Tzav 5782In this week's Torah portion, Aaron is invested as high priest, as are his sons, in a lavish ceremony before the entire Israelite community. It's a high moment for Aaron, a week before his world will fall apart. I don't know why the rabbis segmented the Torah portions this way, but perhaps its a reminder to keep everything in balance, and to focus on the good at times, even—or perhaps because—you know rough waters are coming up ahead.Shabbat shalom.—————I'm not a rabbi, so every week I look at our Torah portion...
2022-03-1809 min
Modern TorahAsking & Listening – Vayikra 5782It's been a long wait, but shows are starting to pop up in my media stream again. One of my favorites returned after a long hiatus (what else is new?) for it's 5th and final season. Watching the first few episodes, I couldn't escape its relationship to this week's Torah portion, and the work of asking for help, guidance, and strength from the divine, and the challenge of hearing an answer.Thanks for listening, and shabbat shalom!—————I'm not a rabbi, so every week I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in...
2022-03-1103 min
Modern TorahMoving Forward, Slowly – Vayetzi 5782We're halfway through November, which means the end of 2021 is coming up quickly. With a few weeks left in the year, I took a moment this week to reflect on some goals I'd set at the start of the year, how much progress I've made towards them, and where I find myself as the year wraps up.The Torah this week finds Jacob journeying to the house of Laban, where he serves as a laborer for 14 years before marrying Laban's daughter Rachel. Along the way he marries Leah, which wasn't part of his plan. I took a...
2021-11-1209 min
Modern TorahChoosing Choiceless ChoicesTwo roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.This week, I put Robert Frost's famous poem—"The Road Not Taken"— in conversation with our weekly Torah portion, Toldot. The parsha covers the story of Isaac, including the exchange between his sons Jacob and Esau, where Esau sells his birthright to his younger brother.Jacob's actions are often explained away by the rabbis, and Esau is commonly demonized as wild and wicked so Jacob comes across more kindly. This h...
2021-11-0508 min
Modern TorahLooking Up & LaughingI finally set my television up after moving in, which meant last Sunday morning was the perfect time to break in the new space with a fine home cinema experience. Naturally I picked Ferris Bueller's Day Off, because I love it, and because it's leaving Netflix at the end of this month. What I didn't expect was to spend the whole movie reflecting on the similarities between the movie and this week's Torah portion—Parsha Vayera. I couldn't get the comparison of Cameron and Sarah's journeys out of my head, so I wrote it down, and later in...
2021-10-2205 min
Modern TorahTrusting & Thriving Four Generations OnGetting to this episode has been a journey. I took a break in May 2021, after producing 59 episodes, with plans to return in September 2021, at the start of the Jewish New Year. Then my wife and I bought a house, and life got busy with housework. Then my mother's illness took a turn for the worse and life got busy with life.My mother died on September 14, 2021. We buried her a few hours before Kol Nidrei, which means this is the first episode of Modern Torah that she'll never hear. In her memory, and in keeping with the...
2021-10-1505 min
Modern TorahRoots of RebellionThis may come as a surprise, or not, especially if you know me, but I identify with Korach the much demonized revolutionary who gathers followers and challenges Moses's leadership in this week's Torah portion. Most of Jewish history makes Korach out to be the bad guy—seeking power for power's sake, power he thinks he has a right to but which has been denied to him by Moses, Aaron, and the new hierarchies of leadership handed down by G-d. The arguments are powerful, but honestly, we never hear Korach's perspective, and it has me wondering maybe we've got...
2021-06-1106 min
Modern TorahThe Middle GroundThis episode was recorded in May 2021, and somehow never published. So I'm delivering it now, in November 2021, because the world can never have enough Torah.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these ten minutes of Torah part of your w...
2021-05-2111 min
Modern TorahSome Words About IsraelThis week, as the Torah returns to the theme of counting, in Parshat Bamidbar, the world seems to have more to count than ever—infection rates to be sure, but also global vaccine programs. And if you’re focused on Israel you might be tracking rockets fired from Gaza, interceptions by the Iron Dome. Of course, you might also be tracking Palestinian casualties in Gaza and the West Bank, the number of seconds you have to chuck a teargas canister before the vapors envelope you, and the number of houses demolished by Israel, to make way for new Jewish neig...
2021-05-1409 min
Modern TorahGiving & ReturningSome weeks it’s hard to wrap my head around the world, and how it seems to perfectly line up with the week’s Torah portion. This week was one of those weeks. I’ve been reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, in the same week the Torah presented the laws of shmitta in Parshat Behar. The shmitta tradition is all about our cyclical obligation to treat the Earth with integrity, trading the produce of our toil rather than the land itself, and I found it impossible to read both texts in the same week....
2021-05-0709 min
Modern TorahFor Some Things There Are No Wrong SeasonsI had a plan this week, to weave the complicated and problematic language we find in the Torah into a metaphor about the ebbs and flows of the Jewish people's eternal fight for social justice. But then I put off writing this for a few days, and I read the news instead, and it became harder and harder to talk about embracing new perspectives, or waiting out the seasonal flows of our fight for social justice, when we seem to eternally stuck in this cycle of violence.I'm not a rabbi, so every week I look at...
2021-04-3009 min
Modern TorahThe Man Behind the CurtainThis week has been a full week, and to be honest, I'm shocked that this episode is actually being released. I wrote, recorded, and produced it in a single day, and I'm not even sure if it makes sense, so if you're reading this and you give it a listen, let me know!This week, the Torah offers another double Torah portion, Achrei Mot & Kedushim, which are both about creating holy community, in different ways. At the beginning of Achrei Mot, and in response to the deaths of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu (which we read about...
2021-04-2309 min
Modern TorahLegislating Away Our Own Worst InstinctsRecently, the Arkansas legislature overrode their conservative Christian governor's veto of a bill, now state law, that criminalizes gender-affirming healthcare for children. The state government, effectively, has legislated away the ability of compassionate healthcare providers to support trans kids in the Arkansas. It's a dramatic contrast to the Jewish approach, which connects back to this week's Torah portion, Tazria-Metzora, which details the laws of purification for women who have given birth to a male or female child, but gives no instructions for what to do if the physical sex of the baby is indeterminate, a conversation that leads the...
2021-04-1611 min
Modern TorahThat's The Way The World Goes RoundJohn Prine died a year ago this week, and I wrote this week's episode on the anniversary of his death. This week's Torah portion, Parshat Shmini, features the deaths of Nadav and Avihu who, as Ibn Ezra comments, died before G-d doing something they thought was acceptable before G-d. They had made a mistake and deviated from the instructions G-d gave them. Ibn Ezra's commentary reminded me of John Prine's song That's The Way The World Goes Round and a story he often told about a moment of confusion on stage with a fan in the crowd who wanted...
2021-04-0908 min
Modern TorahDon't Shut the...DoorBy the time this episode airs, we'll have already celebrated our second year of socially distanced Seders. Passover is all about seeing yourself as a participant in the exodus from Egypt, and applying that experience to improving our world today. That intention has led to a slew of games, toys, and content designed to make the Seder more approachable and more fun, especially for children.While there's lots to choose from, for Jews my age there's one piece of content that rises above all the rest—The Rugrat's Passover Special. This year, as we can see the li...
2021-04-0207 min
Modern TorahKeep the Fire BurningAs they wandered the desert, the Israelites carried the Tabernacle, and all its holy objects, so they could offer the sacrifices G-d had required of them. The Tabernacle provided a venue for these offerings, as the priests burned some or all of the sacrifices brought to them by the people. Fire was an essential component to the Israelites ritual sacrifices, and in this week’s Torah portion, Tzav, G-d commands the Israelite people to build a perpetual fire, never to be put out, under any circumstances. I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at...
2021-03-2606 min
Modern TorahThe Trouble with CallingThis week's Torah portion, Vayikra, kicks off the Book of Leviticus with a familiar feeling theme—G-d calling to Moses and delivering a set of instructions. In this case, G-d delivers detailed instructions for the sacrifices Aaron, his sons, and their priestly descendants will perform on behalf of the Israelite people. These sacrifices are the Israelite's main means of communicating with G-d, but since the destruction of the First and later Second Temples, the Jewish people have been unable to communicate with G-d through sacrifices. So we turned to prayer.This week though, I'm talking a lot le...
2021-03-1910 min
COVID StoriesBonus Content — Episode 9 — RossI first met Ross after watching his campaign style video, announcing his availability for employment after he was laid off. If you haven't watched the video yet, visit my website, www.covidstoriespodcast.com, and check it out before listening to this bonus content. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2021-03-1504 min
Modern TorahDon't Stop GivingAs they journey through the desert, the Tabernacle is the defining feature of the Israelite camp. This week's double Torah portion, Vayakhel-Pikudei, deals with the details of the Tabernacle's construction. The entire community participated in this process, bringing freewill offerings to build the Tent of Meeting. At a certain point, though, enough is enough, and as donations begin to pile up, Moses issues a proclamation that rings out across the Israelite camp. And in response, the Torah says, "the people stopped bringing: their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done."
2021-03-1208 min
Modern TorahCounting the NumbersI can’t imagine why, but this year I’ve been particularly struck by all the plague related content sprinkled throughout the Torah. In past years, plagues have always seemed like metaphors for greater threats or external burdens we place on ourselves. This year plagues feel very real.Modern Torah put the Torah in commentary with the world around us. New episodes are published weekly, on Friday mornings, anywhere you get your podcasts. Like, subscribe, and follow along. If you have feedback, I'd love to hear it. Visit https://www.moderntorah.com to learn more...
2021-03-0609 min
Modern TorahCounting the NumbersI can’t imagine why, but this year I’ve been particularly struck by all the plague related content sprinkled throughout the Torah. In past years, plagues have always seemed like metaphors for greater threats or external burdens we place on ourselves. This year plagues feel very real.Modern Torah put the Torah in commentary with the world around us. New episodes are published weekly, on Friday mornings, anywhere you get your podcasts. Like, subscribe, and follow along. If you have feedback, I'd love to hear it. Visit https://www.moderntorah.com to lear...
2021-03-0509 min
Modern TorahSuper Aaron & Captain EstherIn a week when our Torah portion, Tetzaveh, collides with the holiday of Purim, I couldn't think of a more appropriate topic to discuss than superheroes. No spoilers for WandaVision, at least not intentionally, but honestly it's not accident that there are so many Jewish themes woven throughout the superhero universe. Our sacred texts are full of characters whose story arcs are strikingly familiar to the modern stories we know and love today.Shabbat Shalom, and Chag Purim Sameach. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2021-02-2606 min
Modern TorahBecoming One WholeA catastrophe has been playing out this week, unrelated to the coronavirus, as the electrical grid in Texas failed under the pressure of winter weather, leaving millions stranded without heat during an unusually fierce cold snap. While it may seem odd to compare the electrical grid with the Tabernacle built by the Israelites in the desert, there are too many similarities to ignore. Especially in a week where our Torah portion, Terumah, is all about connecting individual components together to build something large and integral to daily life in the Israelite camp.If you...
2021-02-1908 min
Modern TorahMarking & Labeling: Torah From A Week on ClubhouseI've spent a lot of time this week on Clubhouse. It's a new social media platform, with an audio only format, that's becoming really popular during the pandemic. There's tons of videos about Clubhouse out there, so go check it out, and feel free to email me if you're interested in getting on the platform. What I love about Clubhouse, though, is the diversity of people who starting conversations, and the way the app empowers them to take control of those conversations. I spent some time this week in a Room for "Black and M...
2021-02-1208 min
Have a Chat with Vaughan HaySeries 2- Have a chat- Nathan BrownWelcome to Series 2 of ‘Have a Chat’, Todays guest is Nathan Brown.
Sports fanatic and the life of the party type of guy Nathan openly speaks about his mental health and dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Having experienced those dark days Nathan is now very passionate about helping and supporting others by sharing his story and being involved in charity events around mental health and the ‘Got you for life’ organisation.
Nathan and his best mate Luke launched their own podcast called @skipthispodcast to share Nathan’s journey around mental health. They kicked it off in...
2021-02-071h 27
Modern TorahCan You Talk To God?At the heart of most religious traditions, including Judaism, is a series of simple questions. Can you talk to God? If you can talk to God, how? Does God hear you? If so, will God answer? One of my favorite movies, since the very first time I saw it, is the Kevin Smith classic, Dogma, which might seem like a funny topic for a Jewish podcast about the weekly Torah portion, and to be honest the movie doesn't age well, at least not all of it. Still, there's something very Jewish about dogma that k...
2021-02-0410 min
Modern TorahChanges of HeartChanges of heart happen, sometimes often. I had a change of heart recently, about the future of this podcast, something I've been thinking about for a while. I thought I wanted to put it to bed, having accomplished all of my goals for this project. When I didn't post an episode for a full month, people started reaching out to me. So I'm back, and excited to be sharing this podcast again, and in a week where changes of heart seem to dominate our weekly Torah portion, Beshelach. I promise, I didn't plan it that way.I’m...
2021-01-2909 min
Modern TorahBalancing HumilityTransitions of power don't come around that often, even in the United States, but when they do they offer us a chance to reflect on an important topic, one that seems particularly relevant this week as a new President is sworn in at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the te...
2021-01-2210 min
Modern TorahA Short, Hard Fall From GraceIt only takes ten verses this week for the Israelite people to fall about as far as a people can, from the height of privilege as new immigrants who had saved the Empire all the way to slavery in Egypt.This episode was written in the wake of the January 6th riots at the U.S Capitol. It was delivered live that week at my synagogue's community Kabbalat Shabbat service. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so...
2021-01-0805 min
Modern TorahCatastrophe AvertedStorytelling is so important to the Torah, and this week the rabbis employ one of the oldest tricks in the book, right out of a Hollywood movie—a good cliffhanger, right in the middle of a global catastrophe that only one man can see coming.This episode was written during the week of Christmas, 2020. It was recorded and posted a few weeks later.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conv...
2020-12-2509 min
Modern TorahAgreeing to Follow the LeaderWhen Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams in this week's Torah portion, Miketz, he offers an almost apocalyptic vision of the future. After being appoint by Pharaoh to lead Egypt through the seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine, he benefits from the authority Pharaoh wielded as a diving king. In the last weeks of 2019, there were early warning signs that COVID-19 had the potential to spread like wildfire. And I have to imagine that if Joseph had been alive a year ago, warning of a coming global pandemic from COVID-19, instead of starvation from a global famine...
2020-12-1808 min
Modern TorahForgotten in the DarkThis week's Torah portion, Vayeshev, features the story of Joseph, whose ability to correctly interpret the dreams of those around helps him gain tremendous power, with a few spectacular falls from grace along the way. Joseph's story spans more than one parsha, and this week, the Torah cuts the story short on an emotional cliffhanger, with Joseph left alone and forgotten in a dark cell.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and ea...
2020-12-1109 minModern TorahA Tale of Two ResponsesThis week's Torah portion contains violence, and if you're someone who's triggered by scenes of sexual violence, you might want to skip this week.This week, the Torah prominently features the rape of Jacob’s daughter Dina, and the reaction of her siblings—Jacob’s sons—to that act of violence. Having returned to Canaan with his new family, and made peace with his older brother Esau, Jacob purchases a parcel of land, near the city of Shechem, from the local community, and settles down with his wives, children, and herds of sheep...
2020-12-0410 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 9—RossWhen I first started preparing for COVID Stories, I went online, to LinkedIn, and started searching hashtags, looking for people who had been laid off due to COVID. This was back in June and July of 2020, and it wasn’t hard. Every time I searched terms like laid off, unemployed, or furloughed, I found that the site was full of people sharing their stories. Emotionally raw posts about being laid off had hundreds of reactions and empathetic comments.I met most of the strangers I spoke with for this podcast on LinkedIn, or was introduced to th...
2020-12-0425 min
Modern TorahBringing Bounty to the TableThis week, our Torah portion focuses on Jacob as he departs on a long journey to gather wealth, find a wife, and build a new life for himself, his family, and his descendants. He migrates to his uncle's household, where he spends years working for Laban, even as his uncle employs trickery, leveraging Jacob's love for Laban's daughter Rachel, to secure additional years of labor from a prized employee.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is ri...
2020-11-2710 min
Modern TorahFamily...It's ComplicatedThis year, of course, has reminded me of the importance of family, especially as we approach a season that, at least in the United States, people associate with family. Whether it's the family you were born into, the family you chose, or even the family that chose you, family is an inescapable reality in life. Still, family can be incredibly complicated, as the Torah reminds in this week's portion—Toldot. This week's portion begins with a joyous event, the birth of two sons—Esau and Jacob. But by the end of the parsha, that same family is broken and scat...
2020-11-2009 min
Modern TorahJust LaughThere's probably never been a better week in the history of the Jewish people than this one for Vayera, this week's Torah portion, to pop up in our regular reading cycle. Because something, all you can do when you look at the world, is laugh.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or t...
2020-11-0605 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 8—CassieCOVID-19 has affected the way all of us work, and for many people the dominant experience of COVID-19 has been months spent working from home. Work from home wasn’t a widely available option before COVID, so for most this is their first long term experience working from home.Working from home is hard, and it can have serious consequences for someone’s mental health. But working from home existed before COVID-19. For some it was a long dreamt of ideal work environment, but for others working from home was isolating, with limited opportunities for long term...
2020-11-0329 min
Modern TorahRethinking the LadderThis week is a little different. For the first time Modern Torah isn't just my Torah. This week, my wife makes her Modern Torah debut, speaking to a subject that, I think you'll agree, we're all better off hearing about from her, rather than me.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or t...
2020-10-3005 min
Modern TorahScorecards & RighteousnessIn the opening lines of this week's Torah portion Noah, the namesake and relative hero of this parsha, is referred to as a righteous man who walked with G-d. Yet Noah's actions, or inactions, call his righteousness into question. The rabbis of the Talmud debate this, and compare the righteousness of Noah with a different figure, one who doesn't appear in this week's portion, Abraham. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation wit...
2020-10-2309 min
Modern TorahThe Original DisputeThis week, we start the Torah over again, from the beginning, with Bereshit. And that means, we get to revisit the original dispute of the Torah—not between Cain and Abel, but between the Aleph and the Bet, the letters that is.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment...
2020-10-1609 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 7—Rafi NovaStarting a business, any business, is hard work. It takes time, skill, more than a little bit of luck, and usually the business you end up with isn’t exactly the one you dreamt of from the beginning. Meet Marissa, she’s the CEO of Rafi Nova, an ethically minded, fair trade fashion company that purchases handmade textiles from women in rural Vietnam, and turns them into fashionable and family-friendly travel accessories. Marissa and her husband Adam met during a year abroad program in college, and bonded over their mutual love of travel. They continued to trave...
2020-10-1523 min
Modern TorahLet It RainAt the end of Sukkot, Jews around the world make a small change to our routine of daily prayers. Beginning on Shmini Atzeret, we add a request for rain to the second blessing of the Amidah—the core of our prayer service that we recite three times each day. This prayer, though, doesn't just ask G-d for rain, but for rain in its proper season. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with...
2020-10-0906 min
Modern TorahMy Favorite Jewish HolidaySukkot is hands down, my favorite Jewish holiday, a season when we're commanded to gather and rejoice, in the middle of what has always been my personal season of joy. This year, of course, feels different, but the perspective makes me appreciate a little recognized Sukkot ritual which has always felt particularly odd to me. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and...
2020-10-0205 min
Modern TorahA Change in TuneThis week, as we sit between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Moses is wrapping up his final speech when he suddenly breaks into song.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these ten minutes of Torah part of your week.
2020-09-2508 min
Modern TorahL'Shana TovaEvery year, on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, the traditional Torah reading presents an odd start to the New Year—a portrait of extreme duality. Two women, one ecstatic with joy, the other paralyzed by sorrow. As we turn the page to a fresh season, what can we learn from these stories our tradition highlights on Rosh Hashanah?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to f...
2020-09-1807 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 6—JasonIt’s wild to think that fall is here already, and school is back in session. Education in the United States relies, as it always has, on one all-important factor—the teacher. Meet Jason. He teaches Social Studies at a vocational-tech high school on Boston’s North Shore. He moved his classroom online when the pandemic first began. I spoke to him in late June about his experiences, and how it affected his students learning. He told me about the challenge of teaching Social Studies to high school students today, about his passion for teaching Genocide Studies—and raising awarenes...
2020-09-1520 min
Modern TorahChoosing a New LeaderAs Moses approaches his own death, he's increasingly concerned with who will influence the Israelites after he's gone. Throughout their time in Canaan, at times of need, prophets arose to lead the Israelite people. But how are the people, warned repeatedly by Moses to be wary of corrupt leaders, supposed to discern a true prophet from a false one?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to...
2020-09-1108 min
Modern TorahWith a Loud VoiceLast week, over 600 Jewish organizations raised their voices as one, to make a simple statement. Black Lives Matter. Twice, in our portion this week, the Torah indicates that injustice stemming from actions committed in darkness and secrecy should be met with outrage—loudly and publicly. I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taki...
2020-09-0307 min
Modern TorahJust Because You CanThis week, the Torah presents a series of challenging laws, many of which challenge our modern sense of morality, at least on first glance. One particularly distasteful law until the rabbis of the Talmud create a series of rules and protocols that make it highly unlikely, in fact nearly impossible, for that particularly troublesome law to ever be put into practice.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves th...
2020-08-2707 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 5—BrianBrian has spent much of his professional life at sea, doing a job he loves, helping people explore the most remote corners of our world. When the pandemic first hit, Brian was working on a routine cruise from Argentina to Antartica, until borders began to shut down, and ships out of port found themselves stranded at sea.Brian found himself stuck on board his cruise ship, along with 200 passengers and 200 fellow crew members, part of a crisis that rapidly developed in seaports around the world. If you haven’t had a chance, I hope you’ll find...
2020-08-2623 min
Modern TorahJustice, Justice Shall You PursueIn Parshat Shoftim, Moses reviews the judicial code that will govern Israelite society in the Land of Canaan, and he starts, with a passionate call to action, commanding the People, “justice, justice shall you pursue.”I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll m...
2020-08-2106 min
Modern TorahFreedom to RestThis week is Shabbat Nachamu, Shabbat of Comfort, and our Torah portion this week finds Moses recounting the experience at Sinai, including the 10 Commandments, to the Israelites community, on the eastern bank of the Jordan River. But the version of the 10 Commandments Moses shares is slightly different from the version in Exodus. And, as you might imagine, the differences are interesting.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves th...
2020-07-3107 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 4—MaliniMillions of people have filed for unemployment since the COVID crisis began, but for many this isn't the first time they lost their job. The past 20 years have seen numerous mass lay offs, from the 2001 tech bubble to the 2007 financial crisis, right up until the 2019 auto industry crisis. And for some people, when the COVID crisis first hit, they were already unemployed, and found themselves in a new job market seemingly overnight. Meet Malini, she lost her job in 2007, and again in 2019. And when COVID first hit, she was just coming back from a year travelling the world, ready to...
2020-07-3024 min
COVID StoriesBonus Content—Episode 4—MaliniMalini’s journey took her around the world, from India where her family lives, to Spain where she volunteered on an organic farm. In this bonus content, hear how she volunteered with Doctors Without Borders, serving rural communities in Nepal without regular access to medical care. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2020-07-3004 min
Modern TorahChanging the NarrativeThis week's Torah portion finds the Israelites camped on the Jordan River's eastern bank. Before crossing the river into Canaan, Moses gathers the people for one last, long teaching, his famous speech that comprises most of Deuteronomy. In the beginning of his speech, as he's just warming up, Moses does a funny thing, he subtly changes the narrative of history to place himself in a better light.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tr...
2020-07-2305 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 3—BronsonHamilton has stormed back into the pop culture scene this summer, reminding all of us how valuable the arts are, especially in dark times. Theaters and concert halls were some of the first businesses to be closed as the COVID-19 pandemic spread through New York, leaving people who spent their whole lives chasing a dream wondering if they would ever get back on stage. So for this episode, I wanted to feature the voice of a Broadway actor, and learn how he has coped with being unemployed and what he's doing to stay creative while stuck at in his apartment.
2020-07-2320 min
Modern TorahBooty & SpoilThe Israelites loot and raze cities as they wage total war against the idolatrous Midiante and Moabite peoples. After the slaughter, they gather the booty and spoil of battle, including captive slaves, and bring it to the Israelite camp, where G-d commands it be equitably divided among the Israelite nation. What can we take away, today, from these violent and destructive portions? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world aro...
2020-07-1707 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 2—JohannaIt takes guts to run for office, and just as much courage to work for a political candidate. In this episode, we meet someone who dedicated themself to a candidate they still believe in, only to watch that candidate drop out after Super Tuesday, just as the COVID-19 pandemic was really breaking open. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2020-07-1417 min
COVID StoriesEpisode 1—TroyThe COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that impacts different communities differently. For the first episode, I chose to feature the story of someone working to create widespread change in their neighborhood and beyond. He told me about the impact COVID-19 is having on him, his family, and his community; and why he remains hopeful about the future. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2020-07-1417 min
Modern TorahCropping a StoryThis week's Torah portion picks up at the end of a story, just after the climax, leaving it to readers (and listeners) to look back and understand why Phinehas is being praised.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these...
2020-07-1007 min
Modern TorahA Donkey on EdgeBalaam is summoned to curse the Israelite people by Balak, King of the Moabites. Along the way, Balaam encounters an Angel of the Lord, standing in his path, ready to strike him down.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make t...
2020-07-0310 minCOVID StoriesThis is COVID Stories (Trailer)Raising the voices of everyday people whose jobs and lives have been turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Go to www.covidstoriespodcast.com to learn more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
2020-06-2602 min
Modern TorahGrudges, Ambition, & RebellionParshat Korach is named for the leader of a failed rebellion against Moses, Aaron, and the Israelite priests. By harnessing resentment and stoking anger, Korach aims to supplant Moses and lead the Israelites himself.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll mak...
2020-06-2409 min
Modern TorahNephilim, Giants, & WeepingThis week's Torah portion presents a case of fake news that could be ripped from the headlines, complete with vain leadership and a supporting cast just trying to hold the people together.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these...
2020-06-1909 minModern TorahJust as the Cushite...Towards the end of Beha'alotcha, the Torah presents a moment of family drama that plays out between Miriam, Aaron, and Moses. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these t...
2020-06-1208 minModern TorahThe Middle of the Road is for HorsesIn a week where justifiable rage is sweeping our country, the Torah presents the Nazarite vow, a ritual where one volunteers to assume the responsibility of additional restrictions beyond everyday Jewish law and perhaps merits greater holiness in the process.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prep...
2020-06-0507 minModern TorahThe Sinai FestivalRashi says, when the Israelites arrived at Sinai they encamped before the mountain as "one people with one heart." Dedicated to the memory of my friend, Charles Kreinik, a lover of music, z"l.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll mak...
2020-05-2804 minModern TorahWar or Peace?The book of Numbers begins with a lot of counting, mainly of "men aged 20 and over, able to bear arms." Are the Israelites gearing up for war or being practical about safety based on their history with tyrants?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shab...
2020-05-2706 minModern TorahResetting SocietyThis week's Torah portion, Behar, presents a new way to regulate the economic and agricultural life of ancient Israel, one that reoriented the Israelites back towards what was most important.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these ten minute...
2020-05-2705 min
Modern TorahAre You a Member?Synagogue communities around the world rely on members for support. As virtual synagogue attendance rises, what does it mean to be a member?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these ten minutes of Torah part of you...
2020-05-0806 minModern TorahHow's That Spelled Again?The first of this week's two Torah portions, Achrei Mot, introduces a new word, one that only appears four times in the Hebrew Bible, all in this parsha. And how it's spelled makes a big difference in what it means.I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prep...
2020-05-0109 minModern TorahLet's Talk About Leprosy!This week this Torah gives us a double parsha, all about ritual purity and impurity, and to be honest, leprosy dominates 90% of the conversation. So what's the deal with leprosy?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us deserves the chance to find our own meaning in the text. Whether you’re studying Torah daily, or taking a moment to prepare for Shabbat, I hope you’ll make these ten minute...
2020-04-2407 minModern TorahIs This Real?Our tradition sets aside a special Torah portion for years when Shabbat during Passover falls on the "in between days." This portion is full of examples where the Israelites lose faith and demand proof of G-d's power and even G-d's existence. In a world where proof is everything, how do we prove to ourselves that G-d exists. Do we even need to?I’m not a rabbi, so every week, I look at our Torah portion and try to put it in conversation with the world around me. Judaism is rich in tradition, and each of us de...
2020-04-1706 min