Shows
Adapting: The Future of Jewish EducationWelcome Home: The Complexity of HopeThis morning, we received joyous news that all 20 living hostages are back home. At the same time, we’re awaiting the return of the bodies of the remaining hostages. So, as a community, how are we supposed to feel? As Jewish educators, how do we create the memory of what October 7th meant for the Jewish people?Joining David Bryfman to discuss this complex moment in history are Rabbi Menachem Creditor and Rabba Yaffa Epstein, who reflect on post-war rituals and where we’re moving as a people. This is an episode of Adapting we’ve been wantin...
2025-10-1328 minAdapting: The Future of Jewish EducationFinding Light in Loss with Rabba Yaffa EpsteinJudaism gives us the tools to hold both joy and pain simultaneously. Few understand this better than Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project’s Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence, who tragically lost her nephew, Yakir Hexter z”l, while fighting in Gaza one year ago. Yakir was much more than a soldier—he was a brilliant Torah student, a talented artist, an athlete, and a bartender with his own signature cocktail. In this week’s episode of Adapting, Rabba Yaffa shares Torah in Yakir’s memory, drawing wisdom from Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot and from Yakir...
2025-01-3023 minAdapting: The Future of Jewish EducationPrayer and Presence: A Conversation Between RabbisIn this essential episode for Jewish educators, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, an Orthodox rabbi, and Rabbi Dena Klein, a Reform rabbi, discuss the challenges and opportunities of leading prayer in today’s world. With the High Holidays approaching, they offer practical advice for anyone guiding services, from maintaining your own spiritual energy to engaging children who may not feel connected. They share thoughtful tips on how to handle diverse needs in a prayer space, reflections on Yizkor this year, and how to find moments of divine connection and flow. The episode wraps with a heartfelt blessing for educators, off...
2024-10-1033 min
Jewish Insights with Justin PinesRabba Yaffa Epstein on Jewish Education—Jewish Insights with Justin PinesRabba Yaffa Epstein, Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence at the Jewish Education Project, and recent recipient of the prestigious Covenant Award which recognizes exceptional Jewish educators, joins Justin to discuss the lessons learned of the past year as we prepare to educate our youth and also prepare them for the High Holidays.
2024-09-1154 min
Daf Yomi for Women - HadranBava Kamma 73 - January 14, 4 Shvat Study Guide Bava Kamma 73 This week's learning is sponsored anonymously in honor of our dear friend and gifted teacher Rabba Yaffa Epstein to pay tribute to the memory of her nephew Yakir Yamin Hexter z”l who was killed in Azza. Today’s learning is dedicated by the Hadran Zoom family in honor of the birthday of our very own “Rabbi Yirmiya”, Becki Goldstein, whose pointed questions keep us on our toes always. Happy birthday! To many more years of curiosity, Becki, with lots of love. Abaye and Rava disagree about whether an eid zome...
2024-01-1445 minAdapting: The Future of Jewish EducationHanukkah Special: Identity, Safety, & PrideDuring the eight nights of Hanukkah, Jews all over the world publicize the miracle of the holiday by lighting menorahs by the window for everyone to see. However, this year feels different, as we grapple with the horrors of October 7th and the current climate of antisemitism in the midst of war. In this special Hanukkah episode of Adapting, here to discuss this topic with David Bryfman are The Jewish Education Project's Dr. Samantha Vinokor-Meinrath – Senior Director of Knowledge, Ideas, and Learning, and Rabba Yaffa Epstein – Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence. Their conversation, focused around intention, cultu...
2023-12-0635 minAdapting: The Future of Jewish EducationA Shavuot Special: Learning with Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Season 3, Episode 30Your Shavuot is about to be elevated by this special episode of Adapting, where you will experience the profound wisdom of Rabba Yaffa Epstein, The Jewish Education Project's Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence.Rabba Epstein and David Bryfman's discussion, brimming with intellectual insights and ideas around the holiday, practically becomes a midrash in the making as they touch on two key components of Shavuot: receiving the Torah and the delivering of the first fruits. Once you hear how Rabba Yaffa explains what these incredible physical and spiritual gifts mean to the Jewish people, you'll feel an overwhel...
2023-05-2421 min
Pardes from JerusalemHanukah 5783: The Light of Hanukah: Let’s Light Up the Streets!During a holiday where there is both darkness and light, where we retreat indoors and shine brightly from the windowsill, go on a journey with Pardes North America to find meaning in the discord within our tradition.
Night 4 - The Light of Hanukah: Let's Light Up the Streets!
Featuring Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Senior Scholar and Educator in Residence at the Jewish Education Project
Learn how an obscure Halacha about the placement of the Hanukiah can help us repair our broken world.
Music Credits: Klezmer by Crowander is licensed under an Attribu...
2022-12-2106 min
Learning About Learning: Conversations with Scholars of Jewish EducationEpisode 4: Spotlight on Adult Jewish LearningAdult Jewish learning is flourishing in synagogues, JCCs, board tables, leadership cohorts, service cohorts, and of course, online. This session is an occasion to talk with a group of experienced educators about what they learned from their studies of adult Jewish learning opportunities—who the learners are, why they participate, what happens, and how they grow or develop through the experience. It features insights gathered from the research they conducted for the Mandel Center's Portraits of Adult Jewish Learning project.Sarra Alpert (Avodah), Rabba Yaffa Epstein (Wexner Foundation), Dr. Jane Shapiro (Orot: Center for Jewish Learning), Dr. Di...
2022-11-291h 00Adapting: The Future of Jewish EducationJewish Educators and Impostor Syndrome, Season 3, Episode 1Imagine a job where you are expected to know every detail about a 5,000-year-old tradition and its sacred texts. Sounds difficult, right? Welcome to the world of Jewish educators. These unique challenges are one of the reasons that some Jewish educators struggle with impostor syndrome. It's something that concerns Rabba Yaffa Epstein, who has worked as a Jewish educator around the world for decades. On the first episode of season 3 of Adapting, Rabba Epstein and David Bryfman, The Jewish Education Project's CEO, ask: What do we need to do to help educators overcome this challenge?This epi...
2022-09-2923 min
Chutzpod!1.21 Shavuot? What's That? (w/ Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi David Schuck)Rabbi Shira and Joshua shine a spotlight on the surprisingly esoteric Jewish holiday of Shavuot, which is coming up in early June. A tradition of the holiday is to stay up all night studying Torah and in that spirit, we welcome on Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbi David Schuck.
Episode Timecodes:
(00:00) Rabbi Shira’s thoughts after the shooting in Texas
(13:44) Rabba Yaffa Epstein and Rabbis David Schuck join the show
(46:01) Rabbi Shira's Guided Meditation and Counting of the Omer
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
2022-05-2745 min
Kosher Queers40 — Devarim: R-r-r-recap!This week, we start the last book of the Torah, and realize the five books have names that are super focused on words. We also learn about the philosophy behind audio editing, compare the geology of the Middle East to the "middle west" of Wisconsin, and find the true meaning of family (it has to do with hair, and also I guess choice and love and stuff). Plus, some shenanigans with parallel structures in grammar, and measuring the appropriate sizes of beds. Full transcript available here. Jaz referenced meeting their friend Nora, who came on t...
2020-07-2349 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 12: Why Jonah for Yom Kippur?
What are the different models of tshuva Jonah encounters? Rabbi AdAm's Torah gets deep like a Leviathan. Rapper Matt spits bars like a whale spits prophets! Get dizzy following Jonah on his roller-coaster of an adventure (geographically and spiritually).
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky. Join us every two weeks for a lively hip hop havruta-style Torah conversation with a rotating cast of Pardes alumni and holy MCs. Each episode is framed by a question with metaphysical ramifications, such as “Why did God create the snake...
2018-09-1612 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 11: Rabba Yaffa Teaches Jewish RappersRappers and Rabbis did a great session at the recent Bible Raps "Hip Hop and Judaism" retreat in Philadelphia. It was amazing to hear Rabba Yaffa break down the Oral Tradition with Pirkei Avot texts and a stable of emcess. The connections made between Rap and Rabbinics were fascinating.
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky. Join us every two weeks for a lively hip hop havruta-style Torah conversation with a rotating cast of Pardes alumni and holy MCs. Each episode is framed by a ques...
2018-04-1723 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 10: Kabbalat Shabbat Rapper Eden Pearlstein in the Bet Midrash!!!A conversation between Rabba Yaffa and Tefillah Rapper Eden Pearlstein!? We must be doing something right. The Rabbis and Rappers were truly geeked to chop it up with Eden Pearlstein who just released his new project "Raza" with Pharaoh's Daughter. "Raza" is a radical rap reimagining of traditional prayer.
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky. Join us every two weeks for a lively hip hop havruta-style Torah conversation with a rotating cast of Pardes alumni and holy MCs. Each episode is framed by a ques...
2018-03-2023 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 9: Why is Idol Worship Bad?The whole gang +1 are here. And that +1 says "1+1=1" because his name is Ephryme and he rappeth divine mathematics. In this episode, we all make different arguments as to the moral inferiority of Idol Worship. And in doing so we all explain what we mean when we say 'idol,' and why it is problematic. Ephryme, after laying in the cut, comes out swinging with a louisville slugger showing us so-called Monotheists have Idols of God too! Matt promises to try to see the Shekina and Hashem as 1.
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaff...
2018-03-0715 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 8: Why Build… That… Wall!?What drove the people of Babel to build the Tower? Perhaps it was a preemptive strike on God before the next flood? Perhaps it was simply to have something with which to unify the people? The Bible Raps boys are honored to discuss the story of Babel and get into Abraham's life too with the great Rabbi Zvi Hirschfield of Pardes on Rappers and Rabbis. Make some Torah lovin' noise!
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky. Join us every two weeks for a lively hip...
2018-01-2320 min
#YourTorahTa'anit: Rebuilding RelationshipsRabba Yaffa Epstein introduces masekhet Ta'anit, looking at communal fast days as reparative following destructive behaviour, and the ever-pressing call to wake up and rebuild the world.
2018-01-0400 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 6: Am I My Brother’s Keeper?This podcast is a Pardes-Bible Raps co-production. Written and performed by Bible Raps.
In the latest episode from Rappers and Rabbis, the crew is asked about their favorite source that answers the question "Am I My Brothers Keeper?" Rabba Yaffa is mad sick. Bar feigns unawareness with a cold insensitivity and demands Yaffa's dying voice to scratch out what Torah she can. "More Torah! More Torah!" Bar shouts periodically loud enough that it couldn't be edited out. Rabbi AdAm, the more sensitive one, takes the mic and goes in on some of the illest Torah one could hope...
2017-12-1414 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 5: Why Did Cain Kill Abel?This podcast is a Pardes-Bible Raps co-production. Written and performed by Bible Raps.
The crew is joined by Mira Bee Shore and reckon with the most pregnant Ellipsis in the history of books. It says in Genesis chapter 4, after God favors Abel's gift over Cain's gift "So Cain spoke to Abel his brother.... It happened when they were in the field that Cain rose up against his bother and killed him." Rabba Yaffa brings in a number of commentaries which frame the fight between Cain and Abel as different things that Humans deem worth killing for. Which begs...
2017-11-2916 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 4: Why the Snake?This podcast is a Pardes-Bible Raps co-production. Written and performed by Bible Raps.
Rabbi Ethan notes that the existence of evil is the trickiest question for the monotheist. Rabbi AdAm completes Rapper Matt's apologetic portrait of the snake ("When your people write their scrolls, I'll be your nemesis/ Without me though, there would be only Genesis.") by calling the Snake the מַכֶּה בְּפַטִּישׁ, the final masterstroke of creation. But does finding cosmic justification for evil somehow degrade our compulsion to recognize and fight it? Rabba Yaffa Epstein is very wary of "it's all good it's all God." All the while, the “wild world”...
2017-11-1517 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 3: Why Adam AND Eve?This podcast is a Pardes-Bible Raps co-production. Written and performed by Bible Raps.
After God saying everything is good, the first moment of divine dissatisfaction is when God sees that Adam is alone and deems it "not good." According to some rabbis, as a consequence, God "splits" the first human into male and female. Rabbi Ethan focuses the group on the key term "ezer kenegdo." The Torah says Eve was created as Adam’s ezer kenegdo. So what does ezer kenegdo mean? The ancient sages have more than a few scintillating answers. But is it all mansplaining? You dec...
2017-11-0118 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 2: Why Eve?Rabba Yaffa Epstein makes hip hop history as she raps the first love poem ever: “Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my flesh…” A contentious discussion over Rabbi Samuel Hirsch’s commentary notes that Eve is more pure than Adam, because Adam is refined dirt and Eve is refined flesh. Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky flank Rabba Yaffa for "Feminist of the Episode" Award, while Bar lets his song about his wife do the talking.
“Rappers & Rabbis” is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi AdAm Mayer and Rabbi Ethan Witkovsky. Join us every two...
2017-10-1914 min
Rappers and RabbisRappers and Rabbis Episode 1: Why Adam?This podcast is a Pardes-Bible Raps co-production. Written and performed by Bible Raps.
After an enthusiastic introduction to the podcast, the Prophet Elijah Shows up to humble Matt Bar, who calls himself the “Best Bible Rapper Alive.” Rabba Yaffa then grabs the mic from Bar for some, ‘I’m gonna let you finish, but Genesis Rabbah 8:5 is one of the greatest drashes of all time!’ This source focuses the conversation on the exceptionalism of humanity compared to all other creation, be it atom, animal or angel.
"Rappers & Rabbis" is hosted by Rapper Matt Bar, Rabba Yaffa E...
2017-10-0217 min
Live @ HadarThe Cry of the Covenant (Community Beit Midrash)Yaffa Epstein of Pardes. The first time the Shofar is mentioned in the Torah is in connection with the giving of the Torah. But - what is the connection between the Shofar, and the Covenantal moment of Sinai? And what can the Shofar teach us about our own relationship to Torah? This session will explore these questions, and attempt to understand how we bring our full selves to both repentance, and Torah study. Recorded live at the Community Beit Midrash on September 26, 2017. Rabba Yaffa Epstein represented Pardes.
2017-09-2800 min