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Keep HustlingHustle Hard, Sing Loud with Zalman Pollack In this episode, Aaron Gordon talks with Zalman Pollack about the impact of fully committing to one's passion. Pollack, a wedding singer, recounts his journey from childhood dreams of joining the Miami Boys Choir to performing professionally. He emphasizes the perseverance needed to succeed in music, sharing how early auditions and family influences sparked his hustle. Pollack discusses the emotional connections and the importance of energizing audiences despite initial nerves. Don't miss this insightful exploration of determination and passion! Get To Know Zalman Pollack Zalman Pollack's passion for music ignited during hi...
2024-09-2635 min
Torah CafeWhat are Selichot?On a Saturday night a week or so before Rosh Hashanah, we go to the synagogue at midnight to recite the special prayers of Selichot. Every morning after that until Rosh Hashanah, we get up early to recite the Selichot.
What are Selichot? What is unique about the prayers? Who wrote them? Why are they recited at unusual times?
2020-09-0944 minTorah CafeThe Founder of Chabad - Rabbi Shneur ZalmanOne of the most influential Jeiwsh leaders in history was Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (b. 1745), known best as the founder of the Chabad movement and author of the mystical classic Tanya. Rabbi Shneur Zalman was one of the wisest Jewish scholars of all time and a charismatic leader whose movement changed the face of Jewish life in Europe in his day despite ongoing challenges he faced from his many detractors.
Learn about Rabbi Schneur Zalman, his fascinating life story and the lasting impact he made of Jewish life we know today.
2020-09-0757 minTorah CafeHave Humans Gotten Bigger Over Time?How do you measure things? Feet, gallons & pounds? Meters, liters and kilograms? Judaism has its own measurement system.
Many rules in Judaism require specific weights, lengths or volumes. Torah includes a full system of measurements for all of Jewish law. Many of those measurements are based on the human body similar to the 'foot' that we use in the 'US customary system'. To accurately use those measurements today, we need to be certain that humans have not changed in size over time, but have they?
Learn about Jewish measurements and the great debate over whether h...
2020-09-0247 minTorah CafeCan Humanoids and Robots be Jewish?AI (artificial intelligence) has greatly advanced in recent years. Today, robots can perform many human functions even better than people can. While robots are still not indistinguishable in all ways, that day is not too far off. Could an AI-powered robot might someday be considered a human according to Jewish law? Could it be counted for a minyan?
Learn about the history of robots and other human-like creations in Judaism and their status under Jewish law.
2020-08-3050 minTorah CafeMezuzah - The Jewish Security SystemOne of the central commandments in Judaism is to place a Mezuzah on our doorposts. A detailed discussion all about the Mezuzah, how it is made, where it is placed and why we Jews consider the Mezuzah part of our home security system.
2020-08-2651 minTorah CafeDo we have Soulmates?Finding the 'right one' can be very challenging and daunting. Some find them immediately while others struggle waiting many years to find the right one or cycle through many partners whom they thought was the right one.
What does Judaism say about finding your spouse? Is your spouse, your soulmate? Is finding a spouse our own choice or is it destined by G-d? Is there only one person out there for each one of us?
Whether you have happily found your soulmate or you are still searching learn the Jewish perspective on marriage and finding you...
2020-08-2349 minTorah CafeThe Sanhedrin – The Jewish Supreme CouncilFor 1600 years, Judaism was controlled by the Sanhedrin or Supreme Council until it was disbanded about 1700 years ago. What was the Sanhedrin? How did they function? Why did it disband? And why don't we recreate the Sanhedrin?
Learn about the ancient Sanhedrin and its role in Judaism.
2020-08-2050 minTorah CafeKing SolomonKing Solomon was one of the most unique leaders of our people and full of contradictions. The wisest of all men who make grave mistakes, the most powerful king who could not control his own home, celebrated for his righteousness yet struggled to do the right thing.
Discover the fascinating and strange story of King Solomon.
2020-08-1649 minTorah CafeWhy do they hate us?For more than 2,000 years, there has been constant hatred directed at the Jewish people. At times that hatred was religious (hatred of Judaism), at times it was cultural (hatred of Jewish culture) and sometimes nationalistic (hatred of the Jewish people). The hatred transcends time and place and was expressed by ancient Greeks, Romans and Persians, Christians, Muslims, Europeans, Arabs and even Japanese.
What is the cause of this hatred? How can we combat it? Will we ever be able to end the near universal hatred of Jews?
A discussion about the history of anti-Jewish hatred...
2020-08-1252 minTorah CafeJerusalem: The Eternal Capital of IsraelJerusalem is the most important city in Judaism. It was the capital of Israel for close to 3,000 years, the home to the Holy Temple and we face Jerusalem when we pray
Learn about Jerusalem: its history, spiritual significance and place in Judaism.
2020-08-0950 minTorah CafeThe 13 Words of MercyThe Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are a collection of thirteen words or phrases that God taught Moses to invoke God's mercy whenever we are in need.
Learn about the Thirteen attributes of Mercy, what they mean and what they represent.
2020-08-0544 minTorah CafeWho Invented the Synagogue?Synagogues as we know them did not exist in the days of Moses. How did they begin? Why did Jews start building synagogues to pray in?
A discussion about the history and development of the synagogue and its role as a Jewish place for prayer.
2020-08-0347 minTorah CafeThe Temple MountThe Temple Mount, the site of the two ancient Temple in Jerusalem is Judaism's holiest site. How was the Temple Mount chosen as G-d's special spot on earth? What is the history behind it?
Our Temple was destroyed almost 2,000 years ago yet we still consider the spot very holy. What is it's current status in Judaism? Do we allow or encourage Jews to go up on the mountain today? Should we allow non Jews to go up? And should we make any attempt to rebuild our holy Temple?
Learn about the history of the Temple m...
2020-07-3159 minTorah CafeThe Destruction of the Second TempleOne of the greatest Jewish tragedies of all times was the Jewish-Roman War in 66-70CE. In that brutal war, one million Jews were killed, Jerusalem was leveled and the Holy Temple was destroyed. The war led to the exile of our people when most of us were forced out of Israel to wonder from land to land.
While there are many accounts of this war, figuring out what actually happened is difficult given the contradictions and the knowledge that the most important account was largely falsified. Listen to the fascinating story of this important historical event.
2020-07-2943 minTorah CafeThe ShemaThe Shema Yisrael is a section of the Torah that is the most important prayer in Judaism, and includes the most important beliefs in Jewish faith and many of our central commandments. We recite the prayer twice daily.
Shema has become so central to the Jewish people that it is the climax of the final Ne’ilah prayer of Yom Kippur, and is traditionally a Jew’s last words on earth.
A talk about the Shema, its meaning and its significance.
2020-07-2645 minTorah CafeThe Jewish View on AgingOften our society has a negative look on age, seeing youth as an asset. Judaism sees youth as a liability and age as an asset. Learn why Judaism and the Torah put a premium on age.
2020-07-2346 minTorah CafeAre the Torah and the Bible the same thing?People often use the English word Bible where referring to our Torah. But is the Torah really the same as the Bible? While there are parts of the Christian Bible that are clearly not part of our Torah, what about the "Old Testament"?
Learn about the differences between the Torah and the Bible.
2020-07-1940 minTorah CafeHow Kosher Meat is PreparedThe most complicated part of Kosher laws is the process of preparing Kosher meat from slaughter to checking for disease to cutting out forbidden parts and draining the blood. While in earlier times, our grandparents did most of this themselves, today it is all prepared in the factory so Kosher meat consumers are often oblivious to the complex preparation process.
Learn about the entire process of preparing Kosher meat with all the details.
2020-07-1543 minTorah CafeA Jewish Perspective on Law EnforcementOur society today is grappling with the role of law enforcement and community safety. Is law enforcement today effective? Do law enforcement representatives use more force than necessary? Are there safer ways to keep the peace without harming others than current law enforcement practices? How can we keep society safe from harmful elements while avoiding the use of force that can unnecessarily harm both criminals and innocent victims.
A discussion about the role of law enforcement and community safety in Judaism.
2020-07-1554 minTorah CafeThe Prophet JeremiahThe prophet Jeremiah was one of the most important figures in Jewish history. He lived at the very end of the first Jewish kingdom and witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the holy Temple. He spent most of his days warning his people of the impeding catastrophe and imploring them to change their ways.
A fascinating discussion of Jeremiah the prophet, and the tragic story of his people.
2020-07-1041 minTorah CafeDo Jews Believe in Sacrifice?Sacrifice was practiced by Jews from the days of Moses for over 1300 years while the temples stood in Jerusalem. Since the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE we stopped offering sacrifices. Does Judaism today still believe in sacrifice? Why was it practiced in Judaism for so long?
Learn about sacrifice in Judaism including why it was practiced for so long, why we no longer practice sacrifice and what the purpose of it was.
2020-07-0946 minTorah CafeThe Story of JoshuaAfter the death of Moses, his disciple Joshua, led Israel across the Jordan into the Promised Land leading the conquest of the land from the Canaanites and then dividing the land among the twelve tribes.
Learn about the story of Joshua and Israel's conquest of the Promised Land.
2020-07-0551 minTorah CafeThe Secret of the Red CowOne of the strangest commandments in the Torah is the Red Cow. When someone with a dead corpse, they may not enter the Temple in Jerusalem or eat sacrificial meat until they are sprinkled with spring water mixed with ashes from a red cow.
The Red Cow commandment is so strange that King Solomon wrote he can understand every commandment except this one.
A discussion about this strange Mitzvah and its significance.
2020-07-0344 minTorah CafeThe Priestly BlessingThere is a special blessing that the Torah tells us should be used by Kohanim, the priests descending from Aaron (Moses' brother) to bless the people. Thiss Sunday to learn about this blessing, its great power particularly for dreams, the special hand motions that go with it and the riddle of why it's not done the way it is supposed to be done.
2020-07-0236 minTorah CafeShabtai Tzvi - The False MessiahShabtai Tzvi proclaimed himself as Moshiach in the early 1600's splitting world Jewry between his earnest supporters and opponents. As his popularity grew among Jews, Christians and Muslims he at one point appeared unstoppable until he converted to Islam and the Jewish community rejected him.
Listen to the unbelievable story of this charismatic impostor who convinced so many and made such a great impact on our history.
2020-06-2842 minTorah CafeThe Ark of the CovenantAt the center of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem stood a golden box called the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark sat the tablets the Moses had brought down from Mt. Sinai and the original Torah scroll written by Moses.
The Ark was central to Jewish worship throughout the time we had it and was at times taken out of the Temple for unique events. It disappeared before the destruction of the Temple in 421 BCE and has been a mystery since.
A fascinating discussion about the Ark of the Covenant and its history.
2020-06-2454 minTorah CafeConquering AngerAnger is a challenging and problematic emotion that many feel at challenging times. Anger can be harmful to the person feeling the emotion and to others around them leading them to do and say things they later regret.
Conquering anger is a challenge for everyone but particularly for people who struggle with constant anger outbursts. Judaism sees conquering anger as one of the most important goals in character building.
Discover the powerful Jewish teachings on conquering anger.
2020-06-2150 minTorah CafeTanach; Understanding Our Jewish ScripturesThe Hebrew scriptures includes 24 books that Jews consider holy. What are those 24 books? How are they organized?
2020-06-171h 01Torah CafeWhy Jews Pray at GravesFor thousands of years Jews have prayed at the graves of our deceased loved ones and Tzaddikim (saintly individuals). But why do we pray at graves when we always pray directly to G-d without any intermediaries?
What is the special significance to pray at graves and why has it been so important to most Jewish communities throughout history?
A discussion about the Jewish tradition to visit and pray at graves.
2020-06-1445 minTorah CafeHow did Judaism splinter into so many factions?Do you need a label to be Jewish?
Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist; where did all these labels come from? How did Judaism become so fragmented? Were we better off for over 3,000 years before these groups were created?
Join us to learn the fascinating story of how Judaism fragmented over the past 150 years and the battles waged that split Jewish communities into warring camps. Together, we will look at the impact of that fragmentation on Jewish life and what we can do to reverse the divisions still apparent today.
2020-06-1257 minTorah CafeDeborah the ProphetessDeborah who lived more than 3,000 years ago was one of our 7 prophetesses mentioned in scripture. She was one of the few female Jewish leaders in ancient times.
The fascinating tale of Deborah and the beautiful poem that she composed.
2020-06-1033 minTorah CafeThe Great Assembly and Its Impact on JudaismThe Great assembly or Knesset Hagedolah was a group of Jewish scholars and leaders led by Ezra that made a number of important contributions to Judaism and Jewish practice at the beginning of the Second Temple period. Among the achievements are canonizing the Tanach (holy scripture), composing prayers and blessing and creating the synagogue.
Learn about the Men of the Great Assembly and their impact on Judaism
2020-06-071h 04Torah CafeSexuality in JudaismSexuality drives some of the most powerful feelings and experiences that humans have. Sexuality is both a primitive human instinct as well as the glue that joins two loving souls. Often sexual experiences can be powerfully positive while just as often they can be destructive and terribly harmful. Our society today grapples with the inherit contradictions in sexual relationships and experience.
A frank and open discussion about the Jewish view of sexuality and how Judaism allows us to harness the positive power while avoiding the dangers of sexuality.
2020-06-0548 minTorah CafeWhere did the Jewish Year number come from?We count a new Jewish year number every year starting a new year on Rosh Hashanah How did we get to that number? Jewish tradition tells us that our Jewish year number is the number of years from Creation but have we really been counting since creation? Moses, the Torah and our people began more than 2,000 years after the counting began.
A discussion about the Jewish year counting and how we got to our current Jewish year number (class from 2018).
2020-06-0349 minTorah CafeThe Story of SamsonSamson was a Shofet, leader of Israel in the Shoftim period when Israel first settled in the land of Israel. He was best known for his superhuman strength and mighty feats in battle with the Philistines. He was later betrayed by his wife Delilah who shared the secret of his superhuman strength with the Philistines.
Discover the fascinating story of Samson.
2020-06-0249 minTorah CafeMaimonides: The Man Who Organized JudaismOne of the greatest Jewish figures in our history was Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon known as Rambam of Maimonides who lived in the 12th in Egypt. This Sunday will be the 813th anniversary of his passing.
Discover the fascinating story of Maimonides, his impact on Judaism and the way he singlehandedly organized the Torah.
2020-05-2752 minTorah CafeWhat is the Oral Torah?The Torah we were given includes two parts. The Written Torah and the Oral Torah. We consider the Oral Torah to be the primary source of all our laws and rules in Judaism?
What exactly is the Oral Torah? How do we know it is true and was transmitted accurately over the many generations?
A discussion about the Oral Torah, what exactly it is and how we know it to be true.
2020-05-241h 00Torah CafeRashi - The Great Jewish TeacherRashi, a 12th century scholar from France was one of the greatest Jewish scholars of all times. Best know for his commentaries on the Torah and Talmud that have become the standard commentaries on those central Jewish text
Learn about Rashi, his life story and the great impact he made on Jewish scholarship and Judaism.
2020-05-1747 minTorah CafeThe Jewish Rule of TithingTithing or separating a tenth of one's earnings for charity originates in Judaism where it is known as Maaser Kesafim and has since been adopted by other religions built from Judaism.
When did we start tithing? Why do we tithe? What kind of earnings should be tithed? Where should the tithes go?
A discussion of Ma'aser Kesafim - Tithing in Judaism
2020-05-1049 minTorah CafeThe Jewish View on End-of Life-CareModern medicine has given us the power to extend lives even when the individual is not expected to recover and may be in extreme pain or not responsive. At what point can we stop offering live saving treatment that is just temporarily extending the suffering? Can we do anything to make them die sooner and end their suffering?
End of life care is relevant to all of us who have had loved ones that have faced or likely will face End-of Life care dilemmas. We ourselves may need to deal with them one day. Unfortunately, it is ha...
2020-05-0356 minTorah CafeWhat is the Jewish View on Martyrdom?Do Jews have martyrs? There are religions in which it's a great thing to die for your faith, and doing so makes you a saint or gets you a ticket to paradise.
What is the Jewish view? Millions of Jews have died for being Jewish but is it a central value in Judaism? Are martyrs heros? Do they get a ticket to paradise? Is Jew person supposed to die for their beliefs?
What is the Jewish view on martyrdom?
2020-04-2944 minTorah CafeDoes Judaism believe in the death penalty?The ethics of capital punishment has been hotly debated for decades with our Governor recently taking a strong position against capital punishment. Throughout this debate, the perspective of Judaism has been brought up repeatably by both side including by the Eighth Circuit in 1988 Hayes V. Lockhart case.
What does Judaism in fact say about the death penalty? On which side of the debate does Judaism fall?
2020-04-2448 minTorah CafeDoes Judaism Allow Abortions?One of the biggest cultural debates in the past century has been over abortion. Does allowing abortions protect a women's right to choose or does prohibiting abortions protect the fetus's right to live? What about abortion in cases of rape, teen mother, when the child poses a health threat to the mother or when the child is handicapped?
What does the Torah say about abortions and the arguments on both sides?
2020-04-191h 07Torah CafeInfertility: A Jewish PerspectiveMany of our early ancestors including Abraham and Sara, Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Rachel suffered with infertility. Today, we have modern medical solutions including in-vitro fertilization that allows for couples that would otherwise be infertile to have children.
What is the Jewish perspective on infertility? Why does G-d give some people children and not others? Should those who are infertile, spare all expense and effort to have children? Does Jewish law allow infertility treatments?
A fascinating discussion about the Jewish perspective on infertility and infertility treatments.
2020-04-1848 minTorah CafeDoes Judaism believe in Vaccines?Vaccines have been administered across the world for decades as a way of building immunity to viral infections. While vaccines have limited the spread of disease and saved millions of lives, in recent years certain groups have organized against vaccines.
Does Jewish law and values encourage vaccines? Should we require everyone to get vaccinated? What should we do when people refuse to vaccinate their children?
2020-04-1446 minTorah CafeUnderstanding Animal Sacrifices in JudaismAnimal Sacrifices were a central part of Jewish practice when our Temple stood in Jerusalem. Though we no longer practice sacrifice since we have no Temple, we still study the rules of the sacrifices and pray for the temple to be rebuilt and for sacrifice to be restored.
Learn about the different types of sacrifices, the process of offering a sacrifice and the logistics of how large amounts of sacrifices were offered in Temple.
2020-04-1343 minTorah CafeSplitting of the SeaThe greatest miracle in our history and the greatest event in the Exodus from Egypt was the splitting of the Red Sea when the Children of Israel crossed the Sea while the Egyptians who followed them into the sea drowned.
We celebrate the great miracle of the splitting of the sea on the holiday of the 7th day of Passover, the anniversary of the great event.
Learn about the great miracle of the Splitting of the Sea and what is means for us today.
2020-04-1248 minTorah CafeCoronavirus: Plagues in JudaismWhile we never imagined that we would experience the total shutdown of society due to a virus, our ancestors have dealt with plagues of different forms repeatedly throughout our more than 3,000 years of history.
Learn how our ancestors responded to plague and how we can learn from them to alleviate our own challenges in dealing with the Novel Cornavirus today!
2020-03-2245 minTorah CafeGematria -The Ancient Jewish CodeIn ancient Hebrew, letters and numbers are interchangeable. Words can be written in number format and numbers are written with letters. Every word has a number value and certain numbers have unique meaning.
The system of Hebrew numerology is called Gematria. Learn about Gematria and other Jewish codes.
2020-03-1541 minTorah CafeThe Story of EstherEsther was the unlikely heroine of the Purim story. She used her forced marriage to the Persian Emperor and position as queen Persia to save her people from annihilation.
Listen to the full story of Esther, her background, ascendance as queen, her role in the Purim story and her impact on Jews in the Persian Empire.
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2020-03-0950 minTorah CafeThe Power of the Ketoret (Incense)One of the unique rituals practiced in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was the twice daily offering of incense. The incense had a unique recipe that was used only in the Temple and was the most sought after ritual in the Temple given the great power and blessings ascribed to it. .
Learn all about the Ketoret (incense) in the Holy Temple, how it was made, the blessings is contains and how we can invoke its great blessings today.
2020-03-0245 minTorah CafeTechelet - The Search for the Mystery Blue DyeTechelet was a blue dye made from a creature called Chilazon that the Torah commands us to use in making Tzitzit strings worn on four cornered garments such as a Tallit. It was also used in the temple for the priestly garments.
More than 1,500 years ago we lost the techelet and therefore no longer dye out tzitzit blue. Can the Techelet and the Chilazon it comes from be found today using Torah sources, archaeology and knowledge of biology and ancient dying techniques?
A fascinating journey of how different scholars and researches attempted to find the...
2020-02-2450 minTorah CafeDo Jews believe in the evil eye?Many ancient societies worried about the evil eye that could somehow harm them or their families? In Jewish Ashkenazi culture, we used terms like keinahora to ward off the 'evil eye'.
Do Jews believe in the evil eye? If yes, what exactly is it? What are its powers? And how do we avoid the harm coming from the evil eye?
2020-02-1735 minTorah CafeIs G-d a He, She or It?G-d is often referred to in scripture and our prayers in masculine form or as our Father. But is G-d really masculine? Is G-d not beyond gender? Could G-d be female? Both genders?
A fascinating discussion about G-d and gender.
2020-02-1049 minTorah CafeUnique Jewish FoodsOver the years Jews have developed many unique Jewish foods. The Jewish diaspora has been spread out across many different lands. Some foods are unique to specific communities while others are universal used by all Jewish communities. Many foods developed from local cuisine where Jews lived while others were made for holidays or as part of specific Jewish laws.
A fascinating discussion about Jewish cuisine.
2020-01-2744 minTorah CafeWhat does Judaism say about animal rights?Today, many are concerned with the ethical treatment of animals as pets, in commercial farming, in medical testing and other fields. What rights do animals have in Judaism? How should we be treating animals? Is killing for food okay? Killing for sport? Tests that cause animals pain? Are all animals the same?
2020-01-2249 minTorah CafeCan a DNA Test Determine Jewish Status?In 2003, the human genome project decoded the entire human DNA sequence. As a result, we can now easily read and match any person's DNA quickly and easily. Today, many services provide DNA testing to match people to unknown relatives and match them to ancestral groupings.
Many people discovered through DNA testing that they had Jewish ancestry or that they were closely related to other Jews. Is the DNA test able to establish someone's Jewish status? Can we use it to rediscover Jews who's ancestors assimilated?
A discussion about DNA in Halacha (Jewish Law) and using DN...
2020-01-121h 13Torah CafeThe Jews of BabylonOne of the oldest - and for a long time the largest - Jewish communities in the world is the Jewish community of Babylon in modern day Iraq. Jews lived in Babylon continuously for over 2.500 including a long period where they had a Jewish autonomous state led by their own Jewish King.
Babylon was also a center of Jewish scholarship most notable for the Babylonian Talmud, the central work of Judaism that was composed there in the Fifth Century.
A fascinating overview of the history of the Jewish community of Babylon.
2020-01-0545 minTorah CafeDoes Judaism Permit Gambling?Gambling, betting and lotteries are all old forms of entertainments that have been around for thousands of years. Some societies, frowned on financial risk games while other's encouraged it. What does Judaism say about gambling? Is it permitted? If yes, under what circumstances?
A fascinating discussion about the Jewish view on gambling and other games of financial risk.
2019-12-3038 minTorah CafeThe Mystical Meaning of the Chanukah LightsChanukah is a festival of light. Every night we light one more candle in the Menorah to commemorate that miracle of light that occurred over 2,000 years ago. What is the meaning of light? Why do we light candles for eight days adding a candle each night?
Jewish mysticism tells us that the Chanukah lights are very powerful and give us the ability to light up the darkness in our own lives.
2019-12-2337 minTorah CafeThe Kabbalah of DreamsWhat is the meaning of dreams? What causes them? Are they just our imagination gone wild or it there a deeper meaning to dreams? Can dreams guide us or help us know what will happen to us?
Learn what Kabbalah, our Jewish mystical teachings say regarding dreams.
2019-12-1544 minTorah CafeMama Rochel - Our Mother RachelPerhaps the most significant and memorialized of our Matriarchs is Jacob's favorite wife Rachel known in Yiddish as Mama Rochel. After waiting for many years to have children, Rachel died during the childbirth of her second son Benjamin. She was the only Matriarch not buried in Hebrew, instead her tomb is in Bethlehem.
Rachel's unique role as the mother of our people, has made a tradition for Jews to go to her tomb and ask her to pray for us whenever we are in trouble.
2019-12-0931 minTorah CafeInfertility: A Jewish PerspectiveMany of our early ancestors including Abraham and Sara, Isaac and Rebecca and Jacob and Rachel suffered with infertility. Today, we have modern medical solutions including in vitro fertilization that allows for couples that would otherwise be infertile to have children.
What is the Jewish perspective on infertility? Why does G-d give some people children and not others? Should those who are infertile, spare all expense and effort to have children? Does Jewish law allow infertility treatments?
The Jewish perspective on infertility and infertility treatments.
2019-11-2548 minTorah CafeThe Pidyon Haben CeremonyPidyon Haben (lit. Redemption of the Son) is a unique ceremony performed on first born sons when they are 30 days old. The ceremony is not performed for all firstborn sons so it is not all that common. At the Pidyon Haben, the son is given to a Kohen and the father then exchanges the son for 5 silver shekels.
Learn more about how this unusual ceremony is performed and its special significance.
2019-11-2527 minTorah CafeKiddush & HavdallahCentral to Shabbat observance are the Kiddush and Havdallah ceremonies performed at the beginning and end of Shabbat with a cup of wine. What do the ceremonies entail? Why are they performed? What is the deeper meaning behind them?
A fascinating discussion about Kiddush and Havdallah.
2019-11-2454 minTorah Cafe13 Principles of JudaismWhat do Jews believe? While Judaism is very broad, the basic beliefs are organized by Maimonides into 13 principles that are considered the basics of Jewish belief.
A conversation about the 13 principles that every Jew must know.
2019-11-2150 minTorah CafeHalacha - Who decides Jewish Law?Halacha is the Hebrew term for Jewish law. Judaism has details laws and rules covering every part of our lives including Jewish rituals as well as how we treat others.
Who decides Halacha?
Who makes up the rules?
What happens when rabbis can't agree on what a rule should be?
What happens when rules get outdated and need to be changed?
A fascinating discussion about Halacha and how it is decided.
2019-11-1951 minTorah CafeThe Power of Shabbat CandlesShabbat candles are lit by Jewish women and girls (or men), 18 minutes before sunset on Friday afternoon and on the eve of Jewish holidays. Why do women light Shabbat candles? What are their significance? How is it done?
Learn about Shabbat candles and the blessings they bring to our home and to our life.
2019-11-1936 minTorah CafeDon't worry!Today many struggle with stress and anxiety worrying about everything in their lives. Judaism teaches us that we can overcome our worries with Bitachon, trust in G-d.
An inspiring discussion about Bitachon and how we can use it to ensure we never worry.
2019-11-0447 minTorah CafeCan people be truly bad?Some people have done some really bad things causing terrible harm to others. Are these people inherently bad? Is it possible for a person to be inherently bad or does everyone have some good? Should we always give everyone another chance or are there some actions beyond which one can never change?
A discussion about the Jewish perspective on evil and how bad people can become.
2019-10-3144 minTorah CafeWhy is Judaism so expensive?Being Jewish not only includes many rituals and rules of conduct but can also be very expensive. Being a member of a Jewish community usually includes expensive dues while the costs of Jewish education can be prohibitive. Even following specific rituals like eating Kosher meat, purchasing Shemura Matzah for Passover, making a Bris or Bar/Bat Mitzvah can be very expensive.
When is money so central in Judaism? Should we really be charging for Jewish services and membership? Is there a way to take (at least some) of the expense out of Judaism?
A fascinating...
2019-10-2551 minTorah CafeWhy can't we use electricity on Shabbat?When electrical grid where built in cities and our homes filled with electrical lighting and appliances, Jews were faced with the question of whether electricity could be used on Shabbat. Though the Torah does not mention electricity and it was virtually unknown for thousands of years, Jewish scholars unanimously concluded that electricity should not be used on Shabbat. But why?
Learn about the rules of electricity on Shabbat and how it fits into our ancient rules of the Torah from over 3,000 years ago.
2019-10-251h 00Torah CafeThe TalmudThe Talmud, also called Gemora or Shas is the giant but difficult comprehensive work of Jewish rules and teachings that is the most important work in Judaism. Yet the Talmud remains a mystery for most given its immense size and complex discussions in Aramaic.
Who wrote the Talmud? What is in it? Why is it so central to Judaism? Why is it so complex and difficult?
2019-10-2547 minTorah CafeWhat are Kohanim?The Kohanim or Cohens are a unique Jewish family that in ancient times served in the Temple in Jerusalem. They have many privileges as well as laws and responsibilities in Jewish tradition.
What is the Kohanic family? Why are they different? Can we accurately recognize them today? What are the special rules that apply to them?
2019-10-2544 minTorah CafeDoes G-d wants us to be rich?Many mega Churches believe in Prosperity Theology; if they do the right thing, G-d will make them rich and healthy. Wealthy spiritual leaders justify their immense wealth as reward from G-d. They believe that those who are not wealthy and successful must not be following G-d's will.
Do Jews believe in Prosperity Theology? Do we believe that G-d want those who follow his will to be successful and wealthy? Do we believe that poor or sick people are not following G-d's will? Is there any correlation between material success and spirituality?
Discover the Jewish belief...
2019-10-2547 minTorah CafeFire or Forgive: How to respond to public scandalsWhenever we turn on the TV or open a newspaper, we are inundated with stories of public officials who were caught up in scandals.
Should we care?
Are public officials always expected to make ethical decisions?
Do they serve as our role models?
Should bad actions lead to punishment or firing of public officials?
Should we just leave them alone to do their jobs?
Do the details of the scandal matter?
A fascinating (politics free) discussion about the Jewish perspective on scandals involving public officials.
2019-10-2355 minTorah CafeCreation Vs. Evolution - What do we believe?Since Charles Darwin published the Origin of the Species more than 150 years ago, Jews (as other religions) have struggled to reconcile the theories of evolution with the traditional Jewish views of creation.
A discussion of the Jewish perspective on the ongoing debate between Creationism and Evolution.
2019-10-231h 01Torah CafeWhy Jews are always studyingHistorically Jews have always been recognized as a smart people and a people of knowledge. Key to that knowledge was the lifelong quest for study in Jewish life throughout our history. When most of our neighbors were still illiterate, our ancestors were studying daily.
What is the secret to the Jewish passion for study and knowledge?
2019-10-2327 minTorah CafeUshpizin - The Mystery Sukkot GuestsAccording to the teachings of the Zohar and Kabbalah, every day of Sukkot another one of our Jewish biblical figures joins us in spirit in the Sukkah.
A discussion about the Ushpizin, the mystery Sukkot guest, why they come, the significance of each one and how they impact us.
2019-10-1634 minTorah CafeThe Aleinu PrayerOne of the most central prayers on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is the Aleuni prayer that is also recited at the end of each daily prayer. This ancient prayer expresses some of the most important principals of Judaism but has also drawn the ire of other religions who found the prayer offensive.
Learn about the Aleinu prayer, its history and the controversies surrounding the prayer.
2019-10-0642 minTorah CafeThe Secret of the ShofarBlowing the Shofar is the most central Mitzvah on Rosh Hashanah. Why do we blow a Shofar, an instrument that has only one note and cannot play a tune?
2019-10-0231 minTorah CafeThe Torah - an Overview of the Five BooksThe Written Torah consist of Five Books split into 54 parshas (portions), 669 paragraphs, 5,845 verses, 79,976 words and 304,805 letters all contained within the Torah scroll.
A full overview of the Torah with all of it's books and parshas explained.
2019-09-1645 minTorah CafeShatnez - the Kosher rules for clothingThe Torah prohibits us from wearing clothing that are mixed with wool and linen, called shatnez.
Why does the Torah prohibit wearing shatnez? Are clothing made with wool and linen today? How do you know if your clothing has wool and linen?
2019-09-0932 minTorah CafeDo we really have free choice?Free choice is fundamental to Judaism and essential to the entire structure of society. But how do we understand that in a world where everything works on the laws of physics and with a belief in G-d who is total control of our world and knows how we will behave
An analysis of the paradox of free choice and the philosophical dilemmas surrounding it that our ancestors have grappled with for thousands of years.
2019-09-011h 04Torah CafeDoes Judaism believe in democracy?Having a democratically elected government that is answerable to people in free and fair elections, is a key principal in the United States constitution and central to the modern nothion of freedom and liberty. Does Judaism advocate for democratically elected government?
When Jews lived in Israel as an independent nation, we were mostly ruled by monarchs. Is monarchy, the Torah's preferred form of government? Are there other forms of government that the Torah would advocate for?
A fascinating discussion about the ideal Jewish government and how Judaism views democracy.
2019-09-0145 minTorah CafeAre all fruits and vegetables kosher?When we think of kosher we often thing of rules about preparing meat, fowl fish and other animal products. What about fruit and vegetables? Are there Kosher rules for them? Are all fruits and vegetables automatically kosher? A discussion about the rules of Kosher for fruits and vegetables.
2019-08-2852 minTorah CafeWhy is Judaism so intolerant of idol worship? The Torah warns us time and again to keep away from idol worship. The Jews were told that when they enter the Promised Land they must destroy all idols, altars and temples and obliterate any trace of idol worship from the land.
Why is Judaism so intolerant? Shouldn't we respect other beliefs and cultures even if we think they are wrong? A discussion on the Jewish view of idolatry and tolerance for other religions and beliefs.
2019-08-1950 minTorah CafeThe Bar Kochba RebellionAbout 60 years after the destruction of the second temple, the Jews in Israel rebelled against the Roman Empire led by a charismatic leader and warrior Shimon Bar Kuziba also known as Bar Kochba. While the rebellion succeeded at first, the Romans crushed the rebellion, devastating Israel and destroying Beitar where Bar Kochba and his men took their last stand.
2019-08-1241 minTorah CafeHebrew Pronunciation: Is it Shabbat or Shabbos?It can be confusing. Some Jews pronounce the word Shabbat while others say Shabbos, some say Bat Mitzvah while others say Bas Mitzvah, some say Matzah while other says Matzo. Which pronunciation is correct?
Over the years different Jewish communities have varied in how they pronounce Hebrew. How did these differences come about? How many different pronunciations of Hebrew are there? Who is closest to the original?
2019-08-0442 minTorah CafeWhere Exactly is the Promised Land?G-d promised the Land of Israel as a gift to his Chosen People, the People of Israel. While the general geographic location of the Promised Land is clear, the exact location is not clear at all.
Where are ancient Israel's borders? Are those the same as the borders promised by G-d? Do they match the borders of modern Israel? Do we even know for certain where ancient Israel was?
2019-07-2850 minTorah CafeWhat does Judaism say about Christianity? Judaism rejected Christianity from from its earliest days almost 2,000 years ago. Yet, Jews have lived as a minority in Christian lands for over 1,000 years. We've had to contend with a hostile Christian majority that for hundreds of years that persecuted us while trying to persuade us to convert to their religion. Yet Jews always rejected Christianity.
What is the Jewish view of Christianity? How did we as Jews respond to the beliefs, rites and celebrations of Christianity? How has our relationship with Christianity changed today when Christians have become tolerant and even supportive of Jews and Judaism?
2019-07-2655 minTorah CafeDual Loyalty? The Story of the Jewish People in ExileAlmost 2500 years ago, we were exiled from our land, the Land of Israel for the first time. Since then, a majority of Jews have lived as minorities in other countries outside the Land of Israel. Yet wherever we lived, we were always accused of being outsiders and having dual loyalty, a charge we often suffered from greatly.
Where should a Jew's loyalty lie, with Israel or their home country? Are we first Jews or first citizens of our country?
2019-07-2238 minTorah CafeDaniel Daniel, is a book in Tanach (the Jewish scriptures) about Daniel, a Jewish leader who interpreted strange dreams for the Babylonian emperors and then had dreams of his own predicting the future.
A fascinating overview of the most difficult and cryptic book in Tanach predicting the future.
2019-07-1543 minTorah CafeThe Kaddish Prayer The Kaddish prayer is one of the most important and well known Jewish prayers. However, Kaddish can be confusing, there are many different types of Kaddish said on different occasions and at different point during the prayer. Some Kaddish are said only by the cantor while others are said by mourners.
A fascinating discussion about the Kaddish prayer, it's history, connection with death and clarity on where and when each kaddish is said.
2019-07-1345 minTorah CafeWhich Tribe Are You From?When the Children of Israel left Egypt over 3,000 years ago, they were split into 12 tribes. When they entered the land of Israel, each tribe settled in a different are. While the tribal identity remained for hundreds of years, over time, most Jews lost their tribal identity.
What was the significance of the 12 tribes of Israel? How did their history and stories differ? How did we lose the tribal identity? Can we know today which tribe we are from?
2019-06-1746 minTorah CafeRuth; The Prototype Jewish ConvertRuth was a Moabite princess who followed her poor mother-in-law Naomi to convert to Judaism in the only detailed conversion mentioned in scripture. Eventually she married Bo'az, a Jewish leader becoming the grandmother of King David.
The fascinating story of Ruth and how she converted to Judaism.
2019-06-0248 minTorah CafeDo Jews Believe in Heaven & HellWhat is the Jewish belief about heaven and hell? Do they exist? If yes, what are they like? What happens to us after we die? Should we be afraid of going to hell when we die? Should we hope to go to heaven?
A fascinating discussion about the Jewish view on Heaven & Hell
2019-05-2746 minTorah CafeWhy have Jews been so successful in finance?The Jewish people have dominated finance wherever they lived for thousands of years building complex financial instruments long before most people could read or do basic arithmetic. The Jews dominated finance though the Torah forbade us from lending with interest, the most common form of finance. How did Jews succeed in finance while avoiding loans with interest?
A fascinating discussion about the Jewish financial system.
2019-05-2043 minTorah CafeWhy do many Jewish men have beards?Many religious Jewish men have beards. In most Jewish communities throughout history, Jewish men generally had beards. Why have Jewish men grown beards? Does Jewish law allow shaving? Does it allow beard trimming? Why do many religious Jewish men and even rabbis not have beards?
A fascinating discussion about the role of beards in Judaism.
2019-05-0642 min