Explorations

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My name is Raphael Davidovich. I want these podcasts to explore the deep and practical ideas to be found in Torah and Jewish Tradition.

Raphael Davidovich


    • Oct 13, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 318 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Explorations

    Message to the Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2023 7:39


    This is the message I sent to my community in response to the tragedy in the Holy Land this past week.

    Elokai, Neshama

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2023 2:52


    Exploring the words "Tehora Hee" in the brocha thanking Hashem for our neshama.

    Exploring Bikkurim- We must start at the very beginning

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 3:58


    Exploring the speech a Jew gives when he brings the first fruits in the Temple. Connected to Pesach Seder

    Ki Seitzei and Pickup Sticks

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 5:29


    Exploring the haphazard nature of this week's Mitzvos

    Asher Yatzar Part 3 - Closing and opening

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2023 7:36


    More on Asher Yatzar: Exploring the dangers of opening a closed door, or closing an open door.

    Asher Yatzar: It is revealed and known

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 4:23


    Exploring why we say that our body's functions are "revealed and known before Your Throne of Glory".

    Judgment and Enforcement

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 4:39


    Exploring the importance of a system that enforces the right thing

    Ask the Rabbi - Hot topics

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2023 52:46


    We explored several topics - from issues of tension and controversy in our community, to unzoned shuls, to Jewish Schools that don't teach secular studies, to Moshe hitting the rock etc. We hope you'll enjoy it.

    Chukas: The advantage of now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 6:18


    Exploring the nature of the inconvenience that Edom would not let the Jews cut through their territory to enter the Promised Land. Where was Edom 39 years earlier?

    Asher Yatzar

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2023 5:00


    Exploring the Bracha a Jew makes after using the bathroom

    Korach and the difference between Cohanim and Leviim

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 6:18


    Exploring Korach's beef with Aharon - and how it influences the way we approach the Torah

    Models of Spiritual Leadership - a thought by The Lubavitcher Rebbe

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 7:38


    Exploring the Maamor: V'Ata Tetzaveh - An essay on Moshe and Mordechai's leadership

    The Rebels' Wives

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 4:21


    Exploring the sup-plot of the wives of Korach, Dasan and Aviram, and On ben Peles

    Tanya Chapter 47

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 4:52


    Exploring Tanya Chapter 47, and its connecting the Mitzvah of Krias Shema to the Mitzvah to recall the Exodus.

    exodus mitzvah tanya chapter
    Wheat and Wine

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 5:25


    Exploring why the Torah wants a side order of wheat and wine with each korban

    Tanya Chapter 46

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 4:13


    Exploring Tanya Chapter 46, which teaches us to use the tool of reflecting love back to Hashem. A great tool to appreciating saying Shema.

    shema hashem tanya chapter
    The Torah of Traveling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2023 4:48


    Exploring the shenanigans of being on the road in the Torah - comparing Parshas Behaalosecha and Parshas Beshalach

    Acquire Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2023 3:59


    Exploring how a possuk in Parshas Terumah, when repunctuated, redefines the purpose of Mitzvos.

    Conflicts among Jews; ancient and current

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 39:27


    Assessing conflicts Jews have had with one another over the past 3500 years!

    Tanya Chapter 45

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 3:53


    Exploring how having compassion for God leads to loving God

    god exploring tanya chapter
    Mitzvah 47: Courts must impose capital punishment for certain crimes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 6:22


    Exploring the Mitzvah to impose capital punishment

    Modeh Ani Part 4 - Melech Chai V'Kayam

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 2:57


    Exploring the phrase "Melech Chai V'Kayam" in Modeh Ani.

    Knowing Joseph and knowing God

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 4:12


    Exploring Pharoah's failure to know Joseph and God.

    Mitzvah 46 - Do not deprive your wife of food, clothing, shelter, and marriage time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 4:16


    Exploring a husband's mitzvah to provide for his wife

    Tanya Chapter 44

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2023 4:36


    Exploring two insights into loving God.

    god exploring tanya chapter
    Raba Emunasecha - Modeh Ani Part Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2023 2:19


    Exploring the last two words of Modeh Ani

    Those who taste the upcoming Shabbos merit life

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 3:24


    Exploring the minhag of partaking of some of the Shabbos food on Erev Shabbos

    Vayechi - Yaakov asks Yoseph and all Jews to choose

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2023 5:46


    Exploring Yaakov's demand that Yosef swear to commit to not bury Yaakov in Mitzrayim

    Tanya Chapter 43

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 6:33


    Exploring two fears and two loves

    exploring tanya chapter
    Modeh Ani - A concession speech

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 3:18


    Exploring another facet of the Hebrew word "Modeh" in Modeh Ani

    Mitzvah 45 - Not to sell a Jewish Maidservant

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2023 3:08


    Exploring the Mitzvah not to resell a women you were meant to marry

    Third time (famine) is a charm

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2022 4:39


    Exploring the recurring famines and resulting departure from the Holy Land

    Menorah on the left

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 4:10


    An exploration into human nature as learned from the Halacha that the Chanukah Menorah should be placed on the left side of the doorway.

    Tanya Chapter 42

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 4:59


    Exploring Chapter 42 - How to achieve the trait of Yirah

    tanya chapter
    Modeh Ani

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 4:08


    Exploring a facet of the awakening prayer "Modeh Ani"

    Mitzvah 44 - Redeeming a Jewish maidservant

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 4:20


    Exploring the mitzvah to release a Jewish maidservant as soon as you have no intention of having her marry into the family.

    Tanya Chapter 41

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 5:03


    Exploring Tanya Chapter 41 - How to fear and love God when doing a Mitzvah.

    god mitzvah tanya chapter
    Mitzvah 43 - To marry off a Jewish maidservant

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 3:52


    Exploring the mitzvah that someone who has taken a Jewish maidservant should marry her or have his son marry her.

    A facet of praying for rain

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2022 4:50


    Exploring the inconvenience of rain and the prayer for rain

    Shabbos is for the Jewish People

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 3:34


    Exploring the Jewish particularism of Shabbos

    Vayeitzei - Trust and Honesty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 5:53


    What does the brief story of Yaakov at the well tell us about trust?

    What Leah teaches us about Tefilla

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 3:28


    Exploring the rabbis' understanding of Leah Imeinu and her tefillos

    Tanya Chapter 40

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2022 5:09


    Exploring Tanya Chapter 40 - how Love of God and Awe of God elevate mitzvos

    god love awe tanya chapter
    Mitzvah 42 - The Eved Ivri

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 4:16


    Exploring the mitzvah of how to treat the Eved Ivri - A Jewish indentured servant.

    Shabbos is for music

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 3:13


    A brief exploration of the role of music in the Shabbos experience.

    Tanya Review - Chapters 18-25

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 28:27


    A half-hour review of Tanya Chapters 18-25.

    Tanya Review - Chapters 1-17

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 31:54


    A half-hour review shiur of the first seventeen chapters of Tanya.

    Two kinds of tastiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2022 3:30


    Exploring a deeper dimension to the tasty foods that Yitzchak requested.

    Mitzvah 41 - Do not take steps to get up on the altar.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2022 5:09


    Exploring the mitzvah not to use a ladder or staircase to get up onto the altar, and the inferred mitzvah to build a ramp.

    Umeivee Goeil - He brings a redeemer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 4:10


    Exploring the phrase in the first bracha of Shmoneh Esrei that Hashem in the present tense beings Moshiach.

    Shabbos is for Torah

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2022 2:48


    Exploring a Jew's opportunity for Torah Study on Friday night.

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