Into the Verse

(Part 1/2) Parshat Shelach teaches us the mitzvah of Tzitzit. How are we to understand these little fringes? Sounds like a perfect job for the crew at "Meaningful Judaism," our podcast dedicated to uncovering the meaning in mitzvot, so we decided to pop back into this feed and share this episode from our archives. Enjoy!Check out the 2024 Perks campaign here! Go ahead, treat yourself and make a difference at the same time! Thank you for your support!Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much moreFollow us on your favorite social media.

The Book of Esther has no Divine instructions, no prophecies, no outright miracles. God doesn't even get mentioned. We all love hearing how Mordechai and Esther saved their people in a time of crisis – but does this story have any moral message for us? As we're listening to the Megillah on Purim, what can we learn about coming close to God in our everyday lives?Join Imu Shalev and Rabbi David Fohrman as they dive deeply into Megillat Esther to find an answer to this question. They start off with a very odd set of comments from our sages, claiming that there were angels at work in the Esther story. The Megillah doesn't say anything about angels, so what on earth made the rabbis think that? Rabbi Fohrman teases the possibility that these strange angel stories are all pointing to a link between Esther, a narrative from the end of Tanach, and another story all the way back in Genesis. If we explore that connection, we may eventually find the key to the Megillah's moral message.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.If you loved this episode and are already a member of Aleph Beta, log in to alephbeta.org to listen to upcoming episodes. We'll even give you a private RSS feed so you can keep listening to A Book Like No Other on your favorite podcasting app. Feel free to email info@alephbeta.org if you have any trouble. And if you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access this new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts.. Click here to subscribe. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much moreFollow us on your favorite social media.

A Book Like No Other is a chance to learn alongside Aleph Beta Founder and Lead Scholar, Rabbi David Fohrman, a master close reader of Torah, as he embarks on his most far-reaching and in-depth explorations. Each season is a stand-alone journey into a different Torah text. Our only goal: reading the Torah carefully, on its own terms, and following wherever that leads. Together, we'll unwrap remarkable patterns and surprising connections that lie just beneath the Torah's surface, revealing the beauty and insight that truly make the Torah a book like no other.A Book Like No Other is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum, as well as the support of our members like you. Don't forget, your membership gives you access to Aleph Beta's full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, as well as bonus content for A Book Like No Other. Visit www.alephbeta.org to keep learning. And be sure to email us at info@alephbeta.org with any questions or concerns.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much moreFollow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Mishpatim outlines the laws of indentured servants and maidservants, including servants going free in the seventh year, servants getting married while working, and a father making a deal for his daughter's hand in marriage. This set of laws seems strikingly similar to an earlier story involving a worker and a father trying marrying off his daughters. Could these laws in Mishpatim actually be the Torah's own commentary on the negotiations between Jacob and Laban back in Genesis?Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they discuss these surprising parallels and explore the relationship between the Torah's laws and its stories.Into The Verse is taking a break for a little while. In the interim you can stay up-to-date on the parsha with last year's episodes, which are available on https://www.alephbeta.org. And if you haven't started the latest season of A Book Like No Other, you have to check it out. If you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access the new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts. Use coupon code BLNO2 for a 30 day free trial with a monthly membership OR $18 off an annual membership. Click here to subscribe.To access the brand new season of Rabbi Fohrman's podcast, A Book Like No Other, click here to subscribe to Aleph Beta. As a special gift for Into the Verse listeners, we'll give you the first month FREE, when you sign up for an annual subscription. Just use the coupon code ITVFREE. Already a member? Enjoy A Book Like No Other here.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Yitro, we read about the revelation at Sinai and the giving of the 10 Commandments. The image of the 10 Commandments is one of the most familiar images from the Torah, but when you read the Sages' description of the tablets, not only will you be shocked to hear that we may have been depicting the image wrong all along, but we may also be missing an important part of what the 10 Commandments are all about.Join Ari Levisohn and Daniel Loewenstein as they explore the Sages' words and discuss the powerful implications of a new way to see the 10 Commandments. To hear Rabbi Fohrman's complete interview on the podcast excerpted in this week's episode, listen here. To learn more about the suzerain-vassal treaties Ari discusses, check out this article.To access the brand new season of Rabbi Fohrman's podcast, A Book Like No Other, click here to subscribe to Aleph Beta. As a special gift for Into the Verse listeners, we'll give you the first month FREE, when you sign up for an annual subscription. Just use the coupon code ITVFREE. Already a member? Enjoy A Book Like No Other here.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Follow us on your favorite social media.

Rabbi David Fohrman and Imu Shalev study the tale of the blasphemer, a dark and puzzling episode buried deep in Leviticus. The details of this story are scarce: an anonymous man provokes a fight in the Israelite camp, curses God, and ultimately is stoned to death as punishment. But a close read of these few short verses sends Rabbi Fohrman and Imu on a surprising journey, raising provocative moral questions about God's judgment and uncovering an unlikely connection between the condemned blasphemer and one of the Bible's greatest heroes.A Book Like No Other is a product of Aleph Beta, and made possible through the generous support of Shari and Nathan Lindenbaum. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide.If you loved this episode and are already a member of Aleph Beta, log in to alephbeta.org to listen to upcoming episodes. We'll even give you a private RSS feed so you can keep listening to A Book Like No Other on your favorite podcasting app. Feel free to email info@alephbeta.org if you have any trouble. And if you're not a member…what are you waiting for? Go to alephbeta.org/subscribe and become a member to access this new season of A Book Like No Other, as well as our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts. Use coupon code BLNO2 for a 30 day free trial with a monthly membership OR $18 off an annual membership. Click here to subscribe. To access the brand new season of Rabbi Fohrman's podcast, A Book Like No Other, click here to subscribe to Aleph Beta. As a special gift for Into the Verse listeners, we'll give you the first month FREE, when you sign up for an annual subscription. Just use the coupon code ITVFREE. Already a member? Enjoy A Book Like No Other here.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Bo tells the story of the last three plagues. The 10th plague, the death of the firstborn, ultimately compels Pharaoh and the Egyptians to free the Israelites from slavery, but was that really the purpose of the plagues? Were they just meant to punish the Egyptians? Or were the Egyptians meant to get something else out of these destructive plagues? Join Tikva Hecht and Beth Lesch as they challenge a classic answer to these questions on the 10 plagues and develop a new understanding of what it means to “know God.”Check out Rabbi Fohrman's course “Why Did God Choose Israel As His Chosen People?” to explore these questions further. To access the brand new season of Rabbi Fohrman's podcast, A Book Like No Other, click here to subscribe to Aleph Beta. As a special gift for Into the Verse listeners, we'll give you the first month FREE, when you sign up for an annual subscription. Just use the coupon code ITVFREE. Already a member? Enjoy A Book Like No Other here.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Shemot, we read the story of the burning bush, where Moses was charged with a mission. We are often taught that Moses' job was to take the Israelites out of Egypt, but a close read of the text suggests that there is actually something else Moses also had to do.Join Ari Levisohn and Evan Weiner as they dive into Moses' encounter with the burning bush and discover allusions to an earlier mission in the Bible, one which sheds light on Moses' true mission and what it means for a nation under attack. Check out Rabbi Fohrman's video about the Korban Pesach (Passover offering) and the Sale of Joseph mentioned in this week's episode. To learn more about Joseph's mission to check on his brothers, watch this amazing video from Rabbi Fohrman and this earlier episode of Into the Verse.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Vayechi, Jacob remembers when the God of his ancestors, “El Shaddai,” appeared to him and promised a bright future for his descendants. But what about the times when his life didn't seem to be going according to God's plan? Is God still present in times of suffering? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Beth Lesch as they explore the question of God's presence in our lives.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Vayigash, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, and they realize that the Egyptian official they had bowed down to was none other than their long lost brother. What did Jacob's sons think about their powerful brother now? Why does Joseph have to emphasize God's role in orchestrating the events of their lives?Join Ari Levisohn and Adina Blaustein as they explore the striking similarities between Joseph and the Golden Calf.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Miketz, Jacob sends his sons on a mission to get food from Egypt so they can survive a famine plaguing the entire Middle East. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward request, but a closer read reveals a deeper purpose in their mission.Join Ari Levisohn and Rabbi David Fohrman as they uncover a hidden layer of meaning in this week's parsha and discuss what we are meant to do with our material success in this world.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Vayeshev, the Torah tells us that Joseph's brothers were so angry at him that they couldn't even speak a word to his face. Yet, the very next thing we're told is that Jacob sends Joseph, unsupervised, to go check on his brothers. What was Jacob thinking? Why wasn't he worried that the brothers might hurt Joseph?Join Ari Levisohn and Adina Blaustein as they dive into this week's parsha to uncover Jacob's hidden motives and find insights on how to mend broken relationships.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

When Esau came to meet Jacob with 400 men, it could only mean one thing: 20 years after Jacob stole Esau's blessings, Esau is finally seeking his revenge. But... what if we are misjudging Esau?Join Beth Lesch and Rabbi David Fohrman as they explore some fascinating parallels between this week's parsha and a later story, all leading to a shocking conclusion: We may have been wrong about Esau's intentions.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Vayeitzei begins with Jacob on the run from Esau and follows Jacob's trials and tribulations throughout his time in Laban's house. At the end of the parsha, Jacob is back on the run and gets into a heated argument with Laban. What is Jacob's role in this cycle of conflicts? Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they uncover a transformative way to read this week's parsha by picking up on some unexpected parallels to a random legal section later in the Torah.To hear more about the parallels Ari uncovered, listen to the Parshat Vayigash episode Ari mentions. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

The feelings of rage and desire for revenge against Hamas still boil strong in the hearts of many. How should those feelings motivate Israel and her supporters in the war against Hamas? What did Hamas want us to feel and how can we protect ourselves from the dangers of uncontrolled rage?Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Imu Shalev as they explore several reasons Israel is engaged in this war and offer hope for a nation in pain.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Toldot contains the only story in the Torah that is really only about Isaac: the often overlooked story of the wells. What does this brief story really teach us about Isaac's character? The Sages associate Isaac with the attribute of strength, but how does the story of the wells show us Isaac's might?Join Adina Blaustein and Beth Lesch as they discover the true greatness of Isaac by exploring the striking parallels between Isaac and another Biblical character known for his strength, Samson the Mighty. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Rabbi Fohrman and Imu are back sharing more stories from Rabbi Fohrman's last week in Israel, plus a fascinating discussion about last week's haftorah, its shocking conclusion, and the spiritual value of embracing "I don't know."What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

The Midrash says that chesed and emet, Kindness and Truth, disagreed about whether God should create humankind. And the puzzling outcome of that argument was: “God took Truth and threw it to the earth.” But what does that actually mean? The answer may be in Parshat Chayei Sarah, where chesed and emet “meet up” for the very first time in a rather surprising place: the story of how Rebecca was chosen to be Isaac's wife.Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they dig into the details of this story and uncover a message about our human struggle to understand what God means by “truth.Looking for Rabbi Fohrman's video discussing Abraham, Nachor, and their marriages? Check it out here: The Meaning of the Book of RuthWhat did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In our fourth takeover episode dedicated to the war in Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev share stories of volunteerism and heroism in Israel and abroad, while grappling with a shared sense of helplessness. Together, they explore the limits of utilitarianism, emphasizing the significance of being present for people, lending a listening ear, or simply giving someone a hug. Visit our website, alephbeta.org, to find inspiring and meaningful content that will give you strength and inspiration during this difficult time.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Vayera tells the story of visiting angels being graciously hosted, not once but twice! Abraham's hospitality is legendary, and Lot's welcoming the angels feels like a de ja vu...until things turn ugly. What went wrong? How could Lot's act of kindness to the angels end so disastrously? Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they explore two very similar stories of hospitality and uncover the most important ingredient in true kindness.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Join Rabbi Fohrman and Imu as they share heartwarming stories and grapple with the moral ambiguity provoked by the war between Israel and Hamas. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

When life throws us challenges and doesn't go the way we hoped, how do we avoid falling into despair? In Parshat Lech Lecha, Abraham and Sarah struggle with infertility, and Abraham cries out to God, “I am childless!” What is the Torah's message to Abraham on how to persevere through life's trials and tribulations?Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they explore Abraham and Sarah's journey through difficult times and the Torah's encouraging guidance. Listen to Rabbi Fohrman's foundational course, Abraham's Journey, to dive deeper into the ideas discussed in this episode.To find a collection of videos to help deal with our challenging times, visit our website.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Noach describes the extreme violence that led to God's decision to destroy the world with a flood. This violence is referred to as "chamas" in Hebrew, a term that bears an eerie resemblance to "Hamas." In light of recent devastating attacks by Hamas on Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev engaged in a discussion, exploring how to react to a world that is suddenly filled with violence.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In place of our usual parsha podcast, Rabbi David Fohrman sat down with Aleph Beta CEO, Imu Shalev, to reflect on the ongoing situation in Israel and discussed creative ways to help in these times of need, as well as how to cope with our intense emotions. To find meaningful content on Parshat Bereishit, check out our website. Please consider supporting organizations in Israel assisting soldiers and families in need. To learn more about Aleph Beta's efforts and to donate please click here. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

The Torah commands us to “take” these plants but doesn't tell us why. The only clue we get is what the Torah says next: “And you shall rejoice before God” on this holiday. But what exactly are we rejoicing about? And why is holding these plants supposed to bring us so much happiness? Ami Silver and Imu Shalev explore some unexpected connections between this mitzvah and another story in the Torah… and uncover a deep insight into the true source of joy.Check out the beautifully animated video version of this course: What Do the Arba Minim Represent?What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, should be a time of introspection, but it often feels like we're so overwhelmed by our own guilt, by the idea of coming to terms with ourselves, that we don't know where to start.In this episode, join Rabbi Fohrman as he takes a deeper look at the 13 Attributes of Mercy and uncovers a path to finding true forgiveness during the High Holidays.Check out Rabbi Fohrman's course on the Book of Jonah that can completely change the way you read the story. Also, enjoy the course on the Laws of Teshuva Rabbi Fohrman mentions in this episode.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow.Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta.For past episodes of Into the Verse, go to our website, alephbeta.org, where a premium subscription gets you access to all of our past episodes and our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts on the parsha, holidays, and so much more!Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Devarim, Moses rehashes the sin of the Spies. The Spies did exactly what Moses told them to do. They reported back on every question Moses asked them, so why does God decide to wipe out that whole generation and only their children would enter the land?Join Beth Lesch and Ami Silver as they explore Moses' retelling of the Spies' story and discover the Spies' real failure and their children's opportunity to redeem that sin.Join Rabbi Fohrman and the Aleph Beta team Tisha B'Av morning for Kinot Unlocked. To register or for more information, please visit https://www.alephbeta.org/tisha-bav/kinot-eventsExplore Aleph Beta's rich collection of Tisha B'Av videos at https://www.alephbeta.org/tisha-bavWhat did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

When the tribes of Reuben and Gad say they prefer not settle in the Land of Israel, Moses is concerned, but accepts their request and decides that half of the tribe of Menasseh should join them. Why would Moses do that? How would the tribe of Menasseh make things any better?Join Ami Silver and Daniel Loewenstein as they explore the emotionally charged dynamics in this week's parsha.Check out Rabbi Fohrman's video on Parshat Matot to learn more about how to effectively negotiate.Join Rabbi Fohrman and the Aleph Beta team Tisha B'Av morning for Kinot Unlocked. To register or for more information, please visit https://www.alephbeta.org/tisha-bav/kinot-eventsWhat did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

In Parshat Pinchas, the daughters of Tzelafchad mysteriously gloss over the reason for their father's death, but the Sages of the Talmud clue us into Tzelafchad's true identity and surprising backstory.Join Rabbi Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they uncover the hidden story of Tzelafchad and reveal the powerful lessons he and his family teach us.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

From a prophet-for-hire, to a talking donkey, to an invisible angel, Parshat Balak sports quite the interesting cast, but all these characters seem to be one hit wonders. It seems like Parshat Balak is almost entirely unrelated to the rest of the Torah and the Torah would be perfectly complete without it. But what if Parshat Balak is really the sequel to a much earlier story in the Torah?Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Tikva Hecht as they follow a road from Balak all the way back to the Garden of Eden.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Why did Korach rebel? What if there was something in Korach's family history that was motivating his revolt? This week Rabbi Fohrman joins Ami Silver to uncover the hidden backstory of Korach and his family, searching for exactly where he went wrong.Follow us on your favorite social media.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Shelach teaches us the mitzvah of Tzitzit. How are we to understand these little fringes? Sounds like a perfect job for the crew at "Meaningful Judaism," our new podcast dedicated to uncovering the meaning in mitzvot, so we invited them to take over "Into the Verse" this week.If you want to hear Part 2 about Tzitzit and more of the Meaningful Judaism Podcast follow it on Apple, Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts, and check out the new Meaningful Judaism YouTube channel.Follow us on your favorite social media.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Parshat Beha'alotecha marks the tragic turning point in the Israelites' journey, but is there any silver lining in the beginning of this generation's downfall? Join Ami Silver and Rivky Stern as they explore the shifting dynamics of the Israelites' desert story. Check out our new YouTube channel: Meaningful Judaism. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

The Priestly Blessing, which parents use to bless their children Friday nights and Kohanim recite in synagogues, is familiar to so many people, but few are aware of the story of two brothers hidden in the blessing. What story could that be and how does that help us see the Priestly Blessing in a new light? Join Ari Levisohn, and his brother Tani, for a deeper look at the blessing you thought you knew. For another fascinating, deep dive into the Priestly Blessing, check out Rabbi Fohrman's video course on Parshat Naso.   Check out our new YouTube channel: Meaningful Judaism. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Why does the Torah refer to the three harvest holidays as the “shalosh regalim,” the three legs? Join Ari Levisohn and Adina Blaustein as they explore fascinating intertextual parallels and discover a meaningful message about the holidays hidden in this strange name.For another look at the interesting textual connections from this week's episode, check out this parsha video on Parshat Balak.Download your FREE SHAVUOT GUIDE today! Just give us your email, and we'll send it right to your inbox.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

How does "Numbers" make sense as a title for the Bible's fourth book? How is that name connected to what the book is about? Join Rabbi Fohrman and his daughter, Ariella, as they explore the titles of the Bible's books and stitch together the powerful story they tell.Download your FREE SHAVUOT GUIDE today! Just give us your email and we'll send it right to your inbox.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Why does the Book of Leviticus end with scary curses, and why does the Torah link these curses to the mitzvah of Shemittah? Join Adina Blaustein and Ari Levisohn as the journey through this week's double parsha and its haftorah to find an inspiring understanding of Behar-Bechukotai and the entire Book of Leviticus. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

During the time between Passover and Shavuot, we “count the Omer,” marking the number of days since the Omer offering would have been brought. Why is this Omer offering so important that we have to mention it 49 consecutive nights, and how is it still relevant if we haven't even had the Temple for 2000 years? Join Rabbi Fohrman and Rivky Stern as they explore a tantalizing intertextual triangle which reveals just how significant the Omer is to our contemporary lives.Check out Rabbi Fohrman's course “Why do we celebrate Shavuot” to trace the thread of these ideas even further back, to even before the original Passover. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Meaningful Judaism is Aleph Beta's latest podcast, dedicated to exploring why we do what we do in Jewish life, by diving deep into the Torah text. So many of our practices can feel like they're just there; we go through the motions, but they don't feel especially meaningful. In Meaningful Judaism, we search for that meaning. Each episode will take you on a journey, tackling questions such as “Why can't we mix milk and meat?” and “What's the meaning behind the laws of niddah?” Join our host, Imu Shalev, along with Rabbi David Fohrman and Aleph Beta's other wonderful scholars, for this special journey. Meaningful Judaism is a project of Aleph Beta Labs. Aleph Beta is a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.To support this podcast, subscribe to Aleph Beta.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

The developments surrounding the return to the Land of Israel and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 seem to be prophetically predicted in the verses of Psalm 107. That's why Israel's Chief Rabbinate selected this salvation-themed chapter to be recited on Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's independence day. But there is one verse that seems completely out of place.In this week's episode, Ari Levisohn and Daniel Loewenstein explore this strange verse and uncover its deep message of hope, strength, and perseverance in the face of adversity. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

What does Tzara'at have to do with the revalation at Sinai? Why did Miriam get tzara'at? In this week's episode Tikva Hecht untangles a web of intertextual parallels, that all revolve around the transformative power of speech.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Let us know which episode meant the most to you here.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

In last week's episode, Imu and Rivky pointed out that the only two places where chametz (leavened bread) is forbidden are our homes on Passover and all year round in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). In this week's episode, Ari Levisohn, notices that this isn't the only connection between the Mishkan and the Israelites' homes on that original Passover. These connections lead to a fascinating exploration of the monumental impact of that original Passover and what we and our families can gain from this Passover.Watch Ari's favorite Passover video: How to Read the Haggadah, and for more amazing Passover content, check out https://www.alephbeta.org/passover.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Passover is a week away, and as we stock up on matzah and kiss goodbye to bagels, you've got to wonder: What's the big deal about leavened bread, anyway? Why don't we eat it on Passover? Easy question, right? Because of the matzah we ate when God took us out of Egypt. But if you think about it, this prohibition is pretty strange. The commandment could just have been to eat matzah in commemoration of the Exodus. Why are we also commanded to remove any trace of leavening, of chametz? This week, Imu Shalev and Rivky Stern look at what Parshat Tzav says about chametz in its description of the daily offerings in the Tabernacle. All year round, the flour in the meal-offering has to be baked as matzah; it can never be chametz. The question is, why? Imu and Rivky dive into the Torah's other clues to the deeper symbolic meaning of chametz, and those clues bring them to a new understanding of why Parshat Tzav forbids chametz with the offerings… and why we abstain from it on Passover.Check out our amazing library of Passover videos!What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

We're starting Sefer Vayikra this week! But if we're honest, Leviticus isn't the easiest book to be excited about. Genesis and Exodus have so much drama: the family stories of our patriarchs and matriarchs, the liberation from Egypt, the great encounter with God at Mount Sinai. Whereas Vayikra... so much of it is about animal offerings, or how the priests need to do their jobs in the mishkan, the tabernacle. It's got a lot of laws that don't even apply to us any more. So how do we find meaning in this central book of the Five Books of Moses?In this episode, Imu Shalev brings that exact question to Rabbi Fohrman, along with a suggestion about how Vayikra is actually a connected, embedded part of the Torah's overall story. And their conversation shows that this isn't actually an isolated book of laws. Instead, it's a key part of our national mission statement. Vayikra is about learning to live a life of closeness with God.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show! Check out our new podcast, Meaningful Judaism, here or wherever you get your podcasts! If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org. Follow us on your favorite social media.

Observing the Sabbath involves rules about a long list of actions, from cleaning to writing to making things with our hands, and more! Right before the start of construction on the mishkan, the Tabernacle, Parshat Vayakhel reminds us to observe Shabbat. Building the mishkan was a huge project, one that required all kinds of creative activities. So keeping Shabbat must require us to refrain from those activities. That's a logical explanation, but it also sounds pretty technical. Are the blueprints for the mishkan really a spiritually satisfying reason for having so many laws? We're talking about Shabbat, one of the most central, most precious parts of Judaism! Shouldn't these rules lead us straight to some deep knowledge of God?This week's episode is something special, a two-part format that we haven't tried before. First, Rabbi Fohrman shows why Shabbat laws are linked to the mishkan, what that connection teaches us about God's creating the world, and how we fulfill our human destiny as “little creators.” In the second half, Ari Levisohn and Beth Lesch dig deeper into Rabbi Fohrman's ideas. They consider what Shabbat teaches us about God's plan for humanity, and what we can learn from that about being parents… one way in which we emulate God's role as Creator.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

Parshat Ki Tisa has one of the all-time low points in the Torah. The Israelites just received the Torah back in Parshat Yitro. All they need to do now is wait for Moses to finish up a bit of paperwork with God. But when he doesn't come back right away, they go to Aaron and ask him to...  make them a golden calf.It's a disaster. God sends Moses back down the mountain and punishes the people for worshipping this idol. But there are some big questions we can ask about this story. Such as: What do the Israelites want an idol for? They just heard God giving them the Ten Commandments, speaking directly to them! But also... why would anyone take a golden idol seriously? It seems so obvious that if you made it, then it's not a god. So how are we supposed to understand what's really happening in this story? How can we know what message to take away for our own lives?This week, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev tackle the tough questions about the sin of the golden calf. As it turns out, this story has a lot to say about our human struggles with responsibility. And about why it can be so hard to feel close to God. Rabbi Fohrman's course on trying to change God's will: Moshe's Benevolent ChutzpahWhat did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

There's a saying that Purim has a lot in common with a certain other Jewish holiday. But unlike Purim, that other holiday isn't exactly known for parties, costumes, and sweet treats. No, it's Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and atonement. So where's the similarity? In this week's episode, Rabbi Fohrman and Rivky Stern go back to the Torah's description of the Yom Kippur service and uncover a whole list of parallels with the Book of Esther. One of those parallels is sorrowful: When Vashti is banished for refusing to come before King Ahasuerus, the Megillah's language seems to send us back to the deaths of Aaron's sons in Leviticus. But as it turns out, both stories include a more hopeful “replay.” God teaches Aaron how to come safely into the Holy of Holies once a year, on Yom Kippur. Meanwhile, Queen Esther takes a significant risk to approach her King's inner courtyard… and becomes the savior of her people.What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

Parshat Terumah kicks off the "not so exciting" section of the Torah all about the detailed construction of the mishkan (tabernacle). But what if those details contain the secret key to understanding one of the greatest questions facing any 21st-century believer: How do we reconcile the creation story in Genesis with everything we know about modern physics and the Big Bang?Glossary of Hebrew termsFor Rabbi Fohrman's long-form version of this material, click here.Subscribe to our new podcast, A Book Like No Other, wherever you get your podcasts. To listen on Spotify click here, to listen on Apple podcast click here, and to listen on Aleph Beta click here.  What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

Parshat Mishpatim tells us what should happen if people get hurt because of someone else's actions – fighting, stealing, keeping dangerous animals around the house. In each case, the Torah explains what should happen to the offender, but what's interesting is that the same injury doesn't always carry the same penalty. Sometimes it depends on the person's intentions: Were they actually planning to cause the harm or not?In this week's episode, Rabbi Fohrman points out that one of those laws in Mishpatim looks like a clue to something he's wondered about for a long time: a mysterious unsolved death back in Genesis. So he and Ari Levisohn dig into that case and share the evidence they discover, along with a theory about how it all fits together. Come along as Rabbi Fohrman uses his detective skills to explore a curious case of divine justice.For a limited time, you can get a free copy of Rabbi David Fohrman's renowned book The Queen You Thought You Knew when you sign up for an annual Aleph Beta premium subscription.Interested in hearing the fuller version of Rabbi Fohrman's theory about Rebecca, Jacob, and the blessings? You can find it here.Subscribe to our new podcast, A Book Like No Other, wherever you get your podcasts. To listen on Spotify click here, to listen on Apple podcast click here, and to listen on Aleph Beta click here.  What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.

Parshat Yitro includes the Revelation at Mount Sinai, one of the most dramatic moments in the Torah. But this week on Into the Verse, we zoom in on a moment shortly before that, one that's easy to miss. God gives Moses instructions for the Israelites, so they can get ready for the giving of the Torah. And what's the first thing God wants them to keep in mind, on the brink of this historic moment? God says, “Tell the children of Israel: You saw what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me.”Rabbi David Fohrman and Imu Shalev wonder: Why eagles' wings? Why does God pick that image to frame the Revelation? As a matter of fact, birds come up pretty often in the Torah: why is that, and do they have a message for us? By the end of their conversation, we've discovered a new way to understand our connection with God at Mount Sinai… and in every moment of our lives.Subscribe to our new podcast, A Book Like No Other, wherever you get your podcasts. To listen on Spotify click here, to listen on Apple podcast click here, and to listen on Aleph Beta click here. What did you think of this episode? We'd genuinely like to hear your thoughts, questions, and feedback. Leave us a voice message – just click record, and let your thoughts flow. You may even be featured on the show!If you're enjoying this podcast, help support our work by subscribing to Aleph Beta. Into the Verse is a project of Aleph Beta, a Torah media company dedicated to spreading the joy and love of meaningful Torah learning worldwide. For our full library of over 1,000 videos and podcasts, please visit www.alephbeta.org.