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JTS's weekly commentary on parashat hashavua and the holidays, published for over 20 years, is enjoyed by thousands of readers every week. The commentary features select faculty, students, and staff from across JTS. We invite you to subscribe to this podcast and bring Torah from JTS wherever you go.

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    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 403 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from JTS Torah Commentary

    Counting as Spiritual Practice: Bemidbar/Shavuot 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 8:22


    The JTS Commentary for Bemidbar / Shavuot 5785 by Dr. Marcus Mordecai Schwartz, Ripps Schnitzer Librarian for Special Collections and Assistant Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Grappling with Slavery: Behar-Behukkotai 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 6:36


    The JTS Commentary for Behar - Behukkotai by Dr. Marjorie Lehman, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics and Area Chair of Rabbinic Literatures and Cultures, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Who Belongs? Emor 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 5:42


    The JTS Commentary for Emor by Dr. Rachel Rosenthal (KGS), Director of External Affairs, Yeshivat Maharat This commentary was originally broadcast in 2018.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Love Beyond Grudges: Aharei Mot-Kedoshim 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 6:41


    The JTS Commentary for Aharei Mot - Kedoshim by Jonah Guthartz, Emerging Leaders Fellow, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Torah's Prescription for Healing: Tazria - Metzora 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 10:02


    The JTS Commentary for Tazria - Metzora by Dr. Alan Cooper, Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies, JTSThis commentary was originally broadcast in 2013.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Six Takes on a Leader's Attributes: Shemini 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 8:21


    The JTS Commentary for Shemini by Dr. Walter Herzberg, Assistant Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible and Its Interpretation and Professional Pastoral Skills JTSThis commentary was originally broadcast in 2018.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Bones We Carry: Peash VII 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 5:52


    The JTS Commentary for Pesach VII by Dr. Abigail Uhrman, Assistant Professor of Jewish Education, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Can We Sanctify Incivility? Tzav-Shabbat Hagadol 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 10:25


    The JTS Commentary for Tzav / Shabbat Hagadol by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Who is Liable? Vayikra 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 7:27


    The JTS Commentary for Vayikra by Dr. Alan Cooper, Elaine Ravich Professor of Jewish Studies, JTS Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Give and Take of Strength: Pekudei 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 6:08


    The JTS Commentary for Pekudei by Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, Rabbi Judah Nadich Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTSThis commentary was originally broadcast in 2018.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Sacred Gifts and the Holiness of Diversity: Vayak-hel 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 6:52


    The JTS Commentary for Vayak-hel by Rabbi Ayelet Cohen, Pearl Resnick Dean of the Rabbinical School and Dean of the Division of Religious Leadership, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Day is Short, but Our Story is Long: Ki Tissa 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 8:19


    The JTS Commentary for Ki Tissa by Dr. Yael Landman, Assistant Professor of Bible, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Remembering Who We Are: Shabbat Zakhor 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 6:19


    The JTS Commentary for Tetzavveh / Shabbat Zakhor by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Golden Crown of Parenting: Terumah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 9:04


    The JTS Commentary for Terumah by Rabbi Lilly Kaufman (RS '01, CS '98)This commentary was originally broadcast in 2020.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Don't Be the Terumah: Mishpatim 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 8:28


    The JTS Commentary for Mishpatim by Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay, Associate Dean of the Rabbinical School and Executive Director of the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Confusion of Revelation: Yitro 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 7:33


    The JTS Commentary for Yitro by Dr. Barry Holtz, Theodore and Florence Baumritter Professor of Jewish Education, JTS This episode was originally broadcast in 2019.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Aggressor and Aggrieved: Beshallah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 7:29


    The JTS Commentary for Beshallah by Dr. Phil Keisman, Director of Teen Education, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The Worst Possible Plague: Bo 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 7:50


    The JTS Commentary for Bo by Rebecca Galin, Student, The Rabbinical School of JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Moses's Lessons in Interfaith Dialogue: Va'era 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 8:35


    The JTS Commentary for Va'era by Claire Davidson Bruder, Student, The Rabbinical School of JTS, and Sherouk Ahmed, Student, Bayan Islamic Graduate School at Chicago Theological SeminaryIn the first week of 2025, the Washington Theological Consortium hosted a weeklong interfaith dialogue program at the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia. Third-year JTS rabbinical student and Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue program manager Claire Davidson Bruder participated in this program, alongside other Jewish, Christian, and Muslim seminary students. The following d'var Torah is a collaboration between Claire and Sherouk Ahmed, a chaplaincy student at Bayan, an Islamic graduate school in partnership with the Chicago Theological Seminary.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    A Turn for the Better: Shemot 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 5:47


    The JTS Commentary for Shemot by Rabbi Ariella Rosen (RS), Interim Lead Rabbi, Congregation B'nai Israel (Northampton, MA) Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    Angel or Avatar? Vayehi 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 9:20


    The JTS Commentary for Vayehi by Benjamin D. Sommer, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    bible professor avatar kabbalah bereishit ancient semitic languages benjamin d sommer jts commentary
    A Tale of Two Dreamers: Vayiggash 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 7:08


    The JTS Commentary for Vayiggash by Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    The World That Isn't There: Miketz 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 7:49


    The JTS Commentary for Miketz by Rabbi Joel Seltzer, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    What Makes Groups Reject Their Own: Vayeshev 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 8:28


    The JTS Commentary for Vayeshev by Rabbi Yael Shmilovitz, Clinical Pastoral Educator at the Center for Pastoral Education, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5

    When Jacob Met Esau--Facing Our Fears: Vayishlah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 11:11


    The JTS Commentary for Vayishlah by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Going Out To Meet God and History: Vayetzei 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 8:05


    The JTS Commentary for Vayetzei by Dr. Arnold Eisen, Chancellor Emeritus and Professor of Jewish Thought, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    On The Perils of Pregnancy--A Letter to Rivkah: Toledot 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 6:22


    The JTS Commentary for Toledot by Rabbi Annie Lewis, Director of Recruitment and Admissions for Religious and Educational Leadership and Assistant Dean of First Year Rabbinical Students, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    “Ger Vetoshav”: A Lesson on Vulnerabilities and Humility: Hayyei Sarah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 8:32


    The JTS Commentary for Hayyei Sarah by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Can You Spell-check the Tanakh?: Vayera 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 5:50


    The JTS Commentary for Vayera by Rabbi David Moster, PhD, Director of Biblical Hebrew, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    How Can We Be a Blessing?: Lekh Lekha 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 7:00


    The JTS Commentary for Lekh Lekha by Cantor Rabbi Shoshi Levin Goldberg, Director of the H.L. Miller Cantorial School, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Living with Difference: Noah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 8:41


    The JTS Commentary for Noah for Rabbi Naomi Kalish, Harold and Carole Wolfe Director of the Center for Pastoral Education and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Education, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    God's Partners in Torah: Bereishit 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 14:03


    The JTS Commentary for Bereishit for Rabbi Robert Harris, Professor of Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

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    Lessons from Kohelet: Sukkot 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 10:09


    The JTS Commentary for Sukkot by Rabbi Stephanie Ruskay, Associate Dean of the Rabbinical School and Executive Director of the JTS Hendel Center for Ethics and JusticeMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Sacred Words in Liturgy and Life: Yom Kippur 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 10:40


    The JTS Commentary for Yom Kippur by Dr. Shira Billet, Assistant Professor of Jewish Thought and Ethics, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Crying with God: Rosh Hashanah 5785

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 6:39


    The JTS Commentary for Rosh Hashana by Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement, JTS Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Where Did Moses Go—and Why?: Nitzavim-Vayeilekh 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 9:46


    The JTS Commentary for Nitzavim - Vayeilekh by Dr. Walter Herzberg, Assistant Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Bible, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Shattering Our Idols: Ki Tavo 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 4:55


    The JTS Commentary for Ki Tavo by Rabbi Matt Berkowitz, (RS), Vice President of The Schechter Institutes, Inc.This commentary was originally published in 2004Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Is Modesty Still Relevant in the Twenty-First Century?: Ki Tetzei 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 7:45


    The JTS Commentary for Ki Tetzei by Emmanuel Bloch, Ph.D., Adjunct Assistant Professor, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    The King's Torah and the Torah's King: Shofetim 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 11:49


    The JTS Commentary for Shofetim by Dr. Barry Holtz, Theodore and Florence Baumritter Professor of Jewish Education in the William Davidson School of Education, JTSThis episode originally aired in 2017.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Petition or Protest: Re'eh 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 7:43


    The JTS Commentary for Re'eh by Rabbi Adam Zagoria-Moffet, ('RS), St. Albans Masorti SynagogueThis episode originally aired in 2017.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    The Afterlife of Our Actions: Eikev 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 5:16


    The JTS Commentary forEikev by Rabbi Eliezer Diamond, Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics, JTSThis episode originally aired in 2015.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    Is Love Enough?: Va'ethannan 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 7:58


    The JTS Commentary for Va'et-hannan by Rabbi Judith Hauptman, E. Billi Ivry Professor Emerita of Talmud and Rabbinic Culture, JTSMusic provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

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    The Rules of Rebuke: Devarim 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 7:09


    The JTS Commentary for Devarim by Ariel Ya'akov Dunat (RS '25)Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

    "What's God?"--And Other Questions Kids Ask: Mattot-Masei 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 8:28


    The JTS Commentary for Mattot-Masei by Rabbi Chaim Galfand (RS '01), School Rabbi for Perelman Jewish Day School (Philadelphia, PA)Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

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    Making Space for Life: Pinehas 5784

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 10:45


    The JTS Commentary for Pinehas by Rabbi Joel Alter (Alum, Rabbinical School), Rabbi, Congregation Beth Israel Ner TamidThis episode originally aired in 2015.Music provided by JJReinhold / Pond5.

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