TakeTen4Torah Daily Torah Podcast

We're thousands of miles away from what's going on in Israel, and it is difficult to know how best to react. Take Ten to learn about how we understand G-d's empathy and the the empathy of great Jewish leaders of the past. (Empathy #1) This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l    

What can we do in this challenging moment in Jewish history? This Ten describes a framework of three important things to focus on: 0, 1, and 2.

The Torah speaks of a Mitzvah to blow horns to organize the camp in the desert, but also to mark the happiest occasions and moments of crisis. What s the nature of this commandment? And how do these sounds connect to each other? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l  

Today is a very "special" day. Known as "Yom HaMeyuchas," it's a day that we treat as a quasi-holiday. Take Ten to learn why. This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

Why is the book of Bamidbar referred to as "Numbers"? Take Ten to find out. 

  When the Hagadah mentions that we "blunt" the teeth of the wicked child, what does it actually mean? Take Ten to find out.     This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l  

Many of us have the custom of engaging in the ransom of the Afikoman on the seder night. Take Ten to learn the origin of this custom and why, to some, we've been doing it all wrong. 

Continuing the discussion of what Chametz we need to be concerned for, this class moves into the kitchen and areas where eating is involved. 

Continuing the discussion regarding Chametz, this Ten covers more on what is defined as Chametz and what we are looking for as we search.

The Torah prohibits Chametz again and again. How do we define this prohibited material? Take Ten to find out.

The story of Purim is about the unification of Jews amidst a terrible threat. How are the mitzvah commemorations of the day constructed to reinforce the lessons we learned back then? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l  

We are taught that we are to "increase joy" when the month of Adar begins. Why this month? What is the nature of this joy? Take Ten to find out.

While we might know that the laws of keeping Shabbat are learned from constructing the Mishkan, we might not be aware of the deep similarities between the construction and the actual creation of the world. Take Ten to find out more.

Our parsha discusses a situation when you "might" lend money to someone in need. Take Ten to learn the importance of this mitzvah.

How does one achieve piety? The Gemara suggests that we look towards three areas in particular. What are these three and what makes them so significant? Take Ten to find out.

The Torah stresses the importance of sensitivity towards the vulnerable and disadvantaged. How far does this concern go? Take Ten to find out. 

Our Parsha teaches that "Acharei Rabim l'Hatot," we are supposed to follow the majority. Why and when do we do this? Where is this concept applied? Take Ten to find out. 

What is the significance of the arrival of Yitro? Why is one man's journey so celebrated and what can it teach us about our encounter with inspiration? Take Ten to find out. 

What's the best way to spend our Shabbat? Take Ten to find out. 

What are we supposed to be thinking about on Tu b'Shvat? Take Ten to focus on the origins of this day and what it has come to mean. 

After the Jews are saved at the sea, they have a realization that will influence their mitzvah observance forever. What is this new knowledge? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored in honor of the wedding of Regina and Shai Rosalimsky.  

Torah learning is an important way to become a better educated and more inspired Jew, but is there an advantage to doing it daily? Take Ten to find out.  Sponsored anonymously in honor of TT4T's 900-episode milestone.  

There is a special custom to read the section of the Torah that deals with the Manna today, the Tuesday before the Torah reading of Beshalach. This Ten explores the meaning of this custom and how important it might be to say it - and think it - every other day as well. 

Miriam is often seen as a "third wheel" among her more active brothers, Moshe and Aharon. Take Ten to learn the critical and overlooked role that she had in the salvation of the Jewish people, and why she is equally listed as one of our saviors. 

We find some very unique laws relating to the lighting of the Menorah. This Ten discusses the - mostly unknown - beracha made while walking down a street and simply witnessing the lights of someone else's Menorah. Why would we make a beracha on this mitzvah "sighting" and not on witnessing other mitzvot? The answer to this and more in Ten or less. 

  Beit Shamai is famous for holding that the proper way to light the menorah is to light eight candles on the first night and then descend each night so that we light only one on the final night. This Ten explores the reason for their position, particularly in how it references a surprising Chanukah-Sukkot connection.  

The mitzvah of lighting candles of Chanukah is constructed in a scaled way that is unlike any other mitzvah. Why is that so? Take Ten to find out.

One of the two rabbinically mandated holidays, Chanukah is distinct from Purim in how it is observed in practice. Why is this? Take Ten to find out.

If you have 10 minutes to interrupt from Cyber Monday shopping, you might want to listen to this analysis of the ethics of distracted work. What does our forefather Yaakov teach us in this regard? Take Ten to find out. 

The Talmud credits Leah with being the first person in history to offer gratitude to G-d. How can this be? Take Ten to find out. 

We are familiar with the mitzvah of visiting this sick, but what are its goals, and what is expected of us? Take Ten to find out. 

Avraham was different than the people of his day and has always been acknowledged for that independence. How important is this part of his personality to us, his descendants? Take Ten to find out. 

Avraham's beliefs set him on a crash course with he world around him. What did he discover? How did he ensure that his teachings would remain in the minds of his children? Take Ten to find out. 

  What do we mean when, over the course of Rosh Hashana, we focus on establishing G-d as King? Take Ten to find out.   

This year we find specific laws relating to loans and making sure you are able to collect them. What is the Jewish ethic of making loans to those in need? How does a Pruzbul fit into this picture? Take Ten to find out.  Sponsored by Judy Lewis and Family in memory of Zachary Dicker, Zecharia Yehuda ben Shimshon z"l. 

Enjoy this exchange with special guest Rabbi Yisrael Motzen as we embark on an ongoing conversation about the meaning we take from popular, contemporary Jewish music.  In this episode, we discuss a beautiful new song by an Israeli artist named Shmuel Perednik called "Ten li Tefilah" (Give Me One Prayer) Here is the song on YouTube. Here is the translation.  PLEASE send feedback to rabbiismach@taketen4torah.org Enjoy!

We will mention the 13 attributes many dozens of times over the course of the Slichot through Yom Kippur season. But what do they mean? Take Ten to find out. 

This Saturday night we begin the special Tefilot of Selichot, composed to take advantage of the auspicious time of the High Holiday season. What is the origin and meaning of these prayers? Take Ten to find out. 

The Torah doesn't say much about the obligation to blow the Shofar other than to make a "Teruah" sound. What is that sound? This Ten explores the different possibilities and answers the question of how we possibly could have ever been confused about this in the first place.  

Take Ten to learn about how generosity in the judgment of others can bring us towards a more generous judgment from G-d. 

The Torah instructs us to rebuke others, but does that mean to turn us into preachy and judgemental people? Take Ten to find out.

Each day during Elul we add Psalm 27 to our prayers. Why is this paragraph so important and what does it even mean? Take Ten to find out. 

What is the significance of the month of Elul and why do we draw so much meaning from the acronym of the word? Take Ten to find out!

When bad events occur, how should we go about assigning blame? Using one of the most famous Talmudic stories, take Ten to find out.  Sponsored by the Anfang family in memory of Aryeh Leib ben David Avigdor.

Parshat Balak includes one of the most unique stories in the entire Torah, a story that the Talmud thought should be read every day. Why is it so special? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is ponsored by the Braunstein family in memory of Marie Dweck a”h, Miryam bat Mordechai HaCohen.   

While the text of the Kohanic blessings is formulaic, the most important part is emotional. Take Ten to learn about the love that is required to bless. 

The holiday of Shavuot begins late due to the hour of sunset this time of year, but as you might be aware, we delay its start even further than we do for other holidays. Take Ten to learn how this delay came about and how it speaks to our "Pursuit of Perfection."

Today is a very "special" day. Known as "Yom HaMeyuchas," it's a day that we treat as a quasi-holiday. Take Ten to learn why.

There is a rich midrashic tradition concerning the moment the Torah was given that paints a picture of all the world hanging in the balance. Would the Jews accept the Torah? This Ten discusses the gravity of that moment and how compulsion might be the only thing that could allow us to make the right decision. 

There is much in Jewish law that defines the process of buying and selling. What are some of these rules? At what point do items actually change ownership? Take Ten to find out. 

R' Meir Simcha of Dvinsk offered a prescient perspective on the nature and patterns of exile. What are the Jewish people meant to expect in the diaspora? Take Ten to find out.