Weekly Torah Studies

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Introducing you to new planes in spirituality, society, and self-awareness - one week at a time through the Klein Jewish Academy at HarfordChabad.org

Kushi Schusterman


    • Oct 28, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 5m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Weekly Torah Studies

    Lose Your Audience and Feel Good About It

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2021 66:09


    Sometimes, It's Best To Shrink Your Audience To Amplify Your Message Was there ever something you felt strongly about, yet kept to yourself for fear of losing your audience? It's a tough call each time, and the divergent legacies of Abraham and his wife Sarah are quite instructional. Ultimately, it's Sarah who wins the day.

    A Well of Love

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2021 74:50


    Sustainable Love is a Quiet Affair To be “in love” is to be generous, wide open, and full of dreams. That's a great first step—but it's only the first step. Abraham, the first Jew, was a man of kindness, yet the wells of emotion he dug were ultimately stuffed up. It took his quiet, disciplined son, Isaac, to redig them and open them forever. It's much the same in our lives, too.

    Torah and Science: Best of Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 73:18


    The Synthesis Runs a Lot Deeper Than You Think. Just Do It Right. Many have grappled with the apparently irreconcilable differences between religion and science; “Religion is the domain of faith; science, that of reason,” is a common attitude. A new read of when G-d disrupts a grand feat of modern engineering teaches a refreshing approach.

    BEQUEATHING THE HERITAGE

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2021 67:51


    A Primer for Acting, Feeling, and Identifying as Jewish What is the defining feature of a healthy relationship? Doing things for each other? Remaining committed even when there's betrayal? Perhaps another intangible we're not even talking about? The joyous holiday of Sukkot provides a good primer for these important questions.

    I LOVE YOU. I SEE YOUR FLAWS. LET'S IMPROVE.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 58:01


    True Love Doesn't Blind; It Embraces and Hopes for Better Come to think of it, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are really the same thing: two serious days about making things right for a new year. So why do we need them both? “High Holiday” doesn't have the same ring to it, but it could do. So why the double-act? Discover the true meaning of Yom Kippur.

    CANCELING THE CULTURE OF CANCEL CULTURE

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 63:10


    Finding Common Ground from a G-dly Perch In divisive times, when neighbors, friends, and even family turn on one another, it is more important than ever to find common ground that unites us all. Indeed, the New Year provides us an opportunity to gain a G-dly perspective on humanity that will surely bring us together.

    REWRITE HISTORY

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2021 85:31


    The Super Power of Baal Teshuva Have you ever wished you could rewrite the past and retrieve a broken part of yourself? Through a surprisingly fresh look at the horrible list of curses in our parshah, we discover a most incredible power: the power to redeem the irredeemable.

    HOW HUMILITY KEEPS YOU HIGH

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 72:19


    Recognizing Your Limits Is the Secret to True Growth To assume infallibility is a dangerous game. History has demonstrated time and again that he or she who deems themselves beyond reproach is most often the first one to fall. A fresh look at the mitzvah to erect a fence on the roof of our home brings this message into stark relief.

    LET GO AND MOVE FORWARD

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 76:18


    To Leave Egypt, You Must Really Leave It Behind. All of It. A Jewish king is not allowed to own too many horses. Sounds interesting, but why? So he doesn't head back to Egypt and settle there. A fascinating ride through some complex halachic intricacies lands us at the doorstep of this important conclusion: There's no such thing as “partially” leaving Egypt.

    A PERFECT EXCHANGE

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2021 66:37


    Gaining Perspective on the Things that Vex Us Most “I have given you blessing and curses; take a good look and make the right choice!” Scripture declares. Is this really such a choice that requires examination? A deep look at some thorny theological questions gifts us this nugget: How we look at life is, indeed, entirely ours to choose.

    ONCE YOU POP, YOU CAN'T STOP

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 61:49


    Giving Up Halfway Is Not an Option Have you ever started a new pet project or embarked on a new “year of change”—and then you fell flat just a couple of months in? This class argues that when fate sets you down a certain path, G-d expects you to see it through to the end. The good news? He empowered you to do it. So, carry on.

    THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2021 55:30


    Appreciating That We're Catching Up to the Torah There's a certain sense of wonderment that children seem to lose as they mature. An inspired Mishnah and a curious quirk in the mitzvah of Torah study urge us to maintain that sense of wonder—and the humility that comes with it.

    GATEKEEPERS OF THE TORAH

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 61:35


    Dispelling the Notion That Anyone Has a Claim More than You Do Does the Torah really belong to every Jew? Aren't there class divisions in Judaism: say, for example, the priests and the rabbis? Perhaps the Torah actually highlights some of our differences? No, it does not. In this lesson, discover how.

    REDEFINING MESSIAH

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2021 36:35


    Are You Waiting for the Right Messiah? Ask anyone in synagogue what Messiah is, and you'll get answers about utopia, peace, love, and harmony. While that's not untrue, it's time to take a proper look at the legal definition of Messiah so we know what we're waiting for. The answer may surprise you.

    AIM HIGH

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2021 49:12


    Emulating Korach's Noble Intentions For too long, Korach has been perceived as a one-dimensional villain. This class argues that there's much to learn from his intentions. After all, there's something to say about someone who has a passionate drive to connect with the Divine. Ask yourself: Does a lack of G-d in your life make YOU cry?

    THE IMPERATIVE TO REACH OUT AND HELP ANOTHER Can We Sacrifice Personal Morals to Help Another?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2021 77:21


    Juggling personal morals and values with the need to help another is a thorny ethical dilemma. Taking a closer look at the Torah's juxtaposition of two random events makes one thing very clear: staying in your own comfort zone is not an option.

    THE AGE-OLD BALANCE OF INDIVIDUALISM VS. COLLECTIVISM

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 91:15


    An Audacious Argument to Find Yourself in the Location Least Expected It's a struggle of identity that has challenged humanity since the beginning of time: How do we maintain our unique individuality while identifying with the broader community? Many years ago, the veteran sage Hillel presented a bold answer while discussing the laws of the Passover sacrifice, and we're privileged to explore it still.

    EDUCATION STARTS FROM DAY ONE

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 64:30


    There's something about a cute little child that perhaps causes us to dismiss them, not seriously considering just how important they are in the chain of history. A detail about the Levite count in the desert sets the record straight.

    SHABBAT: A DAY OF REST?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2021 60:18


    Reimagining the Essence of Shabbat It's a classic question: What does it mean that G-d “rested” on the seventh day? Was He tired? Discover the true core of what Shabbat is all about—and the tremendous opportunity that comes with it. You may be surprised: it's not about sleeping in.

    THE JOY OF FAMILY

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 78:51


    Judaism's Overemphasis on Raising the Next Generation Parenting is arguably the most and least rewarding job on the planet. It's tremendous work, but yields immeasurable joy. Judaism has always promoted family life; in fact, the very first mitzvah in the Torah is to have children. Discover how this value has served us so well—and should continue to do so.

    THE ROAD AHEAD IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU. JUST TAKE THE FIRST STEP

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 77:09


    The story of sacrificial scents wafting in the air inspiring Jews to do a radical mitzvah in the middle of the night sounds too fantastical to be true. Thankfully, it is true, and the message it tells us is one of attainable and practical change.

    CAN WE PICK AND CHOOSE IN JUDAISM?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 52:05


    Learning to Love the Entire Package Does every part of Judaism excite you the same way? A tragic death during the most joyous of times in the desert clues us in as to how we ought to approach our religious life—the exciting, the mundane, and even those parts that feel boring.

    Breaking Free from the Confusion of Egypt to the Clarity of Purpose

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2021 71:23


    Fewer things can be as constricting, crushing, and stifling than waking up in the morning and not being able to answer why you should even get out of bed. Discover the recipe for freedom in the story of the Exodus. Hint: The road starts and finishes right in none other than . . . YOU.

    When Humility Isn't Healthy and Pride is Perfect

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 45:37


    When You're Truly Small, Then You're Really Big A curiously small letter appears in the first word of book number three of the Torah. With the help of a story about a famous Rebbe teaching his young grandson, what starts off as a lesson in humility turns into a much broader instruction on how to ace the balance between humility and pride.

    THE PEOPLE ALWAYS COME FIRST. EXCEPT FOR WHEN THEY DON'T

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 21:57


    The last effective leadership book you read preached the qualities of placing others' needs before yours. But then life gets tricky, and certain times call for other priorities. What to do? A lofty effort of twelve noble leaders gone flat tells the story of true leadership.

    TODAY OR TOMORROW?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 74:38


    TODAY OR TOMORROW? A Rip-Roaring Ride across the Talmudic Sea to the Raging Waters of Life Two Talmudic sages debated different things that seem entirely unrelated. Discover the hidden key that threads them all together, and by the time you're done navigating the waters, you may just emerge with the ship of your life steered in a profound, new direction.

    I WENT IN WITH AN ESCAPE PLAN. IT DIDN'T WORK

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 76:46


    Have you tried doing something while trying to leave the back door open—you know, with your eyes on the way out just in case you don't get too excited about it? If yes, it probably didn't work. Discover the formula for maturing from “why not?” to “of course!”

    LIFT YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 61:57


    Reaching the Pinnacle of Human Achievement . . . and Beyond Are you possessive about your own personal space? Through the lens of an interesting discussion about the parameters of personal space in Jewish law, discover the limits of your own personal growth—and how to smash them, too.

    Healthy Boundries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 73:50


    Life presents all sorts of situations that challenge us to keep within our moral, ethical, and religious bounds. A lesser-known law of Shabbat observance that cautions against wandering too far out of town teaches us the right formula for a healthy framework.

    Tending to Gds Children

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 60:42


    Parenting Isn't Only about You Let's face it: parenting is really, really hard—perhaps one of the most challenging things in the world. So here's a thought: your children are entrusted to you by G-d, so He must believe in you that you're up to the job. Run with it.

    LINE IN THE SAND

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2021 67:36


    Sometimes, We Must Be Unequivocal G-d brought ten plagues on the Egyptians, right? Of course. But did you know that some of them were experienced by the Jews, too? Wait . . . What? That's right: the Jews were subjected to some of the plagues to make a bold statement that some things must be unequivocal—for everyone.

    IS THERE A CASE FOR PERFECTIONISM?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 69:49


    A Time to Be Right, a Time to Do What's Right Elijah the prophet is one of the most beloved figures in Jewish lore, famed for mysterious visits and messianic tidings. But his life story was one of fire and brimstone. So who, really, is Elijah? Discover your inner Elijah and his historical counterpart, as well: none other than Moses.

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