Podcasts about yeshivat chovevei torah

Rabbi Mia Simring was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, in her native New York City. She also holds a certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has focused her rabbinic work on chaplaincy in hospitals, long term care facilities, and now, correctional facilities. She is currently serving as a Jewish Chaplain for the New York City Department of Correction, working with both pre- and post-trial detainees. Prior to her rabbinical studies, she received an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Brown University, worked in Japan, and then in the Japanese Art Department at Christie's NY. Read more about her here. Rabbi Gabe Kretzmer Seed serves as a Jewish chaplain in the New York City Department of Correction where he provides religious services and spiritual support primarily for Jewish inmates. He also teaches and tutors for children and adults in the community, and provides research support for a number of Jewish Studies scholars, including as a research assistant to Rabbi Irving Greenberg for his acclaimed book "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism."  Rabbi Kretzmer Seed has Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and also received BA and MA degrees from The Jewish Theological Seminary – JTS—where he focused on Talmud and Midrash. Following ordination, Rabbi Kretzmer Seed completed a CPE residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, where he worked in the hospital's palliative care, oncology and psychiatric units.To learn more about "The Very Narrow Bridge: A Rikers Island Siddur," click here. To support the project, click here.Warm wishes for Shanah Tovah, a sweet and peaceful New Year to our community of NeshamaCast listeners! About our host:Rabbi Edward Bernstein, BCC, is the executive producer and host of NeshamaCast. He serves as Chaplain at Boca Raton Regional Hospital of Baptist Health South Florida. He is a member of the Board of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains. Prior to his chaplain career, he served as a pulpit rabbi in congregations in New Rochelle, NY; Beachwood, OH; and Boynton Beach, FL. He is also the host and producer of My Teacher Podcast: A Celebration of the People Who Shape Our Lives. NeshamaCast contributor Chaplain David Balto is a volunteer chaplain at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Western Correctional Insitution, Maryland's maximum security prison. He coordinated the annual National Bikur Cholim Conference. Support NeshamaCast and NAJC with a tax deductible donation to NAJC. For sponsorship opportunities as either an individual or institution, please write to Rabbi Ed Bernstein at NeshamaCast@gmail.com Thank you to Steve Lubetkin and Lubetkin Media Companies for producing this episode. Transcripts for this episode and other episodes of NeshamaCast are available at NeshamaCast.simplecast.com and are typically posted one week after an episode first airs. Theme Music is “A Niggun For Ki Anu Amecha,” written and performed by Reb-Cantor Lisa Levine. Please help others find the show by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or other podcast providers. We welcome comments and suggestions for future programming at NeshamaCast@gmail.com. And be sure to follow NAJC on Facebook to learn more about Jewish spiritual care happening in our communities.

Rabbi Gabe Kretzmer Seed serves as a Jewish chaplain in the New York City Department of Correction where he provides religious services and spiritual support primarily for Jewish inmates. He also teaches and tutors for children and adults in the community, and provides research support for a number of Jewish Studies scholars, including as a research assistant to Rabbi Irving Greenberg for his acclaimed book "The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism."  Rabbi Kretzmer Seed has Rabbinic Ordination from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and also received BA and MA degrees from The Jewish Theological Seminary – JTS—where he focused on Talmud and Midrash. Following ordination, Rabbi Kretzmer Seed completed a CPE residency at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in Manhattan, where he worked in the hospital's palliative care, oncology and psychiatric units.Rabbi Mia Simring was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary, in her native New York City. She also holds a certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has focused her rabbinic work on chaplaincy in hospitals, long term care facilities, and now, correctional facilities. She is currently serving as a Jewish Chaplain for the New York City Department of Correction, working with both pre- and post-trial detainees. Prior to her rabbinical studies, she received an undergraduate degree in East Asian Studies from Brown University, worked in Japan, and then in the Japanese Art Department at Christie's NY. Read more about her here. In the discussion, Rabbi Gabe mentions "To Walk in God's Ways," by Rabbi Joe Ozarowski, who appears on NeshamaCast, Episode 1. Rabbi Gabe also mentions his mentor, Rabbi Jo Hirschmann, BCC, who is the co-author, with Rabbi Nancy Wiener, of "Maps and Meaning: Levitical Models for Contemporary Care." This book was discussed with Rabbi Nancy Wiener on NeshamaCast, Episode 8.The story Rabbi Gabe shares in this interview of being physically assaulted appears in the book "Rikers: An Oral History," by Graham Rayman and Reuven Blau. Talmudic text discussed in interview: Ein havush matir atzmo mibeit ha'asurim--"A person in prison cannot free himself," From Tractate Berakhot 5b. Hebrew and Technical Terms: Ashrei, literally, "Happy are those," from Psalms 84:5; this verse recurs frequently in Jewish liturgy as a prelude to Psalm 145. Eliyahu HaNavi—Elijah the Prophet, regarded in Jewish tradition as the one who will herald the coming of the MessiahGet--Jewish writ of divorce, traditionally given from the husband to the wife to end the marriage. An ongoing struggle in traditional Jewish communities is the plight of Agunot (literally, "chained"), women whose marriages have ended for all practical reasons but have not received a Get from the husband to formally end the marriage, the receipt of which is necessary in order to marry someone else. Reference is made in the interview to: ORA--Organization for the Resolution of Agunot. Ha Lachma Anya--From the Passover Haggadah: "This is the bread of affliction that our ancestors ate in Egypt..."Had Gadya—literally, “One Little Goat,” the final hymn in the traditional Seder.Halakhah--Jewish law, as derived from Rabbinic Jewish tradition in the Talmud and later Jewish codes. Halakhically--a Hebrew-English adverb referring to actions done according to Halakhah, or Jewish law. Hashgacha-Kosher supervisionHIPAA--the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act protects patient privacy in the American heath care system. It generally does not apply to the prison and jail systems.Humash--A volume comprising the five books of the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and DeuteronomyKehillah--Community, usually referring to a synagogue community. Midrash (plural: Midrashim)--a homiletical interpretation of Biblical scripture, usually referring to the Rabbinic body of literature known as THE Midrash, compiled by Rabbis over the first millennium of the common era, often reflecting ancient oral interpretations of Biblical text.Moshiach-the MessiahMotzi—The blessing over bread, traditionally said whenever eating bread but most commonly said over full loaf of bread or matzah at a Sabbath or holiday meal. Parashah--The weekly portion of the Torah/Pentateuch that is read aloud in synagogue. Sh'ma--The Jewish declaration of faith from Deuteronomy 6:4, recited morning and evening in daily liturgy. Shul--A common term for synagogueSiddur--Jewish prayer bookTeshuvah--Repentance.Tfillot--plural for T'fillah, Jewish prayer Jewish Chaplains: Register for the NAJC 2025 Conference in Skokie, IL, May 11-14, 2025.  Watch this video to learn more.  About our host:Rabbi Edward Bernstein, BCC, is the producer and host of NeshamaCast. He serves as Chaplain at Boca Raton Regional Hospital of Baptist Health South Florida. He is a member of the Board of Neshama: Association of Jewish Chaplains. Prior to his chaplain career, he served as a pulpit rabbi in congregations in New Rochelle, NY; Beachwood, OH; and Boynton Beach, FL. He is also the host and producer of My Teacher Podcast: A Celebration of the People Who Shape Our Lives. NeshamaCast contributor Rabbi Katja Vehlow was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and is Director of Jewish Life at Fordham University. She trained as a chaplain at Moses Maimonides Medical Center in New York. Previously, she served as Associate Professor of Religious Studies at University of South Carolina. A native German speaker, she is planning a forthcoming German-language podcast on the weekly Torah portion with a focus on pastoral care. NeshamaCast contributor Chaplain David Balto is a volunteer chaplain at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. and Western Correctional Insitution, Maryland's maximum security prison. He coordinated the annual National Bikur Cholim Conference. Support NeshamaCast and NAJC with a tax deductible donation to NAJC. Transcripts for this episode and other episodes of NeshamaCast are available at NeshamaCast.simplecast.com and are typically posted one week after an episode first airs. Theme Music is “A Niggun For Ki Anu Amecha,” written and performed by Reb-Cantor Lisa Levine. Please help others find the show by rating and reviewing the show on Apple Podcasts or other podcast providers. We welcome comments and suggestions for future programming at NeshamaCast@gmail.com. And be sure to follow NAJC on Facebook to learn more about Jewish spiritual care happening in our communities.

Rabbi Mishael Zion comes from a Haggadah-filled home: he is co-author of A Night to Remember: The Haggadah of Contemporary Voices (2007) and The Israeli Haggadah (2024), together with his father Noam Zion, who is the author of A Different Night: The Family Participation Haggadah (Hartman, 1997). Mishael was ordained by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York, has served as co-Director and rabbi of the Bronfman Fellowships, and founded the Mandel Program for Leadership in Jewish Culture for Israeli Arts, Culture and Media leaders. He is also leader of the Klausner Minyan in Talpiot, Jerusalem, the neighborhood he was born in and in where his wife Elana, and their four daughters, live.

Episode 60 of What Gives? the Jewish philanthropy podcast from Jewish Funders Network, hosted by JFN President and CEO Andrés Spokoiny. In this episode, we explore the power of dialogue and the transformative potential of Jewish study across ideological and denominational lines. Joining today are author, journalist, and podcast returnee Abigail Pogrebin, and Rabbi Dov Linzer, President and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah. Together, they co-authored It Takes Two to Torah: An Orthodox Rabbi and Reform Journalist Discuss and Debate Their Way Through the Five Books of Moses. We discuss how their partnership has navigated complex questions of pluralism, Jewish continuity, and the enduring significance of Torah in modern Jewish life. This thought-provoking conversation delves into bridging divides, grappling with sacred text, and modeling how Torah study can unite us in a polarized world. Take a listen. 

Rabbi David Kasher asks just who is the villain in the Toldot story?Rabbi David Kasher is the Director of Hadar West Coast. After graduating from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, he served as Senior Jewish Educator at Berkeley Hillel, a part of the founding team at Kevah, and Associate Rabbi at IKAR. Rabbi Kasher completed a translation of Avot d'Rabbi Natan for Sefaria and is the author of ParshaNut: 54 Journeys into the World of Torah Commentary.

This lively discussion features Orthodox Rabbi Dov Linzer and journalist Abigail Pogrebin. It is moderated by Rabbi Adam Kligfeld. Abigail Pogrebin is the author of the National Jewish Book Award finalist My Jewish Year: 18 Holidays, One Wondering Jew” and “Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish”. She's written for The Atlantic, the Forward, and Tablet, and moderates public conversations for The Streicker Center and the Jewish Broadcasting Service. Rabbi Dov Linzer is the President and Rosh HaYeshiva (Rabbinic Head) of Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, an Orthodox rabbinical school and Torah center, which promotes a more open and inclusive Orthodoxy. He has written for the Forward, Tablet, and The New York Times, and hosted highly popular Torah podcasts. The discussion took place at Temple Beth Am Los Angeles on November 7, 2024.

IntroductionHaving previously welcomed Rabbi Dr. Phil Lieberman to The Jewish Drinking Show for the geonic terms for alcoholic beverages, we welcome him back for the 160th episode of the show to discuss wine, drinking, and drunkenness in Maimonides' Guide for the Perplexed.Biography of GuestRabbi Dr. Lieberman is a social, economic, and legal historian of the Jews of the medieval Islamic world. He holds a BA (with distinction in economics) from the University of Washington, a MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, a MA in Talmud and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a MA and PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University, and Semikha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.He is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Law, Associate Professor and Chair of Classical and Mediterranean Studies, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Affiliated Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and History, at Vanderbilt University. Phil is currently on military leave and serves as Associate Professor in the Department of History at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.  Phil also serves the US Navy Reserve as a chaplain and was mobilized to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, where he served as Command Chaplain. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in August 2023 and is the ranking Jewish chaplain in the Department of the Navy.His 2014 book, The Business of Identity: Jews, Muslims, and Economic Life in Medieval Egypt (Stanford University Press) was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. His latest book is The Fate of the Jews in the Early Islamic Middle East (2022).  In the first half of 2024, his translation with Lenn Goodman (also of Vanderbilt) of Maimonides' 12th century philosophical classic The Guide to the Perplexed was published by Stanford University Press.Phil lives with his wife, the amazing Dr. Yedida Eisenstat, his four children, and a wild Portuguese Water Dog named Argos in Nashville.Support the showThank you for listening!If you have any questions, suggestions, or more, feel free to reach out at Drew@JewishDrinking.coml'chaim!

In this Z3 Podcast episode, Rabbi Amitai Fraiman, our host and head of Z3, talks with Rabbi Dr Shmuly Yanklowitz about the state of American Jewry in light of the October 7th massacre and the ensuing war. They talk about difficult moments and the most pressing issues facing humanity both locally and globally in the wake of the war, as well as touching on themes of universal humanity, how to find allyship, feelings of abandonment by the non-Jewish world, as well as how to find a sense of security and rootedness in Jewish identity. Rabbi Yanklowitz received a Masters from Harvard University, a Masters from Yeshiva University, and his Doctorate from Columbia University. He was ordained as a rabbi by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, along with 2 private ordinations in Israel. He serves as the President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash (a global Jewish learning and action center). He has twice been named one of America's Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews and one of The Most Inspiring Rabbis in America. Rabbi Yanklowitz is the author of 23 books on Jewish ethics and his writings have appeared in outlets as diverse as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Atlantic among many other secular and religious publications. He has served as speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and a Rothschild Fellow in Cambridge, UK. Connect with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz here: Facebook - facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz Instagram - @rabbishmuly Twitter - @RavShmuly Follow Z3 here: Instagram - instagram.com/z3project/ TikTok - tiktok.com/@z3project LinkedIn- linkedin.com/company/z3-project Facebook - facebook.com/Z3Project/ Twitter - twitter.com/Z3_Project Website - z3project.org/

IntroductionHaving previously published an episode concerning Geonic literature, for the 136th episode of The Jewish Drinking Show, we take a step back and consider terms for beverages in literature of the Geonic rabbis. We welcome first-time guest, Rabbi Dr. Phil Lieberman for this episode.Biography of GuestPhil Lieberman is a social, economic, and legal historian of the Jews of the medieval Islamic world. He holds a BA (with distinction in economics) from the University of Washington, a MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics, a MA in Talmud and Rabbinic Ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a MA and PhD in Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University, and Semikha from Yeshivat Chovevei Torah.He is Associate Professor of Jewish Studies and Law, Associate Professor and Chair of Classical and Mediterranean Studies, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Affiliated Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and History, at Vanderbilt University. His 2014 book, The Business of Identity: Jews, Muslims, and Economic Life in Medieval Egypt (Stanford University Press) was a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award. Phil also serves the US Navy Reserve as a chaplain.Phil lives with his wife, the amazing Dr. Yedida Eisenstat, his four children, and a wild Portuguese Water Dog named Argos in Nashville.Support the showThank you for listening!If you have any questions, suggestions, or more, feel free to reach out at Drew@JewishDrinking.coml'chaim!

Rabbi Jonathan Duker  grew up near Philadelphia, attended Yehivat Reishit Yerushalayim in the Old City of Jerusalem, earned his BA and MA from Yeshiva University, was ordained as rabbi by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York. In 2004 he emigrated to Israel and subsequently received a degree in Education from Herzog College. He currently serves as an Israel Studies Educator at the Alexander Muss High School in Israel, Rabbinic Guide for Camp Yavneh in New Hampshire, and volunteers for the Jewish Marriage department for the Tzohar Rabbinical Organization. Rabbi Duker lives in Beit Shemesh with his wife Susan and their 4 children. He the author of The Spirits Behind the Law: The Talmudic Scholars (2007, Urim Publications) as well as other Talmud based writing. We started our dialogue by familiarizing us with the terms Talmud and Midrash since in the introduction to his book, Jon states that the scholars of the Talmud and Midrash had an immeasurable impact on Judaism.  Jon provides a detailed description of the work that went into writing a biography of the 15 scholars he chose for his book. The Talmud is 2,000 pages long and written in Arameic. It contains a hodgepodge of commentaries on observance, hygiene, legal issues, marriage and even jokes. There are discussions of discussions of discussions. There is no punctuation and often no reference as to who is being quoted. So, his book represents a Herculien achievement.Rabbi Akiba, originally a simple shepherd, attended school with his son and became one of the foremost Rabbis of antiquity. As an outsider coming to it late in the game, he had something to contribute that the establishment could not.We also learn that a lot of Jewish ideas spread to much of the world through the teachings of Jesus and Mohamed.Talking about the different way men and women approach the study of Talmud. Jon tells me that there has been a sociological study done recently about women's Talmud study. The finding was that when men are reading the text together, and they're difficult texts, so you have to really parse out the words, they tend to be more competitive with one another, while women, when they're studying together tend to be more collaborative. Jon's own experience supports these findings.Jon also teaches Jewish history to students visiting Israel students from outside of Israel. It's a combination of classroom learning, and on site learning. They visit  all sorts of archaeological sites and historical sites, and teach them about the story of the Jewish people. A component of this program is to take certain groups to Poland as there was a lot of Jewish life in Poland, before ghettoes, concentration and extermination camps. I ask him, “How do you keep your face in a benevolent God after Auschwitz?” Hear his most illuminating answer.My next guest will  be Dr. Dean Radin, Chief Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences founded by Astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell 50 years ago after the Apollo-14 mission. We shall explore with him consciousness, “presentiment” and psychic espionage and related subjects.If you liked this podcast please tell your friends about it, subscribe to this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and/or write a brief note on apple podcasts, check out my blogs on Psychology Today at https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/contributors/thomas-r-verny-md

Rabbi Michael Beyo and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk with Rabbi Ysoscher Katz about leaving Orthodox communities and navigating the contemporary world.Rabbi Ysoscher Katz is the Chair of the Talmud department at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah and the past Senior Rabbi of the Prospect Heights Shul. He studied at the Satmar, Brisk, and Beit Yosef Navaradok yeshivot. Receiving his smicha shortly after high school, R. Katz has taught Talmud and halakhah at a wide array of institutions. For nine years, he delivered a daily daf yomi shiur- twice a day in Borough Park- attended by many. During the past years, he has taught weekly Jewish thought and Talmud classes for professionals on the Upper East Side and Park Slope, and at the Skirball Center for adult education. A graduate of HaSha'ar's educators program, he also worked as the Judaic studies coordinator for the innovative Luria school, and taught at Ma'ayanot, SAR, and Ramaz High Schools. In addition, he has directed the Lindenbaum Center for Modern Orthodox Halakhah, composed responsa on vital contemporary halakhic issues, and writes extensively on matters pertaining to Jewish society for publications including the Forward, Jerusalem Post, Makor Rishon, and the Times of Israel. He lectures widely, most recently in Jerusalem, Melbourne, Zurich, and LA, and has been a visiting scholar at Jofa, Eshel, Pearlstone and Limmud.Conversation with the Rabbi is a project of the East Valley Jewish Community Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, neighborhood organization that has served individuals and families inclusive of all races, religions, and cultures since 1972. Visit us online at https://www.evjcc.org The Conversation with the Rabbi podcast is supported by a grant from Arizona Humanities, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act.The show is recorded and produced in the studio of PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Phoenix, Arizona. Learn more at https://phx.fm

Rabbi Yanklowitz has twice been named one of America's Top Rabbis by Newsweek and has been named by The Forward as one of the 50 most influential Jews and one of The Most Inspiring Rabbis in America. Rabbi Yanklowitz is the author of twenty books on Jewish ethics.  His writings have appeared in outlets as diverse as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and the Atlantic among many other secular and religious publications. He has served as a speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland and was a Rothschild Fellow in Cambridge, UK. He is the President & Dean of Valley Beit Midrash, a global Jewish learning and action center. He is also the President of Shamayim V'Aretz a Jewish Animal Advocacy nonprofit organization that offers programs, campaigns, and educational opportunities to teach the Jewish community about animal advocacy and veganism.  As a global social justice educator, Rabbi Yanklowitz has volunteered, taught, and staffed missions on five continents including in Israel, Ghana, India, France, Thailand, El Salvador, Britain, Senegal, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, Argentina, South Africa and Haiti. Rabbi Yanklowitz received a Masters from Harvard University, a Masters from Yeshiva University, and his Doctorate from Columbia University. He was ordained as a rabbi by Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, along with 2 private ordinations in Israel. He, his wife Shoshana, and their four children live in Scottsdale, Arizona. They are also foster parents. To mark our show's 10th anniversary, we're featuring a special series – a “one way ticket to optimal mental, physical and spiritual well-being”. Rabbi Yanklowitz joins us on this episode to talk about faith, spirituality, empathy, veganism, organ donations, and responding to the war in Ukraine. Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz is just one of the engaging personalities featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back. Their destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind. Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Former Senator, Joe Lieberman; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, intellectuals, etc.

Megilah 32 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 31 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 30 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 27 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 26b - 27a (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 26 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 24 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 20 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 19 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 18 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 17b - 18a (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 16b - 17a (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 15b - 16a (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 12 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 11 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 06b - 07a (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 05 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 05 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 04 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 04 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 03 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Megilah 03 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 23 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 22 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 21 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 20 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 19 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 18 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 16 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 15 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 14 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 13 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 13b - 14 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 12 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 11 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 09 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

Ta'anit 08 (5782) by Rabbi Dov Linzer, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah

As I've mentioned before, I teach a 4th grade Religious School class for a Reform Temple on the Upper West Side. Since I started, I've realized that I view all of Jewish life through the lens of, “How can I make my 4th graders care about this?” I feel an absolutely desperate desire to make the students in my class feel any sort of strong feelings about their Judaism. Before I started this, when I was experiencing Jewish holidays, I just needed to make sure *I* connected to it, but now it's a different level. I also understand this is how *any* educator feels about their students — “How do I transmit this effectively?” This idea connects both to this week's parsha and to the holiday of Pesach (Passover) that starts this Saturday. So this week's parsha is Tzav, where we learn more about the korbanot (sacrifices) in the Mishkan in the desert. Something mentioned earlier in the parsha is the command that the fire on the altar should be kept burning always, an Esh Tamid - אש תמיד (eternal fire). Not to be confused, of course, with the Ner Tamid - נר תמיד (eternal light), the light that is to kept burning in front of the Aron HaKodesh, the Holy Ark in the Beit HaMikdash (the Holy Temple). The fact that there are 2 different eternal flames that must be differentiated emphasizes the point I'm making — why can't we can't stop talking about continuity? Something I listened to in the beginning of writing my weekly emails was a podcast produced by Tablet magazine, called Parsha in Progress. It ran until this past year every-other-week, hosted by a secular Jewish writer named Abigail Pogrebin and the president of the Open Orthodox yeshiva, Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, Rabbi Dov Linzer. The whole premise is “two different Jews talking about the same Torah,” which is a truly fantastic premise. The Parsha in Progress episode about this week's parsha, Tzav, from last year (2020 / 5780), focuses on the idea of the Esh Tamid in the context of sacrifices. Abigail mentions that the message she takes from the Esh Tamid is that Jewish continuity is a huge deal. That our existence, like the Esh Tamid, is something that should be cared for and kept alight. While he agrees that the sentiment is important, Rabbi Linzer doesn't agree that it should be so central. He explains that continuity for continuity's sake doesn't do anything for him. Continuity because Judaism is a beautiful, meaningful way to live your life is something else. The message of their short conversation is: continuity for continuity's sake isn't enough. Pesach (Passover) begins this coming Saturday night. Pesach is when we celebrate our Exodus from Egypt, or Yetziat Mitzrayim, after over 200 years of slavery. The central events in our modern-day Pesach are the 2 seders (ordered meals) that take place on the first 2 nights of the holiday (or only 1 seder on 1 night if you live in Israel). For full text, email me at shirajkaplan@gmail.com or join my email list here. opening theme: reCreation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/shira-kaplan/support