Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally

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Va’etchanan Aug 06, 2025

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In this week’s ⁠parsha⁠, Moses pleads with God to enter the land of Israel and is told no. Instead, he turns to the people, delivering some of the most iconic words in the Torah: the Ten Commandments, the Shema, the Ve’ahavta; words that shape Jewish identity across generations. But what happens when those words are forgotten?

As we move from Tisha B’Av to Tu B’Av, from destruction to love, what kind of Jewish memory are we rebuilding?

Tune in to find out.

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Devarim Jul 30, 2025

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In this week’s parsha, we begin the book of Devarim, Moses’ final words to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land. After four books of epic events, this one slows down. No plagues, no miracles, just a speech. But it’s a speech that matters. Because before a people can move forward, they have to remember where they’ve been. Devarim is a reminder that the most powerful tool a nation has isn’t its army or its land. It’s its story. As we enter the Shabbat of vision, what kind of future does this moment dare the Jewish people to imagine?

Tune in to find out.

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Matot-Masei Jul 23, 2025

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This week's parsha opens with what looks like just a long list—42 places the Israelites traveled through on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. But those stops aren’t just historical footnotes. They’re reminders that every leg of the journey matters. As Jews, we’re always walking, always evolving. Mas’ei asks us to look back at our own paths and ask: What have I learned? What was the purpose of that detour, that delay, that disaster? Can the act of remembering become its own kind of movement? Tune in to find out.

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Pinchas Jul 16, 2025

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In this week's parsha, we watch as Moshe’s leadership begins to pass to the next generation. He won’t enter the land of Israel with the people he led out of slavery, but his story isn’t a failure. It’s a reminder that sometimes, we play a vital role in a journey we’ll never see completed. What does it mean to be part of a story bigger than yourself? Tune in to find out.

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Balak Jul 09, 2025

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In this week’s parsha, Balak hires the prophet Bilam to curse the Israelites. But every time he opens his mouth, blessings come out instead. From these unexpected prophecies, we get some of our most enduring ideas, like the image of Israel rising “like a lion,” and the quiet holiness of privacy ("How good are your tents, O Jacob").

Thousands of years later, the contrast still feels familiar—between those who build and those who destroy, between the noise of social media and the sanctity of a home with the front door closed.

What does it mean to live as a blessing even when others root for your failure? Tune in to find out.

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Chukat Jul 02, 2025

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In this week's parsha, Miriam and Aharon die, and Moshe learns he won’t enter the land either. It’s a moment of grief, transition, and disorientation. But even as leaders pass, the Mishkan remains as the spiritual center that holds the people together.

This week, as we mark the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s yahrzeit, we’re reminded that true leadership leaves a lasting imprint. How do you stay grounded when everything else shifts? Tune in to find out.

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Korach Jun 24, 2025

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On this week’s parsha, we meet Korach, who challenges Moshe’s leadership and Aaron’s priesthood, arguing that the entire nation is holy. But Rav Sivan Rahav-Meir reminds us that holiness doesn’t mean sameness—and that dissatisfaction with your role in life can quickly turn destructive. What do you do when you feel stuck—or are you never really stuck at all? Tune in to find out.

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Sh’lach Jun 18, 2025

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In this week’s parsha, Moses sends twelve spies into the land of Israel. Ten return with fear and doubt; only two return with faith. The Israelites, overwhelmed by the giants they imagine, choose fear and are condemned to wander the desert for forty years. But the parsha isn’t just about the past. It's about now. Who are we listening to today? The fearful majority or the faithful few? Are we grasshoppers in our own eyes or are we rising lions? Tune in to find out.

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Beha’alotcha Jun 11, 2025

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This week's parsha opens with a command to Aharon: light the lamps of the menorah until the flame rises on its own. But this parsha isn’t just about lighting candles—it’s about raising people up, carrying light through darkness, and transforming inspiration into lasting action. What does it really mean to carry the light forward beyond yourself? Listen to find out.

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Naso Jun 04, 2025

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In this week’s parsha, the after the Israelites have beencounted, we learn about the kohanim and their responsibilities . We then see a specific explanation about offerings given by each of the twelve tribes.What can this parsha tell us about the importance of each individual, even when taking a selfie? Listen and find out.

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Sivan Says: Taking the Torah Personally

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