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The Thinking Jew Podcast discusses thought provoking insights on topics of Judaism and Torah. Join Rabbi Moshe as he explores the parsha, holidays, Jewish law and philosophy and you’re sure to gain a deeper Torah perspective for the modern world.
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For question, comments or future topic requests, email me at thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Have you ever walked into a kitchen on Pesach and thought you're on a spaceship? Ever wondered why and how to properly clean your house from Chametz? Or even what chametz is?
Join me as we go through the prohibitions of Chametz (leavened bread) on Pesach and how to prepare your house properly (read: create your Pesach Zone) for the upcoming holiday of Passover!
Happy Listening!
Rabbi Moshe
thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Purim and Pesach seem like such different holidays. One celebrates G-d's explicit overriding nature with the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt and the other celebrates G-d functioning from behind the curtain, from within nature. Yet, we find multiple examples in the writings of our sages that connect these two holidays. What's the commonality?
Join me as we uncover many deep Jewish philosophies such as: the Jewish vs. the secular perspective on time, the Jewish vs. the perspective on the calendar and the role of G-d in miracles.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or feedback - thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy Listening!
Rabbi Moshe
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Sources: Taanis 29a and Rashi - https://www.sefaria.org/Taanit.29a.18?lang=bi&with=Rashi&lang2=en, Megila 6b - https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.6b.27?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en, Pesach Haggadah - https://www.sefaria.org/Pesach_Haggadah%2C_Magid%2C_First_Fruits_Declaration.18?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Isn't it shocking that a mere 40 days after experiencing the most personal and deep connection to G-d in the history of the world, the Sinai experience, they'd throw G-d aside for an idol? How do we make sense of this?
These Jews experienced the 10 plagues in Egypt and the splitting of the sea, they must've known that G-d wasn't going to come from the earrings that they took off of their wives? G-d wasn't a golden calf?
Join Rabbi Moshe as he suggests an understanding in this difficult chapter of Exodus, applying it back to our world today.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com.
Happy listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources: Exodus - https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.32?lang=bi&aliyot=0, Ramban's explanation - https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Exodus.32.1.1?lang=bi, Rav Hirsch on Exodus - https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Shemot/32.1#e0nf
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Why do we do so many unique actions on Purim? Why do we distribute money to poor? Food gifts to friends? Dress up in costumes? Hear the story of Esther twice? Drunken feast?
What is Purim really all about?
Join me as we uncover, through the verses in the Megila, the underlying theme of Jewish unity in the Purim story and how that plays out in the mitzvahs of Purim.
As always, if you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources:
Complete source sheet can be found here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/397522?lang=bi
Megilas Esther - https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.3.8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Gr'a on Esther (Hebrew only) - https://beta.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=39741&st=&pgnum=40,
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Did you ever wonder why almost half of the book of Exodus, which is described as the book of redemption, discusses the building of the Tabernacle? What's the Tabernacle's role in the Jewish people. Was it just a grand synagogue? A place to pray and serve G-d? Or did it have a higher function?
Join me as we discover the deeper role that the tabernacle played in the Jewish people, keeping them connected to Sinai, even after they travelled away. And, how even today we too can connect to that!
This podcast is dedicated in honor of my good friend and old chevrusa, Yosef Segal (not related :-) ). May the Torah study that results from it be a great merit for him and his beautiful family!
If you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources:
Full source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/397518?lang=bi
Ramban intro to Exodus https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Exodus%2C_Introduction.3?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Exodus 25:1 https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Exodus.25.1.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Rav Tzadok, Pri Tzadik, Bereishis - https://www.sefaria.org/Pri_Tzadik%2C_Bereshit.1.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Purim is rapidly approaching, and there are so many amazing lessons to glean from the Purim story.
Today, I focus on one of the less spoken about lessons; Haman's great flaw that brought about his demise, which paralleled the mistake that Adam made in the Garden of Eden. If we can learn from their mistake, we'll learn to appreciate all the good we have in our relationships, not hyper-focus on the small negative aspects and we'll build the most beautiful relationships we can possibly have.
As always, if you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy Listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources:
Full Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/397459
Chullin 139b - https://www.sefaria.org/Chullin.139b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Genesis ch. 3 - https://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.3.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Megilas Esther ch. 3 - https://www.sefaria.org/Esther.3.5?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Shaarei Teshuvah - https://www.sefaria.org/Shaarei_Teshuvah.1.18?lang=bi
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/
Do you ever feel restricted by all of the commandments that exist in Judaism?
Is the primary focus of Judaism supposed to be purely observance of the commandments or is that just a piece that fits into a higher calling?
Join me as we dive deep and reframe what the role of Mitzvahs is in Judaism.
If you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources:
Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/396482
Da'as Zekanim, Deuteronomy 9:16 https://www.sefaria.org/Daat_Zkenim_on_Deuteronomy.9.16.2?lang=bi&with=Deuteronomy&lang2=bi
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/
Did you know that there are 6 events that Jews are supposed to remember daily? Number 2 on the list, is remembering our ancestors standing at the foot of Mount Sinai. Why isn't the focus to remember receiving the Torah? Why is it to remember the standing at the Mountain?
What was actually the most crucial element of the Sinai experience?
Join me as we discover the deeper understanding of the Mount Sinai experience!
If you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Rabbi Moshe
Click here for the full source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/396468
Sources: Magen Avraham 60:2 - https://www.sefaria.org/Magen_Avraham.60.2?lang=bi, Mishnah Ta'anis - https://www.sefaria.org/Mishnah_Taanit.4.8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Does the Torah allow us to restrict individual rights for the betterment of society? Where do we draw the line between freedom and safety?
With three kids home in quarantine, having classmates who tested positive for Covid-19, I figured it's a good time to discuss the Torah's perspective on quarantine.
The Torah study that results from this podcast should be a merit for their classmates, as well as everyone who is ill and in need of a recovery.
Join me as we take a more analytical approach to find Torah sources on the topic of quarantine.
Happy listening!
Rabbi Moshe
Sources:
Full Source Sheet - https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/361107?lang=bi
Baba Kama 23a: https://www.sefaria.org/Bava_Kamma.23a.8?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Responsa Nodeh Bi'Yehuda, Vol. II, Yoreh Dei'ah, 210: https://beta.hebrewbooks.org/reader/reader.aspx?sfid=1447#p=221&fitMode=fitwidth&hlts=&ocr=, https://www.sefaria.org/Noda_BiYhudah_II%2C_Yoreh_Deah.210.9?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
Nishmas Kol Chai (Rav Chaim Falagi), Vol. II, Choshen Mishpat 49 (I have a copy (Hebrew only), email me if you'd like me to send it to you.
If you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://tinyurl.com/thethinkingjewpodcast
Tu Bi'Shevat is the Jewish holiday celebrating the New Years for the trees.
Why do we celebrate trees by eating fruit? Why don't we take branches or flowers into our homes?
Why does the Torah call children "fruit of the womb"? Why does Kabbalah call our world the "fruit of the spiritual world"?
What does a fruit represent on a deeper level in Jewish thought?
Join Rabbi Moshe on one of his favorite discussions, as we dive deep into the mystical concepts of fruit and our world.
If you have any questions, comments or topic requests, reach out to me at: thethinkingjewpodcast@gmail.com
Happy Listening!
Rabbi Moshe
To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/
Source Sheet can be accessed here: www.sefaria.org/sheets/361101
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