Parsha Lab from Aleph Beta
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Parsha Lab from Aleph Beta
Podcast by Rabbi David Fohrman
Neueste Episoden
40 Episoden
3. The New Normal
We’re now several days into the new normal... except that the new normal changes every day.
In this episode, Rabbi Fohrman shares his tho...
2. Going Into Lockdown: A Conversation With Rabbi Rothwachs
On Thursday, the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County took the frightening step of closing all centers of community -- not only schools, but synagogues...
1. Aleph Beta Quarantined: An Introduction
No, this isn't Parsha Lab...it's a new podcast from Aleph Beta. Presenting: Aleph Beta Quarantined.
Every day, every hour, almost every m...
Parsha Lab Says - See You Soon!
You might have noticed that you haven’t heard a new episode in the last two weeks. Well, in this “mini” episode, we explain next steps for Parsha Lab....
Ep. 36 Parshat V'Zot Habracha: Moshe’s Final Farewell
In the Torah’s final parsha, Moshe is preparing to take leave of the nation he has been so devoted all of these years. He gives them blessings before...
Ep.35 Parshat Ha’azinu: Is This The Song of Doom?
In Parshat Ha’azinu, the Israelites receive a frightening prophetic “song” about their future failure to follow God’s will, and the punishment they re...
Ep.34 Parshat Vayeilech: What's Wrong With Moses’ Leadership?
Parshat Vayeilech records Moses’ farewell speech on the last day of his life. In the opening of this speech, Moses reminds the people that he won’t be...
Ep.33 Parshat Nitzavim: What Is the 'Hidden Sin' In This Week's Parsha?
Parshat Nitzavim states, “The hidden things are for God but the revealed things are for us,” which suggests perhaps that only God can punish for sins...
Ep.32 Parshat Ki Tavo: What Are Blessings And Curses, Really?
In Parshat Ki Tavo, the Israelites are told that when they enter the land they must publicly bless those who keep the commandments, and curse those wh...
Ep.31 Parshat Ki Teitzei: Remember Amalek; Don't Forget
This week’s parsha includes the commandment to wipe out the memory of Amalek, the nation who attacked the Israelites just weeks after the Exodus from...
Ep.30 Parshat Shoftim: What Does It Mean To Be A Fair Judge?
In Parshat Shoftim, we're given a detailed list of instructions as to how to establish a justice system. Yet there are seemingly random topics woven i...
Ep.29 Parshat Re’eh: How Does God Really Feel About Child Sacrifice?
In the beginning of Parshat Re’eh, the Torah warns not to follow other gods that "we don’t know." Idolatry is prohibited, so why does it matter whethe...
Ep.28 Parshat Eikev: Is this Another Akeidah?
In Parshat Eikev, Moshe is gearing up the people to enter the land of Israel. He’s laying out conditions of what God will expect, and what they can ex...
Ep.27 Parshat Va’etchanan: How Do We Manage The Influences Around Us?
In Parshat Va’etchanan, the Israelites are forbidden from intermarrying with the Canaanite nations when they enter the land of Israel. While the ratio...
Ep.26 Parshat Devarim: What Did The Spies Do Wrong?
We know God wasn't pleased with the spies. Due to their actions, an entire generation would die in the desert, never entering the Promised Land. But w...
Ep.25 Parshat Matot-Masei: The Hidden Story Of Brothers, Borders, And Moses’ Burial
In Parshat Matot-Masei, the Israelites are on the cusp of entering Israel, right on the Eastern side of the Jordan. But before they do, the tribes of...
Ep.24 Parshat Pinchas: How Is Land Ownership Connected To The Pesach Sheni Offering?
In Parshat Pinchas, we read about the daughters of Tzelaphchad, who sought to inherit their father’s land. God granted their request, and even codifie...
Ep.23 Parshat Balak: Why Weren't The Plagues Enough?
As the Israelites made their way towards the Promised Land, they encountered many nations -- Edomites, Canaanites, Amorites, Moabites -- who greeted t...
Ep.22 Parshat Chukat: Why Do We Need A Red Heifer?
In Parshat Chukat, we read the laws surrounding the Red Heifer — the rare cow whose ash is used to purify those who stood too close to a corpse. But w...
Ep 21. Parshat Korach: Where did The Rebellion Start?
In Parshat Korach, there’s a sudden rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Korach, the leader of the rebellion, argues that all Israelites are holy, not j...
Ep 20. Parshat Shelach: Spies. Conspiracies. And the Two Men Caught In The Middle — Sound Familiar?
In Parshat Shelach, we read the story of the spies who ventured to the land of Israel and brought back a false report to the Israelites. But there’s s...
Ep 19. Parshat Beha’alotecha: Is it the Beginning of the End?
In Parshat Beha’alotecha we complete the Mishkan story that started in the middle of Exodus and is completed all the way into this portion of Bamidbar...
Ep 18. Naso: What Are The Unique Laws of Sotah Really About?
Parshat Naso introduces us to one of the oddest laws in the Torah, the laws of the Sotah -- a woman suspected of adultery by her husband. If the woman...
Ep 17. Bamidbar: Is the “Book of Numbers” A Good Translation for “Bamidbar”?
Parshat Bamidbar is the first Parsha in the book of Bamidbar. Strangely enough, the names our Sages give to the Books of Torah often don’t line up wit...
Ep 16. Behar-Bechukotai: Shemittah, Yovel and… Mount Sinai?
This week’s double parsha, Behar-Bechokotai, focuses on the agricultural cycles of Shemittah and Yovel. Strangely enough, the language here carries ec...
Ep 15. Emor: What Does the Omer Offering Have To Do With the Jewish Holidays?
In Parshat Emor, we read through the laws and details of the Biblical holidays. But this section also includes a few other laws - like the Omer offeri...
Ep 14. Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: What Does Yom Kippur Have To Do With Megillat Esther?
In Acharei Mot, we learn about the priest’s Yom Kippur service in the Tabernacle. But there’s something very interesting about the language used to de...
Ep 13. Tazria-Metzora: What Does Childbirth Have In Common With Leprosy?
In this weeks double parsha, Tazria-Metzora, we learn about the different ways that one can became “tamei,” spiritually impure -- such as giving birth...
Ep 12. Shemini: What Does The Induction Ceremony For The Priests Have To Do With...Purim?
We learn in Shemini about the induction of Aaron and his sons into the priesthood. Interestingly, there are bunch of similarities - in language, and i...
Ep 11. Tzav: What Does The Mincha Offering Teach Us About Passover?
We learn in Tzav that one is not allowed to mix Chametz with the sacrificial Mincha offering. But what does the Mincha offering have to do with Chamet...
Ep 10. Vayikra: Is It More Than Just Laws About Korbanot?
We learn in Vayikra about the laws of the Korbanot — sacrifices to God. But there’s something very difficult about studying Vayikra. It can be incredi...
Ep 9. Vayakhel-Pekudei: What Do the Tabernacle and Creation Have In Common?
We learn in Vayakhel-Pekudei about the appointment of Betzalel as the architect of the Tabernacle. But there’s something very striking about the langu...
Ep 8. Ki Tisa: Why Would Anyone Want To Build a Golden Calf?
We learn in Parshat Ki Tisa about the infamous sin the Israelite’s committed by creating the Golden Calf. But there’s something very unclear about thi...
Ep7. Tetzaveh: What Do the Laws of Choshen Mishpat Teach Us About Our Relationship To God?
We learn in Parshat Tetzaveh about the specific laws relating to the Kohen Gadol’s Breastplate — the Choshen Mishpat. But why should we care about the...
Ep6. Terumah: What's So Special About The Tablets?
We learn in Parshat Terumah that the tablets of the 10 Commandments have a central place in the mishkan, the Tabernacle. But why? A clue might come fr...
Ep5. Mishpatim - The Ten Commandments… The Sequel?
This week, Imu guides Rabbi Fohrman into the myriad of laws of Mishpatim. He points out some subtle connections - both in theme, and in language, betw...
Ep4. Yitro: Fowl Play? The Significance of Birds in the Torah
This week, Rabbi Fohrman tests Imu - where do birds appear in the Torah? How do they connect to each other? Is there some sort of theme that connects...
Ep3. Beshalach - Why Is God Testing The Israelites?
When the people first enter the wilderness, God withholds water...to test the people? In fact, this idea of God "testing" the nation shows up in every...
Ep2. Bo - Arbeh the Plague…and Arbeh, the Blessing?
This week, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu do a deep dive into the plague of arbeh, locusts, in Parshat Bo. They ask, why does the Torah use language “eye” and...
Ep1. Va'era - What's With The Plagues?
This week, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu tackle Parshat Va'era and ask - are the plagues just arbitrary? Or do they mean something real, to the Israelite, the...