Episodios

  • Parshat Tazria-Metzora: The Power of Perspective

    Parshat Tazria-Metzora: The Power of Perspective
    May 2 2025
    📖 Parshat Tazria-Metzora This Week: Have you noticed how two people can experience the same event yet walk away with completely different perspectives? In this week's double portion, the word 'nega' (נֶגַע) or 'affliction' appears repeatedly. Remarkably, these same Hebrew letters rearranged spell 'oneg' (עֹנֶג), 'delight' or 'pleasure.' The only difference? The placement of the letter 'ayin' (ע) means 'eye.' Where we choose to place our vision and perspective determines whether we experience life's challenges as afflictions or opportunities for joy. The world doesn't just happen to us; we actively interpret it. How will you position your 'ayin' this week? Shabbat Shalom. 👁️

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    1 m
  • Why Jews Have Wires Across Streets: The Mystery of the Eruv Explained

    Why Jews Have Wires Across Streets: The Mystery of the Eruv Explained
    Apr 30 2025
    In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I unravel the mystery behind those fishing wire-like strings that hang across streets in Jewish neighborhoods. These strings, an eruv, serve as a ritual boundary that transforms public areas into a unified domain for Sabbath observance. I explain how Jewish law prohibits carrying objects between public and private domains on Shabbat, and how the eruv creates a symbolic enclosure that allows observant Jews to carry essential items (like house keys or push strollers) on the Sabbath. Beyond its practical function, I discuss how the eruv historically helped build strong Jewish communities by encouraging Jews to live near one another. This traditional practice represents both religious observance and community cohesion, though I note how changing observance patterns have affected this community-building aspect in modern times.


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    6 m
  • Parshat Shmini: The Power of Silence

    Parshat Shmini: The Power of Silence
    Apr 25 2025
    📖 Parshat Shmini This Week: After the unimaginable loss of his sons, the Torah simply states 'vayidom Aharon' (וַיִּדֹּם אַהֲרֹן)—'and Aaron was silent.' Sometimes in our deepest pain, words cannot express what we feel. As we support loved ones through difficult times, remember that just being present—sitting beside someone in their silence—can be the most profound expression of love. Not every hurt needs immediate words; sometimes what's needed most is simply our quiet presence. Shabbat Shalom. 🤍

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    1 m
  • Shabbos Kestenbaum: Fighting Antisemitism

    Shabbos Kestenbaum: Fighting Antisemitism
    Apr 23 2025
    🗳️ IMPORTANT: VOTE NOW for student representation at the World Zionist Congress: http://aish.com/vote/RabbiMenachemLehrfield

    Welcome to our channel, where we spotlight voices making a difference in the Jewish community. In this powerful talk, Harvard Divinity School graduate Shabbos Kestenbaum shares his journey as the sole remaining plaintiff in a landmark civil rights lawsuit against Harvard University over antisemitism on campus.

    Shabbos discusses:
    • Why he refused to settle when other plaintiffs did
    • The troubling rise of antisemitism on elite campuses
    • His advice for Jewish high school students considering college
    • The importance of Jewish education and youth empowerment🗳️
    • Support Jewish student leaders by voting in the World Zionist Congress elections (only happens once every 5 years!): http://aish.com/vote/RabbiMenachemLehrfield

    • Select Slate #10 (AISH)


    Shabbos challenges us to reconsider what institutions truly deserve our support and argues that the Jewish community should focus on building stronger Jewish identities rather than fighting for acceptance at universities that have demonstrated hostility toward Jewish students.
    This talk was recorded live at AISH CENTER in Boulder, Colorado, on April 23, 2025.

    Keep the conversation going! If you have questions or ideas about Jewish success and impact

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    Help others discover Zero Percent! Please leave us a five-star review and share it with friends who might find this podcast enlightening.

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    Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
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    42 m
  • Parshat Shvi'i shel Pesach: Taking the First Step

    Parshat Shvi'i shel Pesach: Taking the First Step
    Apr 18 2025
    📖 Shvi'i shel Pesach This Week: When trapped between the Egyptian army and the sea, God told the Israelites something unexpected: 'Don't pray, move forward!' The Midrash teaches us that the sea finally split only when Nachshon ben Aminadav waded into the water up to his nostrils. Faith isn't just about prayer; it's about taking that first brave step, even when the way forward seems impossible. God promises to be with us, but we must initiate the journey. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach! 🌊

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    Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
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    1 m
  • Why Jews Don't Count People: Biblical Origins and Human Dignity

    Why Jews Don't Count People: Biblical Origins and Human Dignity
    Apr 16 2025
    In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I continue our exploration of why Jewish tradition avoids directly counting people. Tracing this practice back to biblical times, I explain how even during desert censuses, Jews were counted indirectly through coin contributions. I share the cautionary tale from the Book of Samuel where King David's census led to calamity, and draw on commentaries from Rambam and Rashi about the "evil eye." More profoundly, I suggest that assigning numbers to people diminishes their infinite value and human dignity a principle tragically illustrated by the Nazi practice of tattooing numbers on Holocaust victims. Unlike modern censuses that reduce people to statistics, Jewish tradition recognizes that each person counts without being reduced to a mere number. Through creative counting methods like using verses or counting shoes, Judaism upholds human dignity while still gathering necessary information.


    Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,
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    Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟
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    2 m
  • Parshat Tzav: The Fresh Start Effect

    Parshat Tzav: The Fresh Start Effect
    Apr 11 2025
    📖 Parshat Tzav This Week: Before beginning each day's service, the Kohanim had first to remove yesterday's ashes from the altar. What a powerful metaphor! Like Professor Milkman's 'fresh start effect,' we don't need to wait for special occasions to begin anew. Every morning allows us to clear away yesterday's residue and approach life with renewed purpose. The key to transformation isn't finding the perfect moment, but recognizing that each day brings its sacred opportunity. Shabbat Shalom. 🔥

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    Subscribe to "JOI to the World" to access all our podcasts, including Yada Yada Yiddish, Kids Say the Deepest Things, Reconnect, and Dear Rabbi.

    Join us as we uncover the treasures in our backyard and explore what makes the Jewish people extraordinary! 🕎📚🎙️
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    1 m
  • Why Jews Don't Count People

    Why Jews Don't Count People
    Apr 9 2025
    In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I explore the curious ritual a viewer observed when their rabbi was pointing at congregants while saying seemingly random Hebrew words before a Kaddish service. I explain that this was likely the rabbi counting to ensure there was a minyan (ten adults) present for prayer, but doing so indirectly. Since Jewish tradition discourages counting people directly, rabbis often use verses with exactly ten words, assigning one word per person rather than numbers. I share that some rabbis use specific Hebrew verses, while I prefer using "to be or not to be, that is the question," which conveniently has ten words. I hint at the deeper reason behind this counting prohibition, teasing that we might explore this fascinating topic in a future episode.

    Keep the questions coming! If you have a burning question about Judaism,
    Email us at Dearrabbi@Joidenver.com📧

    Tune in to Dear Rabbi and uncover the wisdom behind Jewish customs and laws. 🎙️🌟
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    Más Menos
    2 m
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