Why do I keep kosher? Why do any of us?

Why do I keep kosher—and why don’t so many Jews today?

In this episode of Torah from Boca, I share a story that says so much about modern Jewish life: a congregant once emailed me outraged that BaconFest was scheduled for Yom Kippur… because he wanted to go. It’s a funny moment—but also a real one.

We live in a culture that prizes indulgence and immediate satisfaction. Kashrut offers something radical in response: a spiritual discipline of restraint. In Parashat Shemini, we revisit the kosher laws—not as relics of the past, but as an invitation to a more mindful, ethical, and holy way of living.

I reflect on what happens when “because I said so” is God’s reason—and why that might be enough. We explore Adam and Eve’s vegetarianism, Noah’s concessions, the concept of basar ta’avah (meat of craving), and how what we consume shapes not just our bodies, but our souls.

This is a deep dive into kashrut—not as a diet, but as a daily practice of connection.

🎙️ Listen, reflect, and share if it speaks to you.

Check out my website: www.rabbidavidbaum.com for more Torah From Boca

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen college campuses across the country erupt with cries for “liberation.” The word is everywhere—but I’ve been asking myself: Liberation toward what? And according to whom?

In this episode of Torah from Boca, I’m sharing a sermon I gave on the 7th Day of Passover—one of our tradition’s most powerful moments of liberation. But in Judaism, liberation is never the end of the story. True freedom only begins when we receive revelation. Without moral grounding, “liberation” can turn into something dangerous—even destructive.

Drawing from Torah, the voices of the rabbis, and what’s happening right now on campuses like Columbia, I explore what it really means to be free—and why Jewish liberation must always be tied to covenant, values, and the sacred responsibilities that come with freedom.

If you’ve felt unsettled, confused, or even heartbroken by what you’re seeing unfold around us—this episode is for you.

Join me as we ask: Who are we serving when we cry out for freedom?

What does a small aleph in the Torah, the silence of a child at the Seder, and your Facebook feed have in common? In this episode, Rabbi Baum explores the power of silence in Jewish tradition—from the quiet humility of Moses to the child who does not know how to ask at Seder, to the challenge of raising thoughtful questions in a noisy world. As Passover approaches, discover how sacred silence might just be the invitation we need to deepen our conversations around the Seder table—and beyond.