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PODCAST

Torah Cafe

A discussion on a topic from the week"s Parsha covering many important parts of Judaism that are not regularly addressed.

religion & spirituality judaism

All Episodes

00:58:04

When Fulfilling One Commandment Violates Another

Torah Cafe ·

2026/04/12

Sometimes, fulfilling one Torah commandment requires violating another. For example, if a baby is born on Shabbat, then the eighth day will be the following Shabbat. Circumcising the child violates the prohibition against drawing blood on Shabbat. What should you do?A fascinating discussion about what the Halacha (Torah law) tells us to do when fulfilling one commandment violates another.

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00:39:56

The prohibition of Kitnoyot on Passover

Torah Cafe ·

2026/04/05

The Torah prohibits us from eating or even owning Chametz, leavened grain products on Passover. However Ashkenazic Jews are careful not to eat any beans or legumes on the holiday. How did this custom begin? What is the reason for it? Why do many Saphardic Jews not keep it?A discussion about the laws of Passover and the development of the Kitniyot prohibition.(Please note, this was recorded over Zoom so the sound quality is weaker than normal)Have a Happy Passover!

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00:29:31

Don't Slow Down - Keep Growing

Torah Cafe ·

2026/03/29

As people age, they tend to slow down. In today's culture, people work for decades towards retirement when they can stop working altogether and just relax. The Rebbe, took a very different approach. He believed that as long as we are alive and have the capacity to work, we must continue working, never retiring or even slowing down. A fascinating discussion about the Rebbe's views on retirement and continued growth.

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00:46:15

Salt in Judaism

Torah Cafe ·

2026/03/15

Salt is a crucial mineral for human health and for nature. Salt also plays a prominent role in Judaism. We salt meat with salt. Salt was widely used in sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem. We dip our bread in salt. And the priestly covenant with G-d is described as a covenant of salt. A fascinating discussion about salt and the unique role it plays in Judaism.

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00:51:11

Finding the 10 Lost Tribes

Torah Cafe ·

2026/03/09

Jewish traditions teach that 10 of the 12 tribes were exiled from the Land of Israel more than 2,500 years ago and many think that they have since disappeared. For much of Jewish history, Jews and non-Jews have searched for the 10 Lost Tribes in various places, making amazing discoveries that lead to a fascinating story about the search for the lost tribes. A fascinating discussion about the historic search for the 10 Lost Tribes and the discoveries they led to. We've previously discussed what

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00:38:53

The Challenge of Assimilation

Torah Cafe ·

2026/03/01

Over our 3,300 year long history, we have lost more Jews to assimilation than to violence and persecution. Assimilation, rather than persecution, is then the biggest threat to the continuation of Judaism and the Jewish people. How can we counter assimilation and ensure the continuation of our people?

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01:08:57

Greeting the Shabbat

Torah Cafe ·

2026/02/22

Six days a week we work, eat, sleep, exercise and go about our daily lives. When Shabbat arrives, we pause to reconnect with the Creator. On Friday afternoon as the sun sets and Shabbat begins, we have a special mystical prayer called Kabbalat Shabbat, which includes Psalms, poems and study to greet the Shabbat Queen.What is the meaning of the Kabbalat Shabbat prayers? When did they start? And why do we refer to Shabbat as a queen?A fascinating discussion about Kabbalat Shabbat, the mystical service

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00:43:02

The Temple at Shilo

Torah Cafe ·

2026/02/15

Before the Holy Temple was built in Jerusalem, there was a Jewish Temple stood at Shilo for 369 years. The Temple at Shilo served Israel at the very beginning of our history in a period know as The Judges (Shoftim), a period we know little about.A fascinating discussion of what we know about the ancient Temple in Shilo.

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00:32:36

What does the Torah say about dogs?

Torah Cafe ·

2026/02/08

Dogs are mentioned twice in the torah, both times positively. However, they are not Kosher animals and there are also negative references to dogs in Jewish sources. Historically, Jews rarely owned dogs; however, some Jews throughout history did have dogs (mostly for protection) and today, many Jews have dogs as pets. What does the Torah and Jewish teachings say about dogs? Should Jews have dogs as pets? Do we view them positively or negatively?A fascinating discussion about Judaism's perspective

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00:51:48

Secrets of the 72-Word Name of G-d

Torah Cafe ·

2026/01/25

Kabbalah teaches that G-d uses various expressions to impact creation. These expressions sometimes come as Names of G-d. One of G-d's lesser known names, is a 72 word name that was invoked at the Splitting of the Sea and can be found alluded to in the Torah's description of the event.A fascinating discussion about the secrets of the 72-word name of G-d.Here is a link to the handout https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IS1UVj6F2tlVHgl2eEvmpDrH3WAuC8na/view?usp=sharing

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00:58:08

When Children Convert to Judaism

Torah Cafe ·

2026/01/19

When adults convert to Judaism, they must convert on their own volition with a commitment to fulfill all of the Torah's commandments that are applicable to them. However, children do not have the agency to choose to convert on their own nor can they be held to a commitment that they make. How then can we convert children to Judaism?A fascinating discussion about how children convert to Judaism.

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01:11:26

Philosemitism

Torah Cafe ·

2026/01/11

We hear a lot about antisemitism, the irrational, obsessive hatred of Jews. Yet is an important flipside to antisemitism - philosemitism, the irrational, obsessive love for Jews.We all know philosemitism - they are all around us and are a huge part of our country. There have been philosemites as long as there have been antisemites. Still, for some reason, philosemitism doesn't get the same acknowledgement or attention as antisemitism.A fascinating discussion about philosemitism, which will also

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00:35:09

When the Angel Attacked Moses

Torah Cafe ·

2026/01/04

One of the most cryptic stories in the Torah is when he is attacked by an angel on the way to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. Moses' wife Tziporah circumcised her son and the angel let go.A fascinating dive into the story of the angel attacking Moses.

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01:15:07

The Cairo Geniza

Torah Cafe ·

2025/12/28

The most important Jewish find in recent history was the Cairo Geniza, a massive trove of hundreds of thousands of ancient documents and books that entirely rewrote medieval Jewish and Middle Eastern history. A fascinating discussion about the exciting find and some of the amazing things we learned from it.

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00:47:56

The Mitzvah of Reciting Hallel

Torah Cafe ·

2025/12/21

On Jewish festivals, we have a Mitzvah to recite 6 chapters of Psalms expressing our thanks to G-d for the miracles He has performed for us. Reciting these Chapters is called Hallel - praise. A Chanukah related discussion about the Mitzvah of reciting Hallel.

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00:56:06

Bet Shamai and Bet Hillel

Torah Cafe ·

2025/12/14

Bet Shamai and Bet Hillel were two major Jewish schools in Jerusalem that lasted about 100 years from about 10 BCE to 70 CE. The schools were founded by two great Jewish leaders Hillel and Shamai. There were hundreds of debates of Jewish law between the two prominent schools. A fascinating discussion about Beit Shamai and Beit Hillel and their important contributions to Judaism and Jewish History.

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00:37:19

Why do Jews say Baruch Hashem?

Torah Cafe ·

2025/12/07

Jews have a tendency that whenever they speak, they regularly mention G-d or the common Hebrew word Hashem. Where does this come from? Why do we mention G-d so regularly and casually in our conversations?A fascinating conversation about the Jewish custom of regularly mentioning G-d.

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00:55:28

When Jacob Wrestled with an Angel

Torah Cafe ·

2025/11/30

In a cryptic story, the Torah tells us how Jacob found himself alone at night and found himself wrestling with a man who dislocated his thigh. Jacob refused to let the man go without a blessing and the man told him that his name will be changed from Jacob to Israel.Clearly this man was no ordinary man and the story has deeper meaning. Most commentaries assume this man was an angel. Who was this angel? Can a person really wrestle with an angel? What is the meaning of this fight and the dislocated

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00:46:26

Jews in the Roman Empire

Torah Cafe ·

2025/11/23

The Roman Empire in its different forms lasted for 1,000 years and had a big impact on Jews in our long history. At times the Romans were tolerant and even supportive of Jews at other times they were ruthless including in destroying the second Temple and ending Jewish independence in the land of Israel.Jewish tradition traces Romans back to Jacob's brother Esau who attempted to kill him.A fascinating relationship between Rome and the Jews.

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00:52:11

How did Jacob trick his father?

Torah Cafe ·

2025/11/16

In one of the most perplexing stories in the Torah, Isaac wanted to bless his older son Esau before his death. However, his younger son Jacob tricked his father into believing that he was Esau and blessing him instead. How was Jacob allowed to trick his father? Was it ethical for him to take the blessings meant for his brother?A fascinating class about how Jacob was able to trick his father.

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