Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 4 pages Length of audio: 14 minutes 36 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 7/4/25, titled: Chukas: A Maimonidean Explanation for Parah Adumah (from a Different Moshe) . Yes, even the red heifer has a reason. Rambam paves the way but stops short of delivering. Another Moshe offers a theory that might make Rambam say, "Eureka!" -----...
Jul 04, 2025•15 min•Season 21Ep. 4
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 7 minutes 54 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/26/25, titled: Korach: Three Types of Machlokess (or “How Korach Wasn’t as Bad as You Think”) We’re quick to condemn Korach. But what if his motives weren’t entirely evil? And what if that insight changes how we see machlokess in our own communities? ----- ...
Jun 27, 2025•9 min•Season 21Ep. 3
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 7 minutes 15 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/20/25, titled: Shelach: Rabbeinu Bachya on the Meraglim, Mishlei, and the Current War With Iran . I don't know who needs a Bitachon 101 (Trust in God) refresher course for this war with Iran, but Rabbeinu Bachya provides one in his intro to Parashas Shelach...
Jun 20, 2025•8 min•Season 21Ep. 2
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 5 pages Length of audio: 17 minutes Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/19/25, titled: The Potentially Problematic Line in Sheva Berachos (and What to Do About It) . The fourth of the Sheva Berachos is prone to misunderstanding. Abudarham warns it could lead to "severe heresy." Thankfully, there are at least three solutions. ----- This w...
Jun 19, 2025•18 min•Season 21Ep. 1
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of transcript: 3 pages Length of video/audio: 9 minutes 4 seconds Synopsis: Here's the audio of the graduation charge I delivered to the NEJA Graduating Class of 2025 on June 8th, 2025, complete with all my speech tics. ----- This week’s Torah content is sponsored by Chaim and Rifka Peck, the awesome parents of two of my NEJA students, in honor of the marriage of my dear talmidim, Chayim Zifkin and Shira Stein. Though they don’t k...
Jun 18, 2025•10 min•Season 20Ep. 45
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 6 minutes 53 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/13/25, titled: Behaalosecha: The Non-Symbolic Trumpets . What’s the reason for the mitzvah of the chatzotzeros (trumpets)? The Sefer ha’Chinuch reminds us that sometimes, the simplest answer is the most compelling. ----- Summer is almost here, and I’m plann...
Jun 13, 2025•8 min•Season 20Ep. 44
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 1 minutes Synopsis: This Wednesday evening (6/11/25), in our last Tehilim shiur of the 2024-2025 season, we ended up doing a chaotically orderly experimental Chumash exploration instead of Tehilim. If you've ever looked at English translations of the siddur, you may have noticed that the word "Ashrei" is translated differently by different people in different contexts. Tonight, we conducted a survey of the various sources ...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 20Ep. 43
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 4.5 pages Length of audio: 14 minutes 23 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4.5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 6/6/25, titled: Naso: Twelve Identical Offerings . Why does the Torah repeat the twelve identical offerings in Parashas Naso? This article explores a peshat answer, two midrashim, and their methodology. ----- Summer is almost here, and I’m planning to le...
Jun 06, 2025•15 min•Season 20Ep. 42
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 47 minutes Synopsis: This morning (6/5/25) we had what will likely be our last Q&A of the 2024-2025 season! We discussed the following five questions: (1) Have my views on Mishleic fatalism changed? (If you're not familiar, don't worry - we review it.) (2) What insight can I offer on the types of high-stakes life decisions that tend to start cropping up as one enters adulthood? (3) What advice would I give for reading Halakhi...
Jun 05, 2025•48 min•Season 20Ep. 41
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 8 minutes 15 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/30/25, titled: Bamidbar: Dust, Sand, and Stars . Hashem reiterates His promise to multiply Avraham’s offspring using three metaphors. What does each mean? How do they shed light on our present state? ----- The Torah content from now through Isru Chag Shavuo...
May 30, 2025•9 min•Season 20Ep. 40
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 9 minutes Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/23/25, titled: Bechukosai: Does Hashem Ever Truly Loathe Israel? Our gut reaction to this question is, "No!" but the verses in the blessings and the curses indicate that the answer is not so simple. ----- The Torah content from now through Isru Chag Shavuos is sponsor...
May 23, 2025•10 min•Season 20Ep. 39
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 45 minutes Synopsis: Tonight (5/22/25), in our final Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women of the 2024-2025 season, we took up a mishnah that is relevant to us all, and is particularly appropriate as we approach Zman Matan Toraseinu. If you're someone who plans to relocate or who needs to relocate or whose relationship with Torah is in need of a boost, this mishnah is for you! ----- מקורות: אבות ד:יד רמב"ם רבינו יונה ...
May 23, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Season 20Ep. 38
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 1.5 pages Length of audio: 5 minutes 55 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1.5-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/15/25, titled: Lag ba’Omer PSA: The Falsehood of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai’s Yahrzeit . Mark Twain said, “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.” Rumors of Rashbi’s death on Lag ba’Omer have been greatly exaggerated. They trace ...
May 16, 2025•7 min•Season 20Ep. 37
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 8 minutes 41 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 5/2/25, titled: Kedoshim: “Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself” – Not the Greatest Principle in Torah . R’ Akiva calls “Ve’ahavta l’reiacha kamocha” a great Torah principle. Ben Azzai disagrees. Wessely attempts to reconcile them with an original interpretation. ---...
May 09, 2025•10 min•Season 20Ep. 36
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 13 minutes Synopsis: This past Thursday night (5/8/25), in lieu of our usual Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we took up a topic in Parashas Kedoshim - arguably the most important mitzvah mentioned therein. Many people are familiar with R' Akiva's famous statement, "This is a great principle in the Torah." Fewer people are familiar with Ben Azzai's disagreement, and his identification of ANOTHER pasuk as an even...
May 09, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Season 20Ep. 35
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 30 minutes Synopsis: Last night (5/1/25), in our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we resumed our learning of Chapter 4, after nearly a month's hiatus. (Yes, I skipped 4:12, in case you were wondering.) This mishnah is quite short, and . We spent the bulk of the time comparing Rabbeinu Yonah's more intuitive reading with Rashi's highly specific reading. I attempted to convey a theory about Rashi which I realize m...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 31 min•Season 20Ep. 34
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 8 minutes 39 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/25/25, titled: Tazria/Metzora: How Niddah Protected Women . What if the laws of niddah weren’t designed to oppress, but to protect? This article examines a leading Leviticus scholar’s theory and its implications. ----- The total cost of producing my five po...
May 02, 2025•10 min•Season 20Ep. 33
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 2 pages Length of audio: 7 minutes 22 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 2-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/25/25, titled: Mortimer J. Adler's Mussar for Religious Educators . This excerpt from a lecture by Mortimer Adler to Catholic educators speaks just as powerfully to Jewish educators. If we truly took his words to heart, Jewish education would be in a far be...
Apr 25, 2025•8 min•Season 20Ep. 32
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 45 minutes Synopsis: This morning (4/24/25) we had Q&A! We discussed the following six questions: (1) If perfection of middos is a prerequisite to perfection of the intellect, how do we explain individuals like Achitophel and Doeg ha'Edomi, who were great chachamim who did evil things? (2) Anti-Israel activists have engaged in malicious editing of Wikipedia articles to promote their cause. What do we think of this tactic, and...
Apr 24, 2025•46 min•Season 20Ep. 31
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 3 page Length of audio: 8 minutes 40 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I co-wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/11/25, titled: Egypt Reflections as a Jew (by My Brother) . My globetrotting brother’s reflections on his trip to Egypt—poignant words that move me to tears every time I read them, especially going into Pesach. And yes, I started crying while making the a...
Apr 11, 2025•10 min•Season 20Ep. 30
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 3 page Length of audio: 10 minutes 5 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/10/25, titled: Why WE Eat Matzah vs. Why THEY Ate Matzah . Every year we read Rabban Gamliel's explanation for why we eat matzah on Pesach, but why did the Israelites in Egypt eat matzah on the night of the Exodus? Here are three approaches. ----- The Torah ...
Apr 11, 2025•11 min•Season 20Ep. 29
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 43 minutes Synopsis: Last night (4/4/25), in our Thursday night women's shiur, we explored a question posed to me by two of my students (shout out to Moshe and Shmarya) about a song found at the end of most Haggadot: “Is there an inherent problem with saying Adir Hu?” The concern is that, on the surface, Adir Hu seems to exemplify the type of excessive adjectival praise condemned by R’ Chanina in Berachos 33b. Our session ...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Season 20Ep. 28
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 1 page Length of audio: 4 minutes 31 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 4/4/25, titled: Mit’chilah: Defining Avodah Zarah and Avodas Hashem . How would you define avodah zarah and avo das Hashem —and how would you do it in a 500-word dvar Torah for Jewish day school families? ----- The Torah content from now until Erev Pesach has ...
Apr 04, 2025•5 min•Season 20Ep. 27
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 38 minutes Synopsis: This morning (3/20/25) we had a rare (this year) Q&A! We discussed the following questions: (1) How should a person use their outside-of-yeshiva "downtime" with their rabbeim: to talk about Torah or about other things? (2) What do we make of the tension between acknowledging God as the cause of evil and the Rambam's position in the Moreh that God doesn't directly cause evil? (3) What, exactly, was given a...
Mar 20, 2025•39 min•Season 20Ep. 26
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 3 pages Length of audio: 11 minutes 6 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 3/17/25, titled: Ki Tisa: Shadal’s Anti-Rationalist Rational Explanation of Ayin ha’Ra (the Evil Eye) . What if I told you there’s an explanation of ayin ha’ra that is neither purely rationalistic nor mystical? True to form, Shadal offers just such an explana...
Mar 17, 2025•12 min•Season 20Ep. 25
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 3 pages Length of audio: 10 minutes 53 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 3/7/25, titled: Tetzaveh: Philosophical Pants . The most underappreciated item of the bigdei kehunah (priestly vestments) is the undergarments. In this article, we analyze these "philosophical pants" and uncover the many Torah ideas they embody. ----- The To...
Mar 07, 2025•12 min•Season 20Ep. 24
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 23 minutes Synopsis: Tonight (3/6/25), in lieu of our Thursday night Pirkei Avos shiur for women, we continued learning the Ralbag's toalos ("beneficial lessons") on Megilas Esther, picking up were we left off last year, at the beginning of Chapter 6. Unlike last year, in which we JUST read the Ralbag, we decided to read and discuss the pesukim this year before learning the toeles. This resulted in a slower pace, but (I ho...
Mar 07, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 20Ep. 23
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 52 minutes Synopsis: Thoughts of vengeance have been on the minds of Jews worldwide since October 7th. In less than two weeks, we’ll celebrate Purim — a holiday in which vengeance is a dominant theme. We are commanded to emulate Hashem’s ways, and He is explicitly described as "vengeful" throughout Tanach. Are we meant to emulate Him in this regard? How does this align with the Torah’s halachic and ethical stance on reveng...
Mar 02, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Season 20Ep. 22
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length of article: 3 pages Length of audio: 11 minutes 33 seconds Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 3-page article I wrote and published on rabbischneeweiss.substack.com/ on 2/21/25, titled: Mishpatim: Judaism's Stance on (Extrajudicial) Witch Hunts . The Torah prohibits witchcraft under the penalty of death, but if you think you know what that means and why, then you may be in for a surprise. ----- The Torah content for the ent...
Feb 21, 2025•12 min•Season 20Ep. 21
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Length: 1 hour 27 minutes Synopsis: This evening (2/20/25), in lieu of our regularly scheduled Pirkei Avos Shiur for women, we took up the topic that I'm currently writing about for my Friday substack article. We began by asking all the questions we could on this three-word pasuk, and by the end of the shiur, we answered all but one. The shiur itself focused on a highly disturbing minority view (expressed by only 3.5 meforshim) about wha...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 20Ep. 10
