Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This morning (10/15/21), in our "Machshavah Lab" series for women, we aimed to answer two major questions: (1) What do Chazal mean when they say that some of the builders of Migdal Bavel were punished by being transformed into "monkeys, spirits, demons, and liliths"? and (2) Why does the Torah say that Sheis was born to Adam "in his likeness, like his form" but it doesn't say this by Kayin and Hevel? The Rambam's answer to both questions...
Oct 15, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Season 6Ep. 11
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Tonight (10/13/21) we continued our multi-part series of shiurim on "The Saga of Kayin," in an effort to achieve our goal of understanding the unity of Kayin's entire story which is told in Bereishis Perek 4. We picked up where we last left off in our "close read" and continued identifying every question, problem, and nuance we could - and we finished! Next time we shall attempt to come up with a theory which unifies the entire narrative...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 10
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page dvar Torah I wrote entitled, Migdal Bavel and the Hindu Account of the Mabul . The midrash states that the Dor Haflagah built Migdal Bavel to prevent another Mabul, which they believed to be a cyclical phenomenon. As it so happens, Hindus believe the same thing. But there is a key difference: the Dor Haflagah had access to Noach but denied his prophetic account, whereas the Hindus didn't ...
Oct 08, 2021•5 min•Season 6Ep. 9
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This morning (10/8/21), in our "Machshavah Lab" series for women, we attempted to understand the pshat of the Migdal Bavel story, free from any midrashic biases. With the Ibn Ezra and Ralbag as our guides, we learned through the story and emerged with a fresh (and somewhat radical) view with implications for our present day lives. Perhaps more important was the showcasing of Ibn Ezra's pshat-oriented approach to the text. Link to Midrash...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 6Ep. 8
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Tonight (10/6/21) we began a multi-part series of shiurim on "The Saga of Kayin." In previous years I had learned specific parts of Kayin's story (i.e. his korban, Hashem's pep talk, his murder of hevel), but I had never asked questions like: What is the unity of Chapter 4? How does each part contribute to the whole? What are we supposed to get from the entire saga? It's all one parashah in the Torah, including the enumeration of Kayin's...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 24 min•Season 6Ep. 7
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page dvar Torah I wrote entitled, Bereishis: (How) Did Hashem Speak to Kayin? The problem is that Kayin doesn't seem cut out to be a navi. Radak offers a shocking interpretation in his "esoteric commentary." Although I do not believe that this interpretation adequately solves our problem, it does provide us with an interesting methodological tool which might open the door to other novel interp...
Oct 05, 2021•5 min•Season 6Ep. 6
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Does Hashem Actually Care What We Call Shemini Atzeres? The title might make it seem like it's about Shemini Atzeres, but it's actually about why we should care about even the most trivial nuances in the nusach ha'tefilah . ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by an anonymous donor in memory of her grandmother, Golda Henya bat Devora a"h. -----...
Oct 01, 2021•5 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, The Joyful Progression from Yom ha’Kippurim through Sukkos . I have long been troubled by the fact that on Yom ha'Kippurim we act as though our fate is hanging in the balance, but after Yom ha'Kippurim we act as though our teshuvah and tefilos were accepted, without any doubt. In this 1-page article we attempt to reconcile these two antithetical moods, and in doi...
Sep 19, 2021•5 min•Season 6Ep. 2
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This morning (9/10/21) in our "Machshavah Lab" series for women, we revisited an old question: What is the difference between the year-round mitzvah of vidui (confession) and the special mitzvah of vidui Yom ha'Kippurim? After reviewing the facts and noting the differences, we develop an approach for understanding those differences - based on a Rambam in the Moreh ha'Nevuchim, but inspired by an encounter I had with a bear in southern Wa...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 6Ep. 1
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the informal article/reflection I wrote LAST Rosh ha'Shanah, entitled Meditations on Rosh ha'Shanah 5781 - The Meaning of "Shanah Tovah." I'm sharing this today for five reasons: (1) This year I did something which I've never systematically done in the past: I went back and reviewed my whole year! That's when I was reminded of this. (2) It is SO easy for us to forget the lessons of the pandemic; thi...
Sep 06, 2021•6 min•Season 5Ep. 38
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar and the 42-Letter Name of God . I wasn't planning on writing anything for today, but last night I became obsessed with the name Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar and its connection to the Rambam in the Moreh ha'Nevuchim, and I knew that I had to write this. Plus, I really wanted to record it. :) ---------- Today's Torah content has b...
Aug 30, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 37
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Ki Teitzei: On the Merit of Giving Bad Explanations of Mitzvos , in which we examine the Sefer ha'Chinuch's reasons for giving less-than-stellar explanations of taamei ha'mitzvos (the reasons for the commandments), and consider the practical implications for teaching. ---------- Today's Torah content is sponsored by an anonymous donor, out of gratitude for all of...
Aug 20, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 36
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, When to Dance Between Two Opinions , in which I attempted to capture a burgeoning realization, which I anticipate will be a "leveling up" of a major shift in the most important shiur I gave last year: Of Wolves, Men, and Methodology . ---------- Today's Torah content has been brought to you by the generosity of my Patrons on Patreon. ---------- If you have questi...
Aug 19, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 35
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Halacha as a Playground of Mindfulness , which is my rebuttal to a cartoon I saw which depicts "religion" as a prison and "spirituality" as freedom. ---------- Today's Torah content has been brought to you by the generosity of my Patrons on Patreon. ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact...
Aug 18, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 34
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, The Insidious Nature of Metaphysical and Epistemological Premises , in which I reflect on two opposing but equally alluring fantasies: the fantasy that we can learn non-Torah sources while guarding ourselves against adopting their false metaphysical and epistemological premises, and the fantasy that we can close ourselves off from non-Torah sources and develop ou...
Aug 17, 2021•4 min•Season 5Ep. 33
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Tallis as a Vehicle of Gratitude and a Reminder of Death . In it, I share my current practice of putting on my tallis in the morning, which incorporates elements from halacha, aggadah, Stoicism, and meditation. ---------- Today's Torah content has been brought to you by the generosity of my Patrons on Patreon. ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedba...
Aug 16, 2021•4 min•Season 5Ep. 32
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Shoftim: The Parameters of Idolatrous Cultural Appropriation , in which we attempt to explain a contradiction between the Rambam's theory of korbanos and his explanation for why we are prohibited from planting trees on the Temple Mount. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in honor of the marriage of Isaac and Aviva. -...
Aug 13, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 31
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, On Being Present in Tefilah , in which I recount a radical tefilah experiment I tried earlier this year, and the scaled down version which is my current practice. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in honor of the marriage of Isaac and Aviva. ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to he...
Aug 12, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 30
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Rambam: On Awakening (The Question) , in which we draw attention to the three instances of the "waking up" metaphor in the Rambam's Mishneh Torah and raise the question about what they have in common. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in honor of the marriage of Isaac and Aviva. And special thanks to Alex K. for not...
Aug 11, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 29
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, How to Choose What to Learn Before You Die . If you have or had a good relationship with learning but have fallen into a rut and are looking for a way to reconnect, perhaps this exercise will help you to get back on track - provided you fit the description in the disclaimer. ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in hono...
Aug 10, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 28
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the article I wrote entitled, King Kamehameha III and Moshiach , while I was in Hawaii earlier this summer. I found myself contemplating Hawaii's state motto, which led to a Mishleic idea, an insight about Hawaii's history, and an appreciation of King Kamehameha III's role in bringing about Yemos ha'Moshiach . ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Joey and Estee Lichter in honor...
Aug 09, 2021•11 min•Season 5Ep. 27
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Haftaras Re'eh: Torah as Water, Wine, and Milk , which is a riff on the Radak's explanation of the three metaphors for Torah expressed by Yeshayahu in this week's haftarah . ---------- If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail. ---------- If you've gained from what you'...
Aug 06, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 26
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Today's Torah content was sponsored by someone who wishes to remain anonymous for someone else whom they wish to remain anonymous for an occasion that I'm told should not be mentioned. I would have found some sneaky way to show honor and gratitude to those involved and for the event being commemorated, but I must respect true tznius when I see it. Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Musings on Unre...
Aug 05, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 25
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Tonight (8/4/21 at YBT) we continued learning the opening chapter of Darchei ha'Talmud, by R' Yitzchak Kanpanton (1360 - 1463 CE). When I was preparing, I realized that there was only ONE correct decision for how to give tonight's shiur, and if you listened to Part 1, you'll know exactly what that means ... ---------- Today’s Torah content is sponsored by Naomi Mann, in honor of Yeshiva Bnei Torah's 50th year. May Hashem grant YBT contin...
Aug 05, 2021•56 min•Season 5Ep. 24
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Today’s Torah content is sponsored by Naomi Mann, in honor of Yeshiva Bnei Torah's 50th year. May Hashem grant YBT continued success! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Sitting Bull's Ghost Dance and Moshiach , in which we examine the parallels between Jonathan Lear's analysis of the downfall of the Sioux, due to Sitting Bull's magical thinking, and the Rambam's analysis of the destruction of the ...
Aug 04, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 23
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Today’s Torah content is sponsored by Avygayl Zucker in honor of the 90th birthday of her grandfather, Yedidyah Halimi, whose dedication to Torah and mitzvos continues to be an inspiration. May Hashem grant him many more years of health and happiness! Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, The Madness of Lishmah , in which I reflect back on a conversation I had about my career path, in light of a poem...
Aug 03, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 22
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Today’s Torah content is dedicated to the joyous occasion of the marriage of Jon Deutsch and Avigayil Lev. Jon has "graduated" from student, to coworker, to chavrusa and friend. Avigayil, another former student and fellow Slytherin, remains a daily presence in my virtual beis midrash. I am happy for them and I'm excited to see where their life leads them. Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 4-page article I wrote entitled, On Seei...
Aug 02, 2021•14 min•Season 5Ep. 21
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Sol and Chummie Azose, in honor of the upcoming 81st birthday of the Rosh ha'Yeshiva, Rabbi Yisroel Chait, and the 91st birthday of Sol's father, Hazzan Isaac Azose. If you're interested in sponsoring a day's or a week's worth of Torah content, you can contact me at rabbischneeweiss@gmail.com. Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Simone Biles is My Her...
Jul 30, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 20
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! Tonight (7/28/21 at YBT) we learned the opening sentences of Darchei ha'Talmud - the very first methodology sefer, written by R' Yitzchak Kanpanton (1360 - 1463 CE). Our intent was to gain insight into methodology in general, beginning with the author's explanation of the Gemara's answer to the question: "How does one become wise?" ---------- This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Sol and Chummie Azose, in honor of the upcoming ...
Jul 29, 2021•58 min•Season 5Ep. 19
Have any questions, insights, or feedback? Send me a text! This week's Torah content has been sponsored by Sol and Chummie Azose, in honor of the upcoming 81st birthday of the Rosh ha'Yeshiva, Rabbi Yisroel Chait, and the 91st birthday of Sol's father, Hazzan Isaac Azose. If you're interested in sponsoring a day's or a week's worth of Torah content, you can contact me at rabbischneeweiss@gmail.com. Synopsis: This is the audio version of the 1-page article I wrote entitled, Help! I've Fallen Into...
Jul 28, 2021•5 min•Season 5Ep. 18
