Parshat Noach describes the extreme violence that led to God's decision to destroy the world with a flood. This violence is referred to as "chamas" in Hebrew, a term that bears an eerie resemblance to "Hamas." In light of recent devastating attacks by Hamas on Israel, Rabbi Fohrman and Imu Shalev engaged in a discussion, exploring how to react to a world that is suddenly filled with violence.

When life throws us challenges and doesn’t go the way we hoped, how do we avoid falling into despair? 

In Parshat Lech Lecha, Abraham and Sarah struggle with infertility, and Abraham cries out to God, “I am childless!” What is the Torah’s message to Abraham on how to persevere through life’s trials and tribulations?

Join Rabbi David Fohrman and Ari Levisohn as they explore Abraham and Sarah’s journey through difficult times and the Torah’s encouraging guidance. 

Listen to Rabbi Fohrman’s foundational course, Abraham’s Journey, to dive deeper into the ideas discussed in this episode.

To find a collection of videos to help deal with our challenging times, visit our website.

The Torah commands us to “take” these plants but doesn’t tell us why. The only clue we get is what the Torah says next: “And you shall rejoice before God” on this holiday. But what exactly are we rejoicing about? And why is holding these plants supposed to bring us so much happiness? Ami Silver and Imu Shalev explore some unexpected connections between this mitzvah and another story in the Torah… and uncover a deep insight into the true source of joy.

Check out the beautifully animated video version of this course: What Do the Arba Minim Represent?

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, should be a time of introspection, but it often feels like we're so overwhelmed by our own guilt, by the idea of coming to terms with ourselves, that we don't know where to start.

In this episode, join Rabbi Fohrman as he takes a deeper look at the 13 Attributes of Mercy and uncovers a path to finding true forgiveness during the High Holidays.

Check out Rabbi Fohrman’s course on the Book of Jonah that can completely change the way you read the story. Also, enjoy the course on the Laws of Teshuva Rabbi Fohrman mentions in this episode.

How can we ask God for forgiveness for the things we’ve done wrong? If we admit our mistakes, aren’t we acknowledging that we’re unworthy of His blessings? But could we be so bold as to demand God’s goodness when we know that we’ve made mistakes?

Join Daniel Loewenstein as he explores the text of the Selichot prayers and discovers how the authors model their supplications after two seemingly opposing approaches to bargaining with God.

Check out this eye opening Aleph Beta course on the Book of Jonah all about the relationship between mercy and justice.

Parshat Nitzavim warns that in the future, there might be someone who goes astray after other gods. God will “separate” that person for punishment, and future generations will see that the land was destroyed for this sin, “like Sodom and Gomorrah.” But wait, that doesn’t make sense! If God punishes guilty individuals, how do we get to the entire land being destroyed?

Join Ari Levisohn and Tikva Hecht as they explore this cryptic warning and uncover a message about the power of individual responsibility.

Check out Daniel Loewenstein's video on the links between Parshat Nitzavim and the Sodom story: The Surprising Relationship Between Blessing and Curses in the Bible

Parshat Ki Tavo lists the blessings that will come if we keep God’s commandments and the curses that will follow if we don’t. But it also says that to be blessed, we need to serve God “with joy.” Isn’t it enough to keep the commandments? And what is this “joy” supposed to look like, anyway? The key to answering these questions may be in two seemingly unrelated commandments from Parshat Ki Tavo itself.

Join Beth Lesch and Ari Levisohn as they uncover a startling pattern that links first fruits and a stone altar to this mysterious verse about rejoicing while we serve God.

This week’s parsha includes the commandment to wipe out the memory of Amalek, the nation who attacked the Israelites shortly after the Exodus from Egypt. It’s the kind of mitzvah that makes our skin crawl in the 21st century. Why would God command wiping out an entire people? What did they do that was so evil that they deserve to be completely erased from history?

Join Ami Silver and Daniel Loewenstein as they discover how another mitzvah in this week’s parsha holds the surprising key to understanding the fight with Amalek.

Click here to learn more about Rabbi Fohrman's methodology course and register for Patron's Circle.

How do the trials and tribulations of King David’s life shed light on the laws in Parshat Shoftim? What if he actually wrote a commentary on the parsha based on his experiences? 

Join Adina Blaustein and Beth Lesch as they uncover fascinating insights into Parshat Shoftim embedded in Psalm 27, King David’s timeless prayer for God’s protection and closeness that we begin reciting this week.

In Parshat Re’eh God commands the Israelites to bring their offerings only to the Temple “in the place I will choose.” But wait… we've heard before about a sacrifice location shrouded in mystery? The binding of Isaac shares this and many other parallels with Parshat Re’eh. But what are we supposed to make of these connections? How does Parshat Re’eh shed light on the binding of Isaac, and how does that story illuminate the mitzvot of Parshat Re’eh?

Join Rabbi Fohrman and Beth Lesch as they unlock the powerful lessons in these parallels.

Want to see more of the connections Rabbi Fohrman and Beth noticed? Check out this source sheet.