Judaism for the Thinking Person

”Make Yourself a Wilderness” To Receive Torah


Listen Later

The Rabbis are understandably preoccupied with why the Torah was given bemidbar Sinai, in the wilderness of Sinai, rather than in the Land of Israel.  Entire commentary collections are devoted to this one profound fact.  In fact, the fourth book of the Bible, Bemidbar, even means "In the wilderness" and often occurs just before the holiday of Shavuot, where we collectively re-experience the gift of Torah happening in the wilderness.  A teaching developed that the meaning of the Torah being "a gift from the wilderness" means that in order to receive Torah and wisdom in your life you need to "make yourself a wilderness," meaning that you make yourself a holy receptive vessel through becoming a midbar, a wildnerness.  I teach some traditional teachings of practicing that in your own life. 

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Judaism for the Thinking PersonBy Rabbi Nadav Caine

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

30 ratings


More shows like Judaism for the Thinking Person

View all
Ta Shma by Hadar Institute

Ta Shma

90 Listeners

The Office of Rabbi Sacks by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

The Office of Rabbi Sacks

536 Listeners

The Tikvah Podcast by Tikvah

The Tikvah Podcast

619 Listeners

Tablet Studios by Tablet Magazine

Tablet Studios

1,464 Listeners

What Matters Now by The Times of Israel

What Matters Now

43 Listeners

Judaism Unbound by Institute for the Next Jewish Future

Judaism Unbound

418 Listeners

Identity/Crisis by Shalom Hartman Institute

Identity/Crisis

200 Listeners

For Heaven's Sake by Shalom Hartman Institute

For Heaven's Sake

428 Listeners

Unpacking Israeli History by Unpacked

Unpacking Israeli History

1,123 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

1,037 Listeners

Chutzpod! by Chutzpod!

Chutzpod!

509 Listeners

Soulful Jewish Living: Mindful Practices For Every Day by Unpacked

Soulful Jewish Living: Mindful Practices For Every Day

165 Listeners

Here I Am With Shai Davidai by Shai Davidai

Here I Am With Shai Davidai

308 Listeners

Ask Haviv Anything by Haviv Rettig Gur

Ask Haviv Anything

663 Listeners