Vayeshev opens with apparent  jealousy and hatred that results in his sons selling their brother Yoseph (Joseph) into slavery.

The sidra (weekly Torah reading) follows the twists and turns of Yoseph's saga as he rises up to seniority in the household of an Egyptian official Potiphar, only to be framed and thrown in jail. There too his attempt to help Pharoah's imprisoned servants through dream interpretation, ends up with him being abandoned and neglected for two more years. 

It turns out that Yoseph is also indispensible. Without him Israel can never survive in exile nor bring redemption. 

Navigating the fine line between charm and holiness is the theme of the talk, that weaves together threads laid out by Midrashim, Rashi, and other commentators. 

In this Question and Answer session on areas of Judaism and Jewish thought with Rabbi Daniel Rowe at Aish HaTorah Yeshiva, the following questions are raised and discussed:

00:00 How does prayer fit into our other service of Hashem? Why do we pray?

14:35 Can we feel or experience spirituality?

23:30 How do we motivate ourselves to bring God's light into the world?

28:20 Nefesh Hachaim vs Chassidus

37:30 When and how does hashkafah (philosophical perspective) impact Halacha (Jewish law)?

41:30 How is Halacha decided nowadays? Can we decide for ourselves?

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #torah #philosophy #prayer #soul #chassidut #halacha

The section of the Torah called 'Toldos' (literally 'offspring' or 'generations') begins the critical process of the creation of the nation Yisrael (Israel). The drama takes place in four acts, the birth of the rival twins Yaakov (Jacob) and Esav (Esau), the displacement of the family and their struggles in the land of Gerar, Rivak (Rebecca) switching Yaakov (Jacob) for Esav when it came to their blind father Yitzchak (Isaac) wanting to bless them, and the decision to then send Yaakov away from home.

But a deeper exploration reveals that at stake is precisely what it takes to build the eternal nation Israel.

The blessings section turns out to be a replay of the Garden of Eden, reversing its outcome, whilst the centrality of Rivka (Rebecca) the key to the whole story. It turns out that the entire Biblical book of Bereishis (Genesis) now occurs in the shadow of the Akeida (binding of Isaac) that never took his life, but instead took his mother Sarah's. Her death came from a profound internalization of the fact that we have no right to exist. The twins born this week struggle with the question of how, then, they ought to live, and their challenge defines our roles, our challenges and our very identity. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

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What is Moshiach supposed to do? Can we really expect him at any moment? What is meant by the 'World to Come'? is it physical? spiritual? DO people come back as an old person? What if someone was reincarnated? Could they come back as their own granchild? In multiple marriages? And why are these concepts so fundamental to Judaism? Are they even discussed in the Torah?

All these and more are questions discussed in this class.

This episode was recorded at Aish Hatorah Jerusalem, November 2024, given to a class on the Aspire women's seminary program.

00:00 What is the difference between soul mind brain and body?

08:28 Is the 'yetzer hora' (negative inclination) an angel? our body? something else? 13:35 What does the Torah mean when it says 'God came down'? (Prophecy etc)

18:39 Are generations getting spiritually weaker? and how do we compensate?

21:55 Why do we want the Temple? (part 1) (Stages of Messianic era)

22:28 Why we don't like miracles, returning to the yeridas hodoros (diminishing generations)

29:26 Why do we need the Temple? (part 2) experiencing the Presence of God

30:50 Describing future world that is beyond our experience and comprehension?

33:00 Why don't we try to rebuild it/ push the Messianic process?

37:30 When's the latest Moshiach can come?

41:30 How far are the Jewish people from what we are meant to be?

42:17 What antisemites get right.

50:30 Why its important that we don't know exactly what the Messianic era will be like.

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

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#jewish #rabbi #torah #mindbodysoul #jewishwisdom #moshiach #antisemitism

In this Q&A on Jewish Philosophy, Rabbi Rowe is asked about the following topics that cover different schools of thought in Jewish Philosophy Kabbalah, Rationalists and so on:

00:00 Philosophical arguments for Jewish beliefs vs 'Emunah Peshuta', 'straightforward faith'

15:08 What are 'angels'? do they have freewill?

27:56 Why does the Torah not give us a scientific account of creation?

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #torah #philosophy #kabbalah #angel #aish

Sukkot is described in the Torah (Hebrew Bible) as the 'time of our rejoicing'. Yet its commandments to move out of a house into a temporary structure (Sukka) and the waving of rht 'four species' (lulav, etrog fruit etc) do not at first seem obviously linked to either joy or holiness.

Rabbi Rowe explores the Talmudic teachings and shows how Chazal (the ancient Rabbis) reveal in the Sukkah deep philosophical and psychological teachings about the nature of life as a journey, about the ability to connect to God in this world and to love the 'world to come' or 'Garden of Eden in our Sukkah, and from there into our daily lives.

This talk highlights how Sukkot helps transition from the lofty and mystical heights of Yom Kippur into the rest of the year. On Yom Kippur the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) embodies the nation of Israel and enters the 'Holy of Holies' of the Temple in Jerusalem. On Sukkot that holiness permeates every sukkah and the Presence of Hashem (God) enters each of our Sukkot as we embark on our annual journey to a new deeper self. Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #torah #sukkot #kabbalah #jewishphilosophy

Through the first 3 chapters, Rambam (Maimonidies) analysed the nature of Teshuvah ('repentance') in Jewish philosophy, moving from the 'tikun' undoing damage, to the healing of relationships, to a rediscovery of our place in the world. In the 3rd chapter Rambam introduced the 'book of life' and the way in which our lives are not individuated distinct moments but part of a singular organic whole.

This section works through the list Rambam provides a list of attitudes and behaviours that could remove someone from the book of life/ world to come, and also those that can make Teshuva difficult.

This is the 5th episode in the series exploring the Rambam's (Maimonides') Laws of Repentance. These chapters explore the world of repentance, or more literally 'return' to one's true self, and also include discussions of some of the most fundamental principles and themes of Jewish philosophy; freewill, the world to come, reward and punishment and loving Hashem (God).

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #rambam #torah #teshuva #aish #roshhashanah #yomkippur

In the 3rd chapter Rambam (Maimonides) offers a third dimension to the nature of Teshuva (repentence), Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, by exploring the notion that life is not merely distinct persons, choices and moments, but also has totalities. People places and the world as a whole can be defined as tzadik (righteous) rasha (anti-righteous) or benoni (undetermined). Whilst the default may be that things are underdetermined, eventually individual lives and the totality of history must arc to an overall definition. Individual lives are turned into one each Rosh Hashana. The result is that history becomes a 'book of life' that people can be written into or out of.

Rambam takes the familiar 'scales' of judgment but subtly shifts the fable like vision of adding positive and negative acts. Instead of weighing what we have done, what is weighed is who we have become. Teshuvah becomes about deep existential redefinition, and individual moments are components of complex totalities that interplay in the tapestry of life and existence. God Torah and mitzvos all mean far more in a teshuva focused, self-redefining world.

This is the 4th episode in the series exploring the Rambam's (Maimonides') Laws of Repentance. These chapters explore the world of repentance, or more literally 'return' to one's true self, and also include discussions of some of the most fundamental principles and themes of Jewish philosophy; freewill, the world to come, reward and punishment and loving Hashem (God). Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe. Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qPQn7TIWdQ8Dxvy6RfjyD

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #rambam #torah #aish #roshhashanah #yomkippur

In the continuation of the 2nd chapter Rambam (Maimonides), topics familiar from the first chapter re-emerge in a radically new light.

There is a new meaning to repentance, to confession, and to the Day of Yom Kippur (Day of atonement). In place of metaphysical cleansing, there is an unmissable opportunity to reconnect to Hashem as Source of creation. the chapter clearly sees 'Teshuvah' as far more than repenting and changing behaviour. It is a pathway to far greater and more meaningful connection and growth.

This is the 3rd episode in the series exploring the Rambam's (Maimonides') Laws of Repentance. These chapters explore the world of repentance, or more literally 'return' to one's true self, and also include discussions of some of the most fundamental principles and themes of Jewish philosophy; freewill, the world to come, reward and punishment and loving Hashem (God).

Be sure to subscribe to the channel for weekly videos on Jewish philosophy, wisdom and world-changing ideas.

Rabbi Daniel Rowe is a popular Rabbi, philosopher and educator at Aish, who uses his deep knowledge of Judaism, science, and philosophy to captivate and educate audiences across the globe.

Follow Rabbi Rowe on social media for regular new uploads and updates:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2IUE77xD5uF_1xmWxWoBSg

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1qPQn7TIWdQ8Dxvy6RfjyD

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rabbidanielrowe/

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cd5debfe-684c-411d-b0bc-223dcfa58a39/rabbi-daniel-rowe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rabbi-daniel-rowe-23838711/?originalSubdomain=uk

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#jewish #rabbi #jewishwisdom #torah #rambam #maimonides #teshuva #yomkippur