Rabbi Trump

Rabbi Trump

By Timeless Torah in the 21st CenturyReligion & Spirituality
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Rabbi Trump episodes

  • Journey Through Nach - Shoftim 21: A Time to Mourn, a Time to Dance
    The final chapter of Sefer Shoftim brings a devastating era to a close, but Israel's attempts to repair the damage threaten to create even more tragedy.
    With the tribe of Binyamin nearly destroyed, the Israelites confront the consequences of their own decisions. Rather than accepting responsibility, they turn to new oaths, further violence, and troubling compromises to preserve a tribe on the brink of extinction.
    In this episode of Journey Through Nach, Rabbi Ya'akov Trump examines the dangers of misplaced blame, the absence of responsible leadership, and the surprising connection between this dark chapter, Tu B'Av, and the rise of Israel's first king.
    37 min
  • Making of the Mishnah - The Men Who Reshaped Judaism: Shimon HaTzadik
    Daily prayers, Torah readings, blessings. So much of Jewish life feels like it's always been this way. But it wasn't always so.
    As the age of prophecy drew to a close, the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah faced the challenge of preserving Jewish life for future generations. Their decisions would shape the practice of Judaism for centuries.
    In this shiur, Rabbi Ya'akov Trump traces this pivotal period through the life of Shimon HaTzadik, from the rebuilding of Jewish life after exile to his legendary encounter with Alexander the Great and the emergence of a new era in Jewish history.
    50 min
  • Journey through Nach - Shoftim 20: When Justice Goes Too Far
    How does a nation united in the pursuit of justice end up nearly destroying one of its own tribes?
    In the aftermath of the tragedy at Givah, the tribes of Israel gather to demand accountability. But Binyamin's refusal to surrender the perpetrators sets the stage for a devastating civil war. Even after seeking Divine guidance, Israel suffers staggering losses, raising a troubling question: were they fighting the right war in the first place?
    In this episode of Journey Through Nach, Rabbi Ya'akov Trump explores the dangers of tribal loyalty, the difference between seeking God's guidance and asking the right questions, and the disturbing parallels between Israel's battles against its enemies and its war against itself. Shoftim 20 challenges us to consider what happens when the pursuit of justice loses sight of its purpose.
    39 min
  • A Prayer Out of Place?
    Why do Jews around the world follow the same prayer schedule for rain, even when their climates and seasons are completely different?
    From the ancient communities of Babylon to the Jews of medieval Europe, Brazil, and Australia, the question of when to say *Vesein Tal Umatar* has sparked centuries of halachic debate. What happens when a community desperately needs rain, but the established prayers don't call for it?
    Rabbi Ya'akov Trump traces the fascinating history of this question, examining the Rosh's attempts to reconcile halacha with local needs and the deeper tension between adapting Jewish practice to changing circumstances and preserving a tradition shared across generations.
    54 min
  • Journey through Nach - Shoftim 19: Who Needs Enemies?
    What happens when a nation becomes its own worst enemy?
    In one of the darkest chapters of Tanach, the horrifying story of Pilegesh B'Givah exposes a society coming apart from within. What begins with a troubled relationship ends in an act of unimaginable cruelty that threatens to tear the nation apart.
    In this episode of Journey Through Nach, Rabbi Ya'akov Trump explores the disturbing parallels between Givah and Sodom, the consequences of unchecked anger, and what happens when a society loses its moral compass and the leadership needed to hold it together.
    45 min
  • Hidden Figures on Sukkos
    Which figures from our past stand behind the festivals, and how do their legacies shape the closing days of Sukkos? Drawing on the Tur, the Sfas Emes, and the teachings of Ohr Gedaliahu, this shiur explores the Avos, Dovid HaMelech, and Moshe Rabbeinu in relation to Sukkos, Hoshana Rabba, and Shemini Atzeres. The sources uncover the power of simple prayer and the shared inheritance that binds every Jew to Torah.
    30 min
  • Two Clouds
    If Sukkos commemorates the clouds that accompanied us out of Egypt, why do we celebrate it in Tishrei? This shiur examines the Vilna Gaon's teaching alongside sources that distinguish the cloud of guidance from a cloud of spiritual illumination. That distinction opens a deeper understanding of what was lost after the Golden Calf and what the return of the clouds means for Sukkos.
    45 min
  • The Sukkos Triangle
    What connects the shelters Yaakov built, the first stop after the Exodus, and the sukkah we enter each year? Following the parallels between these three appearances of Sukkos, this shiur explores the first night of freedom as a leap of faith met by Hashem's protection. It offers a fresh understanding of the relationship between Pesach and Sukkos, and why we revisit our vulnerability precisely at the season of the harvest.
    46 min
  • Stars and Raindrops
    How much of the sky should a sukkah let in? Beginning with the halachos of stars, sunlight, and rain passing through the schach, this shiur explores the balance between shelter and openness to Hashem. It connects that openness to the renewed relationship with Hashem after Yom Kippur and the special joy of Sukkos.
    45 min
  • Festival of Water
    Why does water play such a central role in the celebration of Sukkos? Through the water libation, the prayers for rain, and the Midrash of the “weeping waters,” this shiur explores the longing of the earthly world to draw close to its Creator. These sources reveal how Sukkos turns dependence on water into an expression of yearning, reunion, and joy.
    22 min

About Rabbi Trump

From the publisher's feed

Rabbi Ya’akov Trump serves as the Rabbi of the vibrant community of the Young Israel of Lawrence Cedarhurst. Part of his mission is to share his passion for the Torah and its relevance in contemporary…