This week's parsha is all about holiness, and features some of the most beautiful, wise, and enduring lines in the Torah. It also contains the most infamous line in Leviticus — yes, that one. Special guest Rabbi Steven shares his perspective on how he wrestles with this challenging piece of our tradition.
 
Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets are available now to Fiddler on the Roof at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, from May 17th - 22nd. Use Mishkan's special offer code ROOF45 for $45 Middle Balcony tickets.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

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"If thy goal / is afflicting thy soul /  thou shalt not be picking no leather insole."

So goes the ancient saying. At least, it must be ancient — everything in our tradition is ancient, right? Wrong.

Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets are available now to Fiddler on the Roof at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, from May 17th - 22nd. Use Mishkan's special offer code ROOF45 for $45 Middle Balcony tickets.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

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Whose "mighty hand and outstretched arm" delivered us — Moses or God? With no Torah portion to recap over Passover, Rabbi Deena tells the Exodus story and explains why it kinda sorta doesn't gel with the story in the Haggadah but also super does.

Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets to The Prom are available now! Use Mishkan's special offer code PARTY49 for $49 tickets, valid for April 19 and 20 (evening only), and April 21, in the Orchestra, Dress Circle and Loge seating area.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

This week's parsha was lost in translation. How did the Torah's anti-gossip message of looking out for the signs of tzaraat become the cruel Medieval practice of quarantining people with skin diseases like leprosy? It's all Greek to us.

Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets to The Prom are available now! Use Mishkan's special offer code PARTY49 for $49 tickets, valid for April 19 and 20 (evening only), and April 21, in the Orchestra, Dress Circle and Loge seating area.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

Tazria means "She Who Gives Birth," but this portion should really be titled "The Ick Factor." What is the real story behind the mysterious skin disease "tzaraat"? Mishkan's 16th Italian correspondent Sforno has the scoop.

Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets to The Prom are available now! Use Mishkan's special offer code PARTY49 for $49 tickets, valid for April 19 and 20 (evening only), and April 21, in the Orchestra, Dress Circle and Loge seating area.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

This week's parsha contains a powerful message about grief. At least, we think it does? If you can figure out what it is, let us know, because the commentators aren't sure, either.

Today's episode is sponsored by Broadway In Chicago. Tickets to The Prom are available now! Use Mishkan's special offer code PARTY49 for $49 tickets, valid for April 19 and 20 (evening only), and April 21, in the Orchestra, Dress Circle and Loge seating area.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

Being a priest was a pretty sweet gig on paper: sweep the ashes, collect a tip, eat a little sacrifice as a treat, repeat. But here's the thing — you didn't ask for this life! Your dad is a Levite, but at heart, you're a total Benjamite with a rising Ephraim. Rabbi Deena wonders if there aren't times we're all called to difficult things that, deep down, we don't want any part in.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

What was it like to live all the new laws in this week's parsha? Rabbi Deena takes us inside the mind of an ancient Israelite to find out.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

"I’ll be honest, this last few parshiyot have been kind of a slog."

Sometimes, life feels dull and repetitive. Our weekly tasks, like taking out the trash or writing this podcast, can start to feel unimportant. But what if I told you that everything you do matters to G-d so much that your every move is mirrored in heaven? That as we speak, there is, like, an angel you reading a celestial version of this very episode description? Let's get mystical.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

Transcript

In this week's parsha, G-d gives instructions on building the Mishkan. Then, Moshe tells the people...Wait. Haven't we read all this before? Rabbi Deena explains the mindful message behind this apparent déjà vu.

Produced by Mishkan Chicago.  Music composed, produced, and performed by Kalman Strauss. See our upcoming Shabbat services and programs here, and follow us on Instagram and like us on Facebook for more updates. Check out Shabbat Replay on Contact Chai for more from Rabbi Deena.

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