With the fast of the 10th of Teves approaching this week, I'm rebroadcasting episode 55 which contains such a powerful idea behind the spiritual power of this meaningful day.

There are 6 public fast days on the Jewish calendar: Yom Kippur, Tisha B'Av (the 9th of Av), Tzom Gedalia (the 3rd of Tishrei), Asarah Biteves (the 10th of Teves), Taanis Esther (the 13th of Adar) and Shiva Asar Bi'Tammuz (the 17th of Tammuz).   And while Yom Kippur and the fast of Esther each have their own independent reason for fasting, the remaining four are much more interconnected.

In this episode, you'll discover the historical connection between the fateful days of 10 Teves, 17 Tammus, 9 Av and 3 Tishrei, and how they're all part of one story of exile and destruction.  We'll see how the tenth of Teves (which is coming up next on December 14th, 2021) kickstarted this process and we'll then discover a deeper Kabbalistic understanding from the Chasam Sofer that sheds a whole new light on why the 10th of Teves plays such a uniquely important role in this process.

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson go to: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with any questions or feedback, please email [email protected]

All the sources quoted in this podcast can be viewed on this source sheet: www.sefaria.org/sheets/367412

If you ask most people what the miracle of Chanuka was, they'll most likely respond with the story of a small jug of pure oil burning in the Temple for 8 nights.  After all, we light our menorahs for 8 nights to commemorate that miracle!

But, was that really the greatest miracle?  Did a tiny small untrained Jewish army led by rabbis not defeat the mighty Greek Empire?

So what is the REAL miracle of Chanuka?  What is our primary focus? 

Join me as we look through Jewish sources to discover the answer to this question and walk away with a powerful lesson to carry with us into Chanuka!

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/453816?lang=bi

The Torah is broken up into many different sections and parts. The primary two being the written law (Torah She'bichsav) and the oral law (Torah She'ba'al Peh).  

In today's episode I lay out the general structure of the Torah and show how all the sections are interconnected.  

I also cover topics such as:

1) How could the oral law have been written down?

2) Was every prophecy received included in Prophets?

3) What's the difference between Torah, Prophets and Writings?

4) Why did God give both a written and oral Torah?

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/440902?lang=bi

This past week I asked close to 50 people to think of something that they want to improve at over this coming year.

A whopping 100% (!!!) thought of something that they're really bad at and is extremely difficult for them.  This is often how we think.  We know what we're bad at and want to change it, but when we approach it head on, we often fail and remain in the exact same place.

So, how do we create real change?  How do we become the best version of ourselves possible?

Join me  as we look at the novel approach of Rav Kook to teshuva.  He presents a comfortable and practical method to real self-actualization!

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or topic requests.

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/431212?lang=bi

Do you find yourself approaching the High Holidays the same way every year?  Thinking about the same things you want to improve on that you said last year?  With so much busyness in life, how can we make a real change? 

Join me as we look to our forefather Abraham, and his journey of finding God in a pagan culture, to help guide ourselves in 2022 and beyond!

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/429840?lang=bi

After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Brittany Maynard moved to Oregon, then (2014) one of only four states with legalized physician assisted suicide.  She was a big activist for legalizing suicide for terminal patients, allowing them to "die on their own terms".

In this class, we take a deep dive into the traditional sources on suicide and physician assisted suicide across many texts in the written and oral law, discussing such questions as:

Is there any allowance for suicide in the Torah?  What is the Torah's perspective on pain and pain management?  Are we obligated to treat every disease or can we let it run its course?  What is the Torah's perspective on "quality of life" vs. life itself?

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or for speaking engagements: [email protected]

Original source sheet from class (Hebrew): https://tinyurl.com/pashalacha

Online source sheet (Eng/Heb): https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/425238

Wouldn't life be simpler if we could just walk into a building and experience God? Would it not answer so many questions and doubts?  Would it not provide such clarity of purpose and mission?

A long time ago, when the Temple stood in Jerusalem it provided just that.  Entering the temple was a transcendent experience - as if you were now experiencing life on a higher dimension.  So the question I explore in this episode is why did God remove that from us?  Why would God not want us to have a whole-body spiritually immersive experience to help us reconnect and refocus?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this as well, so feel free to reach out ([email protected])

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/423016?lang=bi

The first words a Jew says when he or she wakes up is 𝘔𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘩 𝘈𝘯𝘪, a prayer expressing thanks to God for another day.  Jewish law desires one to say this prayer so immediately upon waking that the prayer doesn't contain the name of God in it, so one can say it even before they wash their hands (𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘮).

What is so special about this prayer that our sages instituted it as the first words, and really the first thoughts, of the day?  What is the deeper meaning behind it?

Join me as I go through the text, the history and the meaning behind this beautiful 12 word opening prayer.

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions, topic requests or speaking opportunities: [email protected]

Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/421321?lang=bi

This coming weekend begins the saddest part of the Jewish calendar.  Occurring across a three week period, between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av, this time period has held the most terrible tragedies for the Jewish nation.

What were those tragedies?  What's the history behind these ominous days?  What's the message for us nowadays?  What are the practical laws (halachahs) that apply during this time?

In this episode, I provide a broad overview of this time period: beginning with the history, then the deeper meaning and concluding with the relevant laws.

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

To contact me with questions or topic requests: [email protected]

Complete source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/419326

In this episode we look into the concept of genetics in Torah law.  When are we developing the world and using the resources God gave us and when are we playing God?  

Is it ethical to pick the gender of a child?  What about their height/eye color?  What if it impacts their health? Does that make it better?

In addition to these general questions, we discuss the Rabbis approach to genetic diseases in the Jewish community (specifically Tay Sachs), the concept of determining Jewish/Kohein status based on genetic testing and many other thoughts connected to genetics as well.

Happy listening!

Rabbi Moshe

As I move over the next few weeks, I will be posting episodes on fascinating topics in Jewish Bioethics from classes I gave to a group of Medical Doctors.  Once I'm settled, I intend on restarting the shorter 10-15 minute style I've used until now.

To sponsor a podcast or make a tax-deductible donation to support this podcast and DATA of Richardson go to: https://thethinkingjew.com/support-us/

Full Hebrew Source sheets here

For questions comments or topic requests, email: [email protected]