Torah Cafe

70 years ago after the Holocaust had destroyed 1/3 of world Jewry and American Jews assimilating rapidly, the future of Judaims looked bleak.

Starting in 1950, the Rebbe built a movement of Jewish revival that succeeded in turning the tide of assimilation and changed the landscape of Judaism to become the thriving growing community it is today.

Discover how the Rebbe built a movement that would revive Judaism across the world.

In 1760 with the beginning of the Industrial revolution, the world began to change in ways it it had never changed before. Over the past 200 years, our world has advanced so far that our lives are in no way similar to the pre-technology lives we lived 250 years ago.

What does the Torah say about the greatest developments in history? Is there any spiritual meaning to it? 

Discover some fascinating predictions and the amazing spiritual meaning behind the technological revolution.

When a loved one; a parent, relative or friend dies, we miss them and want to find ways to connect to them. In Jewish traditions we have many ways to continue connecting with our loved ones even after they die.

Learn about our relationship with our loved ones after death and the various Jewish traditions and teachings on how we can still connect with them.

Predicting the future is a big business. Media, financial experts, political consultants, sport commentators all try to predict what will happen. From the earliest times, people have used astrology as one of the chief methods of predicting the future and understanding the past and present.

Does Judaism recognize astrology? Is there any truth to its predictions? Does Jewish law allow Jews to dabble in astrology?

A discussion about astrology in Torah, Jewish history and Jewish law.

One of the greatest Jewish prophets was Elisha, the successor of Elijah who was given 'double the spirit' that Elijah had. Elisha lived in a challenging time for Jews when they were led by the wicked king Ahab and his dynasty.

A discussion about the prophet Elisha and his fascinating story.

More than 1300 years ago, Arab armies swept out of the Arabian desert under the banner of the new religion of Islam to conquer much of the civilized world including most major Jewish communities. Since that time, large Jewish communities have lived in Arab and Muslim lands and had to contend with Islamic beliefs and Arabs who claimed to be descendant from Isaac's brother Ismael. Today, the Arab and Muslim world has become the center of modern antisemitism and the greatest threat to the Jewish state of Israel.

What does Judaism says about Islam and the Arab world, Are Arabs indeed our bothers? Are Islamic values closer to Judaism than Christian ones? What does this mean for the modern contentious Jewish-Arab relationship?

Who is Jewish? One of the big questions that have faced the Jewish community in recent decades is figuring out who should be considered Jewish and a member of our people. 

A talk about this very controversial and sensitive topic of what makes someone Jewish

Many Jews feel uncomfortable with the claim that Jews are chosen? Isn't that elitist? Is it racist? Should the belief in being chosen lead to antisemitism, giving non Jews a good reason to dislike Jews?

Do Jews really believe that we are the Chosen People? If yes, what are we chosen for?

Understand the Jewish belief in being the Chosen People and what it means.

In modern times Human Rights is the foundation of our morality and ethics. We have enshrined many rights into our Constitution with the Bill of Rights. The concept of human rights is thought to have originated with 17th century philosophers like John Locke.

Judaism has been around for thousands of years before the concept of Human Rights became widespread. Do Jewish teachings agree with Human Rights? Can Human Rights be found in the Torah?

What do our Jewish traditions say about using mind-altering drugs such as marijuana for recreational purposes. What about heavier drugs like cocaine or heroin?

Does Judaism forbid using mind-altering drugs? Is it encouraged? How do mind altering drugs differ from alcohol which plays a central role in Jewish rituals such as Kiddush?

Learn about the Jewish view on recreational drug use.