Torah Cafe

While we often complain about rain, we also know that rain is essential for our survival, without it we have a drought. Rain has had an important place in Judaism not just for its importance for survival but in its unique religious significance and relationship with the Land of Israel.

Learn about the significance of rain in Judaism.

The seven day festival of Sukkot is the festival of joy! What does it mean to be happy? How can we make ourselves happier even when we have so many reasons to be unhappy? Why is Sukkot the festival for joy?

Learn about happiness and its importance in Judaism,

The central theme of Yom Kippur is a Day of Atonement and Forgiveness. On Yom Kippur, our sages say we must do Teshuvah (usually translated as repentance) to obtain forgiveness.

What is Teshuvah? How is Teshuvah done? Why is Teshuvah necessary to obtain forgiveness? What if we have nothing in particular that we regret over the past year, do we still need forgiveness?

Learn about Teshuvah and the Jewish perspective on forgiveness.

Every year on Yom Kippur we read the book of Jonah about the prophet Jonah who tried to escape God by fleeing to Tarshish rather than fulfill his mission to warn the city of Ninveh that they would be destroyed.

Listen to the fascinating story of Jonah, why he tried to escape and what Jonah's story means to each of us.

Rosh Hashanah is celebrated as the Jewish New Year but though it is a New Year, we do not make any wild parties or celebrate. It's not that Jews don't celebrate, we have other holidays when we party like Simchat Torah and Purim. Why then don't we party on Rosh Hashanah? Instead we spend much of the day praying in the synagogue.

A discussion about the Jewish New Year, what it means and why it is so serious.

Tashlich is the little understood but widely observed ceremony we do near water on Rosh Hashanah.

Learn about the Tashlich ceremony, what it actual is about, as well as its history and customs.

On a Saturday night a week or so before Rosh Hashanah, we go to the synagogue at midnight to recite the special prayers of Selichot. Every morning after that until Rosh Hashanah, we get up early to recite the Selichot.

What are Selichot? What is unique about the prayers? Who wrote them? Why are they recited at unusual times?

One of the most influential Jeiwsh leaders in history was Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi (b. 1745), known best as the founder of the Chabad movement and author of the mystical classic Tanya. Rabbi Shneur Zalman was one of the wisest Jewish scholars of all time and a charismatic leader whose movement changed the face of Jewish life in Europe in his day despite ongoing challenges he faced from his many detractors.

Learn about Rabbi Schneur Zalman, his fascinating life story and the lasting impact he made of Jewish life we know today.

How do you measure things? Feet, gallons & pounds? Meters, liters and kilograms? Judaism has its own measurement system.

Many rules in Judaism require specific weights, lengths or volumes. Torah includes a full system of measurements for all of Jewish law.  Many of those measurements are based on the human body similar to the 'foot' that we use in the 'US customary system'. To accurately use those measurements today, we need to be certain that humans have not changed in size over time, but have they?

Learn about Jewish measurements and the great debate over whether humans have grown over time.

AI (artificial intelligence) has greatly advanced in recent years. Today, robots can perform many human functions even better than people can. While robots are still not indistinguishable in all ways, that day is not too far off. Could an AI-powered robot might someday be considered a human according to Jewish law? Could it be counted for a minyan?

Learn about the history of robots and other human-like creations in Judaism and their status under Jewish law.