Why is blood forbidden? Is it inherently wrong, or did it once mean something rejected by the Torah? As we shall see, sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar and we are going to turn the mirror on ourselves and our actions to see what they really mean.

Sources: Ex. 29:21, Guide 3:46

Our episode for Parshat Terumah raises some serious questions about the nature of Jewish Law and the Rambam's views in particular. So does the Rambam believe that Judaism requires building a third Temple? And if there are historical reasons behind the commandments, do we still need to keep them today?

Tune in to this bonus episode to find out the answers and be sure to send any questions you have to [email protected].

The truth is very important. But it is not sufficient. So we see in the Rambam's famous explanation for the commandment to build the Tabernacle.

There is a great lesson here, as always.

The Rambam's views raise some fundamental questions about Jewish Law, so look out for a bonus episode to follow.

Jewish belief is not enough, the Rambam says. This isn’t just about habits or culture- it’s about Jewish identity. And if we want that identity to last, we’ll need to learn the lessons of Shabbat.

Sources: Ex. 20:10, Guide 2:31, Atomic Habits p. 36

God doesn’t change people. And we shouldn’t try to.

In this week's episode, we see just how central this principle is to Torah. And then we think about how important it ought to be to us.

Sources: Ex. 13:17, Guide 3:32, Avot 2:4

How do we overcome false ideas and ideals? We slaughter them publicly. This is the purpose of the Paschal lamb and a great lesson for our time.

What happened to Pharaoh's free will when God hardened his heart? And isn’t it unfair for God to punish Pharaoh for something he really didn’t have a choice in?

These are great questions. And there are several ways we might think about the Rambam’s answer.

Take a few minutes to explore what the Rambam thought and what it means for us.

Sources: Eight Chapters, chapter 8, with commentary by Rabbi Yitzchak Sheilat (pp. 318-322), Guide 2:24, 48 with commentary from Goodman and Lieberman, Rabbi Sacks Free Will: Use it or Lose it.

Moshe was not always a prophet. First, he was a person inspired by the Spirit of God. And we can be too.

Who decides what’s prophecy- and who decides what to trust?

And what surprising spiritual lesson is revealed when we learn the answers to these questions?

Sources: Gen. 48:3, 35:6-11, Kings 1 3:15, Guide 2:32, 36, 39, 41, 45

Painting by Yoram Raanan

Why does Unkelos translate “I will go down with you to Egypt” literally—when he usually avoids any language that suggests God has a body? In this episode of Unperplexed, we follow the Rambam’s answer and discover a deep principle about prophecy, interpretation, and why reverence for great thinkers still matters today.