Displaying 1 - 10 of 18
Wholly Jewish: Anjelica: Dia de los Muertos Meets Yom Kippur
In this episode: What happens when Dia de los Muertos meets Yom Kippur and Golems meet Zombies? Anjelica Ruiz, this week’s featured guest, shares some of her most memorable, educational, heart-breaking and heart-warming moments.
Audio file
Wholly Jewish: Yolanda: Forging Connections Through Conversations
In this episode: What is Yolanda Savage Narva's story? Come listen and learn as she shares her tips with us for being kind but strong, patient but firm, and always fair, just, and humble.
Audio file
A Little Bit of This, a Little Bit of That, But Always 100% Me
What do we all have in common?
Audio file
Stories We Tell: Elijah's Gift
What would you do if a stranger offered you all the money in the world? What would you do if you were offered your heart's desire? Would you share your gift, or keep it for yourself? One man and his wife are given the ultimate choice to make when a stranger makes them this exact offer. Listen to this story as told by Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro to find out what happens.
Audio file
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Va-et'chanan: Why We Should Bring Politics to the Pulpit
Everybody has an opinion on whether politics should be brought to the pulpit, but according to Rabbi Jacobs, this debate was settled centuries ago.
Audio file
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - Eikev: A Seat at the Table
A chapter in Parashat Eikev reads, “when you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless.” What does it mean to be satisfied, and what kind of power does a good meal have?
Audio file
On the Other Hand: Ten Minutes of Torah - R'eih: Eating With Compassion
Parashat R’eih includes that infamous line: “you shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” Jewish tradition categorizes the mitzvah of not mixing milk with meat as one without specific reasoning, but many scholars think th
Audio file
Stories We Tell: The Wooden Sword
Once, there was a king who set out on a mission in his kingdom to learn about his reputation. He travelled from town to town and eventually met a happy old man and his wife. After asking them why they were so joyous, they replied, “God takes care of us.” The king was furious—it’s him who takes care of the people, not God! What the man and his wife do next teach everyone in the kingdom, including the king, what it means to be taken care of. Rabbi Mark Kaiserman, the rabbi at Reform Temple of Forest Hills retells the story. For a written version, see “The Wooden Sword” in The Jewish Story Finder by Sharon Barcan Elswit.
Audio file
Stories We Tell: The Scholar and the Merchant
When a scholar boards a ship with a group of merchants, the merchants are confused. What does a scholar have to sell that could compete with their radiant perfume and beautiful scarves? When pirates storm the ship, they find out in this story retold by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union for Reform Judaism. You can find a written version of this story, titled “The Sefer Torah,” in the book Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories by Laney Katz Becker.
Audio file
Stories We Tell: Whatever You Do, Don't Bite Off the Pitom
Every year Moshe begs his father for an etrog, and every year, his father says they can’t afford it, until one special Sukkot when they scrimp and save and finally bring home an etrog. But what happens when Moshe can’t resist the pitom and Boris the Beet Borscht Baron from Belarus with very strong hands comes to bless the etrog? As Rabbi Steven Bob reminds us, “Whatever You Do, Don’t Bite Off the pitom”!
Audio file