Making modern meaning from ancient texts! Each week Rabbi Micah Streiffer discusses the weekly Torah portion in about 7 to 10 minutes, through liberal Jewish eyes. We weave together philosophy, spirituality, tradition, and social justice - and derive meaning for today‘s life from our sacred sources. Longer episodes include a bonus interview with leading rabbis and Jewish thought leaders. With questions or comments, please contact me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Episodes
16 hours ago
16 hours ago
Why did Rebekah fall off her camel when she met Isaac? Is that even what really happened? And what does that have to do with marriage, partnership, and misogyny? In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores some Midrash on Rebekah and Isaac, painting two parallel pictures of what the matriarch and patriarch mean for Jewish life today.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
7 days ago
7 days ago
This week's Torah portion contains two stories - the incident of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the incident of Hagar and Ishmael - that teach important Jewish values about justice and about the way we are supposed to relate to neighboring peoples. In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer speaks about the ideas that come out of these narratives, and about how they relate to Jewish life and to Israel today.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
Wednesday Nov 06, 2024
The midrash teaches us that Abraham is an idol smasher. Heschel teaches us that an idol is "any god concerned with me but not with you." In other words, Judaism says that injustice is idolatry, and that we must to stand up against injustice even when - especially when - it is the policy of our own government. This is an important message in the current political moment, as we look to what the next 4 years will bring.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Tuesday Oct 22, 2024
Tuesday Oct 22, 2024
We mostly think of the story of Adam and Eve as a story about sin and punishment, but Rabbi Micah Streiffer wants to suggest that it is actually a story about what it means to be human. This episode is the beginning of season 6!
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
Tuesday Oct 15, 2024
As we read the Torah's last portion, we ask about the death of Moses, and explore a Midrash about life and death, leadership and legacy.
Chazak chazak v'nitchazeik! Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another!
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
This week's Torah portion suggests a framework for how to include those who live at the outskirts of society. A message of social justice and human dignity that speaks powerfully to our moment.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
Tuesday Sep 17, 2024
In a strange passage of Talmud, the Rabbis imagine God putting on t'fillin. They tie it back to this week's Torah portion - to an image of God and the Jewish people "affirming" their covenant with each other. In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer will talk about this surprising image of the Divine, and why it just might help us reclaim t'fillin in liberal Judaism.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at micah@laasok.org.
Tuesday Sep 10, 2024
Tuesday Sep 10, 2024
As liberal Jews, what are we supposed to do with obscure, esoteric laws in the Torah that seem to have nothing to do with Jewish life today?
This portion contains one of the Torah's most obscure laws: the prohibition against mixing wool and linen (shaatnez). Rabbi Micah Streiffer talks about the possible meanings behind it, and how to make modern meaning from a section like this.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Alden Solovy is a poet and a creator of beautiful modern liturgy. In this episode, he joins Rabbi Micah Streiffer to discuss the idea of communal responsibility (as expressed in an intensely strange event in this week's Torah portion), to talk about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza, and to read some of his original meditations for the High Holy Days.
Alden's newest book is Enter These Gates: Meditations for the Days of Awe from CCAR Press. A 20% discount is available using code HHD5785.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
Tuesday Aug 27, 2024
The Torah makes a grand pronouncement: Israelites should distance themselves physically and spiritually from neighboring peoples so as not to be tempted to "follow their ways." But how does this sit with modern, progressive Jews who believe in interfaith dialogue? Isn't it important to learn about other religious and cultural groups? In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores what it means to disagree with the Torah on this topic.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
- For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email info@laasok.org, or contact Rabbi Micah Streiffer directly at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com