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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. Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK, the liberal Beit Midrash ("House of Study"). Contact us at info@laasok.org with comments or questions.
Episodes

Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Bereshit: In the Image of God
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
Tuesday Oct 18, 2022
As we begin season 4 of Seven Minute Torah, we explore the idea that humans are created "in the image of God." What does the Torah mean by this, and what does it mean for our own lives?
For more information on our new Zoom Torah study groups, go to https://micahstreiffer.com/torah-study/.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
V’Zot HaBrachah: What’s Next?
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
The death of Moses is the end of the Torah...but is it really an ending? Completing this year's Torah cycle prepares us to continue our learning - and to start it all over again.
For more information on our new Zoom Torah study groups, go to https://micahstreiffer.com/torah-study/.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Ha’azinu: Adversity and Growth
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
The Torah's penultimate parashah is a poem about covenant, fidelity, adversity and growth. A perfect message for the High Holy Days, and for every day.

Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Vayelech: Write Down this Teaching
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
As Moses prepares for his own death, he is commanded to write down the Torah. Handing it to the Israelites, he hands us a tradition of writing and study that is still alive today.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Nitzavim: Not in the Heavens
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
Tuesday Sep 20, 2022
What does it mean when we say that we all stood at Sinai? This week's Torah portion - and the Rabbinic texts that comment on it - teach that Judaism belongs to all of the Jewish people in every generation.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Ki Tavo: Remember Where You Came From
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
In Ki Tavo the Israelites are commanded to bring their "first fruits" as an offering to God. The words they recite during that ritual are a reminder of how our past shapes us, and how we shape the future.

Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Ki Tetze: The Mother Bird
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
Tuesday Sep 06, 2022
In a parashah full of laws, an unexpected commandment about eggs, birds, and nests presents an opportunity to talk about the values behind our choices and actions. We will explore the mitzvah of the "mother bird" through the eyes of two medieval commentators, and discover what values they believe sit behind it.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Shoftim: Judaism in Constant Evolution
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
This week's parashah is about various kinds of leaders in ancient Israel. It's also about the way Judaism is constantly evolving - and our ongoing responsibility to find new meanings in ancient traditions.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Re’eh: Eating is an Act of Holiness
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
Tuesday Aug 23, 2022
This parashah describes the dietary laws - what Jews traditionally may and may not eat. What is a liberal Jewish approach to keeping kosher?
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.

Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Ekev: Helping the Rains Fall
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
Tuesday Aug 16, 2022
This week's parashah, Ekev, contains the middle paragraph of the Shema - a challenging passage that speaks of God as Source of "reward and punishment." Should this passage be in our prayerbook? How might we read it through modern eyes. Turns it out can also be read as an ecological text.
To become a supporter of Seven Minute Torah, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah.
Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Questions or comments? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.