Making modern meaning from ancient texts.! Each week Rabbi Micah Streiffer discusses the weekly Torah portion in about 7 to 12 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
Sep 17, 2021
Sep 17, 2021
9 min
The Torah's penultimate parashah is a poem that gives a stylized version of the Israelites' history with God. It has a lot to teach us about covenant, about parent-child relationships, and about unconditional love.
Sep 7, 2021
Sep 7, 2021
17 min
Rabbi Streiffer's sermon from Rosh Hashanah morning 5782. About the ways that life calls us to think deeply about our values and our choices and how they align with each other.
Aug 31, 2021
Aug 31, 2021
41 min
This week's parashah is about standing ("nitzavim") together. In our interview with Rabbi Jesse Paikin, he points out a powerful message about responsibility to others and the need to think beyond ourselves.
Aug 24, 2021
Aug 24, 2021
9 min
This week's parashah describes the ancient practice of bringing First Fruits to the Temple. It's a ritual that still resonates today - especially in terms of building gratitude and the responsibility to provide for the less fortunate.
Aug 17, 2021
Aug 17, 2021
9 min
The measure of a society is in how it treats its most vulnerable. (Encore presentation.)
Aug 10, 2021
Aug 10, 2021
26 min
Shoftim is the Torah's portion about leadership. This week I talk with author and journalist Anya Kamenetz about different modes of information, how to assess leaders, and the centrality of social justice. Plus, in the bonus interview: children in the pandemic, resiliency in hard times, and making Jewish practice meaningful.
Aug 3, 2021
Aug 3, 2021
7 min
How a mindset of stewardship and generosity can help cultivate happiness. (Encore presentation.)
Jul 28, 2021
Jul 28, 2021
42 min
A conversation with Rabbi Miri Gold: we talk about the (ancient and modern) Jewish connection to the land of Israel, about ecology and the rhythms of Jewish life. Plus, in the bonus interview - the growth of non-Orthodox Judaism in the Jewish state; Israeli baseball in the Olympics; gratitude rituals and more!
Jul 20, 2021
Jul 20, 2021
37 min
This week we are joined by Rabbi Denise Eger, for conversation about the Shema, the concept of God's oneness, and what that means for our relationships with people.
Plus: Social justice in Judaism, a groundbreaking new LGBTQ prayerbook, and more!
Jul 14, 2021
Jul 14, 2021
36 min
This episode is a conversation with Rabbi Ben Shalva.
D'varim is the beginning of Deuteronomy: the book of (Moses's) words. How does Moses's final act - an act of creating words - teach us about legacy, about memory, and about owning our own traditions?
Plus, we talk about Jewish camp, about the place of mindfulness and yoga in Judaism, about books and more.