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
Friday Mar 26, 2021
Friday Mar 26, 2021
This week's parashah teaches some surprising things about unleavened bread and about human nature. Pertinent to the Pesach holiday, and to our everyday lives. Plus, my best matzah jokes!
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
Thursday Mar 18, 2021
A conversation with Rabbi Joel Simon of Congregation Schaarei Zedek in Tampa, Florida, about sacrifice and prayer, how the synagogue saved Judaism, and what it all has to do with Covid.
#JewishLearning #Covid19 #Judaism #Rabbi #TorahPortion #ParashatHashavua #JewishPrayer
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Friday Mar 12, 2021
Is the sanctuary holy because God is there, or is it the other way around? (Hint: it's about what YOU do.) Plus, a brief explanation of some of the intricacies of the Jewish calendar.
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
Thursday Mar 04, 2021
The story of the Golden Calf is a story of the dangers of acting out of fear. Our fears can bring out the worst in us, but they can also impel us to be our best. We quote the research of Dr. Kelly McGonigal about stress and wellness.
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
By reminding us that we were once slaves in Egypt, the Torah teaches that we are responsible to care for the vulnerable in society.
#Torah #JewishLearning #Podcast #SocialJustice
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Friday Feb 05, 2021
Did God hand down 10 Commandments on stone tablets at Mount Sinai? When we stop reading the Torah so literally, we can see that it is actually about us and our own lives.
#Judaism #Torah #TenCommandments #JewishPodcast
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
Thursday Jan 28, 2021
The Torah says that the Israelites took the long route through the wilderness to the Promised Land. A perfect metaphor for our own journeys.
#Torah #Podcast #Judaism #Transformation #BestSelf #Wellness
Friday Jan 22, 2021
Friday Jan 22, 2021
This week's parashah tells us that God "hardened Pharaoh's heart." It sounds like either a fairy tail or a weird/problematic rejection of free will. But it's actually a lesson about open-mindedness and what it takes to be our best selves.
Shout out to President Joe Biden, who quoted this portion in his inaugural address.
#Torah #Podcast #Unity #JewishLearning
Friday Jan 15, 2021
Friday Jan 15, 2021
The Torah says that the Israelite slaves couldn't even conceive of the possibility of freedom. How did Moses help them believe things could be better? What can we learn from this for our own "narrow places" in life?
#ThriveNotSurvive #Torah #learning #podcast #Judaism #wellness
Friday Jan 08, 2021
Friday Jan 08, 2021
The Torah warns us about leaders who seek power simply for the sake of being in power, without regard for the good of the people. And it holds up Moses as an example of a different kind of lawmaker.
#Torah #Judaism #CapitolRiots