In Parashat Eikev Moshe continues to implore the Israelites to continue in God's path when they enter the land of Israel. He portrays the Israelites' future security and success as a system of meritocracy; if they listen to God's commandments, God will reward them and they will flourish. In this week's parsha we discuss the merits and harm of portraying the world as a meritocracy, and connect it to current events in America. CW: sexual abuse

Life Imitates Torah

Eikev 5781

Parashat Vaetchanan opens with Moshe's plea to God to reverse the decree and allow him into the Land of Israel. We can feel Moshe's despair and sadness as he details God's angry refusal, and the compromise of Moshe being able to go up and see the land from afar. In this episode we study this scene and ask why Moshe shares this intimate moment with the nation.

Vaetchanan 5781

Sefer Devarim is a series of Moshe's speeches to the Israelites before he dies and they enter the land of Israel without him. In this week's episode we introduce the book, and discuss two of the stories in the parsha - the spies, and the Edomites - to help understand the psychological tools Moshe uses to impart his messages onto his nation. 

Devarim 5781

The end of the book of BaMidbar is an epilogue to the story of Bnot Tzlofchad that is found in Parashat Pinchas. This epilogue serves as an important modifier of the original story. In this week's episode we study both components of the story in detail, and challenge ourselves to think about our own comfort (and discomfort) with social change.

Matot-Masei 5781

Pinchas is the first קנאי, or zealot, featured in Tanach. Though Pinchas is rewarded for his behavior, the text is ambiguous about whether zealotry was a positive or negative. In this episode we explore that question further through a study of the word קנא in the Torah, and consider the common toxicities between jealousy and zealotry.

Pinchas 5781

One of the mysteries of the story of Balak is why it is in the Torah at all; it does not involve any of the Israelites, nor does it have an impact on their lives, so its impact is unclear. In this week's episode we discuss the major themes of Balak and Bilaam's story, and its connections to Pharaoh and the failed strategy of trying to oppress outsiders into submission. Our learning is dedicated to all of the victims of the building collapse in Miami. May they be found speedily, and safe.

Balak 5781

The ritual of the parah adumah, or the red heifer, is one of the best examples of a chok, or a ritual law that we do not understand. In this week's episode we examine two opposing rabbinic approaches to the concept of chok, and discuss the human experience of grappling with the unknowable. 

Chukat 5781

The story of Korach is unequivocally a story of disaster. In this week's episode we examine this story in greater detail to ascertain exactly why the factions of rebels were complaining, why their punishment was so severe, and what this teaches us about how we treat each others in moments of crisis. 

Korach 5781

In this week's episode we consider the Israelites' true fear of the Land of Israel and why the scouts' report struck such a strong chord with them. Recorded from Jerusalem!

Shlach 5781

Chapter 11 of BaMidbar opens with the first of the Israelites' complaints in the book. They complain about missing the variety of foods that they ate in Egypt, and that they're sick of the mahn. God responds by punishing them with a plague and eliminating the complainers from the nation. In this week's episode we discuss why this complaint warranted such a strong reaction, and what this can teach us about the dangers of nostalgic thinking.

Behaalotcha 5781

As the Ramban articulates, the ritual of the Sotah is entirely unique to the Torah, for it is the only ritual that relies not on fact but on a miracle from God. In this week's episode we consider why this unique magical ritual exists, and what role it served in the context of a marriage. We also discuss the disparity in its treatment of the husband and wife, and why this disparity led to its being discontinued. 

Nasso 5781

This week we start the 4th book of the Torah - Bamidbar in Hebrew, and Numbers in English. Though they refer to the same book, these names are vastly different in meaning. In this week's episode we use these differences as a frame for understanding the book as a whole, and discuss the significance of each of us spending time in the midbar at some point in our lives.

Bamidbar 5781

Parashat Behar teaches the laws of shemittah from an agrarian perspective; farmers work the land for six years, and then take a complete break for the 7th. Devarim's version of shemittah focuses on the financial components of shemittah, specifically the remittance of loans to fellow Jews every 7 years. In this week's episode we examine these two forms of shemittah in greater detail, and discuss the implications for American society and alleviating the vast wealth gap.

Behar-Bechukotai 5781

Parashat Emor ends with a short story about a man referred to as the blasphemer. The pshat of the story is vague and withholds a lot of detail. In this week's episode we study the story, and then read it through the lens of a midrash in Vayikra Rabba. We then use the understanding of the midrash to address questions of welcoming and belonging, and how communities should properly support outsiders. 

Emor 5781

The ritual of the 2 goats to be performed by the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur is a striking departure from our normative model of sacrifice and sin cleansing in the Torah. In this episode we discuss the ritual of sending a goat off to the wilderness to Azazel, and how the rabbis reinterpreted it. We then use this model to frame how we think about justice and redemption from sin in our society today. 

Acharei-Mot/Kedoshim 5781

Join Maharat Ruth for a weekly podcast: "Life Imitates Torah," as she explores relevant topics in the weekly Parsha to enhance our lives.

hubhopper

Life Imitates Torah

hubhopper