Best Book Ever podcast artwork

PODCAST · religion

Best Book Ever

Every week, Rabbi David Kasher takes us on a 15-minute dive into the Parsha (the weekly Torah portion), to see some of its layers and complexity. We'll try to get a feeling for why this text has captured the human imagination for millennia, and why the Torah truly is the greatest story ever told.

  1. 134

    Shabbat and Holidays: Two Timelines / Parshat Emor

    On Monday May 4, join Hadar West and Rising Song's R. Deborah Sacks Mintz for a festive Hilula - uplifting gathering of song and story - to mark this evening.   ⁠https://hadar.org/learn/classes-events/hadar-west-lag-baomer-rising-song⁠ This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha study class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  2. 133

    The Difference Between Justice and Holiness / Parshat Aharei Mot-Kedoshim

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parsha Study Class from April 22, 2026 co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  3. 132

    Sickness in the Torah: Two Models / Parshat Tazria-Metzorah

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 4.15.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

  4. 131

    The Kli Yakar’s Psychology of Wealth and Poverty / Parashat Vayikra

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 3.18.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

  5. 130

    The End of Exodus / Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

    This is a recording of Rabbi David Kasher's class The Weekly Parashah from 3.11.2026, co-sponsored by IKAR and Hadar.

  6. 129

    Taking Responsibility in Public Office / Parashat Ki Tisa

    This is a recording from 3.4.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. There were technical difficulties in the last 10 minutes of class and Rabbi Kasher had to join from a different device.

  7. 128

    Wisdom of the Heart / Parashat Tetzeveh

    This is a recording from 2.25.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  8. 127

    A Crimson Thread / Parashat Terumah

    This is a recording from 2.18.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  9. 126

    Lost on Mount Sinai / Parshat Mishpatim

    This is a recording from 2.11.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  10. 125

    Lost on Mount Sinai / Parshat Mishpatim

    This is a recording from 2.11.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  11. 124

    Midrashic Origin Stories / Parshat Yitro

    This is a recording from 2.4.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  12. 123

    Pharaoh Never Died - Parshat Beshalah

    This is a recording from 1.28.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  13. 122

    Hard-Heartedness - Parshat Bo

    This is a recording from 1.21.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  14. 121

    Leadership: Character or Destiny? - Parshat Shemot

    This is a recording from 1.7.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  15. 120

    Two Messiahs, Three Opinions - Parshat Vayehi

    This is a recording from 12.23.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  16. 119

    Joseph Builds the Administrative State - Parshat Vayigash

    This is a recording from 12.23.2025 of Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parashah class, co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  17. 118

    The Trappings of Power - Parshat Mikeitz

    This is a recording from 12.18.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  18. 117
  19. 116

    Two Kidnappings - Parshat Vayeira

    This is a recording from 11.5.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR.

  20. 115

    The Rise of Kings - Parshat Lekh Lekha

    This is a recording from 10.29.2025 of the Weekly Parashah with Rabbi David Kasher, a class co-sponsored by Hadar and IKAR. You can watch the full class here: https://youtu.be/xCIiAkZDSGQ and read the source sheet here: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/568347?lang=bi

  21. 114

    Psychedelic Imagery in the Torah

    On today’s episode, Rabbi David Kasher is joined by Madison Margolin to talk about psychedelic experiences in the Torah. Madison is the author of Exile & Ecstasy: Growing Up with Ram Dass and Coming of Age in the Jewish Psychedelic Underground. She’s also Co-founder of the Jewish Psychedelic Summit and DoubleBlind, a print magazine and digital media startup covering psychedelics and where they intersect with mental health, environmental justice, social equity, and more, Madison also teaches on Judaism and psychedelics, such as with Tzfat’s LiveKabbalah or Psychedelics Today, and offers consulting and guidance for those on the Jewish-psychedelic path.

  22. 113

    A Rabbi, A Guy, and a Goddess

    Guy Branum joins Rabbi Kasher to discuss Ashera and the presence of a goddess in the Torah

  23. 112

    Take Warning - Parshat Behukotai

    Full class: https://youtu.be/xCIiAkZDSGQ Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/568347?lang=bi

  24. 111

    The End of Slavery / Parshat Behar

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/566742?lang=bi Watch the Full Class: https://youtu.be/FRhY5TSlsqo

  25. 110

    Counting the Omers / Parshat Emor

    Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/404083?lang=bi Watch the Full Class: https://youtu.be/YrP-HnwjiNc

  26. 109

    Kedoshim Couplets / Parshat Kedoshim

    Weekly Parsha Study with Rabbi David Kasher from 5.9.2024 Full unedited class: https://youtu.be/tQGKQYEjVKA Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/563716?lang=bi

  27. 108

    A Queasy Land - Parshat Aharei Mot

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/562111?lang=bi Full unedited class: https://youtu.be/O-gaUHURJBA

  28. 107

    Magic 8 - Parshat Tazria

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/558262?lang=bi

  29. 106

    Come Closer - Parshat Shemini

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/556558?editor=1

  30. 105

    Concessions to Human Nature -  Parshat Tzav

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/554948?editor=1

  31. 104

    Building a Home for God - Parshat Pekudei

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/551802?lang=bi

  32. 103

    Broken Torah for Broken People - Parshat Vayakhel

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/550092?editor=1

  33. 102

    The Origins of Yom Kippur Liturgy - Parshat Ki Tisa

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/548331?editor=1

  34. 101

    Everyday Torah - Parashat Tetzaveh

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/546667?editor=1

  35. 100

    The Third Rail - Parshat Terumah

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/545191?editor=1

  36. 99

    Third Category of Law - Parshat Mishpatim

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/543516?lang=bi

  37. 98

    TRUSTING MOSHE - Parshat Yitro

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/541791?lang=bi

  38. 97

    LIFE AFTER PASSOVER - Parshat Beshalach

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/479870?editor=1

  39. 96

    DON'T DELAY! - Parshat Bo

    Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/538397?lang=bi

  40. 95

    SHORTNESS OF BREATH - Parshat Va'era

    Source Sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/536848?lang=bi

  41. 94

    RETURN TO THE HOUSE OF GOD – Parshat Vayishlakh

    Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/528461?lang=bi

  42. 93

    DREAM INTERPRETATION - Parshat Mikeitz

    https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/531708?lang=bi

  43. 92

    WAS ESAU BAD? - Parshat Toldot

    Rabbi David Kasher's Weekly Parsha Study. Source sheet: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/525551?lang=bi

  44. 91
  45. 90

    BEFORE THE BINDING - Parshat Vayeira

    A recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly virtual parsha study class from 11.2.2023. Sign up for the class here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A...

  46. 89

    DEFYING DESTINY - Parashat Lekh Lekha

    A recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly virtual parsha study class from 10.26.2023. Sign up for the class here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A...

  47. 88

    NOAH'S COVENANT - Parashat Noach

    A recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly virtual parsha study class from 10.19.2023. Sign up for the class here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fikar-la.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJwrfuytrz4jGtMKB6cYx0bcGz7JmFw5rgUd&sa=D&ust=1697577720000000&usg=AOvVaw1yOKzqinM2sivSvIl6GPS9

  48. 87

    PRIMORDIAL PAIN - Parashat Bereishit

    A recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly virtual parsha study class from 10.12.2023. Sign up for the class here: https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fikar-la.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtJwrfuytrz4jGtMKB6cYx0bcGz7JmFw5rgUd&sa=D&ust=1697577720000000&usg=AOvVaw1yOKzqinM2sivSvIl6GPS9

  49. 86

    DISSENT with Ezra Furman

    The book of B'midbar is a book full of conflict. And so that was the book that Ezra Furman suggested we talk about. It's appropriate - she's a punk musician and B'midbar is kind of the punk book of the Torah. I think you'll find it interesting to hear a a side of Ezra that you won't always see on stage, a soft, reflective side. She will scream at you from the stage, but one on one, when she's working through ideas, she's very quiet and deliberate. You can tell that she believes everything she says and and believes that how you say it and when you say it are extremely important, too. Buy Rabbi David Kasher's book, ParshaNut. Best Book Ever is a co-presentation of IKAR and the Hadar Institute. Find us on socials @WeAreIKAR and @HadarInstitute. You can follow my Facebook page at Rabbi David Kasher or find me on instagram @DavidKasher to keep up with the show and everything else we’re getting up to.

  50. 85

    THE DAY OF STOPPING - Parshat Emor

    This is a condensed recording of Rabbi David Kasher's weekly parsha studies class from 5.4.2023. To watch the full class head over to IKAR's YouTube channel.

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

Every week, Rabbi David Kasher takes us on a 15-minute dive into the Parsha (the weekly Torah portion), to see some of its layers and complexity. We'll try to get a feeling for why this text has captured the human imagination for millennia, and why the Torah truly is the greatest story ever told.

HOSTED BY

Rabbi David Kasher

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Best Book Ever have?

Best Book Ever currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Best Book Ever about?

Every week, Rabbi David Kasher takes us on a 15-minute dive into the Parsha (the weekly Torah portion), to see some of its layers and complexity. We'll try to get a feeling for why this text has captured the human imagination for millennia, and why the Torah truly is the greatest story ever told.

How often does Best Book Ever release new episodes?

Best Book Ever has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Best Book Ever?

You can listen to Best Book Ever on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Best Book Ever?

Best Book Ever is created and hosted by Rabbi David Kasher.
URL copied to clipboard!