PODCAST · religion
JOI to the World
by Menachem Lehrfield
JOI to the World is a collection of podcasts by Rabbi Lehrfield of JOI that explore diverse aspects of Jewish life, learning, and culture. Each episode offers a unique perspective, drawing from the rich tapestry of Jewish thought and tradition. You can subscribe to this podcast to get weekly episodes or you can subscribe to the individual shows to receive the monthly episodes as they air. Zero Percent: Discover the profound outsided impact of a people that make up less than 0.2% of the world. Dear Rabbi: Practical answers to questions about Judaism. reConnect: Bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern life, this series offers a deep dive into the relationships that matter most. Yada Yada Yiddish: A Jewish perspective on Seinfeld, using the show’s iconic moments as a springboard for exploring Jewish concepts and values. Kids Say the Deepest Things: Meaningful lessons from the funny and insightful things k
Episodes
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Why Judaism Doesn’t Actively Seek Converts
Welcome to Dear Rabbi, where we tackle your pressing questions about Judaism! 🕍 In this episode, Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield addresses the intriguing topic of conversion in Judaism. 🌟Discover why Judaism doesn't actively pursue converts, unlike some other major religions. Learn about the Jewish...
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Parshat Va'etchanan: Our Pledge of Allegiance
📖 Parshat Va'etchanan This Week: We recite the Shema daily, wear it in tefillin on our arms, and affix it to our mezuzot on our doorposts. It's the most well-known Jewish declaration, but here's what most people don't realize: it's not a prayer. Prayer involves requesting, praising, or thanking...
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How Do I Start Being More Jewish?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question many people ask: What is the best way to get started in wanting to be more involved in Jewish life? The answer is refreshingly simple and accessible. Luckily, Judaism is not all…
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Parshat Devarim: Know Where You've Come From
📖 Parshat Devarim This Week: 'You can't know where you're going unless you know where you've come from.' Before crossing into the Promised Land, Moshe takes the entire nation through their history in Egypt, the wilderness, the mistakes, and the victories. He's not dwelling on the past; he's...
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Parshat Matot masei: The Importance of the Journey
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts 📖 This Week’s Parsha: Parshat Masei The Torah enumerates all 42 stops the Jewish people made during their 40 years in the desert. Most are trivial, little more than pit stops, places where “nothing important happened. We read the...
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Why Don't Orthodox Jewish Men Wear Wedding Rings?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question many people wonder about: Why don't Orthodox Jewish men wear wedding rings? While I do know some Orthodox men who do wear them, traditionally many Orthodox men do not, and there's...
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Parshat Pinchas: The Price of Decisive Action
📖 Parshat Pinchas This Week: Zimri and Cozbi sin openly in front of the entire nation. The plague kills thousands. Moshe seems frozen. What's the right response? But Pinchas doesn't wait for permission. He acts decisively, takes a spear, and kills them both. The plague stops. God rewards him…
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Why Aren't Dinosaurs Mentioned in the Bible?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a fascinating question: Why don't we find any mention of dinosaurs in the creation story in the Bible? The answer reveals how we should read and interpret biblical texts. First, let me point...
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Parshat Balak: Blessings Disguised as Curses
📖 Parshat Balak This Week: King Balak hires the prophet Bilam to curse the Jewish people. Bilam opens his mouth to curse, but God transforms every curse into a blessing. 'How goodly are your tents, O Jacob!' Instead of destruction, he pronounces protection. Instead of weakness, he proclaims...
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Why Giving More Made Me Wealthier Than Keeping It Ever Did - Rabbi Moshe Lehrfield
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts. What if giving money away was actually the smartest financial decision you could make? In this episode of Zero Percent, Rabbi Menachem Lehrfield sits down with his father Moshe Lehrfield to explore the Jewish philosophy of…
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Parshat Korach: Is It About the Problem or About You?
📖 Parshat Korach This Week: If we see something wrong, we should fix it. That's our responsibility. But here's the hard question: Does the solution always point back to you? Does fixing the problem somehow benefit your ego, advance your career, or give you what you want? If yes, maybe it's not...
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Can Someone With a Tattoo Be Buried in a Jewish Cemetery?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I address a common misconception: Can a person with a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery? The short answer is yes, someone with a tattoo can absolutely be buried in a Jewish cemetery. That's not…
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Parshat Shelach: Belief Shapes Reality
📖 Parshat Shelach This Week: Ten spies and two enter the same land. They see the same giants, they see the same walls, they see the same challenges. But the ten say, "We cannot do it." Yehoshua and Kalev say, 'We can do it.' Same reality. Different conclusions. Who’s right? The actual story?…
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Why Don't Jews Mix Milk and Meat?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a fundamental question about Jewish dietary laws: Why don't Jews mix milk and meat? The short answer is simple: because God said so. But there's so much more to understand about this ancient...
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Parshat Beha'alotcha: Enough is a Mindset
📖 Parsha Beha’alotcha This Week's: The Jewish people are eating manna, the perfect food. It tastes like whatever they want, is totally nutritious, and leaves no waste. But they whine. They want the meat. God sends the quails. Finally! They think, I will be happy! But they are still not happy....
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Why Can Jews Charge Interest to Non-Jews?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I address a question about Jewish lending practices: Why are Jews allowed to charge interest to non-Jews? The answer reveals deeper Jewish values about family, community, and morality. First, let me…
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Parsha Nasso: When nobody owns it, everything fails
📖 Parshat Nasso This Week: This emphasizes the critical role of assigning specific roles to foster a sense of ownership, a cornerstone of effective leadership. When individuals are given clear responsibilities, it significantly boosts employee engagement and overall team motivation. This…
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Should Jews Buy German Cars?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a sensitive question: Can or should Jews drive Volkswagens or other German-made vehicles? I like how you asked both "can" and "should" because honestly, that's the distinction. First, the...
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You Get More Than You Give : Reb Bernard Heitner
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts. Why Real Entrepreneurs Go From Failure to Failure Real talk: entrepreneurship isn't about avoiding failure; it's about moving from one failure to the next until something works. The difference between those who make it and those...
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Is Being Anti-Israel the Same as Being Antisemitic?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a great and very timely question: Is it antisemitic to be anti-Israel? This is a nuanced issue that requires careful understanding of the difference between legitimate criticism and hate. I...
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Parshat Bamidbar: You Become Who You Camp With
📖 Parshat Bamidbar This Week: The Torah dedicates significant space to detailing who camped next to whom in the desert, every tribe's exact position around the Mishkan. Why does this matter? Because proximity shapes identity. Who we are depends on the people we spend our time with. The tribes...
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My Dog Ate My Kippah - Does It Need Jewish Burial?
In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a beautifully rhymed question: "Michael ate my kippah." Does it need to go to genizah?" Let me first clarify the terms: a kippah is the head covering Jewish men traditionally wear, Michael is a dog, and genizah is the process and place where we bury holy...
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Parshat Behar: You Don't Really Own Anything
📖 Parshat Behar This Week: Imagine buying land, working it for decades, building your wealth, and then every 50 years, Yovel hits, and it goes back to the original owner. Wait, what? How is that even fair? But that's exactly the Torah's system. The message? You don't really own anything....
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If Torah Forbids Adding Laws, How Do Rabbinic Mitzvot Exist?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle an excellent paradox: The Torah explicitly states that one is prohibited from adding or subtracting from the mitzvot. So how then do rabbinic mitzvot come to be? Isn't that adding to the...
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Parshat Emor: Walking the Path of Elevation
📖 Parshat Emor This Week: Three times a year, the Jewish people made pilgrimage to the Temple, walking the same ancient stones, going uphill, literally 'oleh regel,' ascending for the festival. This week's parsha calls the holidays 'mikra'ei kodesh,' holy convocations. Why do they need to be...
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How Do I Start Being More Jewish?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question many people ask: What is the best way to get started in wanting to be more involved in Jewish life? The answer is refreshingly simple and accessible. Luckily, Judaism is not all…
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Parshat Achrei Mot: Mourning Lost Potential
📖 Parshat Achrei Mot This Week: Orthodox Jewish men look scruffy right now; we're in the Omer mourning period for Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students who died in a plague. Why mourn them for over a month when we don't mourn anyone else in Jewish history this way? This week's parsha about Aharon's sons...
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Why Do Jewish Women Cover Their Hair?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, we answer a question about a distinctive Jewish practice: Why do some Jewish women cover their hair? For this episode, my wife Sarah Lehrfield shares her personal perspective as a Jewish woman who...
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Why Does God Stay Hidden?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I address a profound spiritual question: Why does God want some distance? Even when we draw close with broken hearts in prayer, why does God remain hidden? I explore this concept through the lens of...
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Parshat Shemini: You Are What You Consume
Parshat Shemini This Week: The Torah gives us kashrut, laws about what we can and cannot eat. But it’s not just about food. We are what we consume. What we surround ourselves with. The people we follow, the music we listen to, the movies we watch, and the social media we scroll—all of it is...
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Parshat Tzav: When It's Not Inspiring, Do It Anyway
📖 Parshat Tzav This Week: Last week's Vayikra covered the big concepts behind sacrifices: the philosophy and the meaning. This week? Tzav gets unromantic. It's all the nitty-gritty details: how the kohen actually performs the service day in and day out. No drama. No inspiration. Just showing up....
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If Torah Says Don't Add to Mitzvot, How Do Rabbinic Laws Exist?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle an excellent paradox: The Torah explicitly states that one is prohibited from adding or subtracting from the mitzvot. So how then do rabbinic mitzvot come to be? Isn't that adding to the...
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Parshat Vayikra: Judaism is About What You Do
📖 Parshat Vayikra This Week: At a YU commencement, Rachel Goldberg-Polin said, "Judaism is not about what you think. It isn't about what you learn. It isn't about what you say. Judaism is about what you do.' The sacrifices in this parsha seem archaic, but here's what we can connect to: when...
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Do Jews Believe in Reincarnation? Gilgul Neshamot Explained
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question that surprises many people: Do Jews believe in reincarnation? The short answer is yes. Judaism does believe in the concept of gilgul neshamot (reincarnation of souls), according…
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Parshat Pekudei: When Inspiration Needs Accountability
📖 Parshat Pekudei This Week: The Mishkan is complete. Donations poured in. Gold, silver, and precious materials. But then the Torah does something unexpected: it provides a detailed accounting of every single donation. Wait, why? Nobody was accusing Moshe of embezzlement. Because inspiration is...
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How Do I Start Being More Involved in Judaism?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question many people ask: What is the best way to get started in wanting to be more involved in Jewish life? The answer might surprise you with how accessible and flexible it actually is....
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Parshat Ki Tisa: From Mount Sinai to Golden Calf
📖 Parshat Ki Tisa This Week: Immediately after the highest spiritual moment in history, receiving the Torah directly from God at Mount Sinai, comes the Golden Calf, one of the lowest points in Jewish history. How does that happen? How do you fall so far, so fast? The lesson: inspiration is not...
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Can Someone With a Tattoo Be Buried in a Jewish Cemetery?
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer one of the most common misconceptions about Jewish law: Can a person with a tattoo be buried in a Jewish cemetery? The short answer is yes - even someone with a tattoo can absolutely be…
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Parshat Tetzaveh: Why Jews Dress Differently
📖 Parshat Tetzaveh This Week: Jews have long been in the 'schmatta business,' not just a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel stereotype but reality. Many Jewish fashion icons trace their roots to the garment industry. Why this connection? Look at this week's parsha: an entire Torah portion obsessed with what...
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From Vietnam to Philanthropy: The Life I Never Planned Stephen Rosedale
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts. Welcome to Zero Percent, the podcast that explores the outsized impact of the Jewish people! 🌟Vietnam veteran and healthcare entrepreneur Stephen Rosedale built one of America's largest post-acute care systems, but his most...
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Where Did the "All Jews Are Rich" Stereotype Come From
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a persistent stereotype: Where did the idea come from that all Jews are rich? I can assure you it's not true in my case, and we all know Jews who are wealthy and Jews who are struggling…
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Parshat Terumah: God Doesn't Need a House, We Do
📖 Parshat Terumah This Week: God doesn't need a palace. He doesn't need gold, silver, or a physical home. So why command us to build the Mishkan? Because WE need it. We're physical beings living in a material world, constantly absorbed in the tangible. God is teaching us: you can elevate it all....
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Can You Buy a Mezuzah Online? What You NEED to Know Before
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a crucial question: Is there anything wrong with buying a mezuzah online or at a gift shop? The answer might surprise you and could save you from making an expensive mistake. First, let me...
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Parshat Mishpatim: The Laws That Make Us Human
📖 Parshat Mishpatim This Week: Right after the drama of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, the Torah shifts to... civil law. Rules about damages, loans, workers' rights, and caring for the vulnerable. Why the sudden shift? Because the Torah is teaching us that spirituality isn't just prayer…
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Where Did the "All Jews Are Rich" Stereotype Come From? The Surprising Truth
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I tackle a persistent stereotype: Where did the idea come from that all Jews are rich? I can assure you it's not true in my case, and we all know Jews who are wealthy and Jews who are struggling…
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Parshat Yitro: How Good People Become Corrupt
📖 Parshat Yitro This Week: When listing qualifications for judges, the Torah mentions capable, God-fearing, truthful, and last, 'hates gain' (integrity). Why last? Shouldn't integrity be first? The Torah teaches us that corruption rarely starts with bad people. It starts with good people making...
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Parshat Beshalach: Faith Requires the First Step
📖 Parshat Beshalach This Week: Trapped between the Egyptian army and the sea, the people pray desperately. God's response? 'Move forward.' But the sea doesn't split until Nachshon ben Aminadav steps in. Water to his ankles. His knees. His waist. His shoulders. Only when it reaches his nostrils...
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Robin Chotin: Living Forever Through Legacy - A Lifetime of Jewish Giving
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts. Welcome to Zero Percent, the podcast that explores the outsized impact of the Jewish people! 🌟 Join us as Robin Chotin shares her deeply moving journey of Jewish philanthropy alongside her late husband, Stephen, of blessed…
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Why Does Hanukkah Change Dates Every Year? Jewish Calendar Explained
🎧 Listen to this and other episodes at www.joidenver.com/podcasts In this episode of Dear Rabbi, I answer a question many people wonder about: What's up with the Jewish calendar? Why was Hanukkah on December 2nd one year, late December another year, and even overlapped with Thanksgiving a few...
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Parshat Bo: Breaking False Loyalties
📖 Parshat Bo This Week: Before leaving Egypt, God commands the Israelites to take a lamb, Egypt's deity tie it to their bedposts, then slaughter it as the Korban Pesach. Why specifically a lamb? Because freedom requires letting go of competing allegiances. The Egyptians worshiped lambs. To…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
JOI to the World is a collection of podcasts by Rabbi Lehrfield of JOI that explore diverse aspects of Jewish life, learning, and culture. Each episode offers a unique perspective, drawing from the rich tapestry of Jewish thought and tradition. You can subscribe to this podcast to get weekly episodes or you can subscribe to the individual shows to receive the monthly episodes as they air.
Zero Percent: Discover the profound outsided impact of a people that make up less than 0.2% of the world.
Dear Rabbi: Practical answers to questions about Judaism.
reConnect: Bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern life, this series offers a deep dive into the relationships that matter most.
Yada Yada Yiddish: A Jewish perspective on Seinfeld, using the show’s iconic moments as a springboard for exploring Jewish concepts and values.
Kids Say the Deepest Things: Meaningful lessons from the funny and insightful things k
HOSTED BY
Menachem Lehrfield
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How many episodes does JOI to the World have?
JOI to the World currently has 197 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is JOI to the World about?
JOI to the World is a collection of podcasts by Rabbi Lehrfield of JOI that explore diverse aspects of Jewish life, learning, and culture. Each episode offers a unique perspective, drawing from the rich tapestry of Jewish thought and tradition. You can subscribe to this podcast to get weekly...
How often does JOI to the World release new episodes?
JOI to the World publishes regularly with 197 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to JOI to the World?
You can listen to JOI to the World 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 JOI to the World?
JOI to the World is created and hosted by Menachem Lehrfield.
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