Rabbi Joe’s Torat Tel Aviv

In tonight's THINK we look in depth at the story of the ma'apilim, the lesser-known, lesser-studied sequel to the story of the spies - of the group who decided to risk everything to enter the land (even after God had decreed that they would die in the desert) and ended up paying the ultimate price. Our class examines this tragic and strange story - and charts how in the 19th and 20th centuries the story of the ma'apilim returned to history becoming a critical image for thinkers as diverse as Haim Nahman Bialik and Rav Yoel Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe.  Source sheet here THINK is dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation. May our learning a blessing for their memories

In our second class exploring the work Nahalat Yosef, a beautiful commentary on Megillat Rut written in Tel Aviv by Rav Y.Z. Lipovitz, we examine the opening lines of the megillah and explore the character of Elimelekh. Although the verses themselves are sparse in detail, Rav Lipovitz, drawing on classical midrash and commentaries, paints a portrait of Elimelekh as a potentially transformative leader who could have saved Israel in a time of darkness. The discussion moves beyond Elimelekh the individual and develops a philosophy of Jewish leadership and Jewish history  - as demanding and relevant now as they were in mid-century Tel Aviv when they were first written. Source sheet here THINK is generously sponsored by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.

ln 1923 a young man named Rabbi Yosef Zev Lipovitz moved to Tel Aviv. He had been one of the leading lights at the great yeshiva of Slobodka. He was a  quiet man and did not seek out fame or publicity. Instead he and his wife opened a small pension, a hotel restaurant, on Lillenblum St, where, for the next 35 years, their front room became a gathering place for anyone in Tel Aviv, from famous journalists to simple labourers to the greatest rabbis, to learn Torah with Rav Lipovitz and hear the events of the day illuminated through ancient teachings.    The only work published in his lifetime was his gorgeous commentary on Megillat Ruth known as Nahalat Yosef. The work is simply beautiful, original and profound readings of Ruth that present a worldview of a great scholar and human who had much to say to the world around him   His name is not widely known these days and after his death in 1962, his wife Baylah, sold all her possessions down to her wedding ring to finance the publication of her husband's works.    Tonight we will begin to learn this great work - bringing his insights back to life in the city that R Lipovitz moved to more than 100 years ago Source sheet here.   THINK is generously by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.      

  This Yom HaShoah, our JLIC TLV comunity had the immense privilege to hear from Rav Elchanan Guttman - rav of the Bet Yaakov Yosef synagogue in Tel Aviv The shul was founded by Rav Guttman's grandfather, Rav Tzvi Guttman, and named for his two sons Yaakov and Yosef who were murdered in front of him after they were taken from their home in Bucharest in 1940.    Rav Elchanan Guttman tells the moving story of Romanian Jewry before, during and after the Shoah through the story of his own remarkable and heroic grandfather.  Towards the end of his remarks Rav Guttman shares the single message that his grandfather would have wanted to tell a kahal of young olim in 2026   Rav Guttman speaks in Hebrew with a summarised translation into English at intervals by Rav Joe Wolfson.   We are very grateful to Rav Guttman for taking the time to share his story with us and it is our joy to help fill the shul that his grandfather built in memory of his murdered sons

After the seeming ultimate triumph at Har Carmel in the previous shiur and chapter, Eliyahu finds himself in the depths of despair as Izevel still seeks his life and journeys to Har Horev (Sinai) where Hashem teaches the ultimate lesson of how a prophet should act - not through fire and noise but through the thin small voice From here (at around the 40 minute mark) we move to consider why it is Eliyahu of all the nevi'im who joins us at the Pesach seder, what this teaches us about Pesach and how this might explain the remarkable difference between the harsh prosecuting Eliyahu of Tanakh and the kind, caring Eliyahu of later Jewish thought.  Source sheet here THINK is generously dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.  

Gathering the people to Har Carmel, Eliyahu attempts to force the wavering people to believe with an irrefutable demonstration of God's power, challenging the prophets of the Ba'al to the ultimate win-all lose-all contest One of the greatest stories in Tanakh and one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of Jewish faith - an episode which appears to recreate the revelatory experience of Har Sinai but as understood by the midrash exemplifies the challenges and limits of miraculous proofs Source sheet here THINK is generously dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation. Our learning should be an aliyah for their neshamot

After three years of hiding as a fugitive, Eliyahu is commanded by God to appear before Achav (Melakhim I 18:1) and potentially bring an end to the drought On the way to appearing before Achav, Eliyahu meets Ovadyahu - a man who has risked everything for the sake of Hashem and his prophets, but who has gone about doing so in a way totally different from that of Eliyahu Tonight's class provides a study in two different religious-political personalities - one of zealotry and one of compromise - as relevant now as then. Source sheet here THINK is dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.

For tonight's Miklat Torah, Benji Jones shares insights into Parshat HaChodesh and the significance of the Torah's emphasis on counting the months.

When you're in the miklat tonight - or even if you're not! - hear some beautiful Torah from Dani Jacobson on the parshiyot of Vayakhel Pekudei as they conclude the multiple themes of Shemot

This THINK we begin a new course on Eliyahu HaNavi - Elijah the larger than life prophet. Eliyahu has a role in Jewish folklore and imagination unlike any other Biblical character. He features at havdala, visits each brit mila and is a central character on Seder night. Over the course of our study we will discover the original Biblical Eliyahu, the many lessons of his story and understand why he continues to be so important for Am Yisrael. Tonight's class introduces Eliyahu - his declaration of war against Achav, his years as a fugitive and the question of what Hashem wishes Eliyahu himself to learn about the role of a prophet This class took place and is recorded during the March 2026 war with Iran - the recording is interrupted partway through by a siren. Source sheet here THINK is dedicated by Elaine Diller in loving memory of her parents, Michael and Sarah Marton z”l , through the Michael and Sarah Marton Family Foundation.

Rabbi Joe Wolfson opens a short series of Torah reflections from Tel Aviv during the current conflict - words of Torah that can help frame our moment or offer us a respite and escape from the stresses of the moment. offering spiritual perspective beyond the news and daily stress. Today's piece reflects on a potential existential parallel between the Jews of Shushan and Israel and shares a beautiful midrash as explained by the Ohr HaChaim about Moshe's humility as he returns from Har Sinai

Purim is often described as the festival of finding faith within the darkness. This was our claim in last week's THINK. Yet we do not need to look to ancient Persia 2,500 years ago to discover an instance of Jews recommitting to their faith and their people in the most trying of circumstances - in fact we have experienced it within our very recent lifetimes in the testimonies of many hostages who returned alive from Gaza and describe intense and powerful religious experiences in 'the darkness within the darkness'. This shiur examines the hostages descriptions in their own words and parallels them with classical sources which echo and deepen many of the experiences they describe - and then considers some of the deeper lessons that their experiences provide for us. Source sheet here. And if you would like to contribute to our very meaningful matanot l'evyonim project you can do so here. Mentioned in this class: Shiur on this topic by Rav Elchanan Nir (Hebrew) Yosl Rakover Speaks To God  

It's Adar so let's learn Megillat Esther! At tonight's THINK we share an approach based on an essay by Rav Yoel bin Nun noting how so many critical elements of the megillah are the opposite of what we would expect to find in a book of Tanakh - and that this may explain the megillah's most important contribution to our understanding of the history and the possibility of finding God and meaningful Jewish existence in the darkest of times Source sheet here

The Rambam and the Raivid differ as to whether a child, in extreme circumstances confronted with unreasonable demands by their parents, may run away. Their dispute appears to reflect different readings of the story of Rav Assi leaving his mother and her outrageous demands to go and live in Israel. We read this difficult story closely and suggest interpretations of relevance to everyone in their relations with their parents Source sheet here - it is recommended to read the story in the gemara at least once alongside listening to the audio. THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and   aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל and we were honoured to be joined by the Weckers. We begin the class with a dedication to his uncle and aunt, remarkable educators who lived in Tel Aviv

In tonight's class we move from kibbud av v'em as a lofty ideal to a challenging reality exploring a short Talmudic story about how a child is to cope with conflicting demands from the parents and reflecting on the difference between halacha (law) and agadda (reality) Source sheet here

In the second part of our series on the mitzva of honouring parents we consider a remarkable passage in the Talmud Yerushalmi that approaches the mitzva from multiple angles and raises the question of whether care for one's parents should be viewed as 'repaying the debt' for everything that they have done for the child Source sheet here

We begin a four part series on Kibbud Av v'Em , the mitzva of honouring one's parents.  Where to start? One of the most beautiful yet challenging and complex parts of our lives and an area of Torah which we often don't critically examine past a young age. The material is fascinating and nuanced -  accessible Gemara with a blend of halacha / aggada / midrash and Tanakh.  Tonight's class begins with a discussion of the nature of kibbud av v'em as a mitzvah, what distinguishes it from other areas of halacha and what are the particular challenges of honouring one's parents in our generation We then begin to look at the opening sugya in Masekhet Kiddushin which highlights themes of the challenges of conflicting obligations (to one's parents, spouse and children) and consider the gemara's comparison of honouring one's parents to honouring Hashem. Source sheet here. A couple of recording bugs: for the first couple of minutes, heavy rain can be heard in the background of the recording. At the very end of the class, the last thirty second of the recording is cut off. The poem by Yehuda Amichai being read at the end of the recording is at the end of the source sheet (above)      

The first two-thirds of Mosheh's life all take place within the four chapters of Shemot. What were the experiences that affected the young Mosheh, and why does Hashem choose him as his agent of liberation? What does Mosheh do for all those many years in Midyan? And if it is justice that drives Mosheh why is he so hesitant to return to Egypt when offered?  Source sheet here THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and      aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל.

A little chassidish immigrant boy in late 19th century Paris related the story of Rachel's death and afterlife with such passion that he changed Max Nordau's life forever A drash for Vayehi told on Sderot Nordau in Tel Aviv

THIS EPISODE IS OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE PODCAST - THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS LISTENED, SHARED AND COMMENTED! In this week's THINK we examine the long and heroic journeys of both Yosef and Yehuda as they arrive at an acceptance of the wrongs that have been done to them - Yosef towards brothers and Yehuda towards his father. From this vantage point we then consider the intriguing concept of the ba'al selicha - not one who asks for forgiveness, but the person who does the actual forgiving and is able to find the ability within themselves to accept whatever evil was done to them and move on. Why is the ba'al selicha so much less prominent in our tradition than the ba'al teshuva? Is it because to forgive should be so obvious that it shouldn't be named as a loft value? Or could it be the opposite - that true forgiveness is such a challenging concept as to be almost impossible for humans, and that the best we can hope for is the chance to move on and not be defined by the wrongs done to us Source sheet here

Yosef had a dream and told his brothers... and then they sought to kill him?! That escalated quickly! How does a brother, even one that one deeply dislikes, become someone that you are willing to kill or sell? In this week's THINK we focus on a number of small details in the story of the sale of Yosef that give terrifying insight into the ways in which siblings can cease to see one another as human even as they continue to call them their brother. As relevant today as ever Source sheet here THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and  aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל. This shiur is also in loving memory and l'ilui nishmat of Professor Mark Mirsky who passed away today - a true downtown Jew.  

This week Rabbi Joe had the pleasure of being a guest once again on the Matan podcast joining Yosefa Fogel Wruble for a conversation about the haftara of Parshat Vayeshev taken from the prophet Amos. You can listen to the consistently excellent Matan parsha podcast at https://www.matan.org.il/en/matan-podcast/ ----- In this conversation with R. Joe Wolfson, we explore Amos’ rebuke of the opulent and socially corrupt N. Kingdom of Israel from this week’s Haftorah.   A.J. Heschel, political theorist Michael Walzer, and Louis Brandeis all help connect Amos’ criticisms with the ways a society can erase people’s humanity and how we might mend this. For more info on R. Joe’s community visit the JLIC Tel Aviv website: https://tlv.oujlic.org/ This week’s episode is dedicated in memory of Daniel Shalom ben Refael Yaakov, by his children, on his third yahrzeit. This year The Matan Podcast is exploring the weekly Haftorah.

Yaakov returns to Israel after more than two decades away from home and is reunited with his brother Eisav. Their reunion might at first glance appear anti-climactic - hugs and gifts instead of war -  but just below the surface, major movements in personality development and the story of the family are taking place as Yaakov accepts himself for who he is and is able to let go of the heel that he had been holding onto for so long. Source sheet here THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and       aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל. Tonight's learning should be for a refuah sheleima for Gershon Hayim ben Tova Tsofia

Yaakov flees his brother's wrath and heads north to find a wife. And ends up staying with his uncle Lavan for twenty years. Who is the Yaakov that Lavan meets? Why does Yaakov agree to work for free? How does the way that he left his father, mother and brother impact his relationship with his new family? And despite Lavan's manipulation, what does Yaakov learn and gain during these two decades? Source sheet here THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and       aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל.

Yaakov's taking of the beracha that was intended for Esav is one of the most challenging stories of the Torah. We will look at the relationship dynamics of Rivka and Yitzchak, their difficulties of communication, and suggest that in fact Rivka had completely misunderstood Yitzchak's intention. The tragic irony of the story is that Yitzchak had always intended to give the bracha to Yaakov and that Rivka needlessly split the family apart to achieve an end that her husband would have readily agreed to. Inspired by, but differing from, Rav Yehuda Gilad's work in his beautiful work 'Et Kolcha Shamati'   Source sheet here THINK is generously sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל.

This is a shiur about parents' love for children, and children's love for parents - and about how relationships seemingly broken can be fixed over time. At the beginning of Haye Sara, Avraham must think that even though he is 137 he has almost nothing to show for it. He has lost his life's partner Sara, one son is estranged and banished, the other is 40 and single and not seemingly able to settle down. By the end of the parsha however the many relationships within the family have been restored or repaired in deeply surprising ways. The shiur traces a broad midrashic counter-narrative that connects multiple data points within the parsha (primarily that of where Yitzchak is living) to open up the broader family dynamics at this stage of Bereishit. To our surprise characters who we thought had left the story make a dramatic return. Source sheet here L'ilui nishmat Itay Chen, Hadar Goldin and Sivan Tzimmerman and for a refuah sheleima for Gershon Hayim ben Tova Tsofia THINK is generously sponsored by Dr Alan Wecker and family in loving memory of his dear uncle and  aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman z"l

God's choice of Avram is given at the start of the parsha. But the journey to becoming Avraham - the knight of faith - is slow, arduous, challenging, at times mundane, and in so many ways relatable to any one of us on our own journeys of becoming. This shiur focuses on four points in the parsha where Avraham struggles to understand how he is to become the person that God has told him he is destined to become (if you haven't got time to listen to all of it don't miss the gorgeous Sfat Emet at the end) Source sheet here THINK is sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל.     

After witnessing violence, pain and suffering, how does one pick oneself up and carry on? That is the question that we confront today - and it is one that Noah and Avraham themselves confronted after the flood and the destruction of Sedom The different paths they took - one tragic the other heroic - highlight the difference between their two personalities and provide us with us insights into our own response today. Source sheet here The shiur is to be a refuah sheleima for Gershon Hayim ben Tova Tsofia and is generously sponsored by Dr. Alan Wecker and family, in loving memory of his dear uncle and aunt, Yechiel and Chaya Kleinman, ז״ל.

Noach and Yonah are two of the central figures of rosh hashana and yom kippur - and their stories seem to have an awful lot in common with one another: boats surrounded dangerous waters, corrupt populations, decrees of destruction and much more. What is the meaning behind these many parallels? We present two very different takes of two great contemporary Tanakh teachers - Judy Klitsner and Yonatan Grossman - and their relevance for the Yamim Nora'im. Source sheet here

The words Rosh Hashana do not appear anywhere in the Torah. The verses that do describe the first day of the seventh month are enigmatic to say the least. So how did Rosh Hashana come to be what we know it as today?  In today's class we follow the clues and spend time on an exceptional but not particularly well known episode in the book of Nehemia - which describes arguably the most important event ever to on Rosh Hashana (other than creation itself!) The final ten minutes features a beautiful piece of Rav Hutner's Pahad Yitzchak based on the passage in Nehemia Source sheet here

This episode of THINK focuses on a particular story that the Sages told in multiple versions of an individual who strove to fulfill the mitzva of shiluach haken (shooing away the mother bird) but rather than receiving the reward for a good and long life as the Torah promises, instead fell off the tree and died. This mitzva and accompanying story became one of the great moments in which the Sages of the Talmud considered the relationship between what we receive in return for our deeds, and the nature of mitzvot more generally. Based on an essay in the recently published Shiurim B'Agaddah of Rav Shagar. Source sheet here    

The story of Pinchas and his zealotry is rich and multi-layered - and it is full of ideas deeply relevant to our own moment.  An act of violence to forcefully stop a desecration of God's name brings an end to the plague and clearly receives God's praise and gratitude. Yet below the surface there is more that meets the eye with much to say about the relationship of peace and power and the complimentary opposition of kana'ut (zealotry) and kehuna (priesthood) Source sheet here

In our parsha Balak, the king of Mo'av, hires the services of the pagan prophet Bilam. What are Bilam's motives? Does he really want to curse Israel, is he in it for the money or is he actually an obedient servant of God? Source sheet here

In honour of the sheva brachot of our dear community members, Sam Simons and Leah Seiff, we take inspiration from Yirmiyahu's description of the desert as the setting of God and Israel's early romance to explore themes of love and relationship in the parsha Source sheet here

In this week's class on Parshat Beha'alotcha we begin by looking at one of the turning points in the book of Bamidbar - the move from the dream and vision to the harsh reality of the journey to the Promised Land We then turn to Moshe's apparent breakdown as he says that leading the people after their complaints is a burden too great to carry. The class is based on Bamidbar (Numbers) chapter 12. Source sheet here These shiurim have been generously sponsored by Yaacov & Monique Ginsburg ilui nishmat Yaacov ben Bessi 

Our final instalment in the series examining the death of Rabbi Akiva's students during the omer for not honouring one another. In this class we look at Rabbi Eliezer's life after the oven of Akhnai and suggest that within the brilliantly creative approaches of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yehoshua to Torah study are contained the seeds for potential conflict bein adam l'chaveiro Source sheet here Generously sponsored by Yaacov & Monique Ginsburg l'ilui nishmat Yaacov ben Bessi  and in memory of our dear community member Avigayil  bat Sarah on the occasion of her shloshim

Is the story of the oven of Akhnai the greatest triumph or a terrible tragedy? Last week we read the first half of the story and it's trumphal line of lo bashamayim hi - the Torah is not in heaven and its depiction of God laughing. This week we read the second half of the story which pushes in a very different direction. The text of the Akhnai story is here (reading the story, especially the second half, is recommended to understand the class) and the other sources discussed in the story are here --- A recap of the series thus far: Rabbi Akiva’s students died because they couldn’t honour one another. We use this text to ask two questions: How should Torah be learnt? How should we treat one another?   Until now our learning has focused upon the first question - how should Torah be learnt? In our first class, with Judaism at a crossroads after the destruction of the Temple, we saw two approaches to this question: Rabbi Eliezer: retaining the traditions and the mesora Rabbi Yehoshua / Rabbi Akiva: chiddush and debate   We asked, is this simply a question of educational methodology or is it even one of theology?   Last week, in part II, we saw the clash of these approaches in that most famous of stories, the oven of akhnai.    We saw Rabbi Eliezer - who a heavenly voice says is always correct - have his arguments rejected by Rabbi Yehoshua and his colleagues. The rallying cry is lo bashamayim he - the Torah is not in heaven, it is down here on earth for us to decide, with human intelligence - aharei rabim l’hatot - to attempt to convince one another, and the law follows the majority.   If you finish reading the story where we did it appears as a great triumph. Hashem is laughing, the Torah is made eternal, nitzchuni banai - Talmud Torah is enthroned, Torah and the Jewish people can survive. All of this is true but it is not the end of the story. Because the story carries on and it pushes in what seems to be quite a different direction

In our first class we contrasted the approach to Torah study of Rabbi Eliezer with that of Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yehoshua - asking whether Torah story is an exercise of creative insight or a focus on tradition and that which has been said by our teachers before us. Today we see how these two different approaches collide in perhaps the most famous of all Talmudic stories, the oven of Akhnai - and the declaration of lo bashamayim he - that the Torah is not in heaven Source sheet here This class is generously sponsored by Yaacov & Monique Ginsburg ilui nishmat Yaacov ben Bessi - and celebrates too the release and return to his family of Edan Alexander

For the next few weeks we will do a deep dive into the world of Rabbi Akiva and his students. Many are familiar with the teaching that it is the death of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students during this period that initially lent the omer an element of mourning (in addition to one of joy). The reason for their death? Because they didn’t treat one another with the respect and care that they each deserved We will try to recreate the world that they inhabited, and in so doing discover a uniquely important period that shaped the direction of Judaism in general and Jewish learning in particular Tonight we look at the unique historical with the Jewish future at a crossroads and the starkly contrasting approaches to Torah learning of Rabbi Akiva and his teacher Rabbi Eliezer Source sheet here

In this Yom HaShoah class we enter the world and learn the stories of two of the great rabbinic giants of Vilna - Rav Haim Ozer Grodzinski and Rav Yisrael Zev Gustman. The first was the last great leader of Vilna Jewry and we read the piece describing his funeral 'The Day Vilna Died'. The latter was the youngest Dayan of Vilna whose story is one of survival and the world that he built in Israel after the war and who articulated a powerful and unique take on God and the Shoah. The rest of the sources are available here Learning about and honouring their lives and Torah is a fitting way to mark Yom HaShoah

This year the eve of Pesach falls on Shabbat which presents us with some unique challenges. This shiur discusses how and when the search, annulment and destruction of chametz works in a year such as this, as well as the fast of the firstborn and how best to do the shabbat meals. Source sheet and summary guide here

In this shiur we examine how at famous distinction between two concepts of liberty made by Sir Isaiah Berlin, one of Rabbi Sacks' teachers, finds expression in some of the fundamental texts and ideas of seder night, as well as how Rabbi Sacks himself understood this distinction Source sheet here

There's a lot going on here. Using a mash up of two great Israeli songs and a powerful piece of Rav Yitzchak Hutner's Pahad Yitzchak to look back the start of the pandemic five years ago, what we learnt from it and what it can mean for us today in the midst of a very different crisis. It might be advisable to listen to the songs (linked below) and then to skip to the discussion of Pahad Yitzchak which starts at the 20 minute mark The text of Pahad Yitzchak here and of the two songs here Hanan Ben Ari's Ga'aguim Livnei Adam on Youtube Yishai Ribo's Keter Melucha  on Youtube Discussion of Pahad Yitzchak starts at the 20 minute mark  

Today we look at two beautiful teshuvot - from the Seridei Eish (19th C.)  and  the Hatam Sofer (18th C) - that can transorm our understadning ofthe mitzva of mishloach manot - giving gifts to our friends on Purim.  Source sheet here. Given at Vine Venture's Sarona Unity Center, March 12th, 2025

In advance of Purim we explore some of the fundamental texts and ideas behind the beautiful mitzvah of matanot l'evyonim (gifts to those in need). Spoiler: it's all about simcha! Source sheet available here  

The wonderful thing about teaching Megillat Esther is that everyone knows the story. The terrible thing about teaching Megillat Esther is that everyone knows the story. In this week's THINK we try to question an assumption that almost all have - is Achashverosh a gross unthinking buffoon throughout, or is there some progress and development that he displays throughout the story.   Source sheet available here

L'ilui nishmat Oded Lifshitz who is laid to rest on the afternoon on which the shiur was given. In 1985 the Israel government under Shimon Peres released 1,150 security prisoners in return for three captive soldiers Yosef Grof, Nissim Salem, and Hezi Shai in the deal known as Isskat Jibril. In this shiur we learn the contribution of Rav Shlomo Goren, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Of Israel and the first chief rabbi of Tzahal  to the debate surrounding the deal. Rav Goren's approach differed markedly from the approach of Rav Ovadia Yosef discussed in the previous class. In Rav Goren's reading there is no halachic justification for such a hostage deal and yet... Source sheet available here

Given on February 24th 2025, in loving memory of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifschitz. The shiur focuses on Parshat Teruma and the month of Adar as prompts to one of Judaism's deepest themes, the consistent push to help us overcome the darkness and approach the future with hope - no matter how hard that is Source sheet available at this link

  The revelation at Sinai contains so many different and contrary themes. We explore one of these themes and in particular we do a deep dive on a celebrated gemara in Menachot 29b which describes a conversation between Moshe and God on Sinai - a piece which raises questions of how the Torah can evolve over the generations while maintaining its authenticity and why do the righteous suffer.   Download the source sheet

  Today we know the story of Entebbe as one of the great crowning moments of Israeli history. But before the daring Sayeret Matkal operation, Prime Minister Yitchak Rabin asked then sefardi chief rabbi, Rav Ovadia Yosef to share his opinion about the permissibility of acceding to the hostage takers demands of releasing 40 terrorists in exchange for returning the hostages. Rav Ovadia's response eventually became a 19,000 word monograph and likely the most significant halachic work ever written on hostage deals. Today we look at highlights from this piece and the relevance of his arguments for today    Download the source sheet Given at the Vine Ventures Sarona Unity Center, Feb 11th 2025