The Thinking Jewish Podcast
by Rabbi Zvi Gefen
I've been blessed to have spent many years learning from some of the greatest Jewish thinkers in the world including Rav Yitzchok Berkovits Shlita. Listen in and hear perspectives on Marriage & Chinuch. Tune in as we explore relevant ideas on the Parsha and Yomim Tovim! This podcast will give you a new perspective and understanding of Living Jewish. For feedback, questions, and comments please email me at [email protected]
Episodes
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Vayera - Start With Chessed
What if the way to find Hashem begins with what we give and do for others? Through Avrohom Avinu's chessed, we explore how caring for another person can change the way we see Hashem and our place in His world
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Noach - Content in the Storm
What did the Berber villages of Morocco teach me about happiness? What did R’ Avrohom Gurwicz tell us at our wedding, on Parshas Noach? And why does the confidence and passion of building an inner world shape everything we build on the outside? This week we look at Noach ish tzaddik: a man who...
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Bereishis - Soul Connection
When Hashem formed the first man, the Torah says vayipach b'apav nishmas chaim: He breathed into him the breath of life. Inside every one of us is a piece of Hashem Himself.This week's shiur looks at what that means for the way we live. We were created with a purpose. How do we find it, and how…
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What Happens If There’s No Shofar?
What if we don’t need to be afraid that something is missing? What if Rosh Hashanah is not about getting the formula right, but about something much deeper? To crown Hashem means more than declaring Him King. It means choosing to live the life He is offering us — and becoming the person we are...
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The Question That Defines… You
As we begin to explore what Rosh Hashanah is really all about, we are led to an even deeper question: what are we all about? What makes us tick? What do we truly value? What are we living for? Because perhaps before we can understand what Rosh Hashanah asks of us, we first need to understand the...
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Elul: The Courage to Come Close
Elul can sometimes feel overwhelming — another year, another list of things we should be doing better. But perhaps Elul is not about becoming perfect. It is about relationship: wanting closeness, turning towards Hashem, and taking even one small step back. What does a “good enough Elul” really…
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The Middah That Will Rebuild the Beis Hamikdash
Why do the people closest to us often cause us the most pain? This practical Torah class explores how unrealistic expectations, learning to let go, and living lifnim mishuras hadin can transform our relationships, bring inner peace, and help us take a step towards rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash.
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Anger, Hurt, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves
We all get hurt, disappointed, left out, misunderstood, or rejected. But what happens next? This talk explores the Torah’s powerful approach to anger: not pretending we don’t feel pain, but learning how not to turn that pain into fire. A practical, honest class on emotional strength…
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Staying Grounded When Everything Feels Unstable
Stability does not mean knowing where life is going. Stability means knowing Who is carrying you. Parsha Behaaloscha
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This Far, No Further: When Pain Becomes a Path Forward
Parshas Bechukosai, Lag Ba’Omer and the courage to begin again
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Parshas Emor & The POWER of Reb Shimon!
The Ishbitzers powerful Torah at the start of Parshas Emor What did Reb Shimon reveal to the world? To me and you?
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Sefiras Ha'Omer - Respect to what and to who?
What does it mean the students never respected one another? How is this relevant to us?
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Pesach: The Defining Beginning
Why do we thank Hashem for taking us out of Egypt if He was the One who put us there in the first place? If the exile was part of Hashem’s plan, what exactly are we celebrating? Are we celebrating freedom — or something deeper than just leaving Egypt? On Matzah:Why do we eat Matzah on Pesach?Is...
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Parshas Vayakel Pikudei - The Gift of Shabbos
We begin by exploring the surprising connection between Purim and Pesach. On the surface they seem worlds apart — Purim unfolds through hidden miracles in the political drama of Persia, while Pesach is defined by open, world-shaking miracles in Egypt. Yet Purim actually prepares us for Pesach....
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Yisro - From Inherited to Chosen
How to enjoy my Judaism ? Hashem gifted us this week the Torah - how can I taste the beauty of it? What is Shabbos? The Joy of Shabbos?
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Vayetzei - Tears, Gratitude and Tests
Intro - Shaar Habitachon Leah's tears Leah's gratitude The tests of yaakov Avinu
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Toldos - The Quest for Authenticity
Intro - weekly Shaar Ha'bitachon. Parshas Toldos - The Theme - The Quest for Authenticity
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lech Lecha - Go! Adjust! Become!
How Avrom became Avrohom Avinu
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Lets Begin! Winter opening Shiur! Breishis/Noach!
Stories of hostages Bitachon Tefilah Making a difference
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Double Comfort, Double Hope
Shabbos Nachamu
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Shavuos - You WANT IT? ITS YOURS!
Shiur begins with Shaar habitachon until Minute 10 Shavuos Shiur based on Rav Y Berkovits and Rabbi S Farhi
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Behar - Hand over the Keys...
What is the connection between, Shemitta & Har Sinai?
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Behar and Start of שער הביטחון (Shaar Habitachon)
Going forward each week, shiur begins with a few minutes of Shaar Habitachon!
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Lessons from the Mekalel, Rabbi Akiva, and Reb Shimon bar Yochai
Parshas Emor & Lag B'Omer
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The Hardest Mitzvah: How to Love the People You Don’t Like?
Parshas Achrei Mos - KedoshimThe Hardest Mitzvah: How to Love the People You Don’t Like"
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PESACH | MATZAH | MAROR | EMUNAH
Many important Pesach ideas shared in this shiur
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Packing Bags of Emunah in Egypt
Packing Bags of Emunah in Egypt
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Parashas Pekudei - HaChodesh
Why is this week called פרשת החודש?
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Parshas Vayakel - Experiencing connection on Shabbos
Experience Connection on Shabbos
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The Purim Story Unravelled - Post Sem Shiur
Why drink on Purim
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Finding Ourselves in the Purim Story
What can be the meaning behind gettting drunk on Purim?
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Parshas Zachor - Why on Shabbos?
Why is zachor read on Shabbos ?
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The Hidden Joy of Adar: Thriving Through Galus
In essence, the joy of Adar is a recognition that no matter what challenges we face, we are always moving forward, advancing in the bigger picture. Even in galus, we are not stuck; we are on a journey that, ultimately, leads to redemption. This joy is not about being free from difficulty but…
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Parshas Beshalach - The Illusion of Security
Quote based on Rav Berkovits: "Fear is the measure of our bitachon. The Jews saw Hashem break every law of nature—yet they still feared. Only after Krias Yam Suf did they truly believe. What are you afraid of? Will it take more than splitting the sea?"
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Parshas Bo - Created Above Space and Time
Some Beautiful Torah I heard once from Reb Moshe Shapira, related to current events and understanding the mission statement of the Jewish People?
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Parshas Noach - Real Care, Real Belief, Real Prayer
Two Parts to this Class. Part 1 - The collective and personal responsibility Part 2 - Being real with Hashem through prayer. What is Prayer in Jewish thought?
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"The Beauty in Unity and the Simcha of Sukkos"
"The Beauty in Unity and the Simcha of Sukkos" Story - "Shai Agnon and the most beautiful esrog he ever saw"🍋
About this show
I've been blessed to have spent many years learning from some of the greatest Jewish thinkers in the world including Rav Yitzchok Berkovits Shlita. Listen in and hear perspectives on Marriage & Chinuch. Tune in as we explore relevant ideas on the Parsha and Yomim Tovim! This podcast will give you a new perspective and understanding of Living Jewish. For feedback, questions, and comments please email me at [email protected]
Hosted by
Rabbi Zvi Gefen