Torah and Today with Rabbi Krebs

Why do we separate people based on gender differences in Shul and beyond?

In a world of Shemittah, where we release control of our land and trust in Hashem, and where we are commanded to support those who fall into hardship, when should I prioritise my own needs, and when does responsibility demand that I put others first?

Why do some Jews have beards and others don't? Why do some Chadisim grow their sidelocks so long and others don't at all? Is this from the Torah or just custom?

Parshat Emor reminds us that words are never just words. What is harmless frustration, what crosses a line, and why does the Torah take speech so seriously? A short and practical look at swearing, cursing, and how the way we speak shapes who we become.

Sefirat HaOmer is a time where we count toward Shavuot while mourning the loss of Rabbi Akiva’s students and other tragedies. What are the customs of this period and what we do and refrain from during these days.

Parashat Kedoshim challenges us to see holiness not as something distant or mystical, but as something lived daily through our actions, relationships, and moral choices.

Chad Gadya

Hallel

Rabban Gamliel

Dayeinu

Vehi Sheamda

The Four Sons

Bnei Brak

Avadim Hayinu

Halachma

Karpas

The Seder

Purim - dressing up, making noise and other Purim customs

 What does it mean to dress lekavod uletiferet — for honour and beauty — while still embodying tzniut? Parashat Tetzaveh reveals how clothing shapes dignity, identity, and sacred presence.

“Why We Do What We Do?” a quick weekly dive into the meaning behind our Jewish practices — the halacha, the history, and the heart behind every custom.Shemah- what and why do we say the shema? The meaning and intent of our holiest of texts.

The Aron was plated with gold on the inside and the outside. Our Rabbis teach us that a scholar must be “tocho kebaro,” the same within as without, to deeper symbolic meanings of hidden holiness - we dive into how the Mishkan’s design shapes the way we build ourselves.

In Parashat Yitro, Tzipporah suddenly reappears after being “sent away.” Why did Moshe separate from his own wife? And what does it teach us about shalom bayit?

Netilat Yadayim- Why and how do we wash hands for bread and why aren't we allowed to speak?

“Why We Do What We Do?” a quick weekly dive into the meaning behind our Jewish practices — the halacha, the history, and the heart behind every custom. Why do we have Kiddush?

 Parshat Mishpatim reveals that beneath the surface of human accidents lies a deeper Divine plan. The laws of the unintentional killer remind us that what seems coincidental is often the unfolding of a destiny known only to God.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

The three books opened on Rosh Hashana (originally delivered on 11/9 at the Moriah foundation's Gather and grow)

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

Ki Tavo reminds us: before Pharaoh enslaved us, he first convinced Egypt to see us as evil. Propaganda is always the first weapon. 

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

The Torah commands us to bury the dead without delay. This isn’t about rushing grief, it’s about affirming dignity. Judaism teaches that even after death, the body retains holiness, and leaving it unburied lingers in limbo.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

This week’s parsha tells us to appoint a king. Yet in Shmuel, when the people ask for one, both Shmuel and Hashem are upset. So which is it—is a king good or bad? 

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

Someone who can perform miracles, dazzle the crowds, and still… be utterly false. But here’s the question: does he know he’s false? Is he a con artist who knowingly manipulates people? Or is he a sincere believer, convinced he’s right — but tragically wrong?

 This week, we read about one of the six things the Torah commands us to remember—yet it’s not entirely clear exactly what it is that we’re meant to recall.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

In this week’s parasha, the Torah teaches that when the nations of the world hear of our laws, they will stand in awe, recognizing the wisdom and moral clarity embedded within them. This is the essence of Kiddush Hashem—sanctifying God’s name.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

"How can I bear your troubles, your burdens, and your strife?” Moshe’s heartfelt cry offers us a glimpse into the weight and complexity of communal leadership, revealing the emotional toll and challenges that come with guiding a nation.

This week's parsha reminds us of the dual responsibility we carry - to act with integrity before both Hashem and our fellow Jews. What does it mean to be “clean in the eyes of God and Israel,” and how can this ideal shape our moral compass today?

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

 In Parshat Pinchas, Moshe finally asks God to appoint a successor. He knows the end of his leadership is near. But here's the deeper tension—Moshe isn't just asking for a new leader, he's facing the painful truth that he won't be leading anymore.The hardest role in leadership? Becoming the ex-leader. Watching from the sidelines. Letting go. Moshe, the greatest of all, struggled with it.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

 In this week’s parsha, Chazal considered including Bilaam’s blessing—yes, the one meant as a curse—in the daily Shema. It speaks of Am Yisrael’s uniqueness and God's protection. But they chose not to include it. Why? Tircha D’Tzibbura—it would make the Shema too long and burden the community.From here we learn a powerful message: even holy content must be balanced against the needs of the community. Thoughtfulness, efficiency, and respect for people’s time are also Torah values.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!

 In this week’s parsha, Moshe loses the right to enter the Land of Israel. While many focus on his sin at the rock, the deeper message may be that Moshe, the leader of the Exodus generation, no longer connects with the next.It wasn’t just about a mistake—it was about timing. A new kind of leader was needed for a new kind of journey.

In this podcast series from Moriah College, Rabbi Gad Krebs explores contemporary issues and dilemmas through the lens of Jewish thought.Have a question or topic you'd like to hear discussed? Send your suggestions to [email protected] tuned for thought-provoking conversations that bridge ancient wisdom with modern life!