Torah Time

When kids ask big questions, how do you respond? Whether you are parent, educator, or just a curious person, you've probably asked yourself the same questions.This podcast doesn’t have all the answers, but it can give you language and frameworks to engage meaningfully with these questions. Every week, Rabbi Shai Held invites an expert guest to explore a big question: Who is God? Why did God create the world? Why do bad things happen? No pressure.  

At the end of the Book of Bereishit, Ya'akov blesses his sons, including a really intricate one for Dan. Mara and Ravi discuss what it could mean and the lessons for being a good leader. At the end of the episode, they share some of their favorite moments of this season and what they've learned from each other.

After Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, and Ya'akov and the entire family go down to Egypt, God says not to be afraid.  Mara asks why this might have been what Ya'akov needed to hear and Ravi talks about a time when he felt God was with him.

If the Torah says not to hold a grudge, why does Yosef take revenge on his brothers? Mara and Ravi talk about how role models might not always be perfect and how we can learn both from their strengths and their mistakes. 

Yosef's dreams lead to a lot of tension in his family. But did they have to? Ravi thinks about sibling rivalries, favoritism, and how everyone could've interpreted Yosef's dreams differently.

A name can tell us a lot about a person. Ya'akov (or is it Yisrael?) is no exception! Mara and Ravi talk about name changes in the Torah and why they are so important.

Ya'akov dreams about angels going up and down a ladder to the heavens. Where are they coming from? Where are they going? Ravi and Mara think about what they symbolize and why Ya'akov needs to see them.

Ya'akov and Esav were really different - but they were still brothers. Mara asks how siblings can still try to get along, even when they have different interests, and Ravi has some ideas.

What's the most important quality in a person? When Avraham's servant looks for a wife for Yitzhak, he looks out for kindness. Ravi and Mara talk about why it's so important to be kind.

Is it fair to punish people for things for they didn't do? Avraham sure didn't think so.  Mara and Ravi talk about Avraham arguing with God over the destruction of Sodom and what it takes to stand up for what's right.

God promises Avraham, at 99 years old, that he will have as many children as the stars in the sky. Mara and Ravi wonder how Avraham felt to hear that and how he had faith in God's promise.

After the flood, God promises to never destroy the world again. Ravi picks up on God's change of heart and Mara asks if people are totally good, totally bad, or somewhere in between.

Welcome to the third season premiere of Torah Time! Our new hosts Ravi and Mara kick off the season with the story of the Torah's first brothers, Kayin and Hevel. Ravi imagines what Kayin might have actually said before killing Hevel, and Mara and Ravi talk about how siblings should treat each other.

Happy 5784! In honor of the new Torah cycle, over the next 12 weeks, we’re going to re-release every episode of Torah Time Season 3.This season was all about the Book of Bereishit and the amazing stories of creation, our ancestors, and all kinds of family drama. It’s been a whole year since we last read  Bereishit, but don’t worry - Torah Time never goes out of style!

Welcome to the season finale of Torah Time, featuring the yovel (jubilee year). It happens every 50 years, and it's basically a big rest button for the entire land. Listen to the end for some of Ravi and Mara's favorite moments from this season, along with their special Sefer Vayikra song!

A fight breaks out in our parashah and someone even curses God. Mara thinks about why people get so angry and Ravi talks about why it's important to always show respect to God and other people.

Ravi and Mara talk about the mitzvah of to respect/honor/fear your parents. Why isn't there a mitzvah to honor your kids? Maybe there is one already!

When someone is tamei (impure),  they have to separate themselves from the community. Ravi wonders how that must have felt and Mara asks how we can help people when they are in need.

What makes an animal kosher? Ravi and Mara learn about the Torah's categories and they think about how dividing things into categories can be helpful or harmful. 

In the mishkan (tabernacle), the kohanim (priests) kept a fire going all the time, never letting it go out. Ravi wonders how they kept the fire going and Mara thinks about why it's good to have routines.  

The Book of Vayikra teaches us all about sacrifices, which is giving something away for an important purpose. In the time of the Torah, people brought sacrifices to get closer to God or to be forgiven. Mara lists the different options for sacrifices - goats, birds, or flour - Ravi points out how this is more inclusive. 

Ravi and Mara are back for the next season of Torah Time! Every week, they set aside some special time for learning the weekly Torah portion together, and you're invited to join them. This season, on the Book of Vayikra, is all about animals, sacrifices, and how we can get closer to God and each other. Kids ages 6+ will love joining Torah Time!

It's the finale of Torah Time Season Three! At the end of the Book of Bereishit, Ya'akov blesses his sons, including a really intricate one for Dan. Mara and Ravi discuss what it could mean and the lessons for being a good leader. At the end of the episode, they share some of their favorite moments of this season and what they've learned from each other.

After Yosef reveals himself to his brothers, and Ya'akov and the entire family go down to Egypt, God says not to be afraid.  Mara asks why this might have been what Ya'akov needed to hear and Ravi talks about a time when he felt God was with him.

If the Torah says not to hold a grudge, why does Yosef take revenge on his brothers? Mara and Ravi talk about how role models might not always be perfect and how we can learn both from their strengths and their mistakes. 

Yosef's dreams lead to a lot of tension in his family. But did they have to? Ravi thinks about sibling rivalries, favoritism, and how everyone could've interpreted Yosef's dreams differently.

A name can tell us a lot about a person. Ya'akov (or is it Yisrael?) is no exception! Mara and Ravi talk about name changes in the Torah and why they are so important.

Ya'akov dreams about angels going up and down a ladder to the heavens. Where are they coming from? Where are they going? Ravi and Mara think about what they symbolize and why Ya'akov needs to see them.

Ya'akov and Esav were really different - but they were still brothers. Mara asks how siblings can still try to get along, even when they have different interests, and Ravi has some ideas.

What's the most important quality in a person? When Avraham's servant looks for a wife for Yitzhak, he looks out for kindness. Ravi and Mara talk about why it's so important to be kind.

Is it fair to punish people for things for they didn't do? Avraham sure didn't think so.  Mara and Ravi talk about Avraham arguing with God over the destruction of Sodom and what it takes to stand up for what's right.

God promises Avraham, at 99 years old, that he will have as many children as the stars in the sky. Mara and Ravi wonder how Avraham felt to hear that and how he had faith in God's promise. 

After the flood, God promises to never destroy the world again. Ravi picks up on God's change of heart and Mara asks if people are totally good, totally bad, or somewhere in between?

Welcome to the third season premiere of Torah Time! Our new hosts Ravi and Mara kick off the season with the story of the Torah's first brothers, Kayin and Hevel. Ravi imagines what Kayin might have actually said before killing Hevel, and Mara and Ravi talk about how siblings should treat each other.

Meet our new hosts, Ravi and Mara. They have so much fun learning Torah together and they are so excited to learn with you. In season three, they tell the amazing stories of the Avot (forefathers) and the Imahot (foremothers). Kids 6+ will love joining Torah Time!

Welcome to the finale of the second season of Torah Time! If someone kills another person by accident, the Torah tells them to flee to a special "city of refuge." Adira and Miriam-Simma imagine what it might've been like in those cities, and they look forward to the next Torah Time.

Balak, the king of Moab, sends a prophet named Bilaam is sent to curse the Jewish people, but the words come as blessing. Adira and Miriam-Simma ask: What was Balak was so afraid of? And can Bilaam really can put curses on people?

The long journey through the desert takes a toll on the Jewish people. Miriam-Simma asks where all of this complaining is coming from and Adira spots a delicious pun about the mann.

Korah leads a rebellion against his cousin, Moshe. Adira and Miriam-Simma wonder about what Korah wanted, and Adira thinks of a clever way to prove to him that Moshe is the rightful leader..

God tells us to wear tzitzit - fringes on the corners of our clothes - in order to remember mitzvot wherever we are. How does that work and what might bring us away from mitzvot or closer to them? Adira and Miriam-Simma discuss.

If you miss a holiday, can you get another chance to celebrate later? Miriam-Simma and Adira learn about Pesach Sheini, "Second Passover," the holiday of second chances.

When Miriam-Simma reads God's blessing for Jewish people, Adira recognizes it from morning prayers in the siddur. What's so special about this blessing? Adira also has an idea for the best blessing you could get.

Hashem counts the Jewish people in the wilderness – kind of like a big field trip, right? Adira certainly thinks so! Miriam-Simma asks why Hashem would want to do a head count.

Adira and Miriam-Simma are back! Every week, they set aside some “Torah Time” for reading and talking about the weekly Torah portion, and you’re invited to learn along with them. In season two, they dig into the stories of the Jewish people in the wilderness - from the miracles they encountered, to the mistakes they made, and the lessons they learned along the way..Kids 6+ will love joining Torah Time!

Responsa Radio Kids Edition is a new mini-series produced with a little help from Hadar's Children and Families Division, where kids ask and we answer questions of Jewish law in modern times. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Have a question? Email us at [email protected]

Welcome to the finale of the first season of Torah Time! When the mishkan (tabernacle) is complete, the cloud of God's presence moves in. Adira and Miriam-Simma try to imagine what seeing that cloud would have been like and they also share their favorite parts of this season.

What prized possession would you donate to the mishkan? When the Jewish people donate their gold and silver, Adira thinks about what she would give.

When Moshe doesn't come down from Mt. Sinai, the Jewish people worship a golden calf. Miriam-Simma asks why they got so scared and Adira wonders whether it's fair to say that the Jews are a "stiff-necked" people.

Aharon the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) wore a lot of special clothes, like the hoshen, which was a breastplate filled with precious stones. Adira and Miriam-Simma talk all about what it symbolizes and why Aharon got to wear it.

A special guest reads the verses describing the aron (the golden ark), which leads Adira and Miriam-Simma to wonder about the keruvim (the angels on the lid). What direction did they face and why were they so important?