Making modern meaning from ancient texts! Each week Rabbi Micah Streiffer discusses the weekly Torah portion in about 7 to 10 minutes, through liberal Jewish eyes. We weave together philosophy, spirituality, tradition, and social justice - and derive meaning for today‘s life from our sacred sources. Longer episodes include a bonus interview with leading rabbis and Jewish thought leaders. Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK, the liberal Beit Midrash ("House of Study"). Contact us at info@laasok.org with comments or questions.
Episodes
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
Wednesday Aug 02, 2023
An encore presentation of last year's popular episode about Judaism and the earth.
This week's parashah, Ekev, contains the middle paragraph of the Shema - a challenging passage that speaks of God as Source of "reward and punishment." Should this passage be in our prayerbook? How might we read it through modern eyes. Turns it out can also be read as an ecological text.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
When Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, he makes some changes - including to the wording around Shabbat. His changes teach us something very important about the reason(s) for Shabbat, and what we're supposed to learn from it.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
As the book of Deuteronomy opens, Moses retells some of the stories of the Israelites' desert wanderings - but with major changes. We explore why he changes the story, and we explore the possible origins of Deuteronomy in the religious reform of King Josiah centuries later.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
As the Israelites are about to cross over into the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuven and Gad step forward and say that they've decided to stay where they are. What happens next teaches us a lot about what it is to be a Jew in diaspora but still care about - and have a stake in - the land of Israel.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jul 04, 2023
Tuesday Jul 04, 2023
Among other things, parashat Pinchas lists the festivals - and the sacrifices associated with them. We talk about how the Rabbis crafted a Judaism of ritual and prayer out of a sacrifice-based system, and what it shows us about Judaism's capacity to evolve.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
Wednesday Jun 28, 2023
The ritual of the Red Heifer is perhaps the most obscure, confusing practice in the entire Torah. In this episode we talk about whether Jewish rituals need reasons - and how that debate plays out traditionally and in liberal Judaism.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Korach's argument seems like a reasonable one: all of the people are holy. So why does his movement/rebellion end so badly? We take a look at what the Rabbis have to say about where Korach went wrong.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
In Sh'lach Lecha, the scouts - and the people of Israel - are punished for not having a wide enough view to see their power and their responsibility. I talk with Rabbi Andy Kahn, editor of The Sacred Earth (CCAR Press, 2023) about how this relates to the climate crisis and the current moment.
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- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
- To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
- To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
- Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
I talk with Rabbi Zoe Klein, author of Candle Feather Wooden Spoon. We find some interesting tidbits hidden in this week's parashah, and then go on to talk about the power of story in Torah and in Jewish life.
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Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
The Torah requires the isolation of certain people afflicted with ailments. How does Jewish tradition weigh that against the human need for community and support.
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Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
To support the production of this podcast, visit www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah or https://laasok.org/support-laasok/.
To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com.