Shows / A Thought for the Week
A Thought for the Week
Join Rabbi Jay Kelman, the founding director of Torah in Motion, as he shares a thought about the weekly parsha.
Episodes
- A Thought for the Week
Vayeira: Bedtime Habits
Join as we discuss why Avraham keeps getting up early in the morning. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
Lech Lecha: Nobody's Perfect
Join as we discuss why good intentions can have bad results. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Noach: Silence is Deafening
Join as we discuss the downside of obedience to God. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Breisheet: To Be or Not to Be
Join as we discuss God's great dilemma and how His advisory team helped to resolve it. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and…
- A Thought for the Week
Hoshana Rabbah: Above the Altar
Join as we discuss why the arava takes centre stage as the holiday season comes to a close. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and…
- A Thought for the Week
Sukkot: Back to Eden
Join as we discuss how the story of Sukkot begins with Adam and Eve. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
The Hero of Yom Kippur
Join as we discuss an overlooked character in the story of Yom Kippur. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
Ha'azinu: A Straight Shooter
Join as we discuss how best to imitate God. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
מִי שֶׁעָנָה | The One Who Answered (Selichot: New Apologies)
To continue to receive updates from Selichot: New Apologies, subscribe here! In this piyyut said whenever selichot are recited we ask G-d to answer our prayers…
- A Thought for the Week
אִמַּנְתָּ מֵאָז | You Taught Us (Selichot: New Apologies)
Drawing on the notion that the Ten Days of Repentance were created even before the world came into being, the poet urges us to take advantage of this special…
- A Thought for the Week
אָדָם אֵיךְ יִזְכֶּה | How Can Man Merit (Selichot: New Apologies)
In this selicha for the eve of Rosh Hashanah we confront the inevitability of death, yet through prayer and tzedakah, we can be amongst the righteous who even…
- A Thought for the Week
Rosh HaShanah: Why Celebrate?
Join as we discuss the debate as to whether the world was created in Nissan or Tishrei. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and…
- A Thought for the Week
יִשְֹרָאֵל נוֹשַׁע | Yisrael Nosha b’Hashem (Selichot: New Apologies)
In today’s selicha, we place our unconditional trust in G-d’s salvation in the face of ongoing persecution. יִשְֹרָאֵל נוֹשַׁע בַּיהֹוָה, תְּשׁוּעַת עוֹלָמִים…
- A Thought for the Week
אִם עֲוֺנֵינוּ רַבּוּ לְהַגְדִּיל | Eem Avoneniu (Selichot: New Apologies)
In today’s selicha we plead with G-d to remember the Pure one, the Gathered One and the Builder. אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי…
- A Thought for the Week
אֵיךְ נִפְתַּח פֶּה | Eich Niftach Pe (Selichot: New Apologies)
In the opening selicha recited on the first night of selichot we acknowledge that only by relying on the mercy of G-d can the Jewish people hope for eternity…
- A Thought for the Week
Introduction to Selichot 5787
In the opening episode of our second season of Selichot: New Apologies we discuss the daily prayer for forgiveness as an integral part of the Amidah and…
- A Thought for the Week
Nitzavim-Vayelech: It's Up to Us
If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit torahinmotion.org/donate, or email us at…
- A Thought for the Week
Ki Tavo: Today’s News
Join as we discuss why interpreting the Torah is a time-bound mitzva. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
Ki Teitzei: Balancing the Scales
Join as we discuss why the primary religious obligation is honesty in Bussiness. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible…
- A Thought for the Week
Shoftim: The Limits on Leadership
Join as we discuss how the Torah deals with power's tendency to corrupt. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
Re'eh: Moshe’s Great Fear
Join as we discuss the primary goal of the three pilgrimages. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Eikev: Counting to 100
Join as we discuss the connection between Birchat haMazon and the Garden of Eden. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible…
- A Thought for the Week
Va'etchanan: A Second Revelation
Join as we discuss the significance of an extra vav the second time around. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible…
- A Thought for the Week
Tisha b'Av | When Will the Kinnot End? The Horrors of October 7
These two moving kinnot written by survivors of the Nachal Oz and Kfar Aza ask as Yirmiyahu did, Eicha, How can it be? How can it be? If you would like to…
- A Thought for the Week
BONUS | Rising From the Grave
Our ancestors are awoken by Yirmiyahs to plead on behalf of their children. But their children continue to sin and the merit of our ancestors has long expired…
- A Thought for the Week
Devarim: Torah for All
Join as we discuss why the most important messages of the Torah are for all of mankind. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and…
- A Thought for the Week
BONUS | The Ten Martyrs
This is Episode 12 of our new daily podcast, running from the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av. Check it out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, to get all the…
- A Thought for the Week
Matot-Masei: Count to Ten
Join as we discuss why Moshe made three big mistakes. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
BONUS | And Jeremiah Cried: The King Who Did Everything Right, Until He Didn't
This is Episode 6 of our new daily podcast, which will run from the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av. Follow on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. He found a lost…
- A Thought for the Week
Pinchas: Don't Follow Me
Join as we discuss what makes a good leader. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
NEW PODCAST | Three Weeks of Poetry: A Closer Look at the Kinnot
Our new daily podcast will run from the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av. Subscribe on Spotify: Here Or Apple Podcasts: Here Please join Rabbi Jay for…
- A Thought for the Week
Balak: Seeing is Believing
Join as we discuss why Balak should have consulted with Yitro. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Chukat: Return of the Snake
Join as we discuss the dangers that lurk in the desert. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Korach: He too is Deserving of Honour
Join as we discuss the most important verse in the Torah. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Shelach: Touring the Land
Join as we discuss why the Torah likes to contradict itself. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Beha'alotcha: Time to Gather Together
Join as we discuss how the tribe of Dan leads from behind. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Nasso: Truth from the Heart
Join as we discuss the best time for confession. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Shavuot: A Book of Kindness
Join as we discuss the connection between Rut and the 613 mitzvoth. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish…
- A Thought for the Week
Bamidbar: Is it One or Two?
Join as we discuss the findings of the two Jewish censuses. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Behar-Bechukotai: Very Interest-ing
Join as we discuss when Shabbat is not on Saturday. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content, visit…
- A Thought for the Week
Emor: The Daily Count
Join as we discuss the Biblical reason behind counting to 50. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Acharei-Mot Kedoshim: Bedtime
Join as we discuss the difference between morality and holiness. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and accessible jewish content…
- A Thought for the Week
Tazria: Thinking About Life
Join as we discuss the upside of impurity. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to partner with us to…
- A Thought for the Week
Shemini: Time to Eat
Join as we discuss camels, donkeys, storks and other menu items. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to…
- A Thought for the Week
Tzav: Marketing 101
Join as we discuss the link between the parsha, Pesach and Pirsumei Nisa. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would…
- A Thought for the Week
The Haggadah: Exile to Redemption
Join as we discuss the Haggadah shel Pesach, offering insights that will hopefully make your seder more meaningful. This is part 3 in our annual series, see…
- A Thought for the Week
Vayikra: Child Sacrifice
Join as we discuss why some of our sages say that Vayikra should be the first book of Chumash we teach to children. Send any questions, comments, or critiques…
- A Thought for the Week
Vayakhel-Pekudei: An Accounting of Faith
Join as we discuss audits and atheism. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to partner with us to create…
- A Thought for the Week
Ki Tisa: The Key Word
Join as we discuss the link between the Oral Law and the Golden Calf. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would…
- A Thought for the Week
Purim: A New Era
Join as we discuss how Purim marked a pivotal point in the Torah’s development. The Purim podcast is sponsored in memory of Eva Levi, Esther bat Yitzchack Tzvi…
- A Thought for the Week
Tetzaveh: A Change of Clothes
Join as we discuss what happened to Yosef’s tunic. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to partner with…
- A Thought for the Week
Terumah: Biblical Heresy
Join as we discuss why God prays. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to partner with us to create more…
- A Thought for the Week
Mishpatim: Seeing Double
Join as we discuss the difference between Western law and Jewish law. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would…
- A Thought for the Week
Yitro: A Priest and a Heretic
Join as we discuss the link between God’s image and God’s revelation. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would…
- A Thought for the Week
Beshalach: Time to Sing!?
Join as we discuss the very different responses of the people to their victories in battle. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to…
- A Thought for the Week
Bo: Counting to Ten
Join as we discuss the uniqueness of the plague of darkness. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you would like to…
- A Thought for the Week
Va'eira: Teaching Pharaoh…and Moshe
Join as we discuss why Pharaoh was a bad student and Moshe a much better one. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org If you…
- A Thought for the Week
Shemot: A For Effort
Join as we discuss how it is that the simple Jew is the backbone of thel Jewish people. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to…
- A Thought for the Week
Vayechi: The Next Generation
Join as we discuss one of the most important ingredients in the recipe for Jewish survival. If you would like to partner with us to create more thoughtful and…
- A Thought for the Week
Vayigash: Faith in Man
Join as we discuss the mistakes Yosef made in his rise to the top of Pharaoh's court. Send any questions, comments, or critiques to podcasts@torahinmotion.org…