Podcast · Devotional & Spiritual
by Zalman Gordon · English · Devotional & Spiritual
A discussion on a topic from the week's Parsha covering many important parts of Judaism that are not regularly addressed.
11 Oct 2026 · 46 minNew
We believe that Judaism is not only about Jews. We Jews have a message to share with the world around us. A universal code of morality and values that we should encourage all humans to live by. A fascinating discussion about the Jewish message to humanity.
5 Oct 2026 · 49 min
Many people are afraid to have more children. They add to a already too large population competing for scarce resources. They increase the pollution and add to the CO2 destroying our planet. They are to expensive to raise and take too much energy. Throughout our culture we are encouraged to have as few children as possible. The first of our 613 Commandments is not only that we must have children but also to have many. Is that really a good idea? Are we not afraid of the harmful results of irresponsibly having children? What about people who cannot or did not have children? Are they missing…
28 Sep 2026 · 38 min
Each year on Sukkot for over 3,000 years, we have taken an Etrog along with three other plants to shake together on the festival. The Etrog is a very unusual fruit and obtaining a real Etrog each year was a challenge in many Jewish communities across the Jewish diaspora. A discussion about the extraordinary Etrog and the other plants for Sukkot as well as the history of our people's use of this amazing fruit.
20 Sep 2026 · 48 min
Today, Yom Kippur is marked by fasting and all-day prayer in the synagogue. when the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, Yom Kippur was marked by a unique service performed by the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. The highlight of the service was when he entered the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant stood. Today, we read in detail about the service in the ancient temple during our Yom Kippur prayers while mourning the loss of the Temple and praying for its restoration.
14 Sep 2026 · 42 min
Kol Nidrei is for many the most important prayer of the year. However the prayer itself was once extremely controversial. Many Jewish scholars and rabbis called for removing the prayer, others made changes to it. A fascinating history of the Kol Nidrei prayer and the controversy behind it.
6 Sep 2026 · 41 min
We believe that G-d is our Creator and in our prayers often refer to Him as our father. However, on Rosh Hashanah, we mostly refer to G-d as our King. What does it mean that G-d is a King? Is there an advantage to being a Monarch? How does G-d's role as King connect to Rosh Hashanah? A fascinating discussion about G-d role as a king.
30 Aug 2026 · 55 min
Poetry has always played a central role in Judaism. Jewish poetry began in the Tanach (the Hebrew scriptures), which contain the earliest known poetry. Later in the early Middle Ages, Jewish poets developed extensive liturgical poems that became central to our prayers and served as a model copied by Christian and Muslim poets. A fascinating discussion about Piyyut, early Jewish poetry and how it influenced all subsequent poetry.
23 Aug 2026 · 56 min
It is a great Mitzvah to do everything we can to free our fellow Jews who have been captured. Many Jewish communities maintained special funds for freeing captives and hostages. But should we always free captives at any price? Can we overpay? What if we are asked to exchange the captives for terrorists? What if the captives' lives are in danger? J A fascinating class about the Jewish responses to the agonizing questions about freeing hostages.
16 Aug 2026 · 48 min
Judaism allows for couple to go separate ways once their marriage reached an end. The process of Jewish divorce - Get in Hebrew - is among the most detailed and complex religious ceremonies in Judaism. A fascinating overview of the detailed Jewish divorce ceremony. Links to related classes Beth Din - The Jewish court system https://open.spotify.com/episode/09KcwTo04tQSmpQlHNaVsX?si=zQkf-1STRWijimsTFQf0oA The Aguna problem https://open.spotify.com/episode/7oVSHf15s3tWvomhmDgKnt?si=3ayHGUYWR3K2ElquMNkglg
9 Aug 2026 · 50 min
From the beginning of time, people have been predicting the end-of-times, when the world as we know it will come to an end. Today, there are countless people who claim to know the signs that we are almost there. Jews have always believed in the coming of Mashiach and the "end-of-times". But is that going to happen soon? Do we know when Mashiach will come and when history will end? A fascinating discussion about the Jewish traditions regarding predicting the end-of-times. Link to past episode about the End of Times…
2 Aug 2026 · 47 min
The Torah forbids us from eating milk and meat together. What about fish and meat, fish and fowl, or even fish and milk? A fascinating discussion about the rules of eating fish with meat or milk in Judaism. Links to related episodes Mixing Milk and Meat https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FtZuAhFtMbOLfpHhPf6IO?si=sMrC4igkTFie6GOQ8sWpxQ What makes fish Kosher? https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NVIqPADTsRGf4S1E5XyQl?si=vfmlreIrT2uR3wPke4rqeg The Shulchan Aruch https://open.spotify.com/episode/5gwgTVDqHl6bNOEnoLcJcB?si=lJ1QLKlURIWuR3cwqTev_w
26 Jul 2026 · 45 min
An important part of the Temple service was the chopping and donating wood to the Temple for the fire on the Altar. This Mitzvah came with great celebrations and many families had designated days for wood donations. This Mitzvah is still celebrated today on the 15th of Av each year. A fascinating discussion about the Wood Chopping Mitzvah, its celebrations, and the life changing impact it has on us today.
19 Jul 2026 · 50 min
Josephus is our single most important source for the final decades of the Second Temple period. He was a former Jewish commander who surrendered to the Romans and later became a writer in the court of the Flavian emperors. Josephus wrote important books about the Jewish revolt, Jewish history, and Judaism that we still have today. But can his account be trusted? Was Josephus a careful historian preserving the past, a political propagandist serving Rome, or something far more complicated?
12 Jul 2026 · 45 min
In our personal lives and our world in general, there is an epic battle between good and evil. Each side is constantly battling to gain the upper hand. Who wins this battle? Our own life experience and observations often suggest that evil is winning, but counterintuitively, the Rebbe explains why logically, in the long run good will always win A fascinating discussion based on the teachings of the Rebbe about the epic battle between good and evil and how we can definitively show that good always wins. Links to related episodes Why do bad things happen…
5 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
While historically, Jewish communities were organized and structured, the freedoms in the United States have made Jewish communities fractured and fragile. This created an open market for Judaism in the United States that never existed anywhere else. How did Judaism in America adapt to this unusual community structure? What can guarantee Judaism's survival in this free open society?
28 Jun 2026 · 1 hr
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the sixth Chabad Rebbe, was one of the most fascinating and impactful Jewish leaders of the early 20th century. The Rebbe began his leadership role as a teenager, spanning the final decades of the Russian Empire, World War I, the Russian Revolution, the Stalinist Soviet Union, World War II and finally in the United States during and immediately after the war. A discussion about Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson and his fascinating life story.
21 Jun 2026 · 44 min
One of the strangest stories in the Torah is when Balaam decided to go and curse Israel but G-d sent obstacles to disuade him from going. One such event was when Balaam hit his donkey and the donkey began to speak back to him. J A fascinating discussion about the strange story of the talking donkey and the lessons for us today.
14 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
One of the most important Jewish events in modern Jewish history, was the split in Hungarian Jewry in 1870. It marked the first time Jewish communities officially split over theological differences, changing how Jews have since thought about their identity. A fascinating class about an unknown but important event in history whose impact continues to this day.
7 Jun 2026 · 39 min
One of the central values in Judaism is not speaking bad about others, Lashon Hara in Hebrew. While gossip has become a staple in our society today, our Jewish traditions are strongly opposed to it. A discussion about the rules and precautions we must take not to speak evil of others, the dangers such speech can bring and the benefits of living a gossip free life.
31 May 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Music played a central role in the service at the Temple in Jerusalem. While sacrifices were offered, the Levites played a variety of music and sang songs of praise to G-d. Yet, while traditional synagogues sing songs of praise and prayer, they generally do not accompany the songs with music. What is the role of instrumental music in Judaism? Why was it used in the Temple in Jerusalem, but generally not used today? Can a community add music to its prayers if it wishes? A fascinating discussion about the role of music in Jewish prayer.
24 May 2026 · 46 min
The word "Amen" is used by Jews throughout our prayers and in daily life to respond to blessings. What does the word Amen mean? Where does it come from? When is it appropriate to respond Amen and when is it not? Are there other appropriate responses to a blessing? A fascinating discussion about the origins and meaning of "Amen".
17 May 2026 · 40 min
There is an old custom to stay awake and study Torah all night on the eve of Shavuot. Many recite the Tikkun, a collection of readings from the written and oral Torahs. Where did this custom originate, and what is the reason for it? A fascinating discussion about the custom of staying awake on Shavuot Night
10 May 2026 · 50 min
Pirkei Avot is one of the earliest classic Jewish works of ethics. Pirkei Avot is a collection of inspirational teachings and life-lessons from the sages of the Mishnah (0-200 CE). It was written as part of the Mishna over 1,800 years ago. There is a widespread custom to study Pirkei Avot on Shabbat afternoon of the weeks between Passover and Shavuot. A fascinating discussion about Pirkei Avot. why it was written and some of its important lessons.
3 May 2026 · 43 min
The Zohar has been a difficult and elusive book throughout our history. A large tome, written in Western Aramaic and cryptic in its meaning the Zohar has mystified scholars and layman alike. The history of the Zohar, who wrote it and who studied it remain debated among scholars. A discussion about the Zohar's author Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and the book itself. (This class was originally taught in 2016)
26 Apr 2026 · 42 min
Are the Torah's words meant to be taken at face value? If the Torah says something, should we accept it as written? It may come as a surprise to many that one of the central belief in Judaism is that the Torah was never meant to be taken at face value. Rather the Torah was written in code and we can only understand it if we know how to decipher the code. A fascinating discussion about the Torah, its meaning, and an exploration of examples where we believe the Torah meant something other than what is written.
19 Apr 2026 · 49 min
The Torah forbids us from eating fruit of a tree that has been planted within the past 3 years. This prohibition is called Orla. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, the fruit of the 4th year was brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. What is the reason for the law of Orla? How is it observed today? A fascinating discussion about Orla, fruit in the first 3 years.
12 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Sometimes, fulfilling one Torah commandment requires violating another. For example, if a baby is born on Shabbat, then the eighth day will be the following Shabbat. Circumcising the child violates the prohibition against drawing blood on Shabbat. What should you do? A fascinating discussion about what the Halacha (Torah law) tells us to do when fulfilling one commandment violates another.
5 Apr 2026 · 40 min
The Torah prohibits us from eating or even owning Chametz, leavened grain products on Passover. However Ashkenazic Jews are careful not to eat any beans or legumes on the holiday. How did this custom begin? What is the reason for it? Why do many Saphardic Jews not keep it? A discussion about the laws of Passover and the development of the Kitniyot prohibition. (Please note, this was recorded over Zoom so the sound quality is weaker than normal) Have a Happy Passover!
29 Mar 2026 · 30 min
As people age, they tend to slow down. In today's culture, people work for decades towards retirement when they can stop working altogether and just relax. The Rebbe, took a very different approach. He believed that as long as we are alive and have the capacity to work, we must continue working, never retiring or even slowing down. A fascinating discussion about the Rebbe's views on retirement and continued growth.
15 Mar 2026 · 46 min
Salt is a crucial mineral for human health and for nature. Salt also plays a prominent role in Judaism. We salt meat with salt. Salt was widely used in sacrifices at the Temple in Jerusalem. We dip our bread in salt. And the priestly covenant with G-d is described as a covenant of salt. A fascinating discussion about salt and the unique role it plays in Judaism.
A discussion on a topic from the week's Parsha covering many important parts of Judaism that are not regularly addressed.
Torah Cafe is a English devotional & spiritual podcast from Zalman Gordon. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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