In this week's episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Emma Dayan, and Henry Esses are joined by Rav Menachem Leibtag to better understand the purpose of yetziat mitzrayim, discussing why God needed Paroh to kick the Jews out of Egypt and how that collective memory shapes us as a people.

Rav Menachem Leibtag is a teacher at Yeshivat Gush Etzion, Midreshet Lindenbaum, Shaalvim, and Matan. Read more of his essays on Parashat HaShavua on his website, tanach.org

In this week’s episode, Raymond Ashkenazie and Emma Dayan are joined by Rabbi Moish Kornblum to delve into the complexities of parental blessings in the Torah, focusing on the blessings given by Yaakov Avinu to his sons. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the nature of blessings and their impact on personal growth.

Rav Moish is the Assistant Dean at Yeshiva Orayta and former congregational rabbi in Cape Town.

In this week’s episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Henry Esses, and Emma Dayan are joined by Rabbi Nathan Dweck to explore the motivation behind Yosef’s testing of his brothers. The discussion delves deeper into the emotional and psychological aspects of the narrative, examining how these themes are reflected in contemporary life.

Rabbi Nathan Dweck serves as High School Minyan Rabbi and Torah Programming Director at Congregation Beth Torah, Mashgiach Ruhani and Judaic Studies teacher at Barkai Yeshivah Middle School, Executive Director of Tebah Educational Services, and Rabbi of Congregation Berit Shalom.

In this week’s episode, Raymond, Ashkenazie, Henry Esses, and Emma Dayan are joined by Rav Yuda Drizen to explore the meaning of dreams in the Torah, how those dreams speak to our lived reality today, and how these ideas connect to the holiday of Hanukah.

In this week’s episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Emma Dayan and Henry Esses are joined by Rav Alex Israel to discuss the righteousness of Yosef in the face of temptation and the broader theme of sexuality and power throughout Sefer Bereshit.

Rabbi Alex Israel teaches Tanakh at Midreshet Lindenbaum, Yeshivat Eretz Hatzvi, Matan Hasharon; and is faculty at the Rabbi Sacks Legacy. Read his Torah and listen to his podcasts at www.alexisrael.org

In this week’s episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Emma Dayan, and Henry Esses are joined by Ms. Talia Harcsztark to reflect on the pattern of the selected and rejected son that’s featured over and over again in Sefer Bereshit. What does it mean to be chosen? What are our responsibilities as the chosen people?

Ms. Harcsztark is the former Chair of the Tanakh department at the Yeshivah Flatbush, and she currently teaches at Pelech Girls High School in Jerusalem.

In this week's episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Emma Dayan and Henry Esses are joined by Rabbi Dr. Richard Hidary for an insightful exploration of Parashat Vayetse. Through a detailed analysis of the text, Rabbi Hidary discusses Yaakov's vow and its implications, offering a nuanced understanding of the relationship between faith and action.

Rabbi Hidary is an Associate Professor of Judaic studies at Yeshiva University and Rabbi at Sephardic Synagogue.

In this episode, Raymond Ashkenazie, Emma Dayan, and Henry Esses sit down with Rabbi Joseph Dweck for a thoughtful discussion on Parashat Toledot. Through a close reading of the text, Rabbi Dweck explains the meaning of Yitzchak’s blessings to Yaakov and Esav, how those blessings relate to the Land of Israel, and what the Torah reveals about Esav’s character that ultimately leads to the loss of both the birthright and the blessing.

Rabbi Joseph Dweck is the former Rosh Yeshivah of Barkai Yeshivah and has served for the past decade as the Senior Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish Community of the United Kingdom. He is currently in the process of making Aliyah.

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