TakeTen4Torah Daily Torah Podcast

TT4T#146 - Don't Waste My Time - 6/9/10

Is there an appropriate length for Tefilah? This Ten discusses different models of Tefilah and the downsides of taking up too much of people's time. 

TT4T#145 - Ode to Chulent - 6/8/17

There's is no food more traditonal than Chulent (or Hamin). It's a staple in Jewish homes throughout the world on Shabbat morning and is the centerpiece of a Shabbat meal. This Ten explores the origin and meaning of this dish and why our sources say that a Jew can be defined by their Chulent. b'Teiavon!

TT4T - The 18 Blessings of History - 6/7/17

In this Ten, we discuss the origins of standardized Tefila. How did prayer come to mean that we all say the same thing? We generally assume that the 18 blessings cover the gamut of all human needs, but here we discuss another possibility: that these blessingsaren't only about what we want now, but also about the moments in history when our wishes had been observed, and granted. 

TT4T#143 - Believe It or Not #23 - 6/6/17

This Ten continues to discuss the qualitative difference between Moshe and all other prophets. This most important feature acted to separate Moshe from his wife as well. Take Ten to find out what this difference was and what it teaches us about the nature of Judaism as a whole.

TT4T#142 - Aboveboarding - 6/5/17

Moshe is describes as the "trustworthy" in G-d's house. What is the nature of this trustworthiness? This Ten discusses the practical ramifications of Moshe's behavior of living a life above reproach and the obligations that creates for us in our day to day interactions.

TT4T#141 - Hunting Heretics - 5/30/17

We know that focusing on the Ten Commandments can be somewhat controversial (see TT4T#76). Indeed, in Temple times, they were removed from regular recital in the Shema. This Ten offers an analysis as to why they were removed, and who was the culprit.

See a fuller explanation here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pva32pfiph9xqew/PAPER%20-%20The%20Removal%20of%20the%20Aseret%20Hadibrot%20from%20the%20Shema%20-%20Who%20Was%20Responsible.pdf?dl=0

TT4T#140 - Divine Blueprints - 5/26/17

There is a rich midrashic tradition concerning the moment the Torah was given that paints a picture of all the world hanging in the balance of: would the Jews accept the Torah? This Ten discusses the gravity of that moment and how compulsion might be the only thing that could allow us to make the right decision. 

TT4T#139 - Pursuits of Perfection - 5/25/17

The Holiday of Shavuot begins late due to the late hour of sunset, but as you might be aware, we delay its start even more than we normally delay other holidays. Take Ten to find out how this delay came about and how it speaks to our "Pursuit of Perfection."

TT4T#138 - Believe It or Not #22 - 5/24/17

Moshe is referred to as the "Father of all Prophets." This Ten discusses the unique level of prophecy attained by Moshe as opposed to other prophets and what that teaches us about the nature of Torah revelation. 

TT4T#137 - If I Forget Thee - 5/23/17

In anticipation of Yom Yerushalayim, we this Ten discussed the millennia-old tension that exists between "forgetting" and "awaiting" when it comes to Yerushalayim and the Beit Hamikdash.