TakeTen4Torah Daily Torah Podcast

TT4T#73 - Miriam, Redeemer of Israel

Miriam is often seen as a "third wheel" among her more active brothers, Moshe and Aharon. There were critical, and overlooked roles that she had in the salvation of the Jewish people, and is listed equally as one of their saviors. Take Ten to find out why.

TT4T#72 - A Misplaced Song?

This Ten discusses the "Az Yashir," the song the Jews sang after they crossed the sea and how and where it finds itself in our daily prayers. If it is important enough to bear daily repeating, why does it come last in its section? Where does it really "belong" and why would its reading be so significant? Take Ten to find out.

TT4T#71- Believe it or Not #9 - 2/6/17

In this Ten, Rabbi Lerner shares a response to his question on the 4th principle of belief. He then continues with the 5th principle on the fundamental nature of prayer. What is the basic structural obligation? Is it about requests or praise or is it about both? Which is the most critical? Take Ten to hear the answers.

 

TT4T#70 - Which Tefillin did Moshe Wear? - 2/3/17

We are probably familiar with the great debate between Rashi and Rabeinu Tam regarding how to configure Tefillin. While most follow Rashi's opinion, many wear Rabeinu Tam's Tefiilin as well. This Ten wonders how, if Tefillin are worn so consistently, this debate could have ever occurred? Why couldn't they just look inside the Tefillin of those before them? Which Tefillin did Moshe Wear? Take Ten to find out. 

TT4T#69 - Meaningless Matzah? - 2/2/17

This week's parsha contains the mitzvah to eat matzah at the Seder on Pesach. The reason the Torah gives for eating matzah - because we escaped to quickly for our dough to rise - doesn't seem to be consistent with other sources in the Seder, or even in the Torah! This Ten looks at those sources and shares an approach that suggests that perhaps, there is no reason for this mitzvah altogether.

TT4T#68 - Miracles Don't Work for Me - 2/1/17

While miracles play a large role in the Exodus story, this Ten discusses the role they play in our day-to-day life. Should we be praying for or relying on miraculous intervention? Or, in other words, can we pray to pass the test we already took? Take Ten to find out.

TT4T#67 - The Jews' Golden Parachute - 1/31/17

Avraham is promised that after years of subjugation and suffering, his children will be "repayed" with great wealth. What sort of consolation was this? Indeed, our parsha describes G-d's request that the Jews carry out this plan for their financial future and we find that there was some discomfort in carrying it out. This Ten discusses these and other troubling issues: Why were we given this money and why didn't we want to take it?

TT4T#66 - Believe It or Not #8 - 1/30/17

In this Ten, Rabbi Lerner shares an important question relating to the seeming redundant 4th of the Rambam's principles of belief. In addition, we begin to learn about the 5th principle. Unlike the other beliefs, the 5th principle is about the ACTION of prayer, and less about a belief. Indeed, the Rambam includes the mitzvah of prayer in the very top of his list of mitzvot. Why is this "belief" so different from the others? Take Ten to find out. 

 

 

TT4T#65 - Plague Patterns - 1/27/17

Why were there ten plagues? Wouldn't one have made the point and sufficiently motivated Pharaoh to let the Jews go? This Ten discusses the purpose and order of the plagues and how they delivered precise retribution to the Egyptians for their progressive program of anti-semitism.

TT4T#64- Believe It or Not #7 - 1/26/17

In this edition of "Believe It or Not," Rabbi Lerner discuss the intellectual prerequisites for Olam Habah, the World to Come. How does one spend a life not only filling their mind with Torah, but becoming a mind that is permeated with Torah? Understand how and see why the construction of the Written Torah vs. Oral Torah was purposefully created to facilitate the creation of a Torah personality.