Best Beit Midrash Podcasts (2025)

1
Torah Perspectives on Transhumanism: Professor Navon Interviewed by Rabbi Shmuly 18:47

Play Pause

3d ago18:47

18:47

Rabbi Shmuly sits down with Mois Navon, a founding engineer of Mobileye, where he designed the EyeQ family of SoC (System On a Chip) – the chip powering the autonomous vehicle revolution. Mois is also an ordained rabbi who has published numerous articles on Jewish law and lore. Working at the intersection of Torah U’Madda, he received his PhD from …

1
Jews and Biblical Criticism 1:02:33

4d ago1:02:33

1:02:33

A virtual presentation by Dr. Marc Brettler About The Event: The belief that the Torah is a composite book written by people over a long period of time, that the Hebrew Bible text that we use contains errors, and that the Bible was influenced by ancient Near Eastern texts, are main elements of the historical-critical analysis of the Bible. What is …

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #43 Humor 46:33

4d ago46:33

46:33

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Lekh Lekha: Walking, Tradition, and Renewal 11:14

3d ago11:14

11:14

Abraham is “our father” in many senses. He is seen as the father of the Jewish people, the spiritual father of Judaism and of monotheistic faiths more broadly, and the father of the covenant with the one God. Yet in our parashah, Abraham is introduced first and foremost as a son, a descendant who must decide whether to be traditional or innovative—…

1
R. Ayal Robkin: The Apprentice Mind Part 1 21:48

5d ago21:48

21:48

Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, also known as the Alei Shur, offers a powerful and inspiring — but often demanding — vision for what it takes to become a better human being. Before we can do any act of repentance, of teshuvah — we must first learn how to change and how to grow. Recorded in Summer 2025. Source sheet: https://mechonhadar.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.c…

1
The Untold Story of Lethal Injection: Professor Lain Interviewed by Rabbi Shmuly 28:13

9d ago28:13

28:13

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz interviews Professor Corinna Lain. Professor Corinna Lain is the S. D. Roberts & Sandra Moore Professor of Law at the University of Richmond School of Law. Professor Lain’s scholarship focuses on two areas—Supreme Court decision-making and the death penalty—and she has published numerous articles and essays about lethal inje…

1
Jews and Jewish Animals in the Middle Ages 49:27

10d ago49:27

49:27

A virtual event presentation by Professor David Shyovitz About The Event: Is Judaism—and by extension, religious identity—a category applicable only to human beings? Or might non-human animals also, in some sense, have religious standing and status? This session will explore some classical Jewish perspectives on this question, surveying medieval ra…

1
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Noah: "In His Generation" 13:16

10d ago13:16

13:16

Parashat Noah invites us to reflect on the relationship between society and the individual. The introduction of its main character raises a central question: What is our role when we live within a corrupt society? How should we conduct ourselves when leaders are not guided by the values we hold dear, and when many individuals disagree with us about…

1
Yes, You Are Your Brother's Keeper (Bereshit) 11:14

11d ago11:14

11:14

The Torah begins with a question: "Am I my brother's keeper?" And although it never answers it directly, the rest of the Torah IS an answer to that question. In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer discusses why the answer is a resounding "Yes!" and what that means for our Jewish lives today. Notes and Links: Seven Minute Torah is a production of La…

1
Chamber in the Chapel: A Hoshana Rabbah Lecture-Performance 1:01:30

16d ago1:01:30

1:01:30

About The Lecture: Hoshana Rabbah, the seventh and final day of the fall Sukkot festival, is one of the most fascinating and least appreciated dates on the Jewish calendar and was traditionally regarded as the holiday season’s final opportunity for teshuvah (repentance). Come join us for a lecture by Dr. Daniel Stein Kokin exploring the significanc…

1
R. Avital Hochstein on Parashat Bereishit: What If Adam Had Reacted Differently? 10:44

19d ago10:44

10:44

Two children are fighting in the playground. Called into the principal’s office, each insists: “It all started when he hit me back.” This familiar joke captures something deeply human: our tendency to avoid responsibility by blaming others.

1
R. Tali Adler on VeZot HaBerakhah: On Endings and Beginnings 7:57

26d ago7:57

7:57

The draw of theatre in the age of movies is that each experience is unique. While the script's words and stage directions remain the same night after night, the unique alchemy of the actors and audience gathered in that particular configuration at that particular moment in time, does not. When we linger in our seats after the final encore, delaying…

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #43 Human Connection 55:43

1M ago55:43

55:43

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
Do We Have to Forgive? Lessons from a Gourd Plant 12:54

1M ago12:54

12:54

A Yom Kippur reflection with Rabbi Micah Streiffer -- exploring a Talmudic story, the book of Jonah, and the lessons of a gourd plant. What does Jewish tradition really teach about forgiveness, and how can seeing the humanity in others move us toward healing? --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK: The Libera…

1
The Social Aspect of Reincarnation 59:43

1M ago59:43

59:43

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer About The Event: Why do certain people appear in our lives? And how can certain kabbalistic contemplations deepen our relationships with our family, friends and day-to-day encounters? In this class, we learn about a beautiful secret relating to the tree of life, reincarnation and their relevance …

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat Ha'azinu: Living in Between 9:42

1M ago9:42

9:42

Homeless in life, Moshe is fated to remain without a home even in death. That, perhaps, is the most difficult part of God’s decree: not that Moshe must die, a fate that all human beings share. Not that he must die outside of the land: Ya’akov and Yosef also died far from Israel. What is most difficult about Moshe’s death is that, even in death, he …

1
Is Teshuvah Possible in the Internet Age? 35:26

1M ago35:26

35:26

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dvora Weisberg, Ph.D. About The Event: Jewish tradition teaches that through teshuvah (repentance), we can “remake” ourselves as better people. But how do we present and live as our new, improved selves when our mistakes are preserved on the internet and available for everyone to see (and dredge up)? We will ta…

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat Vayeilekh: Recreating Sinai 8:40

1M ago8:40

8:40

The generation that will enter the Land of Israel never heard God’s voice at Sinai. They never experienced the earth shattering voice, the terror, the awe. In place of memory, all they have is a story.By Hadar Institute

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #42 The Psychology of Love and Relationships 58:17

2M ago58:17

58:17

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
When Society Goes Astray (Nitzavim) 13:16

2M ago13:16

13:16

How can we respond when the world feels chaotic—when society seems to be unraveling around us? Join Rabbi Micah Streiffer in exploring what Torah teaches about finding responsibility and purpose in challenging times. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK: The Liberal Beit Midrash. For info on our weekly Zoom…

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat Nitzavim: The Long Goodbye 5:36

2M ago5:36

5:36

When Moshe gathers the generation of the desert together to enter them into the covenant once again, he knows that it is his last chance to teach the people how to live according to the Torah—and, crucially, how to live without him.By Hadar Institute

1
R. Tali Adler: When Teshuvah Is or Should Be Impossible 42:10

2M ago42:10

42:10

Are some things unforgivable? Is Teshuvah always an option? What would it mean if the road to repentance were blocked? In this class we will explore questions of whether we ever lose the opportunity to do Teshuvah and what it might look like to repent from a place where we are unsure of the possibility of forgiveness. Recorded in Elul 2023. Source …

1
Finding Comfort in Jewish Meditation 59:03

2M ago59:03

59:03

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Yisroel Juskowicz About The Event: Meditation has been providing comfort and relaxation to people of all walks of life and ages. What many people may not know is how deeply rooted meditation is in Jewish tradition, and how one can make a guided meditation into a Jewish experience. In this class, participants wi…

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #41 Sports Psychology 56:21

2M ago56:21

56:21

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat Ki Tavo: No Final Chapter 7:00

2M ago7:00

7:00

We’ve made it. That seems to be the promise of bikkurim, the first fruits gift to God.By Hadar Institute

1
Valley Bread Midrash: Exploring and Expanding Torah in Chevruta with Challah 57:42

2M ago57:42

57:42

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Vanessa Harper About The Event: In Pirkei Avot, we read, “If there is no bread, there is no Torah, and if there is no Torah, there is no bread.” Rabbi Vanessa Harper takes this dictum literally in her book Loaves of Torah: Exploring the Jewish Year through Challah, using challah as a spiritually significant mat…

1
R. Dena Weiss: The Mechanics of Mercy: How Does Forgiveness Actually Work? 1:00:14

2M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

The liturgy of the High Holiday season is replete with promises about God's forgiveness but is less specific about how God forgives. In her lecture, R. Dena Weiss explores how forgiveness works, and asks if there are any strategies that we can adopt to make us more forgivable and forgiving. This lecture was delivered in memory of Rabbi Jonathan D. …

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #40 The Psychology of Change 52:40

2M ago52:40

52:40

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
R. Tali Adler on Ki Teitzei: Living in the Double Exposure 7:02

2M ago7:02

7:02

I was eight years old in Basel, Switzerland the day I learned about the way places have layers. It was a chilly, autumn shabbos, and my father and I were on a walk by the river. My father pointed out different sights as we walked: there is the house where his elementary school friend lived. There is the gate they walked through to get to school, th…

1
In the Image of God (Ki Tetze) 15:16

2M ago15:16

15:16

One of Judaism’s most famous teachings is that every person is created B’tzelem Elohim—in the image of God. But what does that really mean for how we see and treat each other, especially those who have done wrong? In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer digs into a surprising Torah passage and rabbinic midrash to explore dignity, justice, and the li…

1
R. Shai Held: Biblical Theology in a Time of Climate Emergency Part 3 34:46

2M ago34:46

34:46

What can the Bible teach us about navigating our way through a time of climate emergency? In this series, R. Shai Held explores three key biblical texts that offer differing (but perhaps complementary) approaches to understanding our place in this divinely created and much-more-than-human world. Recorded in Winter 2025. Source sheet: https://mechon…

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #39 The Conscious and The Unconscious 54:06

2M ago54:06

54:06

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat Shoftim: Even So 7:30

2M ago7:30

7:30

What do you do when you feel—or when you know—that because of your actions, you are entirely alone in the world?By Hadar Institute

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #38 The Psychology of Secrets 53:48

2M ago53:48

53:48

In this class series, Rabbi Shmuly will explore the Torah of the mind. We will explore how Jewish thought intersects with modern psychological studies and theories by examining thinkers like Freud, Piaget, Maslow, Frankl, and so many others over 50 interactive sessions. Looking at consciousness, moral reasoning, ego, love, learning, and evil, how c…

1
R. Micha'el Rosenberg on Rosh Chodesh Elul: Teshuvah: Light or Salvation? 9:22

2M ago9:22

9:22

Thinking about our own transgressions and repentance is hard, and so it makes sense that we often latch on to metaphors to help us think about these ideas. Perhaps the strangest metaphor I know of appears in the Zohar.By Hadar Institute