Best Beit Midrash Podcasts (2025)

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R. Avi Strausberg on Pride Month 2025: Flags of Love 4:42

Play Pause

1d ago4:42

4:42

The Song of Songs (2:4) imagines a boundless love between two lovers in which one lover says of the other, “his flag of love was upon me.” That’s how I felt at Pride this month—surrounded by flags of love.By Hadar Institute

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Psalms Throughout Our Lives 44:47

4d ago44:47

44:47

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Jade Sank Ross The event was co-sponsored by BMH-BJ About The Event: Year after year, as we read and re-read the same portions of Torah, it does not change, but we do. The Psalms have been part of Jewish ritual and liturgy for centuries, and generation after generation they have sung to us in moments of awe, so…

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Mashiv HaRuach 12:09

4d ago12:09

12:09

Rabbi Shmuly guides us through the depths of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) traditional Jewish "standing" prayer. Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • YouTube: https://www.you…

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50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #31 Fear 56:45

5d ago56:45

56:45

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
The Colours of the Parchment: An Exploration of Modern Midrash Produced by Jewish Artists 56:45

6d ago56:45

56:45

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dvir Cahana About The Event: What happens when a Rabbi and an Artist study Torah together? … Chidushim!!! The Amen Institute has provided an incubator to empower artists with the charge of being wisdom disseminators. Join Rabbi Dvir Cahana in a unique program describing the discoveries of these artist meaning s…

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R. Tali Adler on Parashat Korah: Pretended Perfection 7:32

6d ago7:32

7:32

The most insidious part of Korach’s claim is that it is a lie we desperately want to believe.By Hadar Institute

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The Arrogance That Thinks It Knows All Truth (Korach) 13:04

7d ago13:04

13:04

Korach is not just a rebel. He's the embodiment of what the prayerbook calls "the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth." The Torah comes to remind us that we have a lot left to learn - even from people we disagree with. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom study groups and o…

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R. Dani Passow: Reading the Rabbis Part 2 43:16

8d ago43:16

43:16

The Talmud is notoriously complex, and its stories are no exception. In this class, we will learn strategies for how to understand these texts such as structural analysis, to explore the narrative flow and construction; interiority, to uncover the unstated emotions and motivations of the sages; and contextual analysis, to place each story within th…

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #30 Jungian Shadows 55:20

13d ago55:20

55:20

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 Shelah: When the Story Changes 8:32

13d ago8:32

8:32

To be a Jew is to believe in impossible dreams. To be a Jew is to believe that slaves can become free. It is to believe that the senselessness of this world can be disrupted by divine words that break through the barrier between heaven and earth. It is trust, even on our darkest days, that we are part of God’s dream.…

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Kedushah – Mimkomo 11:03

14d ago11:03

11:03

Rabbi Shmuly guides us through the depths of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) traditional Jewish "standing" prayer. Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • YouTube: https://www.you…

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How to be Caleb (Sh'lach Lecha) 12:40

14d ago12:40

12:40

Many of us know very little about the biblical figure of Caleb. But he is a model of positivity, faith, and believing in what's possible - even when the world around you doesn't. Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores some midrash about Caleb, and asks what we can learn for the bleak world we're living in. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Tor…

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The Case for Dual Loyalty: Healing the Divided Soul of American Jews 55:53

15d ago55:53

55:53

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Dr. Nolan Lebovitz The event was co-sponsored by Congregation Or Tzion About The Event: Following October 7, Rabbi Lebovitz synthesizes the Jewish turning point in history with lessons from the past, arguing that it is a moral imperative to radically change the way we engage with both Israel and the United Stat…

1
R. Dani Passow: Reading the Rabbis Part 1 40:48

15d ago40:48

40:48

The Talmud is notoriously complex, and its stories are no exception. In this class, we will learn strategies for how to understand these texts such as structural analysis, to explore the narrative flow and construction; interiority, to uncover the unstated emotions and motivations of the sages; and contextual analysis, to place each story within th…

1
R. Tali Adler on Parashat BeHa'alotkha: Unspoken Words 7:38

20d ago7:38

7:38

The tragedy of Moshe’s final conversation with his father-in-law are the words that he leaves unsaid.By Hadar Institute

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50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #29 Car Crash Experiement 54:27

21d ago54:27

54:27

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
Ruling by Fear Will Never Work (B'ha-alotcha) 12:38

21d ago12:38

12:38

Far from being threatened by others, Moses acts in a way that upholds the rights of others to speak their minds. In that sense, this Torah portion portrays him as the opposite of an authoritarian ruler. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. For info on our weekly Zoom study groups and other learning opportu…

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R. Shai Held: Psalm for Shabbat 41:08

22d ago41:08

41:08

The psalms attached liturgically to each day of the week are often mumbled over quickly, without much attention to their meaning. In this series, we'll engage in careful literary-theological readings of these psalms, looking at how various midrashim interpret the psalms, and bring new meaning to this part of our daily prayers. Key themes explored w…

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The Extraordinary Career of Rabbi Alexander Schindler (1925-2000), Innovative Reformer of American Reform Judaism 57:59

25d ago57:59

57:59

A virtual event presentation by Dr. Michael Meyer The event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel About The Event: This lecture, based on my book “Above All, We Are Jews,” A Biography of Rabbi Alexander Schindler, will cover the career of a German Jew of East European extraction who redirected American Reform Judaism so that it would more realisticall…

1
Ya'aleh Veyavo 10:01

25d ago10:01

10:01

Rabbi Shmuly guides us through the depths of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) traditional Jewish "standing" prayer. Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • YouTube: https://www.you…

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R. Tali Adler on Parashat Naso: Choosing to Live 6:44

27d ago6:44

6:44

There are moments in life where things have gone so wrong that we cannot see a way forward. That may be what has happened to the woman who chooses to drink the sotah waters.By Hadar Institute

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The Art of Caregiving 58:51

1M ago58:51

58:51

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Richard Address The Event was co-sponsored by Temple Emanuel About The Event: In this session, we will discuss the new life stage of Caregiving and how Jewish texts and tradition have approached this issue. Based on the 5th Commandment, we will examine how our tradition has looked at this life stage from the Ta…

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50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #28 Boredom 54:43

1M ago54:43

54:43

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
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #27 Meditation 58:17

1M 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
R. Tali Adler on Bemidbar: A Jew Without Sinai 10:06

1M ago10:06

10:06

To be a Jew is, when we are lucky, to feel the memory of Sinai in our bones. We strive to feel as if we have experienced both the slavery and liberation of Egypt first hand, as if we ourselves saw God’s miracles.By Hadar Institute

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What is a “Hand”? Amputees and Tefillin Shel Yad 41:20

1M ago41:20

41:20

By Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

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Is It Muttar to Daydream While Wearing Tefillin? 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

By Rabbi Dr. Yosef Bronstein

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Why Should We Be Excluded? Access, Obligation, and Membership: The Case for an English Megillah 53:11

1M ago53:11

53:11

A virtual event presentation by Rabbanit Devorah Zlochower About The Event: The cry, “Why Should We Be Excluded,” made by those individuals who were not able to bring the Paschal sacrifice is echoed by so many disabled Jews who have been left out of our community – our shuls, our schools, our communal programming due to inaccessibility and to invis…

1
R. Micha'el Rosenberg on Shavuot: What Did We Hear at Sinai? 7:24

1M ago7:24

7:24

What did we hear at Sinai? What does God want us to hear?By Hadar Institute

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On Taking A Stand! 9:04

1M ago9:04

9:04

Rabbi Shmuly guides us through the depths of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) traditional Jewish "standing" prayer. Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • YouTube: https://www.you…

1
Jews in the Qur’an – How Are Jews Portrayed by the Qur’an: A Study of Qur’anic Texts 56:50

1M ago56:50

56:50

A virtual event presentation by Rabbi Reuven Firestone The event was co-sponsored by BMH-BJ About The Event: What does the Qur’an say about Jews? “Israelites,” “Jews,” “People of the Book.” Even “rabbis.” These are all terms found in the Qur’an. Some have claimed that the Qur’an is antisemitic, while others have argued that it values Jews. What doe…

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R. Tali Adler on Parashat BeHar-BeHukkotai: Breaking the Cycle 8:38

1M ago8:38

8:38

When it comes to the enslavement of Jews, God gives us two imperatives. First, strive to be like God. Failing that, resist the temptation to become like the Egyptians.By Hadar Institute

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R. Shai Held: Psalm for Friday 28:12

1M ago28:12

28:12

The psalms attached liturgically to each day of the week are often mumbled over quickly, without much attention to their meaning. In this series, we'll engage in careful literary-theological readings of these psalms, looking at how various midrashim interpret the psalms, and bring new meaning to this part of our daily prayers. Key themes explored w…

1
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories and Jewish Perspectives on Them #26 Tribalism 59:46

2M ago59:46

59:46

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
Al Ha’Nisim 10:47

2M ago10:47

10:47

Rabbi Shmuly guides us through the depths of the blessings of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) traditional Jewish "standing" prayer. Stay Connected with Valley Beit Midrash: • Website: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org • Donate: https://www.valleybeitmidrash.org/donate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValleyBeitMidrash • YouTube: https://www.you…

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R. Micha'el Rosenberg on Lag Ba'Omer: The Paradox of Respect and Humility 6:58

2M ago6:58

6:58

What makes Lag Ba’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, special? Why has this day become an oasis of relief, and even celebration, amidst the generally mournful period between Pesah and Shavuot? The Talmud tells us simply that one year, R. Akiva’s 24,000 students all died between Pesah and Shavuot; a post-talmudic tradition asserts that the plague that f…

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R. Tali Adler on Parashat Emor: A Tale of Two Structures 7:40

2M ago7:40

7:40

Parashat Emor features two types of ritual buildings: the first, the mishkan (tabernacle), later transformed into the beit ha-mikdash (Temple); and the second, a sukkah. We encounter the mikdash this week, mostly in the form of limits on who may serve in it and how they must conduct themselves. Those who may serve there are not allowed to engage wi…