Torah Cafe

We have always been called 'the People of the book'. Throughout history, Jews have always have a love affair with books, building and retaining large libraries, printing and distributing large numbers of books even a personal library in every Jewish home. TLearn about the history of Jewish books and how our people became so obsessed with the printed (or written) word.

Our people have gone through many ups and downs over our very long history. At times we were threatened by people who hated us and sought to destroy us. Today though, the main threat to our survival comes from Jews blending into society and losing their Jewish identity. What is the key to Jewish survival? How can we ensure our people will continue to thrive despite the lure of assimilation? How ca...

For much of history people wondered if there were extraterrestrial beings living on other planets. Our imagination has dreamed of what these creatures might look like and how they might live. In recent times we've spent billions of dollars searching for these extraterrestrial beings. What does Judaism say about Aliens? Could they exist? Do they exist? Should we spend time and money...

One of the most fascinating and challenging personalities in Tanach (Scripture) is Job, the successful and happy G-d fearing man who had many tragedies happen to him and then wonder why G-d was making him suffer. Job and his friends had deep discussions trying to understand what was happening to him. Learn about the story of Job and the fascinating philosophical discussions he had about why good p...

Jews have always been a very clean people. We were so hygienic that when plague struck our gentile neighbors, we were often spared the worst of it. This led to us being blamed for the plague as happened when Black Death struck Europe in the 14th Century. Where did the Jewish value of cleanliness come from long before society around us had any concept of proper hygiene? A fascinating discussion abo...

Jews started as a people with the Exodus from Egypt and entering the Promised Land. Where did we come from before that? The Torah tells of our ancestors Abraham & Sarah were Hebrews but where did they come from? Who were the original Hebrews and where did their Hebrew language come from? A fascinating discussion about the origins of the Jewish people and where our ancestors came from.

The Jewish people are generally split between Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities who have various customs, foods and cultures. When and how did the two groups split?  What are the differences between the two groups? What about Jewish communities that do not fit into either group? Learn about the history of the Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewish communities.

In 1796 a small book was published in Belarus called Lekutei Amarim. Over time the book became known as the Tanya. In the past 200+ years since the printing, the Tanya has been printed thousands of times and changed the lives of millions becoming one of the most influential Jewish books of all time. What is the Book of Tanya about? Why is it life changing? Learn about the book of Tanya, it's most...

Do we believe there is an end of time? What will happen to us? What will our world look like? What will happen after the End of Time? A fascinating discussion about the Jewish belief in the End of Times and what will happen then.

The prophet Isaiah said that G-d has made Jewish people a 'Light to the Nations'. What does it mean to be a 'Light to the Nations'? What does that mission entail? How do we light up other nations? A discussion about the festival of Chanukah and the Jewish role to humanity, to 'Light up the Nations'. 

Some 2300 years ago a Jewish group of rebels led by the Maccabees rose up against the Syrian Greek empire. They fought for Judaism against the enforcement of Hellenist culture in the land of Israel. We celebrate their victory every year on Chanukah. The key battle between Judaism and Hellenism has continued. We continue to struggle with Hellenism and every Chanukah renew our efforts to overcome th...

he Torah describes many great miracles that happened thousands of years ago such as the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea, fall of manna, revelation at Sinai. Why don't miracles happen anymore? Why don't we seen them? Discover how miracles work and why we don't see them anymore.

When Jewihs children turn 12 or 13 they celebrate their Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah.  What is a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah? Why does it happen at 12 or 13 years old? What does the ceremony entail? What needs to be done to become a Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah? Learn about the Bar Mitzvah and the Bat Mitzvah, its traditions and its true meaning in Judaism.

A Jewish funeral simple, quick but very important.  Its general format has not changed for over four thousand years. Traditionally, Jews hold the funeral within 24 hours of passing  Before the funeral can take place, the body of the deceased must be prepared for burial in accordance with Jewish tradition. Yet receiving a proper funeral and burial has always been the single greatest end o...

In recent years, society has debated the roles of gender in society and the rights and treatment of transgender. What does Judaism say about gender roles in society and transgender rights? Learn about the Jewish perspective on gender roles and transgender rights.

Often people say it is never okay to lie but is that true? Should you lie to your spouse when the truth would offend them? Should you lie to a friend when the truth will hurt? Should you lie when the truth will be very costly? Judaism takes a very nuanced approach when it come to telling the truth. A fascinating discussion about the Jewish value of truth and under what circumstances it is okay to...

The Eruv, has been an important part of Jewish communities for thousands of years. It involves creating a virtual wall around a community that according to Jewish law will allow people within the wall to carry things on the streets on the Shabbat. Dozens of Eruvs have been built in the US, many of them controversial. A discussion of what the Eruv entails, how it works and how to build a communal E...

70 years ago after the Holocaust had destroyed 1/3 of world Jewry and American Jews assimilating rapidly, the future of Judaims looked bleak. Starting in 1950, the Rebbe built a movement of Jewish revival that succeeded in turning the tide of assimilation and changed the landscape of Judaism to become the thriving growing community it is today. Discover how the Rebbe built a movement that would re...

In 1760 with the beginning of the Industrial revolution, the world began to change in ways it it had never changed before. Over the past 200 years, our world has advanced so far that our lives are in no way similar to the pre-technology lives we lived 250 years ago. What does the Torah say about the greatest developments in history? Is there any spiritual meaning to it?  Discover some fascina...

When a loved one; a parent, relative or friend dies, we miss them and want to find ways to connect to them. In Jewish traditions we have many ways to continue connecting with our loved ones even after they die. Learn about our relationship with our loved ones after death and the various Jewish traditions and teachings on how we can still connect with them.

Predicting the future is a big business. Media, financial experts, political consultants, sport commentators all try to predict what will happen. From the earliest times, people have used astrology as one of the chief methods of predicting the future and understanding the past and present. Does Judaism recognize astrology? Is there any truth to its predictions? Does Jewish law allow Jews to dabble...

One of the greatest Jewish prophets was Elisha, the successor of Elijah who was given 'double the spirit' that Elijah had. Elisha lived in a challenging time for Jews when they were led by the wicked king Ahab and his dynasty. A discussion about the prophet Elisha and his fascinating story.

More than 1300 years ago, Arab armies swept out of the Arabian desert under the banner of the new religion of Islam to conquer much of the civilized world including most major Jewish communities. Since that time, large Jewish communities have lived in Arab and Muslim lands and had to contend with Islamic beliefs and Arabs who claimed to be descendant from Isaac's brother Ismael. Today, the Arab an...

Who is Jewish? One of the big questions that have faced the Jewish community in recent decades is figuring out who should be considered Jewish and a member of our people.  Should we be inclusive or exclusive? Should we accept anyone who feels Jewish? People born to a Jewish mother? Jewish father? Adopted by Jewish parents? Can people convert to Judaism? What should such a conversion entail? W...

Many Jews feel uncomfortable with the claim that Jews are chosen? Isn't that elitist? Is it racist? Should the belief in being chosen lead to antisemitism, giving non Jews a good reason to dislike Jews? Do Jews really believe that we are the Chosen People? If yes, what are we chosen for? Understand the Jewish belief in being the Chosen People and what it means.