The Jewish Perspective

What should I do if the Torah law directs me to act in contradiction to my conscience? Who should I listen? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:01) - Take According To Your Conscience (00:00:44) - What is conscience?

Would rabbis want there to be a death penalty in the US or in modern-day Israel? The answer might surprise you... Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.  Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:01) - Does Torah believe in Capital Punishment?

After G-d frees Jews from Egypt and tells them that now they have to be His slaves. Sounds like a gangster who defeats a rival mafia group and tells their captives: "now you are my slaves." What kind of freedom is this? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.  Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - What is freedom in Judaism?

Growing up as a “typical” Soviet Jew, a young boy stumbled upon a hidden underground world of Jews who secretly observed Torah laws. In this interview, Rabbi Belinsky shares his remarkable journey from the shadows of the Soviet Union to becoming a rabbi. Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Being a J...

Why is a rainbow more than just a beautiful phenomenon, but a meaningful spiritual sign? And how does physics surprisingly support ancient Kabbalistic ideas? Can the word be punished by flood again?  Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:01) - The Nature of Rainbow (00:02:34) - What was different between th...

This episode uncovers the deeper meaning behind the Chanukah miracle and reveals its surprising roots in the earliest stories of the Torah. Is the real story behind Chanukah about the war, about oil, or is there something deeper? Sometimes, the most important victories aren’t the ones we expect. Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog...

From cocaine to alcohol to smoking, we examine how Jewish law looks at addictive substances. We will see how half a century ago, the Rebbe warned about today’s rise in drug use. Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Can an observant Jew Use Hard Drugs? (00:01:58) - Is Cocaine Koskosher? (00:04:09) - E...

In biblical times, the concept of a concubine held a unique place in Jewish law and family life. What exactly was a concubine according to the Torah? And how did her role differ from that of a wife? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - What is a concubine in Jewish Law?

Why is it possible to be a Jew without the Torah? How does the covenant with God differ from modern contracts? Which is stronger: the law of the Torah or our soul? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Crux of Covenants (00:06:38) - 3 ties to God in Judaism (00:13:16) - The Day of Judgment

The Torah’s story of rich and poor farmers reveals a hidden truth about wealth, humility, and the soul. Why did the poor lose their baskets while the rich got theirs back? What does this ancient ritual teach us about the relationship between body and soul? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The Ric...

From blessings to Shabbat laws, rabbinic decrees guide how Jews live and practice every day. What gives these rabbinic laws their power? And how can differences in rabbinic rulings shape entire communities? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Rabbinic Legislation and Rabbinic Rulings (00:09:16) - As...

Do we do Mitzvot out of fear of punishment? Which matters more—learning Torah or doing mitzvot? Do rules of "Language of Love" apply to G-d? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Relationship with God and the Torah (00:06:03) - Jewish ethics of shopping for one's mother (00:08:10) - Jewish Law of Love...

When bowing down, does it matter for how long? What do laws of bowing reveal about the way we approach our emotions and spirituality? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The devil is in the details (00:00:40) - Bowing Down in the Temple (00:06:22) - How to Bother Thanking God

The Talmud tells a strange story about wheat, barley, and the souls within us. Why does the Torah list wheat before barley if our animal soul comes first? And what does this teach us about starting each day with the right focus? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The Animalistic Soul and Godly Soul...

In Judaism, men and women approach Torah study from different perspectives, yet both find purpose in it. Do women have an equal obligation to learn Torah? And why does the distinction between obligation and necessity matter? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.   Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Do Women Have the Obligation to Learn...

Jewish tradition teaches that the way we start the day shapes everything that follows. Why don't we begin our day with the word "I"? And what deeper meaning lies in saying Modeh Ani before anything else? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Thank You, My God (00:07:47) - The Jewish subjects of childh...

From the Mishkan in the desert to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the Jewish story of sacred spaces spans centuries of resilience and faith. Why did the Romans leave just one wall standing? What promise does the future Third Temple hold? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.   Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:01) - The story of the Temple

- Why did Jews have to be divided into tribes? - Why are Jews compared to branches? - Can a severed branch have an advantage over an attached one? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.   Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube

If G-d agreed to the complaint of the daughters of Tzlafchad, why didn't He set the law this way in the first place? And what deeper lesson does this story teach us about inheritance? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.   Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The Torah portion of Pinchas is telling (00:06:12) - He died because he rebell...

Jewish inheritance law is very different from the modern American legal system. Who is considered the rightful heir in Jewish tradition? What does that teach us about the Torah being our true inheritance as Jews? That’s what we’ll be exploring in today’s episode of The Jewish Perspective Podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - Jewish Law of Inheritance and Prese...

Bilaam, a non-Jewish prophet, tried to curse the Jews but ended up blessing them instead. If he followed G-d’s instructions, why is he called “Wicked”? How does Judaism determine the morality of one's actions? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast.   Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The Three Components of a Wicked Person (00:07:51) -...

- How does Jewish law differ from modern legal systems in judging intent and action? - Who bears greater responsibility — the person who pulls the trigger, or the one who gives the order? - Can someone else be culpable for your wrongdoings? Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:01) - Balak vs Bilaam

Are we predisposed to positive or negative thoughts? How do social media and the news affect our self-perception? Can we help ourselves feel happier? Let’s find out in today’s episode of The Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - In the Elevator With Dennis Prager: Happiness (00:01:07) - The Miracle of the Valley of Death (00:09:05) - How to...

Why did the Jews start suspecting Moses of defrauding the Temple? Why didn’t God defend Moshe from the start? And how important is it to be sincere in our actions? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the Jewish Perspective podcast. Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube Chapters (00:00:00) - The Greatest Fundraising Campaign in Jewish History (00:06:38) - How to Be Real with Your Donations...

The ninth day of Av is the saddest day in Jewish History, both Holy Temples were set aflame, and many other bad things happened. But how can it be transformed into a day of happiness and joy for all of us? How can we look at sad days in our life with a different perspective? Let’s find out in today’s episode of the podcast.  Watch Rabbi Belinsky's Video Blog on Youtube   Chapters (00:00:00) - The...