Jewish Matters

Jewish Tree Huggers: Tu B’Shvat, & Environmentalism at the Sunset Series with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast. What is the significance of Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees in Jewish tradition?  In modern times it has been identified as a ‘Jewish Arbor Day’, but has been expanded beyond that as a ‘Jewish Earth Day.  Was that its original intent?  Is there a Jewish ethics of ecolo...

Exodus Unveiled # 3 Part II.  How Do We Know the Exodus Happened?   In-depth Insights on the Parshat Bo with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast The Exodus story is one of the most recognized stories of human history.  How do we know the Exodus happened?  Is there historical evidence beyond the Biblical account?  What does the Egyptian historical record tell us of that event?

Exodus Unveiled # 3.  The Breaking of Egypt.  Overview & Insights on the Parshat Bo with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast.  The last three plagues finally break Pharoh and Egypt and the Jewish people are sent free.  Before they go they are told to have a feast of lamb and matza, and to put the blood on the door lintel.  Three times they are told that in the future they are to re-en...

Exodus Unveiled # 2.  Taking on Pharoh.  Overview & Insights on the Parshat Va’era with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast Moshe’s first attempt to free the Jewish people in Egypt just made things worse.  In this week’s Parsha G-d begins by promising Moshe and the Jewish people that He will free them.  This will not happen immediately, because Pharoh’s heart will be hardened.  The fi...

Beyond the Conflict: Getting to Know Palestinians with Noor A'wad in Sons of Abraham on Jewish Matters Podcast  There is much discussion and debate on the Israel-Palestinian conflict, but very little about who the Palestinians are, and how they live.  What is the nature of Palestinian society beyond the conflict with Israel? How do they live, what is the nature of their family life, their customs,...

Exodus Unveiled # 1.  Beginnings of a Peoplehood.  Overview & Insights on the Parshat Shemot with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast The Jewish people’s stay in Egypt brings growth and prosperity but then turns sour.  The new king of Egypt turns on the Jewish people and enslaves them.  Moshe is born, is brought up by Pharoh’s daughter but then re-identifies with his people.  He flees...

 Yaakov’s Final Blessings.  Overview & Insights on the Parshat Vayechi with Rabbi Jonthan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast The parsha presents us with several family scenarios of Yaakov finishing his life by clarifying the legacy for the future generation.  We will discuss the implications of him promoting Yosef’s sons to full tribes and the blessing of Yosef’s son, the blessings to Yaakov’s own...

Sons of Abraham: Arab & Israeli: How Does It Work? with Ms. Ghaida Rinawie-Zoabi 1/5 of the population of Israel is Arab, yet most Israelis do not really know about their communities, their culture and their role in Israeli society which we will uncover.  We will also discuss the question of the integration of Israeli Arabs into larger Israeli society, from the workplace to education to governance...

Was the Reunion of Joseph and HIs Brothers a Reuniting?  Overview & Insights on the Parshat Vayigash with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast. After Benjamin is framed by the Egyptian viceroy who is Joseph, Yehuda steps forward and offers himself in place of his brother.  This leads to Joseph revealing his true identity and the family being reunited.  Jacob and the entire family will...

From Africa to Israel: The Hebrew Israelite Community -Sons of Abraham with Sar Ahmadiel Ben Yehuda About the topic:  Currently numbering nearly 3,000 men, women and children based in Israel, and with satellite communities of thousands across the US, the Caribbean and Africa, the African Hebrew Israelites easily comprise the largest organized repatriation movement of African Americans in history....

Why Didn’t Joseph Tell His Father He Was Alive?  In-Depth Insights on the Parshat Miketz with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman The glaring question asked by Nahmanides is why didn’t Joseph let Jacob know he was alive when he was viceroy over Egypt for seven years of plenty. We will explore the four possible answers which will lead us to a deeper understanding of the meaning of the story.

The Challenge of Jewish Power: Lessons From the Maccabean Revolt For Today with Rabbi Yehuda HaCohen, West Bank Jewish Peace Activist and Educator For 2,000 years the Jewish people were in a state of powerless. What can the story of the Maccabean Revolt teach us to help us become more comfortable with the power we’ve managed to obtain in the modern age, how Jewish values can inform our use of that...

From Prison to Viceroy: Joseph’s Master Plan Overview and Insights on the Parshat Miketz with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman Jacob’s favoritism for Joseph, and Joseph’s presumptuous dreams, end badly when his brothers’ jealousy leads them to sell him off into slavery. Joseph recovers by becoming chief steward of an aristocrat’s house in Egypt, only to be accused of sexual assault by the mistress of the ho...

Holiday Series  -Chanukah: Kindling Our Inner Lights & the Light of the Jewish People with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast Chanukah is a commemoration of a Jewish victory over religious oppression, and a time a spiritual rededication.  What is the history behind the story of the Maccabee victory, and why do we celebrate it by lighting the Menorah?  What is message for us today...

The Struggles of Joseph: A Family Torn Apart.  Overview and Insights on the Parshat Vayeshev with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast. Jacob’s favoritism for Joseph, and Joseph’s presumptuous dreams, end badly when his brothers’ jealousy leads them to sell him off into slavery. Joseph recovers by becoming chief steward of an aristocrat’s house in Egypt, only to be accused of sexual as...

Sons of Abraham # 3 Lost Jews? The Origins of the Ancient Samaritans with Guy Yehoshua, Samartian Spokesperson and Scribe.  The Sunset Series on Jewish Matters Podcast  The Samaritans live in Samaria, North of Jerusalem. They have been a distinct people practicing Samaritanism for thousands of years.  Their center of worship is on Mount Gerizim in Samaria, not Jerusalem.  They have a Torah scroll...

Great Jews # 14 Rav Shlomo Goren “ The Rabbi of the IDF on Jewish Matters Podcast with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman Rav Shlomo Goren was the first Chief Rabbi of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).  From his family’s Aliyah to a farm in the Galilee to his clandestine work with the Hagana and Lehi to Talmudic genius, Rabbi Goren’s life embodied the birth of the State of Israel.  In 1967 during the 6 day war...

Genesis Unveiled # 8 Part II.  Why Was Our Country Named Israel If We Are Jews?  In-depth Insights on the Parshat Vayishlach wiht Rabbi Jonathan Feldmah on Jewish Matters Podcast Yaakov has a mysterious night-time struggle before confronting his brother Esav which will re-define who he is and give him his new name, Israel.  By understanding the story we get to the essence of what the Jewish people...

Yaakov’s Life: Showdown With His Estranged Brother, Wrestling with An Angel and Dealing With His Daughter’s Rapist. Overview and Insights on the Parshat Vayishlach with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast Yaakov has numerous tests he must confront with the people around him, and this Parsha has three particularly trying ones.  He must re-engage his brother who wanted to kill him, wres...

Who are the Druze?  An Inside Look with Mendi Safadi at The Sunset Series on Jewish Matters Podcast. The Druze are a secretive people whose origins and beliefs are surrounded by mystery. They trace their origins back to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, and self-identify as the People of Monotheism.  The tenets of their religious are kept secret to non-believers.  They live mostly in the Golan Heights...

What’s In A Name: A Deeper Look at Hebrew Names, A Deeper Look at Parshat Vayetze with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast Hebrew names are more than just a title.  According to the mystical tradition the qualities embedded in the name, through its meaning or the person we are named after are an expression of our true inner nature.  We will explore this dynamic, talk about the meaning...

Love, Family Business and Subterfuge: Jacob Builds a Life.  Overview and Insights on the Parshat Vayeitzei with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast Yakov sets out on his own to find a wife, and falls in love with Rachel only to have his father-in-law Lavan switch her for Leah her older sister.  He still marries Rachel as well and proceeds to have 13 children with four women.  We follo...

Sons of Abraham # 1 An Inside Look at Israel's Bedouin Community with Dr. Yasmin Abu Fraiha.  A special program of The Sunset Series. The Bedouin are a subgroup within the Arab minority in the State of Israel, with cultural, historical, social and political uniqueness.  Some serve in the IDF and are know to be skilled trackers.  Before the State of Israel most of them lead a semi-nomadic life, mos...

Genesis Unveiled # 6 Part II Jacob Takes the Blessing: Can You Lie to a Swindler?  In-Depth Insights on the Parshat Todot on Jewish Matters Podcast with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman Toldot Part II, the parsha in-depth.  The 9th commandment tells us not to lie, so how could Jacob impersonate his brother to take the blessing?  Does the Torah ever allow us to lie?  Can you use illegal or dishonest means to...

Genesis Unveiled # 6  Jacob Gets The Blessing: When Do the Ends Justify The Means? Overview and Insights on the Parshat Todot in 20 minutes with Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on Jewish Matters Podcast   From the moment Yaakov is holding onto Esav’s heel he struggles to supplant his older brother, sometimes using questionable means by setting him up and impersonating him to get the blessing from their fat...