Matan: One on One Parsha Podcast

In this special episode, in conversation with Az Nashir's editors--Shira Lankin Sheps, Rachel Sharansky Danziger, and Anne Gordon--we discuss the impetus for this book's creation, its relationship with the Techinot genre of women's prayers, and how this remarkable anthology can be used by Jewish women and men now and in the future.

In this episode with Rabbanit Dr. Adina Sternberg, we discuss her new book on the holidays, written in Matan's Kitvuni Program, and how some of its central themes intersect with the Ha'azinu poem. This episode has been sponsored by one of our listeners in gratitude for the weekly Torah thoughts and wisdom shared on this podcast.

This week’s episode with Laurie Novick explores her Torah apprenticeship with R. Yehuda Henkin z"l , his exegetical approach through a commentary on this week’s parsha, the uniqueness of his halakhic writings about women, and his identity as a theologian. It’s a wonderful introduction to the life of a modern posek and what it can look like to be trained by one. This week’s episode has been sponsor...

We're back with new weekly content! Through the prism of the mitzvah of Viduy Ma'asrot appearing in this week's parsha, this conversation with R. Jeff Saks movingly explores the nature of viduy and what this has to offer us during the Elul season. This week's episode is sponsored in honor of Rabbi Ed and Bobbie Winter's 59th wedding anniversary by their children Lauren Shaham and Ariel and Ilana a...

In this archived episode, the second of a four-part series on biblical characterization, Dr. Yael Ziegler and Yosefa take a broad, sweeping look at Moshe's life arc, shedding light on the final moments of his career in Devarim. Next week, we will be back with new episodes. Stay tuned!

We're so happy for the chance to reload this episode with Matan faculty member, Simi Peters. In this conversation she shares her love for the Netziv (R. Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin) and what he has to say about innovation in the book of Devarim.

Welcome to the Matan Podcast's summer 'vacation'! For the next three weeks we will be uploading a parsha episode from our archives with a new introduction by our host, Dr. Yosefa Fogel Wruble. In this enriching conversation with Matan’s favorite tour guide Shulie Mishkin, we explore the archeological background of Grizim and Eival and the reason the Torah insists that God be worshipped in a design...

In this conversation, Dr. Tanya White speaks personally and broadly about the wisdom of Rabbi Sacks. She touches upon key points of his philosophy and highlights their interface with this week's parsha. This week's episode has been sponsored by Sari and Yair Givati in honor of their daughter Yakira's Bat Mitzvah.

In this sweeping conversation with author and translator Ilana Kurshan, we explore Moshe's perspective on the nation's wilderness experience in text, midrash, and literary expansions. This episode has been sponsored in memory of Esther Yocheved bat Chaya Leah and Gershon whose yartzheit is on the 11th of Av.

Welcome to our Devarim Series titled "Torah from our Teachers." Moshe is our greatest human teacher and the book of Devarim includes his monumental addresses to the nation. Each week our guests will share Torah learned from their most influential teachers. This week, Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash and I discuss some fundamental ideas related to the book of Devarim as well as meaningful memories o...

In this conversation with R. Dina Najman, we discuss the interconnected episodes of Tzelofchad's daughters in Parshat Pinchas and Parshat Masei and their significance for the nation's wilderness experience. Chazak, chazak, v'nitchazek! Our upcoming Devarim series is titled, 'Torah of our Teachers.' Each week our guests will share Torah learned from their most influential teachers and role models.

In this conversation with Rabbanit Myriam Ackermann Sommer, we discuss the moral complexity of Pinchas' behavior which saves the community from further collective punishment. This week’s episode has been sponsored by Carole Damon in memory of her father, Isidor Goldberg, Simcha Yisroel ben Shmuel z”l on his yahrzeit (16 Tammuz).

In this illuminating conversation with Rabbi Yoni Rosensweig, we explore the gap between Moshe and Pinchas’ response to public apostasy in the parsha and how this relates to Rav Yoni’s innovative rabbinic work with the world of mental health. To learn more about the work of Maaglei Nefesh see their website: https://mnefesh.org/

In this conversation with Dr. Erica Brown, we discuss the emotional undertones of the tragic Meriva episode, and how Moshe’s fatal misstep connects with broader trends of the wilderness experience.

In this episode with Rabbi Yehuda Sarna, we explore Moshe’s reaction to Korach’s criticisms and how this parsha relates to the American campus protests and to the future of interfaith dialogue.

In this candid conversation with Dr. Mijal Bitton about the reconnaissance mission and its failures, we explore what it takes to stand up to social pressure when the surrounding environment demonizes the things you hold dearest.

In this conversation with Rabbanit Oshra Koren, Head of Matan Hasharon and Rabbanit of Kehillat Kinor David, we speak about the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah and its relevance to modern religious life and education.

In this conversation with Rabbanit Chamutal Shoval, we discuss community-related elements sprinkled throughout Naso's diverse content. We end with some meaningful ideas for the upcoming holiday of Shavuot. Chag sameach!

In this conversation with Rabbanit Shira Marili Mirvis, the Rabbanit of Shirat Hatamar in Efrat, we discuss the communal structure present in the parsha and its relationship with contemporary shul communities. Welcome to our Bamidbar Series titled Community: Between Order and Chaos, where we will be exploring the gap between the vision for community laid out in Bamidbar and the real life challenge...

In this conversation with Dr. Yael Ziegler, we explore the ways in which the blessings and curses underscore the kind of life and society the people of Israel should be creating. This episode has been sponsored in memory of Sarah Bat Esther by the Cohen and Weintraub families. Chazak, Chazak, v'nitchazek! Stay tuned for a new series and guest theme for the book of Bamidbar!

In this conversation with Rabbi Binyamin Zimmerman, a conversation about the Torah roots of Shemitta practice ends up becoming a broader reflection on the role of Halakha in religious life. R. Zimmerman's book, The Shemitta Sensation: https://www.amazon.com/Shemitta-Sensation-Deeper-Jewish-Sabbatical/dp/173776170X This episode is sponsored by Esther Naiberg, marking the 23rd yartzheit of her broth...

In this conversation with Rabbanit Dr. Tamara Spitz, we explore the philosophical and halakhic roots of counting the Omer.

In this probing conversation with Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash, we discuss what it might mean to 'be holy' by looking at human relationships as the guiding image of spiritual exploration.

In this wise and candid conversation with Rabbanit Shayna Goldberg, we discuss philosophical and practical elements relating to the laws of Shemirat Negiah and Harchakot which both feature in this week's parsha. We reference our conversation from last year, also on biblical sexual ethics, so here is a link to that episode for those interested: https://www.matan.org.il/en/online/episode-104-parshat...

In this conversation with Dr. Elana Stein Hain, we discuss rabbinic perspectives on legal loopholing, the subject of her recently published book, Circumventing the Law: Rabbinic Perspectives on Loopholes and Legal Integrity (Penn Press, 2024). Elana's perspectives highlight the way Halakha should be seen as both a love language with God as well as deeply anchored to the practicalities of this worl...