Rabbi Joe’s Torat Tel Aviv

Given on February 24th 2025, in loving memory of Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifschitz. The shiur focuses on Parshat Teruma and the month of Adar as prompts to one of Judaism's deepest themes, the consistent push to help us overcome the darkness and approach the future with hope - no matter how hard that is Source sheet available at this  link

  The revelation at Sinai contains so many different and contrary themes. We explore one of these themes and in particular we do a deep dive on a celebrated gemara in Menachot 29b which describes a conversation between Moshe and God on Sinai - a piece which raises questions of how the Torah can evolve over the generations while maintaining its authenticity and why do the righteous suffer.   Downlo...

  Today we know the story of Entebbe as one of the great crowning moments of Israeli history. But before the daring Sayeret Matkal operation, Prime Minister Yitchak Rabin asked then sefardi chief rabbi, Rav Ovadia Yosef to share his opinion about the permissibility of acceding to the hostage takers demands of releasing 40 terrorists in exchange for returning the hostages. Rav Ovadia's response eve...

  THINK Beshalach: Hamushim - Four Fifths Didn't Want To Leave...   Download the source sheet

  Hostage Deals In Halacha & Jewish History Part III: What bracha should be said upon the release of hostages?      Download the source sheet .   Given at the Vine Ventures Sarona Unity Center, Feb 4th 2025

  Last week we looked at the obligation to redeem captives but also the limitations that the mishnah puts on the prices that can be paid.   Today we look at the rise of piracy in the Black Sea and Mediterranean in the 16th century which saw Turkish Jewish communities frequently ransoming Jews from other communities, and two great rabbis of the period - the Maharshal and the Ridbaz - who both sough...

  In this week's THINK we explore the meaning and significance of Moshe's claim that he cannot lead Israel free from slavery due to his challenges with speech   Download the source sheet

The first instalment in a series on Hostage Deals In Halacha & Jewish History at the Vine Ventures Sarona Unity Center (on the third day of the deal to release hostages from Hamas Captivity).    Download the source sheet

  A short lunch and learn given at Vine Venture's Unity Bet Midrash considering Moshe and Aharon's relationship as a model and Tikkun for sibling relationships in Tanakh   Download the source sheet

  Shemot 4:24-26 are arguably some of the strangest verses in the whole of the Bible. So strange in fact that many people skip right over it. After Mosheh has finally agreed to return to Egypt to redeem Israel and has gotten on the way with his family, God tries to kill him! Things only get stranger when Tziporah saves him by circumcising their son. With the help of Rabbis Yoel bin Nun and Shmuel...

THINK Vayehi: Thoughts on סיבתיות הכפולה / Double Causation In Bereishit, In The Story Of Yosef And His Brothers, In Our Lives We are blown forward into history facing backwards Download the source sheet.