TakeTen4Torah Daily Torah Podcast

We are familiar with the mitzvah of visiting this sick, but what are its goals, and what is expected of us? Take Ten to find out. 

Avraham was different than the people of his day and has always been acknowledged for that independence. How important is this part of his personality to us, his descendants? Take Ten to find out. 

Avraham's beliefs set him on a crash course with he world around him. What did he discover? How did he ensure that his teachings would remain in the minds of his children? Take Ten to find out. 

  What do we mean when, over the course of Rosh Hashana, we focus on establishing G-d as King? Take Ten to find out.   

This year we find specific laws relating to loans and making sure you are able to collect them. What is the Jewish ethic of making loans to those in need? How does a Pruzbul fit into this picture? Take Ten to find out.  Sponsored by Judy Lewis and Family in memory of Zachary Dicker, Zecharia Yehuda ben Shimshon z"l. 

Enjoy this exchange with special guest Rabbi Yisrael Motzen as we embark on an ongoing conversation about the meaning we take from popular, contemporary Jewish music.  In this episode, we discuss a beautiful new song by an Israeli artist named Shmuel Perednik called "Ten li Tefilah" (Give Me One Prayer) Here is the song on YouTube. Here is the translation.  PLEASE send feedback to rabbiismach@take...

We will mention the 13 attributes many dozens of times over the course of the Slichot through Yom Kippur season. But what do they mean? Take Ten to find out. 

This Saturday night we begin the special Tefilot of Selichot, composed to take advantage of the auspicious time of the High Holiday season. What is the origin and meaning of these prayers? Take Ten to find out. 

The Torah doesn't say much about the obligation to blow the Shofar other than to make a "Teruah" sound. What is that sound? This Ten explores the different possibilities and answers the question of how we possibly could have ever been confused about this in the first place.  

Take Ten to learn about how generosity in the judgment of others can bring us towards a more generous judgment from G-d. 

The Torah instructs us to rebuke others, but does that mean to turn us into preachy and judgemental people? Take Ten to find out.

Each day during Elul we add Psalm 27 to our prayers. Why is this paragraph so important and what does it even mean? Take Ten to find out. 

What is the significance of the month of Elul and why do we draw so much meaning from the acronym of the word? Take Ten to find out!

When bad events occur, how should we go about assigning blame? Using one of the most famous Talmudic stories, take Ten to find out.  Sponsored by the Anfang family in memory of Aryeh Leib ben David Avigdor.

Parshat Balak includes one of the most unique stories in the entire Torah, a story that the Talmud thought should be read every day. Why is it so special? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is ponsored by the Braunstein family in memory of Marie Dweck a”h, Miryam bat Mordechai HaCohen.   

While the text of the Kohanic blessings is formulaic, the most important part is emotional. Take Ten to learn about the love that is required to bless. 

The holiday of Shavuot begins late due to the hour of sunset this time of year, but as you might be aware, we delay its start even further than we do for other holidays. Take Ten to learn how this delay came about and how it speaks to our "Pursuit of Perfection."

Today is a very "special" day. Known as "Yom HaMeyuchas," it's a day that we treat as a quasi-holiday. Take Ten to learn why.

There is a rich midrashic tradition concerning the moment the Torah was given that paints a picture of all the world hanging in the balance. Would the Jews accept the Torah? This Ten discusses the gravity of that moment and how compulsion might be the only thing that could allow us to make the right decision. 

There is much in Jewish law that defines the process of buying and selling. What are some of these rules? At what point do items actually change ownership? Take Ten to find out. 

R' Meir Simcha of Dvinsk offered a prescient perspective on the nature and patterns of exile. What are the Jewish people meant to expect in the diaspora? Take Ten to find out.   

Pesach Sheni was originally created for those who were not able to bring the Pesach on the appropriate date. What can those who did do it right the first time learn from this make-up? Take Ten to find out. 

While we are in the process of counting from the Korban Omer, we also find ourselves mourning the loss of R' Akiva's students. What is the connection between these two events? Take Ten to find out. 

What does the most famous of rules: "Love your neighbor as yourself" really mean? What sort of behavior does it actually demand? Take Ten to find out. This Ten is sponsored for the refuah sheleima of Chaya Sheindel bas Devorah.

The Mishna teaches about the preeminent value of silence. To what situations and conversations does it refer? Take Ten to find out.   This Ten is sponsored for the refuah sheleima of Chaya Sheindel bas Devorah.