TakeTen4Torah Daily Torah Podcast

As Chanukah comes to a close, this Ten discusses what are the takeaways we should be considering for the rest of our year. What really is the purpose of this holiday? Take Ten to find out. (Chanukah 5782 - 8/8)

If your Chanukah candles go out before the minimum amount of time, the halacha teaches that you do not need to relight the candles. Take Ten to learn a reason for this unique law. (Chanuka 5782 - 7/8)

We find some very unique laws relating to the lighting of the Menorah. This Ten discusses the - mostly unknown - beracha made while walking down a street and simply witnessing the lights of someone else's Menorah. Why would we make a beracha on this mitzvah "sighting" and not on witnessing other mitzvot? The answer to this and more in Ten or less.  (Chanukah 5782 - 6/8)

The opinion of Beit Shamai is that we light eight candles on the first night and subtract one each night. While usually Beit Shamai's opinion is rejected in favor of Beit Hillel's, this Ten discusses how in this situation, it is quite possible that one can light their candles backwards. How? Take Ten to find out. (Chanukah 5782 - 5/8) This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lew...

Beit Shamai is famous for holding that the proper way to light the menorah is to light eight candles on the first night and then descend each night so that we light only one on the final night. This Ten explores the reason for their position, particularly in how it references a Chanukah-Sukkot connection. (Chanukah 5782 - 4/8)

There are two miracles that are associated with the holiday of Chanukah and each is expressed differently in our commemoration. The reason for this difference can teach us an important lesson for the holiday of Chanukah and for today's holiday of Thanksgiving. What is this lesson? Take Ten to find out. (Chanukah 5782 - 3/8)

In this Ten, we learn the source for the Mitzvah of lighting the candles of Chanukah. You'll be surprised to find out the origin of this law, how it was constructed, and the various opinions surrounding it. But what will shock you most is that you have been doing way more than you ever needed to.. and that that is exactly the point. (Chanukah 5782 - 2/8) Today's Ten is sponsored by the Brownstein...

One of the two rabbinically mandated holidays, Chanukah is distinct from Purim in how it is observed in practice. Why is this? Take Ten to find out. (Chanukah 5782 - 1/8) This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

We are familiar with the three cardinal sins about which the Torah teaches that one must give up their life before transgressing. In the story with Yehuda and Tamar, there is a moment that seems to teach that there might be a fourth cardinal sin - embarrassing others publicly. How can this be considered such a powerful weapon? Take Ten to find out. 

Unlike what we find in the Torah, nowadays we find people with more than one Jewish name. Why is that? Take Ten to find out. This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

This Ten discusses the well-known idea that there are a total of 613 mitzvot throughout the Torah. Are there really only 613 things that we are required to do? Listen and learn of the true nature of this number and the significant importance of knowing what these 613 are.

Do you suffer from Shalashuda-ate less? In these winter months, there is barely any time to finish our Shabbat lunch meal before we need to get back to it with Sudah Shlishit. Why are these meals important and what do they mean? How important is it to pull off all three? Take Ten to find out. 

How important is peace in the Jewish tradition and what are we really asking for when we pray for peace? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l      

We respond to the beracha of Modim with more than just an Amen and instead add another paragraph of our own. Why do we do this for only one beracha and what does our response mean? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

This week's Torah portion presents the difficult story of Yaakov being less than truthful in his dealing with Yitzchak. Take Ten to learn about the absolute value of Truth vs. Falsehood. 

Eliezer is sent to find a wife for Yitzchak and uses what seems to be an omen to decide on Rivka. How is that permitted? Take Ten to find out. 

In the aftermath of Sarah's death, Avraham teaches us important lessons about how we are to relate to others. What are these lessons? Take Ten to find out.  This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

The Torah offers different models of parents and children. The relationship between Avraham and Yishmael was particularly fraught. After Yishmael was thrown out of Avraham's home, what happened to him? Take Ten to learn the midrashic account of Yishmael's end and Avraham's inability to let go.

The Akeidah, possibly the greatest of Avraham's tests, is not only focused upon on Rosh Hashana, but each and every day in our Tefilot. How can we possibly learn from or relate to such an impossible m mission? Take Ten to find out. 

The story of Akeidat Yitzchak is perhaps the greatest test of a person's self-sacrifice for G-d. Take Ten to find out how in the background, there was another, and perhaps more significant story that teaches us the nature of true sacrifice. 

The Beracha of Modim is the longest and one of the most important in the Jewish prayers. What sorts of gratitude does it include? Take ten to find out. This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l  

We usually find that an "outside" mitzvah (Lulav, Shofar etc..) is deferred when the holiday falls out on Shabbat. Why don't we find that same phenomenon by the mitzvah of Milah? Take Ten to find out. 

What was Avraham's great contribution to the world? While we generally assume that it was his theological contributions that were so impressive, this Ten highlights another element of his personality that was critical to the world's existence. 

Our tradition puts Gemilat Chasadim, or kindness to others, as one of the most important ways we can behave and emulate G-d. Take Ten to learn the greatness of the reward of kindness and the classic examples of when it applies.   This Ten is sponsored by the Lewis family in memory of Fred Lewis, Feivel Yitzchak ben Naftali David z"l

Avraham becomes the great teacher of monotheism to the world. How did his own understanding of this important theological idea develop? Take Ten to find out.