The Daily Derech from Exploring Judaism

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tazria–Metzora, Hilchot Yesodei HaTorah from the Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the responsibility of teaching Torah with clarity and repetition. The Parashah discussion focuses on the laws of ritual impurity following childbirth. The Torah describes periods of impurity after a woman gives birth, inclu...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tazria–Metzora, Hilchot Counting the Omer from the Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the importance of repetition in transmitting Torah. The Me’am Loez explains the transition from the laws of kosher animals to the laws of human impurity in Parashat Tazria–Metzora. Just as animals can be pure or impure, t...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Shemini, Hilchot Omer from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the multifaceted nature of Torah. The Parashah section focuses on the moment when God’s presence finally descends upon the Mishkan after initial delay. The people grow concerned when nothing happens, and Aaron doubts his worthiness. Only when Mo...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores the seventh day of Pesach reading, Hilchot Pesach, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about divine power and God's step-by-step demonstration of power to achieve redemption. In the Parashah, the contrast between the first and seventh days of Pesach highlights two stages of redemption: the promise of freedom and its full realizat...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Shemini, Hilchot Pesach, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about how understanding God’s control develops gradually. In the Parashah, the Torah details the precise order of sacrifices offered during the inauguration of the Mishkan. Aaron first brings a calf as a sin offering for himself, recalling the Golden Calf, befo...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Shemini, Hilchot Chametz U’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about how the plagues demonstrate God’s authority over the world. The Me’am Loez discusses the eighth day of the Tabernacle’s inauguration, when Aaron became High Priest instead of Moses. Although Moses initially felt the loss of that role...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Shemini, Hilchot Pesach from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about recognizing God’s ultimate authority and power. The Parashah section explains the significance of the eighth day when the Tabernacle was inaugurated after seven days of preparation. Rabbinic tradition describes ten unique distinctions that mad...

In this episode of The Daily Derech, Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Shemini, Hilchot Pesach from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about redemption, identity, and responding to human suffering. The Parashah section explains that Shemini begins on the eighth day after seven days of preparation for the Tabernacle’s inauguration. During those days Moses served as acting High Pries...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores the Pesach Torah reading from Parashat Bo, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the faith and courage of the righteous women who helped sustain the Jewish people in Egypt. Drawing on the Me’am Loez , Rabbi Rubenstein examines the troubling idea that God hardened Pharaoh’s heart during t...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores the Pesach Torah reading from Parashat Bo, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the role of righteous women in sustaining the Jewish people during their oppression in Egypt. Drawing on the Me’am Loez , Rabbi Rubenstein discusses the Pesach reading describing the plagues and the hardenin...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about remaining present in difficult moments and performing acts of kindness. Drawing on the Me’am Loez , Rabbi Rubenstein discusses the removal of ashes from the altar described in Leviticus 6, a task priests eagerly sought to perform despi...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about why Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace. Drawing on the Me’am Loez , Rabbi Rubenstein examines the priestly garments worn during the service of Terumat HaDeshen , the removal of ashes from the altar described in Leviticus 6. The fitte...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav, Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah from Rambam, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about the limits of human attempts to predict the future. Drawing on the Me’am Loez , Rabbi Rubenstein discusses the commandment of Terumat HaDeshen , the daily removal of ashes from the altar in Leviticus 6. Although the task appears to be...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about how oppression can develop gradually and harmfully. The Me’am Loez teaching discusses the Tamid offering , particularly the afternoon sacrifice that continued burning overnight on the altar. This imagery is connected to the inner life of a perso...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz u’Matzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about Jewish resilience in the face of oppression. As Pesach approaches, the episode connects Temple sacrifice, Passover law, and a reflection on how Jewish communities endure hardship with strength and faith. The Me’am Loez teaching examines the afte...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about sustaining spiritual dedication, preparing for Passover , and God’s presence with the Jewish people in exile. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the command that the fire on the altar must burn continually and never be extinguished. The priests wer...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about dedication in divine service, preparing for Passover , and the importance of helping those in need. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the command that the fire on the altar must burn continuously. The priests were responsible for maintaining the f...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about dignity in service, preparing for Passover , and the importance of helping those in need. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the mitzvah of terumat hadeshen , the priest’s daily task of removing ashes from the altar. Even this humble responsibility...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about holiness in Temple service, preparing for Passover , and the importance of honoring Torah learning. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the laws of the mincha offering eaten by the priests. The Torah requires that it be consumed in a holy place with...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Tzav , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about sustaining spiritual passion, preparing properly for Passover , and cultivating gratitude. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the command that the fire on the altar must burn continuously. The sages understand this as a symbol of the need to mainta...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Vayikra , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about respectful communication, preparing properly for Passover , and the power of unity in honoring others. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the opening word “Vayikra,” when God calls to Moshe before speaking with him. The sages explain that this e...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Vayikra , Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about reverence for God, preparation for Pesach, and the historical beginnings of the Egyptian exile. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the opening verse in which God calls to Moshe before speaking to him from the Tent of Meeting. Moshe hesitates to...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat HaChodesh, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah , and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about redemption and God’s enduring presence with the Jewish people. From Me’am Loez , he reflects on the command that the Jewish calendar begins with the month of Nisan, the time of the Exodus. Through a parable about a king celebrating the return...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein explores Parashat Vayakhel, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about preparing for exile and hardship. From Me’am Loez, he reflects on the word vayakhel —Moshe gathering the people—and the connection between community and Shabbat. Shabbat becomes not only a day of rest but a time when the community gathers to le...

In this episode of The Daily Derech , Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein continues exploring Parashat Vayakhel, Hilchot Chametz uMatzah, and a teaching from Menorat HaMaor about Abraham’s vision in the brit bein habetarim. From Me’am Loez, he reflects on a midrash that imagines the Torah worrying that once the Jewish people enter the land and become busy with work, they will stop studying. God’s response is...