The Eden Center Podcast

Traveling is one of the things we have missed the most this past year. In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses the retelling of the travels of Bnei Yisrael and how this journey impacted the nation. This week’s podcast is sponsored by Emily Marbach in honor of Yannai Jackson’s graduation. Mazal tov! Chazak Chazak V’Nitchaezek. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If yo...

In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the connection between the story of the Bnot Tzlofchad and the plight of agunot, women who are still in need of a get, a Jewish divorce. She discusses the theme of social justice and how we can be successful in creating meaningful change. Karen then interviews Joanne Greenaway, Director of the London School of Jewish Studies (LSJS) about...

What motivates people to rise up in protest? In this week’s Parsha Podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores Bilaam’s attempt to curse Bnei Yisrael and what the commentaries have to say about where he went wrong. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider sponsoring an episode for $36/₪120 here. For the Hebrew speakers among us, join us for this wee...

How often do we remember to check in and find ways to recharge ourselves and our relationships? In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the midrashic traditions about Miriam’s miraculous well which was associated with sustenance, leadership, recharging and refuah. How can we apply the message of Miriam’s well to our lives? This week’s podcast is sponsored in loving memory of Rabbi El...

How do we speak respectfully when we disagree? And how do we model that for our children? Karen  looks at the parsha and the idea of Machloket in tradition, to gain insight into these crucially important skills. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider sponsoring an episode for $36/₪120 here.

What led to the situation of anxiety and the emotional break down which caused the Meraglim (and then the nation) to say they wouldn’t be able to conquer the land? In this podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores how the words of the spies’ report spun out of control into widespread panic. She then discusses what it teaches us about how to cope in difficult situations and interviews Yedida Lubin abo...

Inspired by the maiden speech of Knesset Member Michal Waldiger, Karen expounds on the importance of raising issues of mental health. She looks to Haamek Davar’s explanation of the upside “nuns” found in the parsha to explore the ups-and-downs in bnei Yisrael’s spiritual journey in the desert. She then connects the way Moshe and the people daven for Miriam’s healing with the tefilla that we say in...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses the uniqueness of the priestly blessing in Parashat Naso, and it’s appropriateness in the current conflict. More than ever, may Am Yisrael be blessed with protection and peace. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider sponsoring an episode for $36/₪120 here.

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores why the Torah was given in the desert, a place of emptiness and solitude. Just as in the desert Bnei Yisrael desired water, they too had a thirst for Torah. Water is not only a symbol for Torah, but also of renewal and healing in the context of Mikvah. May we all experience a renewed thirst for Torah this Shavuot. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameac...

This week’s podcast is dedicated by Jordana and Kalman Schoor in memory of those who tragically lost their lives on Lag BaOmer at Meiron How often do we pause in our busy lives and take time to refresh and reinvigorate ourselves? In this week’s podcast, Karen examines how the mitzvot of Shmitta and Yovel give us insight into the need to stop, let go, and rejuvenate. This message, she relates, is r...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses the narrative of the son who blasphemes the name of God that appears at the end of the Parsha. Perhaps if we understand the psychological phenomenon in which hate turns from feelings, to speech, to action, we can understand the gravity of blasphemy, and more broadly, the dangers of hateful speech. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. I...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson speaks about the connection between the parsha and fostering inclusion of people with disabilities in our communities. This is followed by a very special interview with mother and daughter team, Adina and Yona Rabinowitz, about their personal experience in empowering young people with disabilities and their role in educating others on how to be more inc...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses pregnancy loss through the lens of the laws of sacrifice after childbirth described in this Parsha. These korbanot are both an expression of an absolute miracle that is childbirth, and a reminder to be humble about the experience, especially with those who have experienced pregnancy loss or infertility. Sign up here to receive this podcast wee...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the themes of boundaries and distinction through the question of why were Nadav and Avihu punished. Although commentators have differing opinions, they all have in common that Nadav and Avihu sinned in their blurring of boundaries. There is a time for physicality, and a time for spirituality; a time for closeness and distance; a time for grievi...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson looks at the purpose and benefits of expressing gratitude as beneficial to personal happiness and marital relationships. She relates this to Torah and tefilla as well, through the korban todah (thanksgiving offering) in Parshat Tzav and the reciting of Hallel at the Pesach Seder. Wishing all our listeners a very happy and Kosher Pesach! Please consider...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the themes of balance in relationships, especially in separation and unification. As we emerge hopeful from this pandemic, how do we balance our safety with our desire to reunite? Perhaps through the lens of mikvah and korbanot, we can learn to strike this equilibrium. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcas...

Rabbanit Shani Taragin shares her parsha insights and interviews Tamar Benovitz about the link between fitness, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving mental resilience. Please consider sponsoring an episode of Building Ourselves through the Parsha for $36/₪120 here. Join this week’s Eden Center inspirational, experiential, intergenerational evening to celebrate Rosh Chodesh and get yourself i...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson teaches on the active role the Israelite woman had in building the Mishkan, both in the simple meaning of the Torah and in a midrash. From this parsha we can learn the important connection of spirituality to sexuality and intimacy. Kedusha is not separate from our physicality, but rather the way we sanctify our intimacy is the path to holiness. Sign up...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores how we react to failure via the narrative of the sin of the golden calf. Through insights from commentaries, she shares how we can use this narrative as a model for how to accept our failure, ask for forgiveness, atone and accept forgiveness from others. This week’s podcast is sponsored by Lisa and Murray Goldenhersh in memory of Etana Friedman...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the role of clothing through both the Kohen in the Parsha and Esther in the Megillah. What do our clothes reflect about ourselves? How do we broadcast Torah values through our appearance? Wishing you a very a happy Purim! Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider sponsoring an episode for $36...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses what we can learn today from the building of the Mishkan. When so many of us haven’t stepped into our shuls for almost a year, perhaps we can learn from the parsha how to establish places of kedusha in our shuls, homes and hearts. This episode is sponsored with love in honor of Devra and Shimon. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses the mitzvot given in the parsha pertaining the stranger, orphan, widow and the poor; emphasizing the Torah’s mission to awaken compassion and empathy in those who can assist. She relates this to the tragic murder of Diana Raz by her husband this week in Israel. The second half of the podcast is a thought-provoking interview with Zilit Jakobsoh...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores the ten commandments, complicating the duality of mitzvot ben adam lechavero (between people) and mitzvot ben adam lemakom (between people and God). Ultimately, in synthesizing these two groups, we can learn that acting to save lives increases God in our world. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, pleas...

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson explores what we can learn from Miriam as a leader in the realm of fostering confidence and empowerment in our girls. This week’s podcast is sponsored by Naomi Moss, wishing a refuah shlema to all those who need it. Sign up here to receive this podcast weekly. If you are enjoying this podcast, please consider sponsoring an episode for $36/₪120 here.

In this week’s podcast, Karen Miller Jackson discusses the connection between the first mitzvah of the Torah, the sanctification of the new moon, and women’s monthly cycle. Both cycles remind us that there is hope in the renewal of time. This week’s podcast is dedicated לעילוי נשמת פייגע חינקא בת יצחק ורבקה גיטל שטערן ע״ה in loving memory of our dear grandmother Lena Stern a”h on her 40th yartzeit...