The Maggid of Melbourne

Starting with Genesis 18:1-2, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper, the Maggid of Melbourne considers a famous talmudic passage and a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov about hakhnasat orhim (welcoming guests). In this podcast, Rabbi Cooper looks into whether there is … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Welcoming Guests first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Welcoming Guests...

In this episode of A Shot of Torah, and continuing the Tehilim project, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper considers the two promises that God gave David – one regarding his throne, the other regarding his city: Jerusalem. Click here for more … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: The Promise to Zion (Psalms 132) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: The Promise to Zion...

Levi reads this short chapter where the poet emphasizes humility and composure, and ends with a call to Israel to look towards God. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Equanimity (Psalms 131) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Equanimity (Psalms 131) at Elmad Online Learning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

Continuing with the project of studying the 15 chapters of Tehillim that begin with the phrase “Shir Hamaalot,” Levi reads Psalms 130, briefly reflecting on his own experience doing guard duty. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Like Guards Yearn for the Morning (Psalms 130) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah:...

In this episode of A Shot of Torah, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper explores the agriculture metaphors of Psalms 129, suggesting that confidence in the future might be based on fortunate experiences of the past. Click here for more episodes in … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Like Grass on the Roof (Psalms 129) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Like Grass on...

Psalms 128 talks about the good fortune of those who fear God. Rabbi Levi Cooper, The Maggid of Melbourne cites the Imrei Noam of Dzikow regarding how this chapter might be read. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: The Blessing of Fearing the Almighty (Psalms 128) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: The Blessin...

Reading Psalms 127, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper ponders the potent image that depicts our charges – children and students – like arrows that we shoot. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Arrow Children (Psalms 127) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Arrow Children (Psalms 127) at Elmad Online Learning. Hosted on Aca...

Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper reads Psalms 125. As the pilgrims make their way to Jerusalem, they encounter mountains and winding roads, while they journey towards peace. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Mountains and Winding Paths to Peace (Psalms 125) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Mountains and Winding Paths...

Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper studies Psalms 124 and encounters a challenging rendition of faith and trust in God. Click here for more episodes in the series.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Deep Faith (Psalms 124) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Deep Faith (Psalms 124) at Elmad Online Learning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

Considering Martin Buber's notion of a leitwort, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Melbourne looks at Psalms 123 and recalls a teaching of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev. Click here for more episodes in the series.          … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: God Showing Favor (Psalms 123) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: God Showing Favor (Psalms 123) at Elma...

Taking a short break from Psalms, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper who just got back from the Jewish community of Turkey, considers the historic names of Istanbul, linking one of the names to the biblical injunction against falsehood (Exodus 23:7). Click … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Never Tell a Lie… in Istanbul first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Never Tel...

Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper continues his winter project – learning through the Psalms that begin with the phrase Shir Hamaalot. In this installment, he considers Psalm 122 and the hope, prayer, and destiny of Jerusalem. Click here for more episodes … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Jerusalem — City of Friends (Psalms 122) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah...

In this installment of A Shot of Torah, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper looks at Psalms 121, and shares two creative readings of the chapter from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak.… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Romance and Shadows (Psalms 121) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Romance and Shadows (Psalms 121) at Elmad Online Learning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...

​With the onset of winter, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper began studying Psalms in his ​shul in Zur Hadassa. Join him as he considers Psalms 120 and the tension between seeking peace and blurring the truth. A Shot of Torah with … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: ​Peace and Deceit (Psalms 120) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: ​Peace and Deceit (Psalms 120) at...

In this week's episode of A Shot of Torah, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper discusses the question of why we use the same orifice for lofty pursuits and for the mundane act of eating? He shares a colorful tale told by … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah – What’s Your Mouth For? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah – What's Your Mouth For? at Elmad Online Learning. Ho...

In this special edition of A Shot of Torah for Hanukah, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper discusses the most famous question about Hanukah: Why do we celebrate for eight days rather than seven days? Since there was enough oil for one … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Hanukah – Why do we Celebrate for 8 Days? first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Hanukah – Why do we...

In this episode of A Shot of Torah, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper recounts how the Ben Ish Hai creatively read a halakhic rule about kiddush, in order to offer an important lesson about food and eating. A Shot of Torah … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Sanctifying Where you Eat first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Sanctifying Where you Eat at Elmad Online Lear...

The youth movement Bnei Akiva has chosen ufaratzta (Genesis 28:14) as its educational theme for the year 2016-17. Levi shares how he studied various meanings of this word with youth leaders in Zur Hadassa. A Shot of Torah with Levi … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Hope for the Next Generation first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Hope for the Next Gene...

Wouldn't it be better if we all just poured our hearts out to the Almighty? Shouldn't each person express themselves in their own personal way rather than being boxed in by set texts? Click here for part 1 of Reading … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 4: Set Prayer first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 4: Set...

Shouldn't a groom recite a blessing before he gives the bride a ring? Why does the rabbi recite the blessing? Click here for part 1 of Reading the Torah. Click here for part 2 of Reading the Torah: First Fruits… Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 3: Under the Wedding Canopy first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part...

When bringing Bikkurim (First Fruits) to the Temple there was a set text to be read. Why did the sages declare that everyone should be assisted in reading the text, even those who know how to read? Click here for … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 2: First Fruits first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 2: First...

In this podcast, Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper discusses why doesn't the person who is called to read the Torah – actually read? A Shot of Torah with Levi Cooper is the continuation of The Maggid of Melbourne Speaks. A Shot … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 1 first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: Reading the Torah Part 1 at Elmad Online L...

Rabbis don't always get their way. If you purchase a Torah nowadays, chances are that almost each column will start with the Hebrew letter vav. But in the Middle Ages, rabbinic authorities thought this was entirely unnecessary. The Maggid … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Torah Scroll first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Torah Scroll at...

Is the service too long for a mi sheberach? In the seventeenth century, the fiery Rabbi Yaakov Emden condemned the additional prayer for the sick as an unnecessary addition to the service. Although he favoured cancelling the practice, he was … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Mi Shebarach first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Mi Shebarach...

This podcast recounts a fascinating fourteenth century case of the power of the people in shaping Jewish law. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher of Hasidut, community rabbi, lawyer, IDF reservist, … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Asking for Rain first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Asking fo...