Torah Cafe

Napoleon introduced French revolutionary values to all of Europe as his armies marched across the continent. Among those was his treatment of the Jews. To many Jews, Napoleon was a savior to others he was a villain. A fascinating discussion about Napoleon's complex relationship with the Jews of Europe and his impact that is still felt today.

Much of the Torah is stories about our early history. Many of the stories are very down to earth and relatable but some of them seem unrealistic with the events unnatural. Do Jews believe that all the stories of the Torah are true? Could some stories be metaphors?

Ezra was a Jewish leader who lived over 2300 years ago yet made a greater impact on Judaism than anyone other than Moses. A discussion about Ezra, the great Jewish leader who transformed Judaism

Oil is central to the Chanukah celebration. We are celebrating how the oil of the Menorah in the Temple was only enough to last one day but miraculously lasted eight days. Many light their Menorah with oil candles while we eat oily foods such as latkes and donuts. Why is oil so important to the Chanukah story? A fascinating discussion about oil, its unique role in Judaism and lessons we can t...

For thousands of years, Jews have been exiled from their land and forced to wander from land to land living under the rule of other people who were often hostile to them. A discussion about the story of the Jewish exile, why we have wandered for so long and what we have achieved during our exile.

In early medieval times a kingdom emerged in Southern Ukraine where the royal family and many aristocrats converted to Judaism. While this Jewish led kingdom of Khazaria was short lived, its existence has fascinated Jews from the time the kingdom came into existence until today. It even gave birth to the notorious Khazar conspiracy theory claiming Ashkenazic Jewry descends from Khazars.

Most Jewish families have unique Jewish sounding family names. Where do those family names come from? When did we start using Jewish family names? Can we tell from our family name where we came from or who our ancestors are?

One of the core Jewish beliefs (and perhaps most challenging) is that all who died will come back to life in a future time. Why do we believe in resurrection? Who will come back to life? How will we all come back to life? What will it be like? A discussion about the important Jewish belief in resurrection.

What is the process of making Kosher wine? What makes wine non-Kosher? Why do some only drink wine that is Mevushal? A fascinating discussion about what makes wine kosher

Jewish traditions tell us of 70 nations who speak 70 languages. Who are those 70 nations? What are the 70 languages? How did they form? What relationship do they have to modern nations and languages? Learn about the historic 70 nations and what they mean to us today.

Simchat Torah is the most joyous day in the Jewish calendar when we celebrate the completion of the Torah by dancing in the synagogue with the Torah scrolls. When did we start celebrating Simchat Torah? Why do we celebrate by dancing with the Torah scrolls? A fascinating discussion about the celebration of Simchat Torah

The Torah commands us to hold 4 kinds of plants together on the festival of Sukkot. How do we identify them? What do we do with them? What is the significance? A fascinating discussion about the story behind the Lulav and Etrog that we shake on Sukkot.

One of the strangest (and for many problematic) customs is Kapparot. In its traditional form, Kapparot is when people swing chickens around their heads and then slaughter them as a form of atonement (Kappara) before Yom Kippur. Many people find the tradition of Kapparot very disturbing. Where did this strange custom come from? Why is it done? How does Judaism allow the chicken to suffer...

One of the most fascinating and most challenging stories in the Torah is the story of creation found at the very beginning. The story is the basis of the most fundamental belief in Judaism; that we were created by G-d. Yet not only are there so many details that do not match modern science, many of the details don't make sense at face value and contradict each other.

The year of 5782 which will be a Shemitta year, the seventh year in a seven year cycle. The Shemitta year is a holy year when farmers cannot work the land in Israel and certain loans are absolved.

We often think of G-d as punishing us whenever we do something wrong. But is that really true? Does every bad person get punished? Why do good people seem to get punished too? Is G-d really vengeful that he punishes us for every infraction? A fascinating discussion about the Jewish belief in punishment.

One of the most fascinating Mitzvot (Commandments) in the Torah is the Command of Shiluch Hakan, sending a bird away from her nest.

For much of our history, Jews have lived among other nations and often faced discrimination and persecution. As a result, we developed a history of Jewish diplomacy known in Yiddish as Shtadlonus (Jewish lobbying) with Jews who represented their community before kings, princes and nobles often called court Jews. A fascinating discussion about the history of Jewish diplomacy and lobbying.

Many Western nations have welfare programs to help those in need. What is the Jewish view on government handouts? Should our government be handing out money or other forms of support to people in need? Should there be any limits or conditions to such handouts? A discussion on the Jewish view of government welfare.

One of the most notable and tragic events in our history was the killing of ten great Jewish leaders by the Romans in a tragedy known as the Asara Harugei Malchut  - The Ten Martyrs. Learn about the tragic story of the Ten Martyrs, the historical background and the controversy around its historical accuracy.

The first major fall of Jerusalem was at the hands of the Babylonian Emperor Nebuchadnezzar about 2,500 years ago. When Jerusalem was captured, Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the first Temple built by King Solomon and exiled the people to Babylon.  Learn about the story of the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar based on the story of the prophet Jerimiah who witnessed the destruction.

After leading the People of Israel for 40 years, G-d told Moses and Aaron that they will die in the desert and not get to lead the people into the Promised Land. However, the Torah does not make it clear what they did wrong to deserve such a harsh punishment. Some resolutions to the big riddle of of why Moses and Aaron did not enter the Promised Land

People often make commitments that they have no intention of keeping or sometimes circumstances change and keeping a commitment is no longer realistic. How important is it to always keep your commitment? Under what circumstances can you break a commitment? A fascinating discussion about the ethics of keeping your commitment.

One of the greatest tragedies to befall our people prior to the Holocaust was the Crusades who destroyed countless thriving Jewish communities as they marched across Europe. Listen to the tragic story of the Crusades and the horrific destruction that they caused.

In 1927, the previous Rebbe, Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson of Lubavitch was arrested in the Soviet Union for his work in keeping Judaism alive in the Soviet Union. After almost four weeks in prison, he was miraculously released and shortly after allowed to leave the Soviet Union. Listen to the story of the arrest and imprisonment of the Rebbe.