Seven Minute Torah

Jan 28 2025 200 ep. 16 mins 70
Seven Minute Torah Podcast artwork

Making modern meaning from ancient texts! Each week Rabbi Micah Streiffer discusses the weekly Torah portion in about 7 to 10 minutes, through liberal Jewish eyes. We weave together philosophy, spirituality, tradition, and social justice - and derive meaning for today‘s life from our sacred sources. Longer episodes include a bonus interview with leading rabbis and Jewish thought leaders. Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK, the liberal Beit Midrash ("House of Study"). Contact us at [email protected] with comments or questions.

  Religion & Spirituality
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Truth to Power: Bishop Mariann Budde and the Question of Religion and Politics (Bo)

Jan 28 2025 9 mins  
Should priests and rabbis have something to say about policy? Is it the role of ministers and imams to speak on matters of politics and partisanship? Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores questions about religion and politics, ethics and responsibilities, through progressive Jewish eyes. You can also read this article on JTA. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a pr

Looking Backwards and Ahead (Vay'chi)

Jan 07 2025 10 mins  
Jacob's blessing of his grandchildren also invokes the names of his grandparents. It is a reminder that we are links in a chain of tradition. And that we are responsible both to be aware of the blessings of the past and to commit ourselves to a better future. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast,

Believing it's Possible (Vayeshev - encore)

Dec 18 2024 12 mins  
Joseph seems to keep finding his way of out hard spots, over and over. Is there something about the way he believes and/or acts that makes that possible? --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support

Sorrow to Strength (Vayishlach)

Dec 10 2024 11 mins  
Why does Jacob change the name of Rachel's youngest son from Ben-Oni (child of sorrow) to Binyamin (child of strength)? Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores the Torah's message about finding strength in our pain and sorrow. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminute

Families Come in All Shapes and Sizes (Vayetze)

Dec 03 2024 15 mins  
This week we explore the emotional lives of Rachel and Sara and how they cope with family and societal expectations. Reading a modern Midrash from Hagit Bartov, we explore her suggestion about "opening up" our picture of what family and identity "should" look like. --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this pod

She Fell off Her Camel (Chayei Sarah)

Nov 19 2024 14 mins  
Why did Rebekah fall off her camel when she met Isaac? Is that even what really happened? And what does that have to do with marriage, partnership, and misogyny? In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer explores some Midrash on Rebekah and Isaac, painting two parallel pictures of what the matriarch and patriarch mean for Jewish life today. --------------------------------- Seven Min

Sharing the Covenant (Vayera)

Nov 13 2024 14 mins  
This week's Torah portion contains two stories - the incident of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the incident of Hagar and Ishmael - that teach important Jewish values about justice and about the way we are supposed to relate to neighboring peoples. In this episode, Rabbi Micah Streiffer speaks about the ideas that come out of these narratives, and about how they relate to Jewish life and

Standing Against Injustice (Lech Lecha)

Nov 06 2024 12 mins  
The midrash teaches us that Abraham is an idol smasher. Heschel teaches us that an idol is "any god concerned with me but not with you." In other words, Judaism says that injustice is idolatry, and that we must to stand up against injustice even when - especially when - it is the policy of our own government. This is an important message in the current political moment, as we look

Being Human (Bereshit)

Oct 22 2024 13 mins  
We mostly think of the story of Adam and Eve as a story about sin and punishment, but Rabbi Micah Streiffer wants to suggest that it is actually a story about what it means to be human. This episode is the beginning of season 6! --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sev

Why Moses Had to Die (V'zot Ha'Bracha)

Oct 15 2024 14 mins  
As we read the Torah's last portion, we ask about the death of Moses, and explore a Midrash about life and death, leadership and legacy. Chazak chazak v'nitchazeik! Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another! --------------------------------- Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenmin